Patrotism Talk July 15, 2012 in Sacrament Meeting

This is a picture of my father, Don Clyde Garner, who served in the Army Air Corps from February 14, 1943 until June 6, 1946.  When I was born in 1950, part of the generation of baby boomers, as they were called, babies born after the war ended, being patriotic was in my blood.  My father taught us and those around us to honor our flag, to respect our liberties.  As a young school student every morning we would stand as straight as an arrow upright, our right hand over our heart, our eyes riveted on the flag and recite aloud the Pledge of the Alligance, followed by the Preamble to the Constitution:  We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 

When I substitute teach in the classroom in Clark County School District or when I used to teach in Plano, Texas, I learned quickly that students do not show proper respect when the pledge is said every morning.  Most students do not know proper flag etiquette and for sure they don’t know the Preamble.  But just like my father used to do, I instruct the students in proper flag poster and respect.  In my presence in the classroom when they pledge alligance to the flag, I get tears in my eyes!

What is patriotism?   According to Wikkiup, Patriotism is a devotion to one's country.   I consulted the scriptures for a good example and Esther in the Old Testament came to mind.  When the wicked chiefman Hamon in King Xerxes court obtained a decree that all the Jews be put to death, Queen Esther, at great personal risk, went before the king, revealed her nationality as a Jew and obtained a reversal of the decree.  Today we would hail Esther as patriotic.

 

 

Captain Moroni, “…a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and freedom of his country…” raised a banner, the title of liberty, to inspire the Nephite people to defend their religion, freedom, peace and families.  He admonished the members of the church in his day in Alma 46 to “stand fast in the faith of Christ.”  We can state that Moroni was patriotic to his country. He was devoted to this country.

Many years later the Prophet Joseph Smith, concerned about the injustices done to the members of the church in Missouri, drafted letters to five men who were running for president of the United States in the coming election year.  Only three wrote back but their answers were unsatisfactory to the Prophet.  On January 29, 1844 the Twelve Apostles unanimously sustained a motion for Joseph Smith to be a candidate for president. He advocated revoking imprisonment for debt; turning prisons into seminaries of learning; abolishing slavery by 1850 (six years later, it was carried out in 1865, fifteen years later); establishing a national bank with branches in each state, and annexing Texas and Oregon.  The national convention was scheduled to be held in Baltimore, Maryland in early July to nominate Joseph Smith for president of the United States.  Did you know Joseph Smith ran for president?  As history knows, the prophet was assassinated on June 27, 1844.  As you know, the prophet advocated patriotism.  Doctrine and Covenants 58:19 states: “For verily I say unto you, my law shall be kept on this land.”  The Prophet penned the 12^th Article of Faith which states, and please say it with me: “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates; in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”

On August 17, 1835 an article, not a revelation, was read and voted on to be included in the Doctrine and Covenants.  Section 134 is an “earthly governments and laws” statement of beliefs.  How many of you have read that section?  Here are a few choice lines from that article

1. 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.

3. We believe that all governments require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same, that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people.

6. We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, and that to the laws all men owe respect and deference…

When our oldest daughter went to college and voted in her first presidential election, she happily called home to tell me who she had voted for.  I was silent for a minute, knowing she had voted for the other candidate than my husband and I had.  I asked her:  How does it feel to have voted for an immoral man?  She “Oh Mom!’ed me, but events during his presidency proved my statements.  Concerning article number six, about showing respect for our leaders, a friend on Facebook posted a comment on how we address our president.  Do we call him President?  Or just by his last name.  Let us show respect of the office and the person, regardless of our personal feelings.

America is the choice land, the inspired land that the Lord talked about.  Ether in the Book of Mormon was brought to the American continent and promised “this land would become a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord, wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the land.” There are 104 references for “Liberty” so I won’t read them all, but I think you are on the same page with me.  America is the choice land, the one the Lord declares should worship Him and establish the foundation of liberty which is granted to us.

Our topic for the month of July is the Holy Ghost.  There lies how we can be patriotic to our country. Alma 43: 45 we read “…the Nephites were inspired by a better cause.”  In 2 Corinthians 3:17 we read: “Now the Lord is that spirit; and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 

From the Nevada website voting percentages for general elections I pulled these percentages. In 2004, a presidential election, Nevada counted 77% of the voters who came to the polls.  In 2008, an improvement of 80% of the voters turned out to elect a new president.  Our most recent election in 2010, a general election voting for senate and house seats, a disappointing 64% voted.  What will the percentages be in November 2012?  To quote a member of our ward, “you would be surprised at how few of our fellow saints are registered to vote.”  Are you registered to vote?   It just so happens that the bishop received a directive from Mark Severts, Public Affairs Director of the Southern Nevada Public Affairs Council for the Church which reads:

“At this time of our traditional July 24 Pioneer celebrations, we remember the Saints entering the Salt Lake Valley.  There Pioneers were finally able to make a community and begin enjoying the freedom of religion promised in the Bill of  Rights and the U.S. Constitution.  We ask leaders to organize and make efforts to register to vote all members in their care so that all can participate in the great blessings of citizenship in this country.  Members should confirm whether or not they are registered to vote at the Nevada Secretary of State website: nvsos.gov/votersearch.  If they are not registererd, they can follow directions on that website to register on line or contact their ward or stake voter registration representative.  We emphasize the importance of this voter registration as a non-partisan project and do not endorse any political party or candidates.”

As a citizen of the United States, as a Nevadian, it is your patriotic responsibility and privilege to pray about the candidates, seeking for the Holy Ghost to guide you, and then go to the polls and cast your vote.  Brigham Young: “Remember that the Lord holds all of us responsible for our conduct…”

In 1928 the First Presidency spokesman Anthony W. Ivins in October conference read this: “we call upon all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the land to honor the laws of God and obey and uphold the law of the land; and we appeal to good men and women everywhere, regardless of creed, party affiliation, race or condition to join with us in an effort to put into operation the words of Lincoln, the great emancipator, that our country may continue to be a light to the world, a loyal, law-abiding, God-fearing nation.”

President Ezra Taft Benson gave four excellent guides by which the Saints can measure the worthiness or an issue or a candidate:  “Not only should we seek humble, worthy, courageous leadership, but we should measure all proposals having to do with our national or local welfare by four standards:

First, is the proposal, the policy or the idea being promoted right, as measured by the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Second, is it right as measured by the Lord’s standard of constitutional government?

Third, is it right as measured by the counsel of the living oracles of God?  the prophet

Fourth, what will be the effect upon the morale and the character of the people if this or that policy is adopted?”

Here is our challenge:  be an informed registered voter.  Study the issues and the candidates.  Pray and ask the Holy Ghost to help you measure the candidate to the Lord’s standard, not the world’s standard.  And then vote.  Use your voice.  Exercise your liberties in this great land, show respect for the flag and for the leaders of our nation.  And may we all be patriotic is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Counsel for this post:  it is great to have institute and seminary manuals and access to the computer when you are writing a talk for church.  It may have been the hardest calling I ever held for six years, but the knowledge I gained was worth the sacrifice.