A Land of Liberty

July Newsletter Article, Laura Kimball

With Independence day shortly upon us, the red, white, and blue stars and striped banners flying high, we are reminded of our liberties and the divine inspiration that brought to pass our independence and freedom.

In alma, we are taught the history of a brave and righteous people who were under siege:

“For behold, his [Zerahemnah’s] designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; … that he might gain power over [them] by bringing them into bondage. 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 hands 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. For they knew that if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites, that whosoever should worship God in spirit and in truth, the true and the living God, the Lamanites would destroy”. A great battle ensued. “Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church. And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies. And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.” Alma 43

What a privilege we enjoy, to have the liberty and freedom to worship freely, few of us will ever have to fight to bloodshed to defend our families and our faith. We are privileged that so many who came before us have paved the way for us to claim the "privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience..." Articles of Faith #11. 

Lehi tells of this land, those who shall be brought to it and those who shall inherit it:

“…notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord. 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.”  2 Nephi 1:5-7 

Moroni declares this land is: "A chosen land, and the land of  liberty" Alma 46:17.  The founding of our country was based on these principles of freedom and liberty. “We believe that the Constitution was brought about by God to insure a nation where liberty could abound, 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.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 147.) From... Spencer W. Kimball, “One of the reasons America is great today is because those men who formulated the Constitution had vision. They looked ahead to today, and all of us here are recipients of their wisdom and foresight.” Among other things, the Constitution guarantees the religious freedom that allowed the Reformation to continue and flourish." L. Tom Perry, “God’s Hand in the Founding of America,” New Era, Jul 1976, 45

May we show our gratitude to those who gave and give their all to bring to pass and continue to preserve our freedom. May we have the courage to uphold our Constitution as “a glorious standard...a heavenly banner” to fight for our liberties as dutifully and as honorably as our Founding Fathers and the Nephites for our families, lands, country, rights, religion.