Legality Isn't Morality
History does not remember its greatest atrocities merely as crimes; it remembers them as policy. Slavery was legal, and the systematic destruction of entire peoples was enforced by loyal men following orders. Every tyranny in recorded history rose not in spite of the law but because of it. When a government can legalize its own cruelty, good people become its most dangerous weapon rather than criminals. Everyday citizens comply, often failing to question whether what was legal was also right, leading to glaring civil liberties violations. The law does not define what is moral; it defines what those in power allow. This distinction has contributed to the loss of freedom in America, costing millions their lives. The ongoing struggle between individual rights vs government power has been tested repeatedly, revealing that freedom is not a gift from the government; it was never theirs to give. This tension echoes even within communities like those of the Mormon faith and freedom, reminding us that complacency in the face of government overreach can erode our most cherished rights.