There was a good Father who had many children. The good Father loved all of his children very much. Unfortunately the good Father’s oldest, a very large boy, had a very bad temper and would often fly into an unprovoked rage. The oldest son would often attack his younger siblings but never received much of a consequence. Everyone seemed afraid of the oldest son, including the good Father.
This left the younger siblings very leery of their older brother, and quite traumatized. Everyone who lived in the neighborhood and even the siblings’ teachers at school, had seen the bruises on the younger siblings and took pity on them. Everyone knew what the oldest son was doing to his younger siblings, including the good Father. But there was little they felt they could do.
One day the good Father came home and the oldest son was beating one of his little brothers in a particularly vicious way, all while their siblings watched in terror, wondering who would be next. The good Father said at that time, “I love you both. Please stop fighting. Please resolve your differences without fighting. I am deeply concerned.” Between lulls in the beatings by the oldest son the good Father did try to bandage his children’s wounds, to comfort them, and express his love for them.
But the good Father never told his oldest son to stop attacking his little brother. He never told his oldest son that what he was doing was wrong, at least within the hearing of the all the other children as the beatings continued. The good Father never told the oldest son that attacking your younger siblings in such a way was evil. And regrettably, the good Father never grabbed the oldest son to stop him from beating his younger siblings.
The younger siblings never understood why they never heard the good Father tell the oldest son to stop attacking his siblings. The younger siblings never understood why the good Father never said what the oldest son was doing was wrong. The younger siblings never understood why they were told to stop fighting because they were not fighting, they were being attacked.
And as the beatings by the oldest son continued over time the younger siblings grew to trust the good Father less and less, and to love him less and less. In time, the good Father lost not only his oldest son, but all his children. The oldest son never understood why what he was doing was wrong. The younger siblings never understood why the good Father never told the oldest son what he was doing was wrong, either.
This is a good parable. I’m not sure it applies to the Russia / Ukraine war. Multiple countries have told Russia it’s wrong. Many economic sanctions have been applied. I think the restraint to engage in the war is wise as it could very well blow up into a much broader war. What more do you think could or should be done?
I was pretty much talking directly about the First Presidency. I know many will take offense to the idea of being critical of the First Presidency’s response but I am fine with that. The Church has so much to offer but if the First Presidency does not clearly and explicitly take a position on this conflict it will really hurt them for years in Eastern Europe, including Russia, areas that the Church could benefit greatly. President Nelson needs to state clearly and explicitly that Russia under Putin was the aggressor. Even if all he said was “I pray that President Putin will soften his heart and recall his armies,” even something so simply will go a long way toward bolstering the Church’s credibility. To highlight his love for all peoples, which I don’t doubt, and the humanitarian aid the Church has given, which I don’t doubt, is important, but the moral authority of a man considered to be a Prophet of God saying, “Putin, stop this war,” is more important than a .25 or so in aid for each citizen of Ukraine devastated by the war.