Half of this nation, the United States of America, is under the delusion that freedom is free. If it were free, hundreds of thousands of men and women would not have lost their lives in defense of this country. If it were free, King George never would have tried to take what was not his. If it were free, men like Saddam Hussein would not flourish in this world, they would be stopped before they become dangerous. If freedom were free then terrorists such as that moron, Osama bin Laden, would not exist. But they do — people like this exist.
Because they exist, they wish to further their religion by virtue of the sword. Because they exist, they set themselves up as dictators and kings, crushing the people into oblivion until there is no thought of freedom, revolution or hope. Because they exist, they compare America’s Revolutionary War to the war they now wage against free nations. Where are we to turn for hope and understanding of our circumstance? Where are we to turn for guidance at this extremely troubled time?
In the Book of Mormon it says:
9 And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity.
10 For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off.
11 And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.
12 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. Book of Mormon, Ether 2:9-12
and in the Doctrine & Covenants we find:
8 I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.
9 Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.
10 Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.
11 And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God. Doctrine & Covenants: 98:8-11
The answers seem pretty clear to me. As long we are a righteous people who serve the God of the land, Jesus Christ, then we will be safe. As long as we elect wise and righteous men and women, we will be led well. So how do we accomplish this when a full half of the nation is determined to erase God from the pages of history? How are we to pursue what we must when we are fought at every turn?
I believe we study the issues, we study the candidates, we ignore the rhetoric and elect those we know to be men and women of integrity, strength, loyalty and devotion to the constitution, the nation and God. We let our voices be heard far and wide. We simply do as President Gordon B. Hinckley has asked, we stand tall and let ourselves be counted.