Thankful...

"The poet called Miss Liberty's torch 'the lamp beside the golden door.' Well, that was the entrance to America, and it still is. And now you really know why we're here tonight.

The glistening hope of that lamp is still ours. Every promise, every opportunity, is still golden in this land. And through that golden door our children can walk into tomorrow with the knowledge that no one can be denied the promise that is America. Her heart is full; her torch is still golden, her future bright. She has arms big enough to comfort and strong enough to support, for the strength in her arms is the strength of her people. She will carry on in the '80s unafraid, unashamed, and unsurpassed. In this springtime of hope, some lights seem eternal; America's is."~Ronald Reagan

I have so often seen and heard and read the views of those who doubt America, hate America, are ashamed of America, belittle America, and act ashamed of America. How sad. How sad that they fail to see and understand the miracle and majesty that is America. Does she have her faults? Absolutely. Is she always perfect? No. She is no more perfect than the society that makes her up. Does she offer freedom to act, to speak, to worship, to work? More so than any other country. I am profoundly thankful to be here...here in America. Lucky enough to be born to a birthright of freedom to think, grow, learn, worship, own, disagree, live. Thankful does not express how lucky I feel to be American, and all that she stands for.


President Ezra Taft Benson...prophet and patriot reminds me why America and its government is something to be thankful for.

"I am grateful for the Constitution of this land. I am grateful that the Founding Fathers made it clear that our allegiance runs to that Constitution and the glorious eternal principles embodied therein. Our allegiance does not run to any man, to a king, or a dictator, or a president, although we revere and honor those whom we elect to high office. Our allegiance runs to the Constitution and to the principles embodied therein. The Founding Fathers made that clear and provided well for checks and balances and safeguards in an attempt to guarantee this freedom to those of us who live in this land.

I am grateful that the God of heaven saw fit to put his stamp of approval upon the Constitution and to indicate that it had come into being through wise men whom he raised up unto this very purpose. He asked the Saints, even in the dark days of their persecution and hardship to continue to seek for redress from their enemies “According,” he said, “to the laws and constitution . . . which I have suffered to be established and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh.” (D&C 101:77.) And then he made this most impressive declaration:

And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood. (D&C 101:80.)

It is gratifying that the Constitutions in many of the other lands of our neighbors in the Americas are patterned very much after this divinely-appointed Constitution, which the God of heaven directed in the founding of this nation. It isn’t any wonder, therefore, that Joseph Smith, the Prophet—a truly great American—referring to the Constitution, said,

“[It] is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 147.) (”Our Duty as Citizens” 920)

“I love this nation. It is my firm belief that the God of Heaven raised up the founding fathers and inspired them to establish the Constitution of this land. This is part of my religious faith.” To me this is not just another nation. It is a great and glorious nation with a divine mission to perform for liberty-loving people everywhere. (CF 79; from an address given at the 16th Annual National Farm Institute, Des Moines, IA, 21 Feb 1953)

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 mountainside let freedom ring! 

 My native country, thee, 
 land of the noble free, thy name I love; 
 I love thy rocks and rills, 
 thy woods and templed hills; 
 my heart with rapture thrills, like that above. 

 Let music swell the breeze, 
 and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song; 
 let mortal tongues awake; 
 let all that breathe partake; 
 let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong. 

 Our fathers' God, to thee, 
 author of liberty, to thee we sing; 
 long may our land be bright 
 with freedom's holy light; 
 protect us by thy might, great God, our King.