Blunderbuss Bundy and the Oregonian Outrage

Disclaimer 1: I've made it pretty clear in other posts that I identify myself as a Mormon--a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I'll point out again that I do not speak for the highest (or any) levels of leadership, and my opinions may not represent the experiences of all Mormons.  However, my values, beliefs, and actions have always been influenced by my connection to the Church.  This post is about those values, beliefs, and actions.

Disclaimer 2: Also, as this is a developing story with lots of possible angles, I welcome friendly discussion and news updates in the comments.  I don't claim to know everything about the events I'm commenting on.  I only claim to have tried to look for and understand multiple perspectives before voicing my own.

I've been trying to pay attention to the news in eastern Oregon the past few days.  When I first heard that the story was developing, my response was something like this:

Wait... What?

Apparently a peaceful militia, no more like an armed mob, I mean a well-armed white conservative anti-federal government terrorist group has succeeded in a forcible invasion of the headquarters complex at a federal wildlife refuge in Harney County, about 300 miles southeast of where a large portion of the Mikkelsen clan lives.  From what I've read, it seems like their action was intended as a protest to a few issues, mostly boiling down to what they see as federal government interference in the affairs of local government and of individual citizens.  Many of the people in the invading force proudly identify themselves as Mormons, and they claim Mormon doctrine and practice as justification for taking up arms against federal agents (in the broad sense... not just armed federal police officers).  One of the invaders even calls himself Captain Moroni, after a hero from the Book of Mormon who stands for a lot of what this group seems to believe.  Captain Moroni was a leader in government and religious affairs, though he is best known as the highest ranking military officer in his society.  And when you learn about him, it's no wonder the Bundys and friends claim him as part of their inspiration.  After all, when Captain Moroni hears about his central government's failure to keep order and protect individual liberty,

12. And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it--In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children--and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
13. And he fastened it on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of [believers] remain to possess the land (The Book of Mormon, Alma 46:12-13)

This same Captain Moroni gets angry when the central government drops the ball again (see his entry in the Church's official study materials).  But he doesn't just get angry: he threatens to march on the capital city with his army.  When the president (called the chief judge) gets Moroni's letter, I imagine him saying something like "You and what army?"  And I imagine Moroni pulling an Aragorn:

"This army."

(Sidenote begins: I suppose Moroni's army was maybe a little more corporeal... although I'm not convinced that applies to his right-hand man Teancum.  Read one of his stories to find out why I think Jason Bourne, Egon Spengler, and a whole ghost busting black ops team couldn't take him down.  Sidenote over)

So Captain Moroni is a soldier who stands up when the central government threatens its citizens' wellness.  Just like the Bundys and their pals.  

And I honor the Bundys' right to stand up when the central government threatens its citizens' wellness, just like I honor Moroni's right to do it.

BUT

I can think of few things less in harmony with LDS doctrine as I understand it than what they're doing in Oregon.  Mormons believe in "being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law" (LDS Article of Faith #12... here's all of them if you're interested).  Last I checked, armed takeovers of federal buildings was against the law.

Mormons also tend to believe that the US Constitution was inspired by God, and that the US government is in place because God wants it to be.  We believe the US government can make mistakes, and in those cases, we believe in changing the law through due process (legislation, court rulings, and duly electing officials who will act appropriately).  We do NOT advocate threatening--much less enacting--violence against government workers or property.  At the time of this writing, the terrorist group in Oregon have not hurt anyone (thank God!), and they say they haven't destroyed any property.  But bringing an army and their weapons is a threat.  There's no way around that, no matter how many times you say you don't want to resort to violence.  Bringing an army means you're going to resort to violence.

Say I wake up and open the cupboard to find food for breakfast, but all I find is macaroni with oyster sauce.  It's not what I usually think of for breakfast, and I imagine it's that way for a lot of people.  But I'm hungry, and that's all I can find.  So I'm going to eat macaroni with oyster sauce.  I won't stand there all day saying "Boy, I sure hope I don't have to eat macaroni and oyster sauce for breakfast."  We as humans tend to use the resources that are available to us.  So Bundy & Co. can talk all they want about having a peaceful armed insurrection.  If they keep this up long enough, it will get bloody.

And all over two prison sentences that the defendants didn't even contest?  All over two people who have willingly accepted the legal consequences of their actions?  All over a family that has denounced the actions of the terrorists?

[Sarcastically] Well done, guys.  That's democracy in action.

Update: On 1/4/2015, the LDS Church released an official statement that expresses a stance similar to my own opinions.  Check it out.