#RingtheBellsofFreedom
Saturday September 22, at the Historic Stone Church in Independence Missouri at 7 pm, the production Ring the Bells of Freedom will be performed. I have written about it before, but this being the eve, I thought one more time would be appropriate.
Of course, we should always be mindful of the Constitution, and the constant threat that it seems to be under. We sometimes lose track of the "Miracle of Philadelphia" in 1787. Clouded over by time, and strife is the beauty of its words, and its promise.
It is easy to look back with our view of today and see the flaws of those giants. It is easy to forget the ease and freedom that we have today was paid for in blood. In the Revolution, the War of 1812 (the 2nd Revolution) and the Civil War. More than the United States have been blessed by this document, the world has.
Go on, tell me about Jim Crow, the Klan, and the treatment of the American Indian. While you are at it, go on about the foreign policy mistakes that have been made. No, none of these should be excused, or papered over. They shouldn't be. And they haven't been. I suppose that one could say that if the Constitution wasn't strong enough to prevent all of that, then what good is it.
You know, you are right. That is why Winston Churchill said: "Democracy is the worst form of government, except every other kind." Flawed men at best, some intentionally evil, twisted the Constitution to mean whatever they wanted it to. Men craving power, and a population craving Free! is a very bad match. But...
God inspired those founders. and the first Congress. Can there be doubt about that? Yes, they used reason and logic, but perhaps, just maybe, that reason was enhanced by inspiration from God? That maybe as we deviate from God, things begin to break down? Quick, what is the first freedom enumerated in the Bill of Rights? Speech? Press? Nope and nope. It is Freedom of Religion, and the free exercise of same.
Has the US delivered on that promise? By and large? Yes. Have there been instances where it was not guaranteed? Speaking as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Latter Day Saints), I can point out where it was not, going so far as to point out that when the Latter Day Saints appealed to the President of the United States for redress for their losses in Missouri, President Van Buren stated: "Your cause is just, but I cannot help you, for in so doing I lose the vote of the state of Missouri." The president of the United States, basing rights on voting blocs. Even back then. But, again, most have been allowed to practice according to their beliefs.
Again, the Constitution has lived up to its promise. Yes, it took a while to iron stuff out. Slavery, civil rights, and voting rights have been abolished or implemented. Of course, you cannot write laws to control people's thoughts. So does racism, and the other isms exist? Yes, but no longer under cover of the law. It may hang by a thread. Will politician save it? Will the military save it? Let me close with a quote from Ezra Taft Benson, former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower:
"I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. But it will not be saved in Washington. It will be saved by the citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church; men and women who will subscribe to and abide by the principles of the Constitution."
It was a miracle. It is a miracle. And it is up to us to keep it alive. All of us.
#RingtheBellsofFreedom Sept. 22, 7pm Historic Stone Church. Live the miracle!
Of course, we should always be mindful of the Constitution, and the constant threat that it seems to be under. We sometimes lose track of the "Miracle of Philadelphia" in 1787. Clouded over by time, and strife is the beauty of its words, and its promise.
It is easy to look back with our view of today and see the flaws of those giants. It is easy to forget the ease and freedom that we have today was paid for in blood. In the Revolution, the War of 1812 (the 2nd Revolution) and the Civil War. More than the United States have been blessed by this document, the world has.
Go on, tell me about Jim Crow, the Klan, and the treatment of the American Indian. While you are at it, go on about the foreign policy mistakes that have been made. No, none of these should be excused, or papered over. They shouldn't be. And they haven't been. I suppose that one could say that if the Constitution wasn't strong enough to prevent all of that, then what good is it.
You know, you are right. That is why Winston Churchill said: "Democracy is the worst form of government, except every other kind." Flawed men at best, some intentionally evil, twisted the Constitution to mean whatever they wanted it to. Men craving power, and a population craving Free! is a very bad match. But...
God inspired those founders. and the first Congress. Can there be doubt about that? Yes, they used reason and logic, but perhaps, just maybe, that reason was enhanced by inspiration from God? That maybe as we deviate from God, things begin to break down? Quick, what is the first freedom enumerated in the Bill of Rights? Speech? Press? Nope and nope. It is Freedom of Religion, and the free exercise of same.
Has the US delivered on that promise? By and large? Yes. Have there been instances where it was not guaranteed? Speaking as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Latter Day Saints), I can point out where it was not, going so far as to point out that when the Latter Day Saints appealed to the President of the United States for redress for their losses in Missouri, President Van Buren stated: "Your cause is just, but I cannot help you, for in so doing I lose the vote of the state of Missouri." The president of the United States, basing rights on voting blocs. Even back then. But, again, most have been allowed to practice according to their beliefs.
Again, the Constitution has lived up to its promise. Yes, it took a while to iron stuff out. Slavery, civil rights, and voting rights have been abolished or implemented. Of course, you cannot write laws to control people's thoughts. So does racism, and the other isms exist? Yes, but no longer under cover of the law. It may hang by a thread. Will politician save it? Will the military save it? Let me close with a quote from Ezra Taft Benson, former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Secretary of Agriculture under President Eisenhower:
"I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. But it will not be saved in Washington. It will be saved by the citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church; men and women who will subscribe to and abide by the principles of the Constitution."
It was a miracle. It is a miracle. And it is up to us to keep it alive. All of us.
#RingtheBellsofFreedom Sept. 22, 7pm Historic Stone Church. Live the miracle!
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