Lemmings are probably best known for something they don’t actually do: deliberately follow one another off cliffs to their deaths.
The myth has persisted for decades, likely because lemmings do experience dramatic population increases that cause them to disperse in search of food and habitat. Sometimes that migration includes crossing bodies of water, and some die in the process. But it isn’t mass suicide.
Still, the image of lemmings blindly following one another toward a cliff has become part of our modern parlance. When we compare people to lemmings, we mean they are following the crowd to their own detriment.
And I think there is a cure for a “lemming mentality”: establish ourselves on principles that anchor us before we decide how to act.
What Anchors Me?
On what principles have I decided to base my life?
This statement from the leadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sums it up for me:
“While The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics, we remind our members—whatever their individual political views—to be united in our commitment to the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His teachings. As His followers, we should treat one another and all of God’s children with respect, dignity, and love. No political or other affiliation should supersede that covenant and sacred responsibility.”1
What this means for me is this: how I act and treat others must transcend any party or other worldly affiliation because I have made more consequential commitments.
My discipleship comes first.
No Salvation in a Political Party
Said another way, Dallin H. Oaks taught:
“Those who govern their thoughts and actions solely by the principles of liberalism or conservatism or intellectualism cannot be expected to agree with all of the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As for me, I find some wisdom in liberalism, some wisdom in conservatism, and much truth in intellectualism—but I find no salvation in any of them.”2
That last line sticks with me.
There may be wisdom in conservatism. There may be wisdom in liberalism. There may be truth found elsewhere. But none of them can bring me salvation.
Only Jesus Christ can.
The Compass and the Crowd
A principle is like a compass. It keeps us headed in the right direction no matter what is going on around us.
Too often, however, our political compass seems to work something like this:
“If my party does it, it is right. If the other party does it, it is wrong.”
Even when it is the EXACT same thing.
That makes no sense to me.
If something is wrong when the other side does it, it should still be wrong when my side does it. If something is right when my side does it, I should be willing to acknowledge that same principle when someone on the other side does it.
Otherwise, I’m not really following a principle.
I’m following a party.
And nothing says “lemming” more clearly than that.
When WHAT is done is no longer the standard, but WHO does it is, perhaps we should check our compass.
Otherwise, we may find ourselves following a crowd headed for the cliff and into the sea.
Grounded and Reaching High
- Main idea: Discipleship should govern our political thinking. When loyalty to a party replaces consistent principles, we risk simply following the crowd.
- Practical takeaway: Identify the principles that anchor your choices before judging an issue, party, or person, then apply those principles consistently.
- One question to ponder: Would I judge the same action differently if it were done by someone from the political party or group I tend to support?
P.S. For fun, watch this BYU Animated short film about lemmings.
- Official Statement, The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued on Friday, January 15, 2021, emphasis added
- Dallin H Oaks, “Criticism“, Ensign, February 1987
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