I wrote a letter a while back to the Washington County Commonwealth about a meeting I attended, and I thought I would post this because I got a lot of good feedback. So here it is. :)
Parents, Students, and Members of the Washington County Commonwealth Board,
I witnessed some of the proceedings of the board this last week and a presentation given by some of the student body that really caught my attention and it really made me rethink the character of the student body as a whole and what the goal of this commonwealth is. I would like to make the readers aware that I have different views concerning the matter.
Some of the student body feel that the recent changes made by the board concerning certain policies were unjust, and presented the board with some requests. Towards the end of the meeting, the purpose of the presentation was lost and serious issues arose that could be considered to most, very dangerous.
Recently, in my personal studies, I have learned a very important principle that cannot be lightly overlooked. This pertains to some frequently asked questions by teenagers across the world:
“If I simply can’t do that, how come you can?”
“If you can’t trust me, how can I trust you?”
“If I’m not old enough, how come you are entitled?”
What is really going on in the mind of the teenager asking anything to the effect of the above is this:
“It is unfair and unjust that because of my age I cannot hold the same power and authority an adult can. I desire that power and that authority even if I am just a child. Its my right.”
This common thought stems from core phase, the very first phase in which a person is educated. It is a very serious principle that if not taught and understood, can completely alter and change a person for his or her lifetime.
This principle is called the principle of authority. Authority comes directly from God, who is the primary source of authority. God directly designates authority over certain things to man, called a stewardship. Parents have the direct stewardship to raise a child under the authority of God until that child becomes independent enough to learn this principle and go off on their own. Even then, some children never learn this and become dangerous to their fellow men. Because a child is under the stewardship of their parents who have authority over them, children must learn to obey and submit to the will of their parents. Parents also have the stewardship to seek out mentors to educate their children out of the child’s best interest, and by choosing a mentor with the guidance of the Father, that mentor holds that stewardship to educate that child as well. Therefore, children must learn to submit to that mentor to really take in what the mentor has to offer.
Submission is key, and there is a time and place for it. By teaching a child to submit to their parents and mentors, when the child is an adult and cannot constantly rely on the parents as a crutch, that child must learn through their parents, to submit to his/her Heavenly Father when he/she needs help later on. It is only by submission under righteous principles to the child’s earthly parents that he/she can learn this principle and apply it to adulthood by submitting to the Father.
Submission must be done in the right way in order for that submission to become righteous submission. Only through the Spirit is this made known unto man. There are times when evil tyrants influence our lives greatly. And only through the manifestation of the Spirit will we learn to discern the times for each. This discernment is key to submission, so that you personally know whether or not you should or shouldn’t submit to someone.
The Commonwealth is comprised of parents who are seeking an education for their children. The children then must submit to the wills of their parents and their mentors because that parent and mentor have the stewardship delegated to them under the authority of God, and equal responsibility to seek out the best interest of the child, even if the child does not see the big picture in where their best interest lies. The Board members have this authority to teach their children righteous and correct principles, even if the children disagree.
In 2nd Samuel Chapter 6:1-7 it reads:
“Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.
And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”
In seminary, we read this and at first I thought, “How unfair! How unjust!” But it was not until a seminary teacher had explained it to me until I realized how serious this situation was.
The Ark of the Covenant was a precious artifact to the Israelites, and was pretty much a mobile temple altar in which the prophet –which was at the time David- communicated with God. It was so sacred that God commanded that nobody were to touch it unless commanded to do so by Him. It was strictly observed. The Israelites carried it using poles that could be inserted through the bottom on the ends of the ark, so that when they carried it, that they did not come in direct contact with the ark. The situation here, is that two of the sons of Abinidab were instructed to move the ark from one place to another, which was a huge honor. So, to help transport the ark, Ahio and Uzzah placed the ark upon a cart driven by oxen. The oxen shook the cart, and Uzzah placed his hand upon the ark for the purpose of steadying it. God did not make any exception for Uzzah and smote him because he had disobeyed the commandment to not touch the ark.
My seminary teacher likened this story unto questioning the authority of God, which could cause us spiritual death. Whenever we question the authority of our Heavenly Father by not submitting to His will for us, we are touching the Ark of the Covenant by questioning His authority. So by not learning to submit to our parents and our mentors under righteous principles, we are questioning the authority of God and touching the Ark of the Covenant.
When I witnessed the presentation, it really made me think about whether or not the student body of our commonwealth school is learning about the principle of submission, and why its so important. The student body needs to focus on this, and that this is the root of the small issues springing up everywhere, including the ones discussed in the presentation given by some of the student body this last week. I think that if a majority of the students learn the principle of submission, then a lot of key issues that need to be dealt with will right themselves. I do not think lightening up on the policies or bylaws of our commonwealth is going to solve the problem, or bring about a statesmen like atmosphere. I think that strict observance of the policies and bylaws must be enforced in a way so that the students know what is expected of them, and that if they want the education that their parents have helped govern out of the students best interest, that the student body must submit to the will of the parents in the knowledge that by submitting to their parents that they are directly submitting to the Father.
It is only by strict obedience and submission to the will of the Father that constitutes the blessings and privileges we receive. I believe that the board and the student council should embody this principle, which means that the board is constantly aware of their stewardship over the students, by seeking their best interest through the guidance of our Father, and that the student council is consistently aware that they must submit to the will of the Father, even if it is delivered to them by the board. I don’t believe the student body completely embodies or understands this principle, and that until they do, the parents and mentors must strictly observe the policies and bylaws that are made by the prayerful guidance of our Heavenly Father even if the student body at the present time disagrees with the said policies and bylaws.
My suggestion to both the student body and the board of our commonwealth school is this: when seeking out a candidate for the student council, search for a true statesman who will embody the principle of submission and become an exemplar to the student body of how a statesman should be. This candidate, in order to represent my views, must stick to righteous principles and be aware of the authority they have and what the purpose of the student council is. I hope you will see the principles behind this and seek out candidates that stay strong in the principles that the Commonwealth school should embody.
Sincerely,
Brittani Mott
A student and student mentor in the W.C.C.
