Conference tecrus::mormonism

    Frankly, the most disappointing thing in this whole affair, is the
    attitude, that the Administration is taking, I don't care what
    strategic setback we will suffer, if we distance ourselve from China,
    but I do know this, we should never directly or indirectly have
    anything to do with a regime that kill it's own people by the tousands.
    They need to get a lesson from the rest of the world, that that is a 
    totally unacceptable way to behave. In this day and age you can not
    claim internal unrest and problems to be problems only to be dealt with
    internally.
    
    Peter

    Back in 1935, during the time of the Long March, the US backed the
    Kuomintang (sp?) in chasing Mao and gang around the country.  It
    was to our embarrassment and shame that they treated the Communists
    the way they did.  The Communists were outnumbered and outgunned by
    the American-supplied armies of the state.  Many martyrs for the cause 
    were created.  It was not hard for the Commmunists to convince the
    people that the Americans were their enemy.  I don't think the American
    people were even aware of what was happening, so their true wishes
    were not expressed.
    
    But, today our response has, in my opinion, been good so far.  I find it
    interesting that for a while there was anti-American sentiment
    expressed among the Chinese students, thinking that we were again
    involved in the suppression of the people.  But, our response this
    time is showing our true colors.  The word about Beijing has spread
    throughout China, not because of the government-contolled sources
    that downplay the issues, but because of Voice of America and other
    English broadcasts as well as other sources.  Seems many of the people 
    have been studying English and own radios.  Unlike 1935, we are making
    it very clear that we support the will of the people.
    
    News now has it that the 27th regiment (the one that attacked the
    students) of the PLA may be attacked by the 38th regiment.  This
    would herald civil war.  A witness claimed that the members of the
    27th regiment were simply murderers - slaying man, woman and child
    without discression.  This contrasts heavily with the good traditional
    relations the people have had with the PLA.  I can't help but wonder
    about the soldiers on either side who are now torn between duty to
    country and duty as soldiers.  
    
    What would you do if you were a good Christian soldier in the 27th 
    regiment?  What would you do if you were a good Christian soldier in
    the 38th regiment?  If a clash ensues, there will be family members
    on both sides.  Would you have stronger allegiance to state, to
    family or to other moral principles?
    
    Steve

    As I have considered the events of the last week, I am glad that LDS
    missionaries are not presently in China. Consider the danger that they
    could now be in, if this were the case. However, I also find myself
    wondering if these events are part of the Lord's plan to prepare the
    way for the gospel to be preached in China, sometime in the future.
    
    In any case, I am deeply saddened by wicked rulers who hunger so
    much for power that they would send their armies to attach unarmed
    civilians who are peacefully demonstrating. I pray for God's blessing
    to be with the Chinese people at this time.
    
    In Christ's Love,
    Rich 

    But there are missionaries in China.  As of this date, our former
    Bishop Westland and his wife Sybil are serving in the Hong Kong 
    Mission.  Are you speaking primarily of "youthful" missionaries?
    
    Last time I checked they were still there and Hong Kong was part
    of mainland China.  
    
    Louise
    

RE: < Note 249.4 by KIKETT::HAGUE_LO >

Well, yes, Hong Kong is part of China, but it is still administered via 
British authority; the gang in Beijing will not control things in Hong 
Kong completely until the year 1997.

Which raises an interesting question: what will happen in 1997 when control 
of Hong Kong reverts to China's authority? While various liberties now 
enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong are supposed to be provided for in the 
treaty that gives Hong Kong to the Beijing government, most such liberties
that I know of are in the economic category. What about religious
liberties? 

I think I heard once that indeed there are members in Communist China, but 
that open proselyting and building chapels was forbidden; the members there 
must practise their religion quietly. Missionary work goes on, but it is 
conducted by the members, and then only with their established acquaintances.

/kevin

    The turnover in 1997 is probably one of the reasons that China has
    been introducing democratic reforms.  How else would they be able
    to integrate Hong Kong back into the mainland without destroying
    the economic strength of the sector?  So, I think they were pretty
    much forced to introduce capitalist ideas into their society.
    
    The news reports I've seen indicate that Honk Kong is still being
    used as an exit port for foreigners evacuating Beijing.  Also, though 
    civil war is feared, violence has not yet become widespread though
    there are a lot of troop movements.  Americans are being pulled out of 
    Beijing, but are remaining in other portions of China.  There has been
    no mention yet of missionaries.  But, from the looks of it, the 
    missionaries in Honk Kong are probably not thought to be in danger at 
    this time.
    
    Steve
    
    

    
    It seems clear to me that the recent organization of the 2nd quorum
    of the 70, and the problems in China (and elsewhere in the world)
    all point to an expanded missionary effort in the future.
    
    The Lord is clearly preparing the world for the rolling forth of
    the gospel.  The stone cut out of the mountains without hands spoken
    of by Daniel the prophet will continue to roll forth until it has 
    filled the whole earth.
    
    I think this is an exciting time to be on the earth!
    
    Be that as it may, I sorrow for all of those innocent souls who
    must live in a country where souldiers kill women and children with
    impunity.  I hope sanity is restored soon.          
    
    Jim

    Lately, the government in China seems to be wanting things to go
    back to normal.  However, there are some things that have permanently
    changed.  They can't go back on their economic reforms because they
    can't afford it, having come to rely on the results of economic
    reform.  They can't continue to lie to the people as they are now
    doing because of the many forms of information left available to
    the people (particulary telephone and radio).  They can't rely on
    the good will of the people to support the Revolution and the PLA.
    The ties that the people had with the Revolution and with the PLA
    have been permanently tarnished.  It would seem that a field is
    being created that is extremely ripe to harvest.  Temporarily, the
    government will be able to destroy the ripened fruit and harvest
    the tares, but as the season continues, the harvest will become too 
    large for the tares to thrive.
    
    Steve

    My wife (who just got back from visiting her folks with the kids)
    told me that my three-year old saw a magazine with a picure of China
    and of one of the students lying dead on the pavement.  He asked her
    if the man was hurt and she told him yes.  She didn't think too
    much of it until a few days later when my boy said the evening prayer
    and asked the Lord to 'bless the Chinese and bless the man that
    was hurt ...'
    
    Steve

    A couple of weeks ago, I used as the material for my lesson for
    the Priests Quorum the talk delivered by President Benson on pride
    (being discussed in note 245).  One of the boys made a comment about
    the situation in China and how it was the pride of the leaders there
    that precipitated such a terrible outcome to a situation that had
    so much potential for improvement and good.  The leaders' lust for
    power and control over the population would not let the people voice
    their desires for a more democratic form of government; rather,
    the leaders chose to kill innocent and unarmed citizens in order
    to preserve their hold on the people.  At present, it seems that
    the leaders are set on crushing whatever may be left of the democratic
    movement.  Pride is a hard thing to give up (I heard once that when
    we pray for countries to be opened to the gospel, we may actually
    be praying for war, famine, disaster, etc.--I think pride is the
    reason for this), but until those in high position are unburdened
    of their pride (either voluntarily, or by compulsion), I don't think
    we'll see much progress in China.  The gospel will one day be spread
    throughout China; however, if the Chinese government must be compelled
    to be humble, there will be some ugly days before then.
    
    I also pray for China and all those whose lives have been injured
    through this ordeal.
    
    Dave