Patriotism

John and I were asked to speak in our ward's sacrament meeting today. I wanted to share some of the thoughts on patriotism gleaned from the prophets that we used today:

I spoke of the early Saints in Salt Lake City and how they celebrated on July 24, 1849. President Packer told their story in Oct. General Conference 2008. After all the heartache the Saints had been through, they selected patriotism as their theme.

"They built a bowery on Temple Square. They erected a flagpole 104 feet tall. They made an enormous national flag 65 feet in length and unfurled it at the top of this liberty pole.
It may seem puzzling, incredible almost beyond belief, that for the theme of this first celebration they chose patriotism and loyalty to that same government which had rejected and failed to assist them. What could they have been thinking of? If you can understand why, you will understand the power of the teachings of Christ."

John found an awesome talk by Elder L. Tom Perry who also quotes some other prophets:

"First from Brigham Young, second president of the Church: 'Will the Constitution be destroyed? No: it will be held inviolate by this people; and, as Joseph Smith said, ‘The time will come when the destiny of this nation will hang upon a single thread. At that critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction.’ It will be so.'

Now another witness, John Taylor, third president of the Church: 'When the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States, the elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth, and proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men, and extending the hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations.'

It is America’s conscience that has preserved her. America is beautiful only when she is good, when children are laughing in her streets, and love abounds in her families. Without this conscience, civilization crumbles, as it has before on this continent. We are all part of America’s future. Our job is to remember the lessons of the past, to patch up the mistakes and the sins of everything that has gone before. The place to start is within our own families."

So, I'm thinking we have a lot of work to do! I love to hear the promises and prophecies, it brings so much peace in a world that is turned upside down!

After John finished speaking for 25 minutes, Tommy told him, "You talk too much. You talk WAY too much!"