Independence Day Devotional
“I like to see a man proud of the place he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.” –Abraham Lincoln
And so it is America. A land so chosen and blessed of God we have any and every opportunity to make of ourselves what we choose. A land where we have a say in who represents us as a voice in government. A land wherein there was a group of God fearing men, who, based on their previous experiences, knew that a country that didn’t have certain inalienable rights including that of freedom of religion, would not prosper.
Can we say Abraham Lincoln might be happy for us as he sees we are proud of the place we live? Are we proud? It is a growing epidemic today among some that they are not proud but are embarrassed of the successes that we enjoy. Many strive to make us ashamed, and even try to limit our growth! Catastrophes such as 9/11 happen because of us, we are told! People suffer from newly named anxiety disorders because they feel personally responsible for the entire carbon footprint of the earth. Soldiers fighting valiantly are being portrayed as uneducated criminals. Mere man having been given a little power by vowing to defend and protect the constitution, are seeking to eliminate parts of it all together!
“If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag.” (1)
“Of all the supervised conditions for life given man, those under USA’s constitution have proved the best. Wherefore, be sure when you start modifying, corrupting or abrogating it.” (2)
The oldest constitution in the world.
“I like to see a man proud of the place he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.” –Abraham Lincoln
And so it is America. A land so chosen and blessed of God we have any and every opportunity to make of ourselves what we choose. A land where we have a say in who represents us as a voice in government. A land wherein there was a group of God fearing men, who, based on their previous experiences, knew that a country that didn’t have certain inalienable rights including that of freedom of religion, would not prosper.
Can we say Abraham Lincoln might be happy for us as he sees we are proud of the place we live? Are we proud? It is a growing epidemic today among some that they are not proud but are embarrassed of the successes that we enjoy. Many strive to make us ashamed, and even try to limit our growth! Catastrophes such as 9/11 happen because of us, we are told! People suffer from newly named anxiety disorders because they feel personally responsible for the entire carbon footprint of the earth. Soldiers fighting valiantly are being portrayed as uneducated criminals. Mere man having been given a little power by vowing to defend and protect the constitution, are seeking to eliminate parts of it all together!
“If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag.” (1)
“Of all the supervised conditions for life given man, those under USA’s constitution have proved the best. Wherefore, be sure when you start modifying, corrupting or abrogating it.” (2)
The oldest constitution in the world.
“And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise;
“For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands;
“Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under Heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.” (3)
That was Moroni, a prophet of the Book of Mormon. A true ancient American historian; he not only witnessed the fall of a nation but wrote the history of another civilization that lived there before he.
Moroni, an army captain in the Book of Mormon, tells us of two different motives that were had among his people and their enemies. The Lamanites standpoint:
“For behold, his designs were to sir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage.
And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and their houses, and their wives and their children, that they might preserve them from the lands of their enemies; and also, that they might preserve their rights and their privileges, yea, and also their liberty, that they might worship God according to their desires.” (4)
Moroni was so frustrated with these people thriving to usurp these rights and values from the people. From that, spawned the “Title of Liberty”:
“In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.” (5)
“And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. “Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;
“And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.
“I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.
“Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.
“Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.” (6)
I love those verses because God endorses the constitution as he was the influence behind those men, our founders. This coming at a time when slavery and the value and worth of life was in question. In one way for many people the value, worth and conception of life is still in question.
“We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.
“We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.” (7)
In ninth grade, my government class got in a heated discussion on abortion. A minister of some sort in a local church was under the spot light for a while as he was also an abortion doctor. A young lady in my class who was also a member of the same congregation shared her belief that abortion shouldn’t be an issue because a person is not a child of god until they accept God in their lives! I was so sad for that girl and anyone who shared her beliefs that a spirit child form God developing inside their mother’s protective womb and who has not yet a verbal choice in how they hope their life turns out, is not a child of God until their acceptance of Him! Why then if that was the case, do we not give the unborn human beings that chance?
I think my soapbox took a slightly negative turn. I therefore turn to sharing with you my testimony that this country is the greatest on earth. We have faults plenty, but are still a powerful nation. There is not reason to be ashamed of it. We cannot downplay what we have achieved without the discrediting and ingratitude for the blood, sweat, tears and prayers made in our behalf.
“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” (8)
“This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless. Growing and full of hope. So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith.” (9)
“My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession, and which no other people on this earth enjoy.” (10)
“May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country.” (11)
I add my prayer to the good men I just quoted: that we take into our own hands that destiny which is America, practice the privileges we possess to maintain our rights, stand up for our beliefs though they might be less popular, and practice daily the values and virtues that a God fearing nation need possess!
I leave these words with you with all the passion in my heart, love for my country and love for the Lord of this country, even Jesus Christ, Amen.
(1) Author unknown
(2) Martin H Fischer
(3) Ether 2:9-12
(4) Alma 43:8-9
(5) Alma 46:12
(6) Doctrine & Covenants 98:5-10
(7) Doctrine & Covenants 134:1-2
(8) Elmer Davis
(9) Lyndon B. Johnson
(10) Thomas Jefferson
(11) Daniel Webster
“For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands;
“Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under Heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.” (3)
That was Moroni, a prophet of the Book of Mormon. A true ancient American historian; he not only witnessed the fall of a nation but wrote the history of another civilization that lived there before he.
Moroni, an army captain in the Book of Mormon, tells us of two different motives that were had among his people and their enemies. The Lamanites standpoint:
“For behold, his designs were to sir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage.
And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and their houses, and their wives and their children, that they might preserve them from the lands of their enemies; and also, that they might preserve their rights and their privileges, yea, and also their liberty, that they might worship God according to their desires.” (4)
Moroni was so frustrated with these people thriving to usurp these rights and values from the people. From that, spawned the “Title of Liberty”:
“In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.” (5)
“And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. “Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;
“And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.
“I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.
“Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.
“Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.” (6)
I love those verses because God endorses the constitution as he was the influence behind those men, our founders. This coming at a time when slavery and the value and worth of life was in question. In one way for many people the value, worth and conception of life is still in question.
“We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.
“We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.” (7)
In ninth grade, my government class got in a heated discussion on abortion. A minister of some sort in a local church was under the spot light for a while as he was also an abortion doctor. A young lady in my class who was also a member of the same congregation shared her belief that abortion shouldn’t be an issue because a person is not a child of god until they accept God in their lives! I was so sad for that girl and anyone who shared her beliefs that a spirit child form God developing inside their mother’s protective womb and who has not yet a verbal choice in how they hope their life turns out, is not a child of God until their acceptance of Him! Why then if that was the case, do we not give the unborn human beings that chance?
I think my soapbox took a slightly negative turn. I therefore turn to sharing with you my testimony that this country is the greatest on earth. We have faults plenty, but are still a powerful nation. There is not reason to be ashamed of it. We cannot downplay what we have achieved without the discrediting and ingratitude for the blood, sweat, tears and prayers made in our behalf.
“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” (8)
“This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless. Growing and full of hope. So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith.” (9)
“My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession, and which no other people on this earth enjoy.” (10)
“May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country.” (11)
I add my prayer to the good men I just quoted: that we take into our own hands that destiny which is America, practice the privileges we possess to maintain our rights, stand up for our beliefs though they might be less popular, and practice daily the values and virtues that a God fearing nation need possess!
I leave these words with you with all the passion in my heart, love for my country and love for the Lord of this country, even Jesus Christ, Amen.
(1) Author unknown
(2) Martin H Fischer
(3) Ether 2:9-12
(4) Alma 43:8-9
(5) Alma 46:12
(6) Doctrine & Covenants 98:5-10
(7) Doctrine & Covenants 134:1-2
(8) Elmer Davis
(9) Lyndon B. Johnson
(10) Thomas Jefferson
(11) Daniel Webster
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