Patriotism

is changing.

Today in my education class, we had a member of the Coast Guard who is going into Secondary Education come in and speak to us about how patriotism plays a role in the classroom, what it means to us, etc. He showed this video:


Please watch it. There is no possible way I can express what happened to the class when he spoke. The room went from arguing about freedom and God, to all agreeing that at the very least we can be grateful for our nation. Our founding fathers were inspired by God to create a nation that would allow all Americans to thrive. Our nation is the land of opportunity. No other place on Earth is like our nation. It is our duty to protect the truths that so many have fought for. Though it's not my calling to go abroad and fight for the American people, I can still fight for those freedoms right here, just in a different way.

It is natural for humans to turn away from gratitude in times of plenty. It is natural for us to think we can do it on our own, that we have better ideas than a few people did hundreds of years ago, that what they said and wrote doesn't apply to us today:

Alma 46:8
"Thus we see how ^aquick the children of men do ^bforget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do ^ciniquity, and to be led away by the evil one."

God allowed for us to enjoy the freedoms that we have here. He has given us so much. Today, just try to have a special place in your hearts and express gratitude to our Heavenly Father that he has given us a "land of promise, a land flowing with milk and honey" (Doctrine and Covenants 38:18).

"Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"