Fascism in America is here, and the transgender community is one of it’s scapegoats. Just within the last week there have been political figures who have called us a non-human species that needs to be exterminated because we are all inherently the most violent group of people in the world. They are dehumanizing us, projecting extremism onto all transgender people, and are causing a moral panic while also encouraging violence. This is the classic tactic of fascism, and it ends in genocide.
I am transgender, and I am intimately aware of how fascists are portraying me, my family, and friends. I am also fully aware that for many people I am the only transgender person they interact with. As a result, I felt it was time to re-affirm a position of mine publicly.
I am a pacifist. I have been for years. I refuse to take the life of another. There is NO circumstance in which I would kill another person, even in the face of intense persecution or even my own death. My commitment to pacifism rises to a religious level. My friend Steve Pynakker has consistently reminded folks that “We are all image bearers”, and I affirm this. I see the Divinity in every person, and to kill someone would be to kill Divinity.
I cannot in good conscience remain silent when with these egregious sins of dehumanization are being aimed at me and my family and friends, and so I will indefinitely continue to call the fascists to repentance in non-violent ways. I am aware that the First Amendment right to Free Speech is being attacked, but from the cradle I was taught to “Do what is right; let the consequence follow”.
I pray that my life may be spared from the fascists who seek my blood.
3 years ago I publicly affirmed my pacifism with many scripture verses, and I stand by those. However, my religious journey has now led me to accept scriptures from many places within Mormonism. As a result, I want to add these scripture verses alongside the ones from my previous post.
Revelations of James Strang
Section 19:11A-11B
11a And ye shall not provoke one another. But ye shall console and strengthen one another. Ye shall strengthen the weak;
11b For with kindness and much charity will I give you to prevail, and ye shall save them. And ye shall not contend against one another.
Section 28
Still more earnestly do I warn and admonish you against taking part in the wars and fighting’s of the nations of the earth.
Section 30
LOVE and TRUTH WINS WITH peace and sweetness, what FORCE and FRAUD labors in vain to COMPEL.
Book of the Law of the Lord
Chapter 1 (The Decalogue): 4
4. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: thou shalt not revile him, nor speak evil of him, nor curse him: thou shalt do no injustice unto him; and thou shalt maintain his right, against his enemy: thou shalt not exact rigorously of him, nor turn aside from relieving him: thou shalt deliver him from the snare and the pit, and shalt return his ox when he strayeth: thou shalt comfort him when he mourns, and nurture him when he sickens: thou shalt not abate the price of what thou buyest of him, for his necessity; nor shalt thou exact of him, because he leaneth upon thee: for in so doing thousands shall rise up and call thee blessed, and the Lord thy God shall strengthen thee in all the work of thy hand.
The Book of the Revelations of Jesus Christ to the Children of Zion
(Sidney Rigdon’s revelations)
Section 26
Let each one both man and woman strive for peace…
Banish from Zion all evil speaking, purge out hypocrisy, speak truth one to another, and as much as in you lays live peaceably with all men, walking in the fear of the Lord giving none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully
Section 42
I the Lord desire to have peace and unity
The Book of Remembrance
Revelation 48:60-62, 64
60 Seek to raise unto me a people who desire to have all things common among them, there being neither rich nor poor, neither bond nor free that all may be truly free and partakers of the heavenly gift.
61 Do this that the tribulations might be avoided, and if they should come that Zion shall be free; not by force, but by thy peace:
62 For the World shall fear my people not because of their weapons of war, but because of the love in their hearts; for the wicked cannot understand this thing and thus they reject me. …
64 And all they who seek war shall flee from before Zion, and the desolation that the wicked shall bring shall cause all they who seek peace to flee from before the World unto Zion;
The Third Book of David: Other Dreams and Visions, chapter 1:18-20; 25-27
18 Thus sayeth the Lord unto my servant David: Know that all war and all prophecies of war are over economic control; the battles prophesied to come in the end times,
19 If they come, shall be over the flow of goods, power, and man seeking to rule over all other men;
20 And this because mankind hath not the love in their hearts to care for the poor and the needy but take only for themselves.
25 I understood this to mean that I should [take this dream] as a blessing and a warning, that we, the human race, will not be forced to face or bear the harsh trials prophesied at the end times.
26 If they come, they will be our own undoing: the natural consequences of us refusing to repent of our sins and love one another as God has commanded.
27 We shall be like the Nephites, who through their own pride destroyed themselves, and were only successful as a society when they worked as one, with no poor among them.
The Book of the Lavens
Jonas 2:9-48
9 In the ensuing battle, my father, Timothy, the husband of Nephi, lost his life when a spear pierced his heart. 20 Our community mourned his loss on the battlefield before their hearts turned to rage, seeking revenge. 21 However, Nephi stayed the swords of the Lavens to prevent further violence, saying:
22 My dear ones, there is no doubt that God’s teachings provoke discord, for they demand of us radical love, deep empathy, unwavering discipleship, and boundless charity. 23 Remember that our God is not the prince of the sword, but the Prince of Peace. 24 The notion of a ‘fighting saint’ is a contradiction, akin to lambs with fangs or doves with talons. 25 War is a horrific and dreadful monster which is heir to the countless tragedies that humanity can inflict and endure. 26 Yet, when people go to war they often believe that God endorses their war, while their adversaries likely hold the same conviction. If both assert Divine sanction for warfare, does this not mean that God is the source of the horrors and a warmonger?
27 As the Anti-Nephi-Lehis knew, we Lavenites know our God, and we know that all violence is deplored by God. We know that those who invoke God’s name in their crusades are taking the Lord’s name in vain! 28 Therefore, you are commanded by Almighty God to lay down your arms, never to take them up again! 29 These instruments of death are to rust back into the earth so they may become soil, which is the instrument of life.
30 Nephi approached his fallen husband, cradled his hand, stroked his hair, and kissed his forehead. 31 My father Timothy’s eyes regained their light, and he arose to walk again amongst the living. 32 This act of resurrection left both Lavenites and Jacobites profoundly astonished. 33 After seeing this, a fatally wounded Jacobite was carried forth by his friends and laid before Nephi, who implored Nephi to save his life. 34 Some of the Lavens voiced concerns that aiding the Jacobite would impede our urgent escape, but again Nephi stayed them.
35 With spiritual power and authority, Nephi declared that all the wounded should be brought to him, promising to heal all those who would hear his words. 36 Nephi healed the Lavenites, affirmed their worth in God’s eyes, and sent them back to their families. To the Jacobites he healed, he said:
37 “You were called to repentance for your violence against the Lavens and instead you came to massacre us all. Now you come to us begging to heal you and save you from death? 38 I will heal you, for it is God’s desire that you shall bear witness to your people that a Laven held your life in his hands and chose mercy over vengeance.
39 Know this: the spirit of the adversary has hardened your hearts and set you against us to fulfill his destructive goals. 40 You have perceived our differences as sources of division rather than as opportunities to celebrate the vast diversity of God’s creation. 41 Your hatred has driven the Lavenites out from amongst you, and in doing so your spiritual power is diminished. 42 The heavens mourn over the unnecessary suffering of all people, for such pain is not God’s will.
43 I have spoken to you in hopes that your hearts would soften, but your hearts remain as hard as ever. 44 This is your final warning: if you do not repent and reconcile with the Lavens you have harmed, you will be destroyed.
45 Regardless of whether you forsake the darkness in your hearts, we Lavens shall remain as resilient as weeds and flourish as beautifully as orchids! 46 We now depart to solitude so we may cultivate our land, creating our own Eden.”
47 The wounded Jacobites were healed and they reluctantly permitted us to escape. 48 However, the Jacobites and the greater part of the Nephite tribes continued to harbor hatred for us in their hearts.
Kumenonhi 1:34-40
34 “Many of your hearts have faltered, causing the Lamanites and Lavens to suffer at your hand. 35 You have permitted the dark whisperer, the father of contention, to kindle flames of anger within you, setting one against another. 36 This spirit of strife is not of me, and must be cast aside.
37 I declare to you this day, let there be no more strife among you as there has been in days past. 38 As the Mother and Father are united as one, so too must you find unity among yourselves. 39 I implore each of you to seek reconciliation, set aside differences in doctrine, and embrace one another in harmony. 40 Show your willingness to bear one another’s burdens thus making them lighter, offering comfort to those who are in need of comfort, and doing good at all times, in all things, and in all places.
Maxims of the Mother
Section 13: Non-Violence, Pacifism, and Activist Peacemaking
1
A. Beloved community of Restoration, I wish to speak to you regarding the subjects of non-violence, pacifism, and activist peacemaking, which are all deeply interconnected.
B. My vision is of a world where all of creation lives in peaceful and profound harmony; A Zion that reveres the inherent value of every being and works tirelessly to uphold and safeguard it.
C. Throughout every generation humanity has fallen into a cycle that mistakenly believes that violence can bring about true and genuine peace. These misguided and futile attempts to establish peace contradict my vision of a Zionic world.
D. The foundation of Zion is not merely the absence of conflict, but the resolute determination of those who are driven by a profound sense of reverence for all people and a deep connection with the Divine. These prophetic people choose to live a life of discipline, persistence, and dedication to collective well-being.
2
A. During your time in Missouri and Nauvoo, you, unfortunately, disregarded my instructions to establish Zion through non-violent means and instead pursued a path of aggressive hostility which made the realization of Zion unachievable in those eras.
B. Although your past cannot be altered, it serves as the foundation upon which the present and future are built, so make the most of every moment and action, as they are the bricks that construct Zion.
C. Consider the tale of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis who were likewise entrenched in the vicious cycle of violence and bloodshed, but experienced a profound spiritual awakening. This awakening inspired them to renounce the harmful and fruitless cycle of violence and they instead embraced the principles of pacifism. These models maintained their unwavering commitment even in the face of martyrdom, which in turn also inspired their adversaries to embrace the way of peace.
D. I call upon you to emulate the noble example of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis and break free from the cycle of violence! Commit yourself to an unwavering dedication to the pursuit of peace, even if it means enduring adversity and persecution.
3
A. I have observed, with admiration, your efforts to renounce violence and pursue peace, as evidenced by naming your cities after repentant peacemaking kings and dedicating your holiest sites to the pursuit of peace.
B. However, I contend that your professed longing for Zion is undermined by your hesitancy to renounce all forms of violence, while also revealing a persistent attachment toward violence and a reluctance to embrace a more enlightened and peaceful path.
C. How can you claim cities and temples of peace as your own while tolerating, justifying, and even promoting violence in any form?
4
A. The realization of Zion in your own time requires more than empty words and lip service. It requires actively engaging in non-violent resistance to and the dismantling of oppressive systems and establishing new systems founded upon the principles of justice.
B. It is your sacred responsibility to courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious systems that hinder my Divine goal of justice and reconciliation.
C. To remain silent in the presence of oppression is to become complicit in its perpetuation. This is why the righteous must always rise up, speak out, and work against injustice.
D. In your pursuit of peace, you may find yourself in conflict with unjust and oppressive laws, regulations, and policies which are imposed by those in positions of power. Know that those who engage in acts of civil disobedience against such injustice are my sacred messengers who are doing my sacred work.
5
A. Genuine and lasting peace can only be achieved by creating a just society through the dismantling of oppressive systems and the establishment of authentic communal solidarity that affirms the inherent dignity, diversity, and value of every person.
B. Therefore, give up the burden of your inherited war-like nature! Cast off your indecision, complacency, and stagnation! Awake and build Zion the Beautiful!
Evan’s Revelations
Revelation of Chastisement, Condemnation and Comfort, verses 2-6
2
A. Alma the Elder warned that when anyone esteems themselves above another, they soon believe they are meant to rule.
B. Mosiah likewise declared that iniquitous kings pervert righteousness, make wicked laws, and spill blood to preserve their seat of power.
C. Amalickiah then demonstrated how such individuals flatter others to gain power, and how they will deceive and even murder to obtain it.
3
A. You have been taught that these things were spoken for your day and age.
B. You have been taught how these things are of great worth to you.
4
A. Despite this, your nation has elevated my son Donald, who believed himself superior and destined to rule.
B. Your nation saw how he disregards prophets and saints who sue for peace, heard him advocate for wicked laws, and brag how he is willing and eager to kill those who oppose him.
C. Yet, your nation did not learn from the Nephites and Lamanites, and made Donald its ruler. After much trial and heartache, Donald was dismissed as your ruler. Then, unlike the Nephites, the Amalickiah was brought back to be king.
5
A. Due to this foolishness, the pillars of your republic crumble, and confidence in its governance erodes from both within and without.
B. Donald has instructed his armies to invade his own lands, arrest and abduct his own neighbors, and many are harmed or killed. The most vulnerable of your people quiver in fear for their lives.
C. He orders parades to glorify his name to feed his pride, yet when resistance rises, he kindles the flames of war.
D. Having loosed violence upon the Earth, he dares invoke My name, imagining that I sanctify his evil works.
E. These things are abominable to Me, and it is by the foolishness of your nation that they have come to pass.
6
A. You have been taught that these are portentous times, and the lives of many are being sacrificed unnecessarily to the gods of war, greed, and avarice, and that you must be at the forefront of the opposition.
B. Those who opposed Donald and his armies before he rose to power the first time, the second time, and those who continue this fight now are commended.
C. Nevertheless, you must know that you are all image-bearers, and the loss of life is egregious. Therefore, seek to oppose wickedness in all that you do, but do not slay another.