The Book of Mormon is a book that was written for us. It is, among other things, a cautionary tale of the fate of this nation should we choose to make the same mistakes as they: pride, arrogance, lasciviousness, cruelty, and hardness of heart toward the teaching of God. I have a hard time reading the books of 4th Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni because I see America charting a similar course.
When he was elected to his first term of office, Barak Obama made this public
statement: “The United States is no longer a Christian nation.” Many people applauded this as showing
tolerance of diversity – we are not exclusively
a Christian nation. We embrace other
faiths. I have no problem with that. Our
constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the eleventh Article of Faith
of the LDS Church is: We claim the privilege of worshiping
Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men
the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. America
is a land of religious freedom and acceptance of diversity. We do not have a state religion. It’s tempting to think that is what the
president meant. But, unfortunately, that is not what he said. He did not say we are no longer exclusively a Christian nation. He said – and I believe he firmly meant – America is no longer a Christian nation. That
scares me on a lot of levels.
It is no misstatement to say that
America was founded on Christian principles and Christian doctrine by Christian
people – the Pilgrims, Roger Williams, and William Penn. Remember what de Tocqueville said? – “there is no country in the whole world in which the
Christian religion retains a greater influence over the souls of men than in
America, and there can be no greater proof of its utility, and of its
conformity to human nature, than that its influence is most powerfully felt
over the most enlightened and free nation of the earth.”
De Tocqueville also said: “America is great because America is good. If she ever ceases to be good, she will cease
to be great.”
The prophet Ether
recorded God’s promise to the Brother of Jared:
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 this
land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we
have written (Ether 2: 12).
America will be great
– and safe and prosperous – if she remains good and worships the God of this
land and strives to live His teachings and follow His example.
I invite you to read the Book of Mormon. Read the “things which [prophets] have
written” (Ether 2:12). As you watch the
recurring patterns of righteousness and wickedness, see how applicable they are
to our nation today. See how important they are in our individual lives
today. Recognize the lies of the
antichrists. Note that the most often written name in the Book of Mormon is that of Jesus Christ. The whole book powerfully testifies of Him
and adds its witness to that of the Bible. Seek a testimony. Learn of Jesus Christ, His commandments and
His example. Set a goal to draw closer to Him.
Follow the steps of the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon at the
Temple. We cannot change our entire
nation, but we can change ourselves.
Text copyright Gebara Education, February 2014
Pictures
Christ with the Children from www.lds.org
Founding Fathers from www.sonsoflibertytees.com
Founding Fathers 2 from www.rebirthofthecool.wordpress.com
His Guiding Hand from www.openyoureyes.net
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