Understanding & Healing Codependency with Gospel Principles Book

I knew this book was about three LDS teenagers who stood up to Hitler during Nazi Germany, but I always thought it seemed logical that some Mormon kids would do that. Why would any Mormons NOT stand up against Hitler, right? Wrong! It was fascinating (and terrifying) to learn what Nazi Germany was like, even for members of the church. There was a branch president who put up a sign banning anyone with a Jewish heritage from entering the building. Members thought that Hitler was called of God, there to bring Germany back into it's rightful place in the world and rebuild the country. People prayed for Hitler to be blessed and guided during the opening prayers in Sacrament Meeting. They would quote the twelfth Article of Faith which says "We believe in honoring, obeying and sustaining the law". They even tied family history work in with finding out which people had Jewish bloodlines. And those who didn't go along with the Nazis were usually too terrified to say anything for fear of the Gestapo. It wasn't like Mormons were hanging out together, talking about how to show a united front against evil Hitler. It was the opposite. When someone disappeared from the congregation to a reeducation camp, people would shake their heads and scoff and wonder why that person was so unfaithful.

The author pointed out that looking back it's easy to see how evil the Nazis were, and it seems strange to imagine anyone living in that time period not seeing it as well. But it snuck up on them, a little bit at a time. For these boys to do what they did (write up anti-Hitler handbills and secretly distribute them on bulletin boards and in apartment buildings - with news they had gotten from an illegal radio, listening to BBC broadcasts) showed an incredible amount of free thinking and integrity. All the news they heard from their own country made it sound like things were going great, and they had an unstoppable army. I've started thinking about what's happening in our country. I hear about communists and ex criminals being placed in key government positions, but I don't do anything about it other than shake my head a little bit. I'm too busy with my own life to do much more than be vaguely aware of what is happening in my country and in my government. I remember reading about Stalin getting into power in the former USSR. Lenin was not a great guy, but he was a lot better than Stalin. When Lenin died unexpectedly (if I recall correctly), they put Stalin in as a temporary leader, to hold them over until they had decided who to really put in charge. He never gave up his power, and millions died. (Lenin had even said that he didn't like Stalin, and to never let him in a position of power because he made him nervous.) It's the same story in so many places in history. A country puts someone rotten (who seems awesome at first) in power, and horrible, terrifying, awful things happen. I can't even comprehend what it's like to not live in a free country, but unless all of us get involved in our political process we may end up in that same boat.

I vote that we all put honest, decent people in power, who believe in individual liberty and freedom. And I recommend this book. It will remind you why you shouldn't be complacent. Also, the hero of the story is named Helmuth, and isn't that a great name? You could name your next kid after him. Or not. Too bad he had a weird name. If he'd had a normal name, I bet a lot of people would be tempted to name someone after him. He was a cool kid. Way to go, Helmuth. I will give you a big old high five someday when I meet you in heaven.