I have often wondered how any citizen of the United States of America that is of the age to vote can just ignore elections and let them pass by as if they never existed. How is it that someone could yield up their right to vote and not exercise the voice and the right that thousands from ages past have given even their very lives to defend. It is an utter waste of the gift of liberty that is given to us.
A prophet of the latter days, before he was president of the Church, said, “Every member of the Church should exercise his right to vote. It is a duty—a civic duty, a moral duty… A man who fails to vote is failing in a paramount responsibility to his home, his community, and his nation.” (Elder David O. McKay, Conference Report, April 1940). I don’t know how much clearer it could be that God wants us to exercise our right to vote. Even letters from the First Presidency of the Church have emphasized this duty: “as citizens we have the privilege and duty of electing office holders and influencing public policy. … We urge you to register to vote, to study the issues and candidates carefully and prayerfully, and then to vote.” (First Presidency letter, September 11, 2008)
Spencer W. Kimball cited another letter from The First Presidency: “We urge our members to do their civic duty and to assume their responsibilities as individual citizens in seeking solutions to the problems which beset our cities and communities. . . . Church members cannot ignore the many practical problems that require solution if our families are to live in an environment conducive to spirituality. . . .Where solutions to these practical problems require cooperative action with those not of our faith, members should not be reticent in doing their part in joining and leading in those efforts where they can make an individual contribution to those causes which are consistent with the standards of the Church.” (In Spencer W. Kimball, “Living the Gospel in the Home,” Ensign, May 1978, 100.)
Another apostle, Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has said: ”It will be hard to change society at large, but we must work to improve the moral culture that surrounds us. Latter-day Saints in every country should be good citizens, participate in civic affairs, educate themselves on the issues, and vote.” (“Lamentations of Jeremiah: Beware of Bondage,” General Conference, October 2013)
Election Day is creeping up to us very quickly! If you are not registered to vote or need to update your registration, it is not difficult at all. This can be easily accomplished online. If you are in Utah you can register to vote or update your existing voter registration online through the official state voter portal at Vote.Utah.gov Voter Registration Portal. You can also directly access the secure portal via Utah Online Voter Registration.
Through the portal, you can:
- Register to vote for the first time
- Update your existing residential address, legal name, or party affiliation
- Check your current voter registration status
I hope and pray that everyone who reads this will take action now and check their registration status ASAP. If needed, update it or register to vote. You can even select to receive the mail in ballot. It is not a hard thing to do. Make the time. Do your civic duty. Make sure you are registered to vote. Then, VOTE!