Neal A. Maxwell made this observation that is not only true but especially relevant for a society in downfall:
As people become harder, they use softer words to describe darker deeds.
Neal A. Maxwell
Think about that.
Where do we see that happening today?
Consider the words of Samuel the Lamanite:
And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out.
Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil.
But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet.
Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him.
Helaman 13:25-28
Think about how something clearly bad for you like a donut can be made appetizing. First, fry the nutritionless and tasteless hunk of white powder and then drench it in processed sweetness while covering it with frosting and rainbow-colored sprinkles.
It pleases the natural senses as it rots you internally.
Don’t be fooled. When you are presented with something overly sweet, it is likely covering up something far more bitter.
The darker the deeds, the softer the words, the sweeter the taste.
4 Comments
The thing that came to mind as I read this was the abortion debate. “Pro-choice,” “fetus” “terminate”…even “abortion” itself. A less soft word for it might be murder.
Right. A current, correct word is deemed “offensive” or a “slur” and a new word is used, a softer word that feels more comfortable. Funny how changing a word makes a deed more justifiable.
George Orwell was correct, prophetic,… in many frightening ways.
George Orwell was correct, prophetic,… in many frightening ways.