Mormons unsure how to frame Trump’s divine protection
Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2024 5:45 pm
Twice a year during general conference Mormons are told endless stories about Heavenly Father performing little miracles for them. Russel Nelson’s amazing survival from the grips of a minor mechanical issue with a plane, his foresight in cancelling a couple business trips before COVID- Mormons are primed to look for these miracles in their every day lives.
Then along comes the Trump incident. His life spared with the margin of less than an inch. If there was ever anything that could be called divine providence, it was this.
So why did Heavenly Father reach down and save Trump?
Daniel has been pondering the religious aspect of this event:
One commenter on the blog points out that it’s hard to believe God wasn’t at work:
The Mormon church couldn’t buy a miracle this incredible, they’re stuck making mountains out of molehills. And you can’t help but wonder what the members are thinking when they compare the two. Maybe Trump is God’s living prophet on the earth…
Then along comes the Trump incident. His life spared with the margin of less than an inch. If there was ever anything that could be called divine providence, it was this.
So why did Heavenly Father reach down and save Trump?
Daniel has been pondering the religious aspect of this event:
I couldn’t help but laugh at Dan’s response. Interpreter publishes hundreds of articles just like this. Linking disparate things together to try and prove a point. Suddenly he’s squeamish about appealing to parallel-o-mania?“DCP” wrote: As everyone knows, former President Donald J. Trump was nearly assassinated late last week, grazed by a bullet that hit his right ear and bloodied the right side of his face. (One man in the audience was killed, and two others were seriously wounded.) In response to Mr. Trump’s very visible injury, somebody has posted the following online:
To which my response is No. Please. Please, let’s not do this. Let’s not go there. The American Founders never envisioned the government of the United States as a substitute for the Church, and they would, I’m confident, be horrified at any thought of the “chief magistrate” of the Executive Branch being venerated as a priest or messiah or prophet, a mediator of the divine. Politics, while highly important, should be kept in a subordinate place. Patriotism should remain safely distant from idolatry, and there should be no personality cults in American political life. The Führerprinzip has no legitimate role in our constitutional government.In the Bible, the concept of blood on the right ear (Leviticus 8:22-24 and 14:28) serves as a visible mark of consecration, signifying that the person is dedicated to God’s service and has been set apart for a specific purpose. This act represents a physical and spiritual transformation, preparing the individual for their sacred role. Here’s a breakdown of the significance:
* Right ear: The right ear represents hearing and obedience. In ancient times, the right ear was considered the most important ear, as it was the ear that heard the words of God.
* Blood: Blood represents life, sacrifice, and atonement. In this context, the blood is a symbol of purification and consecration. * Consecration: Consecration means to set something or someone apart for a specific purpose, making it holy and dedicated to God. In this case, the blood on the right ear signifies that the person is being set apart for a sacred task or role.
* Priestly consecration: In Leviticus 8, the blood is applied to the right ear of Aaron and his sons, consecrating them as priests. This act sets them apart as mediators between God and the people.
* Purification: In Leviticus 14, the blood is applied to the right ear of the person being cleansed, symbolizing their purification and restoration to the community
One commenter on the blog points out that it’s hard to believe God wasn’t at work:
This is a major problem with appealing to miracles. If we are going to use the miraculous as a sign to guide us on who God has chosen for us to follow, then it’s easy for Trump to tap into this reservoir of credulity.“SeN commenter” wrote:I actually probably do believe Trump was spared by God, though I don't presume to speculate too much on the reasons why he was, or why the father who bravely protected his family was not. God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts, especially our partisan political thoughts. Trump himself clearly sees it as an act of God as well though, as almost anyone who survives an attack on their life probably would.
The question is whether that realization will cause self-reflection and lead him to change and treat his life as if he owes it to God, or if he will interpret it as a sign of some kind of divine approval or mandate from God . He's expressed before the idea that "God is on my side," and I think he even said it in his RNC speech. In a sense God is on everyone's side, because He wills our ultimate good, but as Jonah Goldberg pointed out this week, there's also a dangerously prideful interpretation of that statement, which is something like, "I'm so awesome, even God must be a fan," which is why I think Lincoln's formulation of the question is much better than Trump's:
“Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side, my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
The Mormon church couldn’t buy a miracle this incredible, they’re stuck making mountains out of molehills. And you can’t help but wonder what the members are thinking when they compare the two. Maybe Trump is God’s living prophet on the earth…
