Jumping to Conclusions

 It is remarkable how much our study of the Book of Mormon has mirrored problems we are experiencing today. Secret combinations (Gadianton robbers) were throughout the land seeking the overthrow of government.  In Helaman 8 Nephi prophesies to the people that their Chief Judge was just killed by the Gadianton robbers while he was sitting on the judgment seat. Five runners were sent to see if the words of Nephi were true. They were astonished to find that the words were true, so astonished they fainted. When others entered the room of the judgement seat they found the Chief Judge murdered and the runners laying nearby. They instantly jumped to the conclusion that these 5 runners were the murderers and threw them in prison unjustly. 

Runners to see if Nephi's Prophecy was True

Runner's Falsely Accused

True Killer Exposed

Nephi eventually was able to expose the real killer to get the 5 set free but it took a miracle to overcome the original prejudice. Media and politicians need to avoid jumping to conclusions inspiring outrage.

I see a parallel in the publicized police interactions. Only parts of the story are initially exposed and done so in a way to incite outrage and retaliation, but when the truth is exposed over time. a different picture emerges. 

George Floyd: We now know that George Floyd was still in his car and had not left the scene of the crime when the police arrived because he was not feeling well. The body cam footage shows he immediately admitted to police that he had been "hooping" (taking drugs rectally), but the police didn't seem to understand what that meant right away (I also would not have). Floyd was in great distress already such that he seemed not to be obeying or complying with police orders. From the autopsy we know he had a lethal dose of Fentanyl (20,000 people died of Fentanyl overdose in 2017). A Fentanyl overdose results in difficulty breathing. Floyd was complaining that he couldn't breath while still standing up and when sitting in the police car. Floyd was likely dying before Officer Derek Chauvin even showed up. Floyd needed a Naloxone injection to survive, not restraint. The fact that police did not know that does not constitute murder. Chauvin should not have put the knee on the head/neck but a jury does not have evidence to convict him of murder beyond a reasonable doubt.

Ahmaud Arbery: He was not simply jogging down the road when shot. He had trespassed into private property (a vacant home) and when confronted by the armed (father and son) neighborhood watch patrol, he turned and attacked the armed father attempting to take away the gun. When an armed individual is attacked by an otherwise unarmed individual, both are legally considered armed at that time. If the attacker overcomes the man with the gun, the attacker can turn the gun on the previously armed person, so lethal self-defense is warranted.

Jacob Blake: Details are still emerging but Jacob Blake was under a restraining order and a warrant for arrest from a previous complaint of sexual assault and vehicle theft by his ex-girlfriend and mother of his kids. Per dispatch recordings, on the day of his shooting, his ex-girlfriend had again called police because he had showed up where he was not supposed to be and had again taken her keys. Somehow the kids were in the car. Blake was confronted by the police who attempted to arrest him and instead of complying, he immediately started fighting the police. They attempted twice to tase him (per their report) but it did not work. Blake freed himself and started for the car ignoring officers warnings with guns drawn. There were a number of problems the officers had. The officers had to quickly assess the situation. Blake was getting into the car where a) there could have been a weapon to use against the officers (turns out there was a knife), b) he could have kidnapped the kids or used them as hostages, or c) the car itself can become a weapon. The officers decided to use deadly force. I was taught in my concealed carry course that if you are in a situation where you feel deadly force is necessary, you fire until the suspect is neutralized.

All of these situations sparked outrage and protests and destruction yet as we learn more, the actions of the officers look more justified. Our media would do well to not fan the flames for ratings but urge restraint while the facts are discovered.