May God Bless America ~ Happy 4th of July!

I love the  America. I know that it is a blessed land. I have always loved reading about the history of the United States of America. We have fought long and hard to be free to make our own decisions and to assist others throughout the world to be free. So many have lost their lives for this great country in defense of freedom. 

Right now our nation faces many critical decisions and I pray we will try with all our hearts to find and support good leaders who will keep the freedoms that we now enjoy.

 May we recognize the importance of the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence. May the blood of many not be wasted by poor decisions made by the leaders of this marvelous nation. 

 One of my favorite Prophets of these last days is President Ezra Taft Benson. When Pres. Benson was an Apostle, he married my husband and I in the Salt Lake Temple. 

Two years later we were invited back to his office to visit with him. He was a great patriot. He served under Dwight D. Eisenhower as Secretary of Agriculture. His office had many items that showed his love for this great country. Here is a few quotes from him.

"I say to you with all the fervor of my soul that God intended men to be free. Rebellion against tyranny is a righteous cause. It is an enormous evil for any man to be enslaved to any system contrary to his own will. For that reason men, 200 years ago, pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor. 

No nation which has kept the commandments of God has ever perished, but I say to you that once freedom is lost, only blood-human blood-will win it back."

 "It’s a great blessing to live in America. It’s a great blessing to have the opportunity to enjoy the freedoms which are ours today. I have seen people, thousands of them, who have lost the freedom which is ours, where they can no longer meet, as we meet here this morning, and express themselves as they see fit, where they no longer have freedom of movement, freedom to select their own jobs, their own educational opportunities, freedom to speak their minds, to write what they wish – freedom of enterprise. In many parts of the world today these rich blessings of freedom no longer exist."

"I testify that America is a choice land.(See 2 Nephi 1:5.) God raised up the founding fathers of the United States of America and established the inspired Constitution.  (See D&C 101:77–80.)This was the required prologue for the restoration of the gospel. (See 3 Nephi 21:4.) 

America will be blessed land unto the righteous forever, and is the base from which God will continue to direct the worldwide latter-day operations of His kingdom.(See 2 Nephi 1:7.)" 

"May we pledge anew that the divine principles embodied in the divinely inspired documents that govern our country be written on the tablets of our own hearts. I pray that our eyes might be single to the will of God, that we might thereby bless our families and our country and that we shall, with increased devotion, work for less government, more individual responsibility, and, with God's help, a better world." 

"I reverence the Constitution of the United States as a sacred document. To me its words are akin to the revelations of God, for God has placed His stamp of approval on the Constitution of this land [D&C 101:76–80]. I testify that the God of Heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government, and He has sent other choice spirits — even you who read my words — to preserve it."

You can read more quotes form this marvelous man here.

I AM THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (Best 4th of July poem 1)
by Genie Keller

I was born in 1776 on the 4th of July
Amid strife and the burning question of, why?

My aim to succeed in every way
To Bless my people with hope everyday.
My every word took a solemn beginning
The anticipation of futures and also of winning.

I was written with skill from far above
With meaningful words, blended with love.
The pattern was struck into every mind
To explain what was there for all mankind.
The Truth of the Right belongs to all men
To protect it and Guard it, secured to the end.

Now with hope in our hearts and the will of the state
With life, liberty and pursuit of happiness,
OR, our fate
I pledged to each person, the promise of peace
For Loyalty and Independence never to cease.
I wrote to protect us in all of our Rights
And grant us much strength through out all of the nights.

My moments of blogging have been few but I do love reading your posts as I can.  We recently had a marvelous Family Reunion. I am currently working on a blog post to show you photos about the fantastic adventure we had with all of our 50 children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Sending love and hugs your way!