Beyond Politics

I believe the partisans at both ends of the political spectrum have unrealistic expectations about an Obama presidency: he is neither the Messiah nor the Antichrist.

I don't have faith in government or politics to change the world.

I do have faith in my children and in the amazing young people I have the privilege of serving in the BYU 4th Stake who are going to the ends of the earth to change the world one person and one family at a time in the only way that matters.

As Hugh Nibley wrote in his essay, "Beyond Politics":

On the last night of a play the whole cast and stage crew stay in the theater until the small or not-so-small hours of the morning striking the old set. If there is to be a new opening night soon, as the economy of the theater requires, it is important that the new set should be in place and ready for the opening night; all the while the old set was finishing its usefulness and then being taken down, the new set was rising in splendor to be ready for the drama that would immediately follow. So it is with this world. It is not our business to tear down the old set -- the agencies that do that are already hard at work and very efficient -- the old set is coming down all around us with spectacular effect. Our business is to see to it that the new set is well on the way for what is to come -- and that means a different kind of politics, beyond the scope of the tragedy that is now playing its closing night. We are preparing for the establishment of Zion.

I nevertheless pray for our new president and our country and hope for the best.