From: Francis Harper
wbfrmsup@iowatelecom.net
Happy Birthday, USA 2019
Sweet Land of Liberty July 4, 2019 My country, `tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims pride, From every mountain side, Let freedom ring!
How should we celebrate our nations birth? With fireworks, picnics, a ball-game? Surely such a day as this should be celebrated by giving thanks to God for the privilege of living in this "land of the free, and home of the brave." We know from past experience that freedom is not free. Countless numbers of our fellow country-men have given their lives to preserve our freedom. We also must be ever ready "to pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival, and the success of liberty" (President John F. Kennedy).
I recall wondering, even while attending the Brush Hollow (one room) country school, why the USA is blessed more than any other nation? During my elementary school years, I was not acquainted with the passages of scripture which answer my question. The USA is Joseph's land and according to 1 Chronicles 5:1-2; the birth-right was given to Joseph. In Israel, a double portion of blessings was bequeathed to those who inherited the birth-right. "Now the sons of Reuben, the first-born of Israel, (for he was the first born); but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birth-right was given unto the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel (Jacob);. Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler (Jesus); but the birth-right was Joseph's."
Before his death, Jacob blessed his twelve sons. Once again Judah and Joseph received the greater blessings. Of Judah it was said: "The scepter (symbol of authority) shall not depart from Judah... until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be" (Genesis 49:10). Of Joseph it was said: "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall. his bow abode in strength. made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep. they shall be on the head of Joseph. on the crown of the head of him, that was separate from his brethren" (Genesis 49: 22-26).
Moses also blessed the tribes of Israel: "And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land." (Deuteronomy 33: 13-17). Several verses are required to list all the blessings Joseph was promised. The blessings promised to Joseph and his land have been bountifully fulfilled and are still being fulfilled today. ".unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required" (Luke 12:57 IV, 12:48 KJV).
The most memorable words of President John F. Kennedy should be in our minds as we celebrate Independence Day: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
What will we do for our country beginning on July 4, 2019? Surely each of us can humble ourselves and pray for our country, our president and the many others, elected and appointed, who serve in positions of authority in our land. "If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14).
We need to remember our country is "choice above all other lands,. preserved for a righteous people" (Ether 1:29). Are we righteous enough to save our nation? "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." (Ether 1:35). Dear Ones,
The citizens of this choice land must "serve God or they shall be swept off." This is the "everlasting decree of God" (Ether 1:32). We are a divided nation in many ways but the most important division is between those who love and serve God and those who are faithless and unbelieving.
I believe that even now our nation is being spared by the prayers of the righteous, as in the days of Alma, who wrote: "yea, and I say unto you, that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction" (Alma 8:31).
Shortly after the nomination of Donald J. Trump in 2016, I said if he ever gets elected it will be by divine intervention. When he was elected, I was comforted by the thought that God is still blessing our nation as he has from the beginning. He has not given up on us. We must never let him down. He is counting on us to be faithful in keeping our covenants.
An evidence that from, the beginning the Lord has been blessing our nation, is revealed in the following speech which preceded the signing of The Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
"They may stretch our necks on all the gibbets in the land; they may turn every rock into a scaffold; every tree into a gallows; every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die! They may pour our blood on a thousand scaffolds, and yet from every drop that dyes the axe a new champion of freedom will spring into birth! The British King may blot out the stars of God from the sky, but he cannot blot out His words written on that parchment there. The works of God may perish: His words never!
"Sign that parchment! Sign, if the next moment the gibbet's rope is about your neck! Sign, if the next minute this hall rings with the clash of falling axes! Sign, if the next minute this hall rings with the clash of falling brothers, sign your names to the parchment, or be accursed forever! Sign, and not only for yourselves, but for all ages, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the bible of the rights of man forever.
"As I live, my friends, I believe that to be His voice! Yes, were my soul trembling on the verge of eternity, were this hand freezing in death, were this voice choking in the last struggle, I would still, with the last impulse of that soul, with the last wave of that hand, with the last gasp of that voice, implore you to remember this truth: God has given America to be free!
"Yes, as I sink into the gloomy shadows of the grave, with my last faint whisper I would beg you to sign that parchment for the sake of those millions whose very breath is now hushed in intense expectation as they look up to you for the awful words: `You are free'."
The unknown speaker fell exhausted into his seat. The delegates, carried away by his enthusiasm, rushed forward. John Hancock scarcely had time to pen his bold signature before the quill was grasped by another. It was done.
The delegates turned to express their gratitude to the unknown speaker for his eloquent words. He was not there.
Who was this strange man, who seemed to speak with a divine authority, whose solemn words gave courage to the doubters and sealed the destiny of the new nation?
Unfortunately, no one knows.
His name is not recorded; none of those present knew him; or if they did, not one acknowledged the acquaintance.
How he had entered into the locked and guarded room is not told, nor is there any record of the manner of his departure.
No one claimed to have seen him before, and there is no mention of him after this single episode. Only his imperishable speech bear witness to his presence.
My Love to All,
High Priest Francis Harper
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