[NOTE: THIS IS INTENDED TO BE AN APOLITICAL POST]

I have always marveled at, and been grateful for, the peaceful transition of power that occurs within in our country and in many other countries around the world. Generally, people accept when the majority of their fellow citizens speak, even if they are on the losing side. I hope that continues to be the case.

There has been some talk lately about what might happen after votes are cast and results are in for the upcoming election in the United States. I have heard factions on both sides threaten disregard for the results if their candidate loses, and some have even threatened violence. This violates the principles upon which stable and secure governments exist.

In Helaman Chapter 1, the Chief Judge has died and an election is held to see who will succeed him. His three sons are the candidates: Pahoran, Paanchi, and Pacumeni. This caused the people to be divided into three groups, which is normal during an election season I suppose; people want the candidate that represents their ideals to win and they campaign and fight for that. In this particular election, Pahoran won. The responses of his two brothers are instructive.

The first, Pacumeni, “when he saw that he could not obtain the judgment-seat, he did unite with the voice of the people (Helaman 1:6). He didn’t win and he didn’t throw a tantrum. It appears that his supporters followed his lead. They were not sore losers.

On the other hand, the other brother, Paanchi, was pretty upset and he began to promote some sort of rebellion to his supporters. Before he gets too far, he is taken and tried and sentenced. This upsets his supporters and they conspire with others to murder the winner of the election, Pahoran.

After that plot is executed, Pacumeni (the good sport when he lost) then becomes the new Chief Judge in place of his brother. But the damage is done. The contention and division in the government weakens the nation and they become vulnerable to their enemies which plays out later in the chapter.

The point is this: there is a right way and a wrong way to lose an election. One keeps us strong; the other weakens us.

President Dallin H. Oaks said this in the October 2020 General Conference:

“…Our article of faith, written by the Prophet Joseph Smith after the early Saints had suffered severe persecution from Missouri officials, declares, ‘We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law’ (Articles of Faith 1:12).

“This does not mean that we agree with all that is done with the force of law. It means that we obey the current law and use peaceful means to change it. It also means that we peacefully accept the results of elections. We will not participate in the violence threatened by those disappointed with the outcome. In a democratic society we always have the opportunity and the duty to persist peacefully until the next election” (“Love Your Enemies“, Dallin H. Oaks, October 2020)

My first presidential election of voting age was 1992. I was a freshman at BYU. There was obviously pretty strong support in that environment for George H. W. Bush, so when he lost, there was some consternation. However, I remember a guy in my dorm who was on cloud nine. He kept talking about how everyone was figuratively wearing black on their way to a funeral while he was figuratively dressed for a party because his candidate, Bill Clinton, had won. I think about that every election year—it helps me keep reasonable perspective.

Just about half of the citizens of this country didn’t like the results of the last election, and the other half didn’t like the results four years before that. There will always be a winner and a loser of the election. Yet we are all winners in the peaceful transfer of power. And we are all losers if we let contention creep into and weaken the principles that unite us.

I benefit from remembering this counsel: “Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people” (Mosiah 29:26). People are generally good. Our fellow-citizens are generally good. Trusting that principle has helped me deal with the results of a variety of elections.

But we should also remember the warning that immediately follows: “And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land” (Mosiah 29:27).

Yes, elections have consequences. But how we react afterward does too.