Patriotism?

Well, it is that time of year isn't it? The 'final' presidential debate occured last night. I'm not going to take the time to discuss my personal views. Many people reading this would already know them. I will talk about something that has happened with me personally over the last few years.

After returning from my mission, I found myself back in an America worse than it was when I left. Gradually, I will admit, I found myself more and more jaded in regards to our government--I could list the many discouraging issues but such a daunting task would be inappropriate and contrary to my current purpose. I also found myself more and more apathetic towards a general patriotism and love for the more foundational principles of American government and society.

However, this last month brought with it the privledge of listening to our Prophets and Apostles speak in the 178th semi-annual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am blessed with the oppurtunity to do Armenian translation and interpretation for such events. As one of my talks, I was assigned Elder Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Here is an excerpt from his words:

The Saints knew that the Lord had told them to be “subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”¹⁰ That commandment, revealed then, is true now of our members in every nation. We are to be law-abiding, worthy citizens.

The Lord told them, “I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose.”¹¹

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And so on that day of celebration in 1849, “Elder Phineas Richards came forward in behalf of the twenty-four aged sires, and read their loyal and patriotic address.”¹³ He spoke of the need for them to teach patriotism to their children and to love and honor freedom. After he briefly recited the perils that they had come through, he said:

“Brethren and friends, we who have lived to three-score years, have beheld the government of the United States in its glory, and know that the outrageous cruelties we have suffered proceeded from a corrupted and degenerate administration, while the pure principles of our boasted Constitution remain unchanged. . . .

“. . . As we have inherited the spirit of liberty and the fire of patriotism from our fathers, so let them descend [unchanged] to our posterity.”¹⁴

One would think that, compelled by force of human nature, the Saints would seek revenge, but something much stronger than human nature prevailed.

The Apostle Paul explained:

“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. . . .

“. . . We have the mind of Christ.” (for Elder Packers full text click here).

Despite what is going on in the here and now of American government and politics it does not change the fact the the Lord has his hand in the American founding. As Latter-day Saints we need to be true to those founding principles and patriotic as were our forefathers. The words spoken by Elder Packer have caused me to rethink many of my views--and repent of a few--in order to be more inline with the will of the Lord for his saints in these "perilous times."

In our family, we have purchased a book containing the some of the great works of the revolutionary and early republic periods (ie. the bill of rights, the declaration, some of the federalist papers, and other works by early patriots and founders). I feel we should be fluent and well understanding of these and other documents so that we may protect those principles that were established by the hand of wise men whom the Lord raised up for that very purpose.