Patriotism should be sought for
and will be found in right living,
not in high sounding phrases or words.
True patriotism is part of the solemn
obligation that belongs both to the nation,
to the individual, and to the home.
Joseph F. Smith, president of the Church
Individual self-government
lies at the root of all true and
effective government, whether in heaven or on earth.
Brigham Young, president of the Church
The four pillars of government
are religion, justice,
counsel, and treasure.
Francis Bacon, English author
Respect all religions.
Religious freedom is a lifelong interest of mine. My first publication as a young law professor at the University of Chicago 53 years ago was an edited book on the relationship between church and state in the United States.
Today, much more than then, none of us can ignore the importance of religion globally—in politics, conflict resolution, economic development, humanitarian relief, and more. Eighty-four percent of the world’s population identifies with a particular religion, yet 77 percent of the world’s inhabitants live in countries with high or very high restrictions on religious freedom. Understanding religion and its relationship to global concerns and to governments is essential to seeking to improve the world in which we live.
This month, I met with members of the UK Parliament and advisers and also spoke on religious freedom at Oxford University. That audience included many who are not members of the Church. However, we agree that religious teachings and the religiously motivated actions of believers are essential to a free and prosperous society and continue to deserve special legal protections.
May we each do our part to understand and protect our right to religious freedom.
Dallin H. Oaks, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Posted on his FB page on June 17, 2016
What a wonderful heritage we could leave to our youth if we could just kindle in them the fires of freedom that our fathers kindled in us. I love this great land; I honor the great founding fathers; I’m proud to be an American. I cannot sing “America” without tears coming to my eyes and without chills running up and down my back. When I stand with my hand over my heart and sing our national anthem, I’m so proud I can hardly stand it. When I think of all the noble men who gave their lives for this land, then I feel a sacred resolve well up within me and I know that we must stand fast.
Vaughn J. Featherstone, Oct. 1975
Love one’s country,
love freedom.
José de San MartÃn,
South American statesman
Love the country in which you live.
Be a good citizen. Be patriotic.
Fly your country’s flag
on special holidays.
Pray for your country’s leaders.
President Ezra Taft Beson
The United States of America is the golden door. I bear my solemn and sacred witness that the United States of America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth. We ought to love it and we ought to talk about it. We need to be true, we need to have faith. If we do this, God will give us strength to brace against the winds. He will make this country like a giant pillar of granite. He will make us a mighty people, a pure people, a Christlike people, a worthy people, a free people. The Latter-day Saints bear witness and we know the witness is true that we have a modern prophet, that the Book of Mormon is a record of God’s dealings with people who had problems similar to the problems we have in this day. And they were a great people who loved this land and thus we find the course we must take in following in their footsteps.
Vaughn J. Featherstone, October 1975
Breathes there the man with soul so dead,
who never to himself hath said,
“This is my own, my native land!”
Sir Walter Scott, Scottish poet
I realize that patriotism is not enough.
I must have no
hatred toward anyone.
Edith Cavell, English nurse
Someone asked me once how I felt about amnesty for the draft card burner and the deserter. I told him that I thought every one of them should be taken before General Moroni to be judged. We need to feel again what it means to be a citizen of the United States of America. We need to feel the thrill and sensation and have the swellings within our bosom about this country. The priesthood of God should be an example of patriotism and loyalty to our country. As I talk about the United States of America, each one should consider his homeland, his flag, and his country. The scriptures give us a description of a great, great soul when they describe Moroni:
“And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery; Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people. Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood. Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.”
Alma 48:11-13, 17
Vaughn J. Featherstone, Oct. 1975
Dr. Kenneth MacFarland, a great, nonpartisan, national patriot, gave a speech entitled “Selling America to Americans.”
He told about a young soldier who returned from Vietnam. In a very serious talk with his parents, the young soldier asked if they loved America. He asked how they felt about this great and glorious nation.
Both mother and father got a little teary-eyed and said that they loved this country dearly, that it was more precious to them than their own life.
“Why didn’t you tell me that when I was growing up?” he said.
“I never heard you once say that you loved America. You never taught me to love it. I can’t tell you what an ungrateful pup I have been. I had to go to Vietnam to find out what the United States of America is all about. I would gladly lay down my life for it. I would have given anything to know how you felt about it when I was growing up.”
Speaking of liberty -
Man possesses human dignity because he is made in the image and likeness of God; it is this image that makes man different, that makes man a son of God. Without this image, man has no free will and frequently neither liberty nor the capacity for liberty. In this struggle for freedom, at home and abroad, our greatest weapon, both a sword and a shield will be our love of and faith in God.
Conrad Hilton, 1951
I know not what course others
may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!
Patrick Henry, United States patriot
Our reliance is in the love of
liberty which God has planted in us.
Our defense is in the spirit which
prizes liberty as the heritage of
all men in all lands everywhere.
Abraham Lincoln
Behold, this is a choice land,
and whatsoever nation shall
possess it shall be free from bondage,
and from captivity, and from
all other nations under heaven,
if they will but serve the God
of the land, who is Jesus Christ.
Ether 2:12
We believe that all men are bound
to sustain and uphold the
respective governments
in which they reside.
D&C 134:5
My last wishes are for the happiness of our homeland.
Simón BolÃvar, South American statesman
And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children — and he fastened it upon the end of a pole. And he fastened on his headplate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land.
Alma 46:12-13
A man’s feet should be plantedin his country,
but his eyes should
survey the world.
George Santayana, Spanish poet
Soldiers must do the fighting,
but God will give the victory.
Joan of Arc, French national heroine
