Yesterday was the Fourth of July and I usually feel very patriotic and proud to be an American. But for some reason, this year I felt a little melancholy and a bit sad because of some of the things going on in our country recently make me very concerned that some of our precious freedoms are in jeopardy. I am concerned because it appears that we have a president that feels apologetic about our country and the ideals that it stands for. What concerns me more, is the fact that so many people seem to idolize him, and they don't seem to recognize what is happening to our freedoms. So much is just taken for granted.
But then I am reminded of another time in this nation's history when the early Latter-day Saints were being persecuted and driven from their homes, even in the dead of winter. They tried to get help from the United States government, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. Then, in the middle of their exodus west, the US government asked for volunteers to form the Mormon Battalion to fight for the United States. These faithful saints, in spite of all the wrongs that had been commited against them, left their families and went to serve their country. They were patriotic, and knew that this is a choice land whose constitution is inspired of God.
I, too, love this country. I know that I am very blessed to live in this great land. I never want to take for granted the liberties that I enjoy here, or the price in human life that was paid so that we have these freedoms. I just hope that we wake up as a nation and return to God and to living His commandments. If not, one day we may wake up and realize that the freedom that our forefathers fought so valiantly for is gone. I pray that the people of this nation won't let that happen.
