Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Aw, Glenn Beck. His show was popular on CNN and even more popular on Fox News. I wonder if he is particularly popular among members of my own faith since he converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints several years ago. He credits becoming a Mormon as a primary factor that enabled him to quit drinking and taking drugs. Fantastic! That is what the gospel of Jesus Christ can do!

However, I am deeply troubled by an important component to Brother Beck's reporting. The man has made a fortune off of FEAR and instilling FEAR in the American public. FEAR is entirely contrary to LDS Doctrine and peddling it like candy seems wrong. Recently in TIME Magazine is was reported:

"After he [Beck] moved to Fox in January his audience exploded to 2 million...His hook, for the age of economic anxiety: whereas O'Reilly embodies anger and Hannity brashness, Beck embraces FEAR."

"FEAR of what? Take your pick. FEAR that the U.S. is on a long march to fascism. That fat cats and bureaucratic 'bloodsuckers' are plundering your future. That Mexico will collapse and chaos will pour over the border. That America believes too little in God and too much in global warming. That 'they'-Big Government, Big Business, Big Media-are against you. Above all, that you, small town, small business America-Palinville-have been forgotten. Dismissed. Laughed at. Just like him."

Now I am not questioning his testimony, no one has the right to question another's testimony, but what is he doing?! My Elder's Quorum last Sunday was on being VALIANT under any and all circumstances, not FEAR.

One Book of Mormon prophet declared:

"...fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear."

The saints of the church were advised in the Doctrine & Covenants to:

"...be of good cheer, and do not fear."

And the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that:

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Seriously, couldn't Brother Beck's time be better spent identifying the good in the world, the courageous acts of mankind, and areas for improvement without deliberately trying to scare Fox News viewers more than they already are?

However, there is hope, this might be one huge misunderstanding. I recently read the he is going on a comedy tour over the summer which would explain why he says what he says. Perhaps he should emphasize this at the beginning of every show with some sort of warning like:

"The following is pure comedy to brighten your day. Do not take it seriously, it is supposed to be funny. Enjoy."