Role Models Amoungst Heroes

A thought that has been on my mind recently is located in this verse which reads: “Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (2 Nephi 15:20). This has been on my mind recently because I notice there are a lot of people called heroes that maybe aren’t. I have already voiced my opinions on Deadpool, but it’s not just him either, and it’s not just comic book superheroes that can run into this problem.

This has led me to consider 2 questions: what is a hero and what is a role model?

Heroes in Scripture and pop culture seem to have something in common, and it’s easier to see what they have in common when we examine the times that they live in. consider Daniel (you know, the guy who was thrown in the lion’s den?) he lived in a time when Jerusalem and the temple of God was overthrown by the Babylonian empire. Daniel was one of the luckier ones who escaped total slavery and was put into king Nebekenezzars School for gifted youth (insert the x-men cartoon theme). He Daniel was given a choice to either reject the things of God for the things of men, or to stick with his principles. Daniel decided to stick with the things he knew were right and of God against much persecution and trial, consequently he became the king’s right hand man and made life much better for the church.

Next, George Washington. While he was camped out at Valley Forge, George ran into a problem. The rebellion had lost most of the battles and all of the important strategic positions. While in Valley Forge most of the men there if they didn’t die in battle would have died in the unbearable conditions. It is said that when George Washington gave up almost all hope he turned to God in prayer. He once said in a letter that God showed him a vision of what America could become if Valley Forge was kept. That next night, George Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River and changed the direction of the war towards the side of freedom and justice.

In both of these scenarios we see a person (both religious and Secular) making a decision that was hard based on principles of Truth, Justice, Freedom, and Righteousness. These and several others stick to their guns to make sure right is right all the time. That said, anyone who makes a choice to do the right thing can be considered a hero, and if that is the case then most people, real and fiction, can be considered a hero at one time or another.

So what about a role model then? Are all heroes role models? I say no, and here is why…

Remember lance Armstrong? The guy was famous for having health problems up the wazoo, overcoming them, and accomplishing great athletic feats. He raised lots of money for medical research, inspired hundreds if not thousands to overcome their challenges, and then we found him taking drugs. Does this mean he was not a hero? All those children who overcame their challenges because of his (albeit fake) example- was he not a hero to them? Isn’t he still their hero in a sense? But is he their role model?

Or how about this one: David conquered Goliath, became king, ruled in righteousness for many years. He is still considered a huge scriptural hero, as well as one of the biggest fails in scripture. A combination of him not being where he was supposed to be and lingering where he ought not to be brought upon his downfall. Yet, despite all that, the throne of David was where the Savior is supposed to sit. David is a hero who may not be the best role model.

So as far as I can tell- a hero is one who makes their choices based on what is right, and a role model is a hero who makes those right choices because it’s part of their nature. And when a role model makes a wrong choice they will do everything in their power to correct those mistakes as soon as they can (we call that repentance). So why does this even matter who we have as our role models?

The scriptures teach that we need to be careful because whatever we intake into ourselves will become a part of us (see the 13^th article of faith, also “for the strength of Youth pamphlet”) when we watch a movie, TV show, Read a book or any activity like that, what we are doing is focusing our attention on what is happening in that moment- essentially giving control of what we intake over to someone else. Now I like the “anti- media” talk just as much as the next guy (not at all) but let’s face it. In these days it’s nearly impossible to go through a day without media effecting you. Even as a missionary you are going to run into music in stores, TV’s on In people’s homes and advertisements on billboards on the side of the road. So unless you pull a Yoda and hide in the marshlands of a distant, uninhabited planet, you are going to encounter both good and bad that the world will give you. The question we should be asking isn’t necessarily “how can I avoid bad media” but “how do I protect myself when I do encounter evil in the world?”

3 thoughts: the first is we can do everything we can to stay close to the spirit. The Spirit will warn us when we come across a situation that might be dangerous (Spider-Sense?). These are the everyday things we are told to do. Read the scriptures every day, pray always (D&C 93:49), Go to Church every week.

Second is we need to do everything we can to strengthen our testimonies. This is the second level of things we are told all the time: fast regularly, Fulfill Callings, go to the temple etc. a strong testimony can better withstand the fiery darts that the advisory will throw against us (bullet resistant skin?).

Third is we need to have courage to always do the right thing in any circumstance; be that turning off the computer screen, getting rid of the computer screen, closing the book, turning off the TV or even finding a different route to travel. A testimony is a fragile thing, and after too many hits it will become dormant and our conscious will lose its effectiveness in determining right from wrong, as will our ability to heed to the promptings of the spirit. This courage is a spiritual gift from God, and as Moroni taught, spiritual gifts can be attained from prayer and practice.

I know that the best role model is our savior Jesus Christ. He is the one who gave us the way to live that would best create peace and harmony. As we strive to live the things he taught us in Holy Scripture and from the words of the prophets, we intake his attributes and become heroes as well as role models for the world to emulate. We become (should I say it? Yeah, I should) Superhuman- a person who has risen above the world onto a higher plane of humanity and one more plane close to God. May we all strive to be those role models is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.