Have A Wonderful 4th of July Celebration ~

I love this great country with all my heart. I love to hear and sing the National Anthem; "The Star Spangled Banner". I have a great respect for our Flag and for the freedoms that we enjoy from being part of a free land. 
That being said, I am  saddened that many do not put their hand to their heart when our National Anthem is sang or the "Pledge of Allegiance" is said. My heart hurts that many schools are not allowed to teach the "Pledge of Allegiance." This land has remained free because of so many who have served this great land in the halls of congress, in the senate and also in the White House. Now our precious Constitution is being threatened and challenged. 
 Even more sobering are the many lives that have been given for this freedom from the Revolutionary War to the War in Iraq and other areas around the world. We have been a freedom fighting nation, assisting the people in other lands freedom from tyranny. 
I lost my Grandfather in France during World War II. I never knew him but was always proud that he gave his life to free an oppressed people.  I have ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War, Civil War and others wars through the years. They served because they believed in this great nation. They were fighting for their homes and their freedoms, their wives and their children.
 In the Book of Mormon, there were many wars fraught for these same freedoms. In the following verse found in   Alma 43: 45; "Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church."
You can read another great story in the Book of Mormon about a righteous leader named Moroni here.  We must continue to support this great country by being more aware of the precarious state it is in. 

This land was given as a promised land to this ancient people by God. Their story is found in The Book of Mormon. These people due to wickedness were totally destroyed by war except for a small remnant of them. 
Are we going to follow this same path? I pray that we can be a righteousness nation. 
The founding father's gave their abilities and total energies to bringing forth the Declaration of Independence.

 This one line is so inspiring: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". I don't see that we as a nation are realizing how important that paragraph is.
 I know that The Constitution of the United States of America was brought forth by the founding fathers through the Spirit. God had a hand in this document.

  How sad that the original intent has been debated for so many years and there have been 33 amendments thus far made to this document. 
May we all take a moment on this 4th of July during our celebration of this great country and pray for our nation and it's leaders. 
Listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sing our National Anthem; "The Star Spangled Banner". As you listen to that beautiful choir; place your hand over your heart and rededicate your love and devotion for this country which was given to us all by a very Loving Heavenly Father. May this land be preserved and may we never lose our liberties.