Machiavelli wrote a very interesting piece of literature called “The Prince.” In it he outlines what would make a successful ruler. Specifically, how power is gained and how it can be maintained. Similarly, our scriptures outline how priesthood power is gained and maintained in Doctrine and Covenants section 121. In this post I will be comparing both pieces of literature and analyzing what is meant by virtue in each of these contexts.

First, how is power gained? Doctrine and Covenants 121:37 states, “That they may be conferred upon us, it is true.” Or in other words, the priesthood power of God is a gift that is conferred upon man. However, although the priesthood power is simply given it is given conditionally upon righteous behavior. Therefore, the power “cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness” (vs. 36).

Machiavelli says power is gained in 3 ways. By skill (or virtue), by luck, and by crime. He gives the examples of Moses, Cyrus and Romulus who by their skill became rulers and thereby gained power. Later he says, “A prince must lay strong foundations, otherwise he is bound to come to grief” (page 34). He also believed power could be gained by luck giving the examplse of Sforza and Borgia. And lastly, he explained how power often is gained by crime, which is in direct conflict with what Doctrine and Covenants teaches us. Machiavelli also shared that power could be gained by “winning over to your cause some baron of the kingdom” (page 13) or by intensely studying the subject of war (40). Nowhere does he mention power being conferred upon a man as a divine gift, which is what the Doctrine and Covenants teaches us.

Secondly, how is power maintained? According to the Doctrine and Covenants, once priesthood power is conferred upon a man it is maintained by righteousness. If a man does not act righteously “the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man” (vs 37). Priesthood power is maintained by obedience, humility, and charity. The promise to those who maintain this power through righteousness is seen in verse 46 which says, “The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”

Machiavelli’s ideas on how power is maintained both compare and contrast to what is seen in Doctrine and Covenants. For one, he tells the prince that men “who become princes through their own strength of character…find it easy to hold onto” (page 17). This is similar to the doctrine in Doctrine and Covenants because they both teach that men with strength of character will be able to “hold onto” their power. Also, Machiavelli states that it is more effective to maintain power by being cruel than by being kind. In a way this compares Doctrine and Covenants because it says, “Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved” (vs 43). Or in other words, sometimes you have to be sharp in order to maintain unity and order.

In contrast with the Doctrine and Covenants Machiavelli teaches that dishonesty helps to maintain power. He says, “In the end, they [who manipulated] won out over those who tried to act honestly” (page 47). But we as Latter-day Saints know that true power is only gained and maintained by righteousness.

Lastly, what is meant by virtue in each of these contexts? In the Doctrine and Covenants we read, “…and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.” From this we know that virtue is something which can garnish, or embellish, our thoughts. It encompasses goodness. In “The Prince” the word virtú derived from Latin is used several times. It means “virtue,” but in a little bit of a different sense than is used in the Doctrine and Covenants. Machiavelli uses it to describe the attributes of man. Some of the English translations of virtú come out to be “one’s own arms and energy”, his merit, his own talent, his strength, or his skill. According to Machiavelli virtue describes the essence of being a man.

Virtue and power therefore have a different relationship in the Doctrine and Covenants than they do in The Prince. In the Doctrine and Covenants, by being virtuous, or good, you obtain power. In The Prince, virtue, or your own strength and ability, is your power.

Overall, although Machiavelli makes some good points, as members of the church we know that God’s formula for gaining and maintaining power is always the correct one.

Blog Post #2

Part One: Five social problems facing the United States today

1. Same-Sex Marriage

The Supreme Court recently ruled that marriage between a man and a man or a woman and a woman is legal. This ruling threatens the traditional organization of the family unit therefore affecting society at a whole.

2. Inequality and Discrimination

There is discrimination based on race, religion, economics, etc. This discrimination leads to inequality.

3. Violence

There is an increasing number of shootings and violent outbreaks across the nation.

4. Terrorism

Isis, among other groups, are attacking the United States.

5. Poverty

According to www.feedingamerica.org in the year 2013 45.3 million people were in poverty.



Part Two:

In Juvenal’s Satire III we can see many parallels between social issues in ancient Rome, specifically Rome’s Imperial period, and in the United States today. Although a satire, the reading can still give us insights into what life in ancient Rome may have actually been like.

In the United States today there is the social issue of sexuality. Gay marriage is now legal and we see it being more socially acceptable to be a transgender. In Juvenal’s Satire III we read about the theatre and the actors. Juvenal says, “Could any actor do better when he plays the part of Thais, or of a matron, or of a Greek slave-girl without her pallium? You would never think that it was a masked actor that was speaking, but a very woman, complete in all her parts” (1). This alludes to the fact that there was a confusion in sexuality in ancient Rome as there is in the United States today. Also, Juvenal says, “Besides all this, there is nothing sacred to his lusts: not the matron of the family, nor the maiden daughter, not the as yet unbearded son-in-law to be, not even the as yet unpolluted son; if none of these be there, he will debauch his friend's grandmother” (1). This shows that in ancient Rome sex was not sacred. Likewise in the United States today the sanctity of marriage and intimacy is declining while the percentage of those viewing pornography is rapidly rising.

Similar to the United States today, there was discrimination in ancient Rome. Juvenal highlights the economic discrimination that took place. He says, “Numa himself might present himself…the first question asked will be as to his wealth, the last about his character: 'how many slaves does he keep?' 'how many acres does he own?' 'how big and how many are his dessert dishes?' A man's word is believed in exact proportion to the amount of cash which he keeps in his strong-box” (1). Or in other words, the ricer a man was the more he was trusted. In our society we see the same thing.

Also on the topic of economic equality Juvenal says, “And what of this, that the poor man gives food and occasion for jest if his cloak be torn and dirty; if his toga be a little soiled; if one of his shoes gapes where the leather is split, or if some fresh stitches of coarse thread reveal where not one, but many a rent has been patched? Of all the woes of luckless poverty none is harder to endure than this, that it exposes men to ridicule” (1). In ancient Rome poor men were ridiculed. This is the same in the United States today. It is the natural man’s reaction to be puffed up in pride when he has money and then criticize those who are lower and poorer than him.

Another social issue our nation faces is violence. Recently there has been several fatal shootings, such as in Charleston, South Carolina and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Juvenal explains the issue of violence in ancient Rome by painting the picture of a mugging taking place. He says, “The fellow stands up against me, and bids me halt; obey I must. What else can you do when attacked by a madman stronger than yourself? …Whether you venture to say anything, or make off silently, it's all one: he will thrash you just the same, and then, in a rage, take bail from you. Such is the liberty of the poor man: having been pounded and cuffed into a jelly, he begs and prays to be allowed to return home with a few teeth in his head!” (1) He goes on to say, “Nor are these your only terrors. When your house is shut, when bar and chain have made fast your shop, and all is silent, you will be robbed by a burglar; or perhaps a cut-throat will do for you quickly with cold steel” (1). Violence was a social issue in ancient Rome as it is for the United States today and for also many, if not all, nations throughout the world.

While Juvenal did not specifically mention the social issue of terrorism in ancient Rome he does make mention of the foreign trade that took place between Rome and other states. He says, “…what fraction of our dregs comes from Greece? The Syrian Orontes has long since poured into the Tiber, bringing with it its lingo and its manners, its flutes and its slanting harp-strings…” (1). However, scholar Gregory G. Bolich gives a little more insight into terrorism in ancient Rome. He says, “Terrorism is probably as old as human society. In the ancient Roman world there were no words for ‘terrorism or terrorists. However, the acts of terrorism inflicted in those days were not unlike those of modern times. Then, as now, there were people willing to employ a calculated use of force and terror to accomplish their ends. Though the ancients may have called them rebels or brigands or tyrants, the motives, the methods, and the outcomes are familiar to people of our era under the collective name of terrorism” (2).

Lastly, Juvenal covers the social issue of poverty. He says, “It is no easy matter, anywhere, for a man to rise when poverty stands in the way of his merits: but nowhere is the effort harder than in Rome…” He goes on to explain why that is, “...You must pay a big rent for a wretched lodging, a big sum to fill the bellies of your slaves, and buy a frugal dinner for yourself” (1). Likewise, poverty is an issue in the United States today. According to www.feedingamerica.org in the year 2013 45.3 million people were in poverty. However, to Juvenal much of the poverty in ancient Rome was what he called “pretentious poverty.” (On a side note: To my fellow BYU students living in off-campus housing, does the phrase “You must pay a big rent for a wretched lodging” ring as true to you as it does to me?)

Overall, as discussed there are many parallels between the social issues of ancient Rome, specifically Rome’s Imperial period, and the United States today.

Blog Post #1

In June 2015 the Supreme Court of the United States legalized same-sex marriage. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we believe that marriage is ordained of God and must be between a man and a woman. However, as members of the church we also believe in “being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law” (1). But how can we obey, honor, and sustain the law when it is in direct conflict with our beliefs?

In the book “Crito” by Plato, Socrates is being persuaded by his friend, Crito, to escape prison while he has the chance. Socrates is left to decide for himself whether he will be follow the law or whether he will run and save his life. He has a bit of an internal battle but in the end decides that he must follow the law and what he calls, “the intimations of the will of God" (2).

Parts of Socrates’ conversation with Crito can help us as members of the Church know what to do when we are called upon to “obey, honor, and sustain” a law with which we do not agree with.

For one, we need not fear the opinion of others. In “Crito”, Crito feared that if Socrates did not run away that others would judge him. Crito says, “People who do not know you and me will believe that I might have saved you if I had been willing to give money, but that I did not care. Now, can there be a worse disgrace that this…” (2) But Socrates speaks with great wisdom in his simple, soft response - “But why, my dear Crito, should we care about the opinion of many?” For those who may be afraid to stand up for the sanctity of marriage because they are afraid of being judged, I echo that same response of Socrates, “but why my dear, should we care about the opinion of many?” (2) We cannot be afraid to stand up for God’s law. We need to express clearly which side we are on. Those who hold civic duties must fearlessly share their beliefs. A part of the Church’s official letter to be read to congregations everywhere reads, “God expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions or trends in society” (3) or in other words we cannot simply follow the changing trends, we must defend God's laws.

Also in “Cristo”, Socrates explains that it is honorable to obey the law and that means submitting yourself to punishment when issued. He says, “Whether in battle or in a court of law, or in any other place, he must do what his city and his country order him, or he must change their view of what is just.” (2) Or in other words, we need to be good citizens and follow the law or we can try to change it. Unfortunately this decision from the Supreme Court is the official decision for our nation for now, but the last statement from the church’s official letter is instructional. It says, “As members of the Church, we are responsible to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to illuminate the great blessings that flow from heeding God’s commandments as well as the inevitable consequences of ignoring them. We invite all to pray that people everywhere will have their hearts softened to the truths God established in the beginning, and that wisdom will be granted to those who are called upon to decide issues critical to society’s future (3)." Members of the church, and especially those members who hold civic duties, must do all within their power to “change [the law makers’] view of what is just” (2). This does not need to be done by verbal abuse, over-aggressive social media posts or threats. Instead, we would do well to follow the example of the Savior in being loving, yet bold and fearless in stating our beliefs.

Overall, although we may not accept a law as God’s law we should continue to be well-mannered citizens and proclaim our beliefs without fear of how others may judge us.

Epithets

1. Desert Dweller

I came from the valley of the sun. I grew up in Chandler, Arizona which is located right outside of Phoenix. I love the heat and the beauty of the desert. I love my home town and also my fun family! I am the oldest of 4 children. As a family we love to spend time outside in the pool and also playing board games.

2. Lover of Music

I absolutely love music. I love to both listen to and play music. I play the piano and hope to learn the guitar in the near future. I like all different kinds of music, but my favorite is acoustic. I also really enjoy musicals, especially Les Miserables. I enjoy going to concerts, especially outdoor concerts this time of the year!

3. West Indian Wannabe

I served a mission in the West Indies from May 2013 - December 2015. For those who don't know where the West Indies is (which was totally me when I opened my call) it is the southern Caribbean. I fell in love with those beautiful islands and went back to visit shortly after finishing my mission. I love the lifestyle, the beauty of the islands, and the people. Can I be a West Indian? Please?

4. Editor of Video

I really enjoy editing video. For a while I wanted to be a wedding videographer, but now am focusing more on filming "love story" videos for couples to show at their wedding reception. It is mostly just a hobby I do on the side. I wish that I had more time to spend editing beceause it truly is one of my favorite things to do! I am a Communication Studies major and work for BYU Broadcasting.