Heroes - (Ward Newsletter - October 2011)

I love children! I love their innocence, honesty and willingness to quickly forgive and forget. They exhibit remarkable faith, are uninhibited, love learning, and have big dreams and great imaginations. Through the years of raising my own sons and teaching little ones, I became increasingly more concerned with the amount of time that the boys, in particular, spent focusing on super heroes. At times I wondered if they could make the distinction between fantasy and reality. I therefore decided, when I was teaching preschool, that it was important enough to include a unit on heroes in my curriculum.

On the first day of our "Heroes" unit, the children were encouraged to dress up as their favorite hero. They were so excited! I allowed time for each one to share what they liked best about Luke Skywalker, Spiderman, or Pocahontas. They loved it!

The next day, we discussed the difference between "super heroes" and "real heroes". I was amazed at how attentive the young children were during our discussion. I asked if they could think of any real heroes. They shared many labels from Prophet, to police officer and firefighter. Then I added, "Your Bishop could be your hero, or maybe your father".

Little three year old Jackson quickly corrected me, "Oh, Sisto Monahr! My fathor can't be a heewoh. He doesn't have any powors." With eyes tearing up, I replied, "Oh Jackson! Your father has one of the greatest powers. He has the power of the Priesthood."

In general priesthood meeting, April 1976, President Spencer W. Kimball quoted Walter MacPeek: “Boys need lots of heroes like Lincoln and Washington. But they also need to have some heroes close by. They need to know some man of towering strength and basic integrity, personally. They need to meet them on the street, to hike and camp with them, to see them in close-to-home, everyday, down-to-earth situations; to feel close enough to them to ask questions and to talk things over man-to-man with them.”

President Boyd K. Packer shared the following: President Monson spoke of Gideon, a hero in the Old Testament. Gideon was chosen to lead the armies of Israel, thousands strong. But of them all, he chose only 300 men.

Gideon had an interesting way of selecting his recruits. When the men drank water at a stream, most “bowed down…to drink.” Those he passed over. A few scooped up water in their hands and drank, remaining completely alert. They were the ones chosen.

We live in a day of “wars [and] rumors of wars, and earthquakes in divers places.” As prophesied, “the whole earth [is] in commotion” and “Satan is abroad in the land.” He seeks to destroy all that is good and righteous. He is Lucifer, who was cast out of the presence of God. Against all of that, we have very positive feelings about what lies ahead.

Gideon’s small force succeeded because, as the record states, “they stood every man in his place.”

Elder Glen L. Rudd of the Second Quorum of the Seventy said, “I think heroes are everywhere in our Church. They stand out in a world of sin and unrighteousness. May God bless us to recognize them and follow their fine examples. Even more than that, may he help us to become heroes to others as we serve him.”

Like many of you, I was overcome with emotion with the announcement that we would soon be experiencing the "changing of the guard". How blessed we have been to have had at the helm of our ward, such wonderful examples of heroes and righteous men who honor their priesthood. To me, the organization of the Church is a testimony that we are in the hollow of His hands. As we tearfully say goodbye to our Bishop and his counselors, and the friendships that we have developed with each one of them, we cheerfully look forward to a fresh new trio of equally great “Priesthood Heroes”. We sustain you as those chosen by the Lord to carry on with his work. To you, we offer our love and support, adding prayers in your behalf to you and your families.

One Nation Under God - Defending Faith and Family (Sacrament Talk)

I would like to thank the youth (as directed by our great leaders) for taking the time on the Sabbath last week, to put up flags in memory of 9/11. I am personally grateful to you.

To my sons, and to the youth, many of whom I have taught -- and who have taught me -- both in my home and in the Church, I dedicate my talk.

One Nation Under God
In August of 1892, a Baptist minister by the name of Francis Bellamy, wrote the following:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands,
one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"

In 1923, the National Flag Conference changed the Pledge's words, 'my Flag,' to 'the Flag of the United States of America.'

The words "under God" were added in 1954 by then President Eisenhower, who said this:
"In this way, we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."

Let me take the liberty of translating this important part of the pledge in my words:
AS LONG AS IT IS UNDER GOD,
WE SHALL BE "ONE" AS A NATION
THAT IS INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!

We know that the discovery of the Americas was not an accident. The event had been foreordained in the eternal councils. Biblical prophesies make reference to this great land. The Book of Mormon tells of the Jaredites who were the first to come to America.

“And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.

Lehi, was commanded by the Lord to depart with his family into the wilderness. In obedience to the Lord’s instructions, he left with his family and others. They too were instructed to build a ship and sail for the "promised land".

“And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land.”

While in the wilderness Nephi was permitted to see in a vision the things that would transpire concerning the destiny of America—the "promised land". He "beheld a man among the Gentiles" and the Spirit of God came down and wrought upon the man. This man, we know, refers to Christopher Columbus, who was impelled by the Spirit of God to cross the ocean for the rediscovery of America, thus assisting in the furthering of God’s purposes.

Nephi saw in a vision also, the coming of the Pilgrims, who came to escape religious persecution. He foresaw the coming to America, people from many nations. As Nephi said, they did humble themselves before the Lord and “the power of God was with them."

Thus, the American colonies attained their independence and set up the government of the United States, all under the divine intervention of God in preparing this land for its divine destiny.

We pay tribute to those great men who accepted and met the incredible challenge to establish a constitution for the government of this so-called new land. That this too was divinely inspired, is attested by the word of the Lord as we read in Doctrine & Covenants, chapter 101:77 & 80, when he said,

“According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;

“And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.”

No constitution on earth has endured longer than this one. It was and is a miracle. Both Washington and Madison referred to it as such. It is an inspired document written under the guidance of the Lord.

We believe that the Constitution was brought about by God to ensure a nation where liberty could abound and where his gospel could flourish. Joseph Smith said, “The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard—it is founded in the wisdom of God—it is a heavenly banner.”

President Ezra Taft Benson said, "I reverence the Constitution of the United States as a sacred document. To me its words are akin to the revelations of God, for God has placed His stamp of approval on the Constitution of this land. I testify that the God of heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government, and He has sent other choice spirits to preserve it."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, speaking of the Constitution stated, "Unpopular minority religions are especially dependent upon a constitutional guarantee of free exercise of religion....The importance of that guarantee should make us ever diligent to defend it. And it is in need of being defended. In my lifetime, I have seen a significant deterioration in the respect accorded to religion in our public life, and I believe that the vitality of religious freedom is in danger of being weakened accordingly."

In "Man's Search for Meaning", Dr. Viktor E. Frankl states,
Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth.
The positive aspect of freedom is RESPONSIBLENESS.


Elder Oaks lists five points of the Citizen's Responsibilities:
1. Understand the Constitution
2. Support the law
3. Practice civic virtue
4. Maintain civility in political discourse
5. Promote patriotism

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution reads:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

In order to defend our freedom of religion, we need to understand that the Constitution protects religious freedom. It does not eliminate it.

"Separation of Church and State" does not appear in the Constitution and has been misquoted and misunderstood. The intent of the First Amendment was to keep government out of religion, not religion out of government

Author, David Barton writes:
"...without a public and official recognition of God, there is no hope of limited government, for rights come only from God or from man. If rights come from God, then we can require man to protect those rights... But if our rights come from man, then man is permitted to regulate or abolish those rights, and government’s power over our lives therefore becomes absolute and unlimited.".

The Founders understood that irrevocable limitations can be placed on government only when God is recognized as the source of our rights; they also understood that if we became complacent in our recognition of God as the center of our lives and government, then we would lose our liberties.

According to Jefferson, the only “firm basis” of our national liberties is a “conviction in the minds of the people” that our liberties are from God and that government cannot intrude into those liberties without incurring God’s wrath.

President George Washington said, "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor."

President John Adams similarly urged, "The safety and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depend on the protection and the blessing of Almighty God, and the national acknowledgment of this truth is an indispensable duty which the people owe to Him."

To restore honor and restore America, we first must restore God to His rightful place in our own lives and thinking. We must then reintroduce those original principles back into the public arena, thus restoring the foundation on which our Declaration and Constitution were built and the only foundation which allows them to operate as intended.

It is time for us to re-embrace the truth of President Reagan’s warning that,"If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

We must remember what the Lord told the Jaredites when they were first brought to this land:

“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.”

Elder N. Eldon Tanner said, "We are all a part of America’s future. Our job is to learn and benefit from the past and to go forward in righteousness, keeping the commandments of God. In this connection the prophet Lehi said,

“Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.”

We encourage our people to be good, loyal, law-abiding citizens for “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”

At the same time, it is also our duty to seek diligently for and support and uphold good, honest, honorable, and wise representatives to govern us."

Defending Faith and Family

President Gordon B. Hinckley, in his General Conference address in October 2001, following the tragedy of 9/11 stated:

"We are people of peace. We are followers of the Christ who was and is the Prince of Peace. But there are times when we must stand up for right and decency, for freedom and civilization, just as Moroni rallied his people in his day to the defense of their wives, their children, and the cause of liberty.

Now, brothers and sisters, we must do our duty, whatever that duty might be. Peace may be denied for a season. Some of our liberties may be curtailed. We may be inconvenienced. We may even be called on to suffer in one way or another. But God our Eternal Father will watch over this nation and all of the civilized world who look to Him. He has declared, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”. Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to the commandments of God."

In the Book of Mormon we read of the heroism of Moroni:
12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—
16 And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.
19 And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:
20 Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.
21 And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God...

Let me address for a moment the parents and leaders. As stated in the Ensign, the Visiting Teaching message, September 2010:
Without nurturing, our rising generation could be in danger of becoming like the one described in Mosiah 26. Many youth didn’t believe the traditions of their fathers and became a separate people as to their faith, remaining so ever after. Our rising generation could likewise be led away if they don’t understand their part in Heavenly Father’s plan.

...And from our example, the rising generation can gain great hope and understanding—not just from the words we speak but from the way we feel and emanate the spirit of family.

As the Phoenix, may we ALL arise from the dust of complacency to defend our freedoms as put forth in the Heavenly inspired document, the Constitution of the United States of America, that we might be one nation under God, and as Moroni raise our banner of liberty to defend our faith and families. This, is my prayer. In the name of Jesus the Christ, God of this land, Amen.