Freedom to Fly the Stars and Stripes

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the simple fact that the Stars and Stripes are being challenged in numerous places in our nation.  Schools may deny citizens the right to fly the United States flag more frequently than any other organization, but home owners associations are close behind.  It appears that many people live in the United States but do not want to see our national colors flying.

                Fox13 News reported the latest episode involving Chestnut Place, a condominium community in Murray, Utah, located near Salt Lake City.  A week or so ago, there were no regulations or restrictions on residents of the community who desired to fly the Stars and Stripes, and many the patriotic residents did.  At the last board meeting, “two members of the board and a resident” stated they were “tired of looking at the flag.”

                A warning went out to the community residents telling them to take down their flags.  Residents that refused to give up their freedom to fly the Stars and Stripes were fined $75 and given a notice.  The notice states:  “All exterior decorations must be removed within 10 days following the holiday….  Please remove your flag from the common area (Utah Community Association Act. 57-a-219).”

                Residents were shocked, but the president of the HOA refused to back down.  Home owners planned to address the situation at the next home HOA meeting, and they filled the room.  The meeting was cancelled at the last minute, and no board members were present.  Home owners are now calling for a special meeting to vote for new board members.

                “Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country.”  I started typing that statement more than 50 years ago whenever I needed to test a typewriter.  I believe I got the statement from my husband’s mother, whom I dearly loved.  This statement is even truer today than it was in the 1960s when I learned it. 

                Our nation really does need good men and women to come to its aid, and a good place to start is by defending our right to fly the flag of our nation from our homes, vehicles, businesses, or wherever we so choose.  Any person who does not like to see the red, white and blue flag flying – or is offended by it – is free to leave our nation on a one-way ticket.  I will not be intimidated.  I will fly my flag whenever I choose to do so from my property!

Immediate Gratification

                We can bring the greatest of all liberties into our individual lives by living true and correct principles.  This liberty comes to us as we learn to live as though Jesus Christ were walking beside us.  We gain this freedom as we invite the Holy Ghost into our lives.

                  The liberty principle for today is number fifteen in a series of true principles suggested by Elder Richard G. Scott in his book

21 Principles – Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit.  I will merely introduce the principle and suggest that you obtain Elder Scott’s book in order to truly understand this principle.  Elder Scott explained that principles “are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.  A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and challenging circumstances.”  You can see principle #1 “True Principles of Freedom” here.  

                  Principle #15 is the simple fact that seeking immediate gratification can distract us from accomplishing greater things.  Distraction is one of the many tools Satan uses in his attempt to stop God’s plan from being successful.  If he can distract us from the essential activities of this life, he does not need to tempt us to do bad things.

                “Although our memory of it is withheld, before we came to this earth we lived in the presence of God, our Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.  We shouted for joy when given the privilege of coming to this earth to receive a body and to move forward in God’s plan for our happiness.  We knew that we would be tested here.  Part of that testing is to have so many seemingly interesting things to do that we can forget the main purposes for being here.  Satan works very hard so that the essential things won’t happen.

                “In quiet moments when you think about it, you recognize what is critically important in life and what isn’t.  Be wise and don’t let good things crowd out those that are essential.

                “What are the essential ones?  They are related to doctrine.  They are centered in ordinances and embrace critical covenants.  To receive all of the blessings of the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, we are only asked to be obedient to His commandments and to receive all  of the essential ordinances:  baptism, confirmation, priesthood ordinations for men, and temple ordinances.  The Atonement will not only help us overcome our transgressions and mistakes, but, in His time, it will resolve all inequities of life – those things that are unfair which are the consequences of circumstance or others’ acts and not our own decisions.”

                Elder Scott counseled:  “Don’t give up what you most want in life for something you think you want now.”  He suggested that we find a quiet place to “ponder and let the Lord establish the direction of your life.”  He suggested that we do this activity “periodically” to “confirm” we are on the right path.  He suggested that we ask ourselves some questions:  1) “What are my highest priorities to be accomplished while on earth?”  2) “How do I use my discretionary time?  Is some of it consistently applied to my highest priorities?”  3) “Is there anything I know I should not be doing?  If so, I will repent and stop it now.”

                “In a quiet moment, write down your responses.  Analyze them.  Make any necessary adjustments.  Put first things first” (pp. 73-75).

                As I was typing the above quote I remembered a test we can give our children to determine if they have self-control to withstand the need for immediate gratification.  Ask the children to sit at the table.  Place a marshmallow in front of them on the table.  Tell them you are testing them to see if they can leave the marshmallow on the table until you return to the room.  If their marshmallow is still in front of them when you return, you will give them two marshmallows.  Leave the room for a few minutes and return.  Reward the children who could withstand their need for immediate gratification.  This is a very difficult test for some children.  It might be good if the test is given on a somewhat irregular basis using different treats.  A marshmallow is no test at all for someone that does not like marshmallows!

                So what are some of the distractions that keep us from more important things?  Do we sleep a few extra minutes rather get up and study the scriptures before leaving for school or work?  Do we watch Monday Night Football instead of holding family home evening?  How about going fishing or golfing or to a movie rather than keeping the Sabbath Day holy?  I know numerous young people who were distracted from a temple wedding by things of this world as well as some young men who were distracted from serving in the mission field by friends.

                I have made all the covenants and received all ordinances of this life, and I try real hard to keep those covenants.  I am however often distracted from important things such as scripture study in the morning by the “need” to do something else or go somewhere important.  I have to keep pulling myself back from such distractions and do the activities that I consider most important in reaching my eternal goals.  I tell myself quite often to “put first things first.”  I try to mentally put desires in categories of “good,” “better,” and “best.”  Cleaning the house is usually a good way to use my time but spending time with my husband may be a better or even the best way.  I am constantly appraising my plans to see if I use my time in the best way.  I encourage you to start asking yourself, is this activity good, better, or best?  Questioning choices is one way to make good ones.

Heaven on Earth

                We can bring the greatest of all liberties into our individual lives by living true and correct principles.  This liberty comes to us as we learn to live as though Jesus Christ were walking beside us.  We gain this freedom as we invite the Holy Ghost into our lives.

                  The liberty principle for today is number fourteen in a series of true principles suggested by Elder Richard G. Scott in his book

21 Principles – Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit.  I will merely introduce the principle and suggest that you obtain Elder Scott’s book in order to truly understand this principle.  Elder Scott explained that principles “are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.  A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and challenging circumstances.”  You can see principle #1 “True Principles of Freedom” here.  

                  Principle #14 is the simple fact that when we have a happy marriage we “can transform a house into a place of heaven on earth.”  When God created Adam and Eve, He created them as a man and a woman and performed their wedding ceremony. 

                In September 1995 the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a document known as “The Family:  A Proclamation to the World.”  Copies of this proclamation were taken to leaders in cities, counties, states, and nations. 

                This proclamation begins with a solemn declaration that “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and … the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children….”

                The proclamation concludes with a warning:  “We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God.  Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

                “We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”

                When we know that God ordains marriage between a man and a woman, we better understand why marriage and family life is under attack by Satan and those who listen to him.  Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and has organized us in families in order to encourage happiness.

                Elder Scott explained that God created men and women differently and gave them “unique traits especially fitted for their individual responsibilities as they fulfill His plan.  In the Lord’s plan, it takes two – a man and a woman – to form a whole.  Indeed, a husband and wife are not two identical halves, but a wondrous, divinely determined combination of complementary capacities and characteristics.

                “Marriage allows these different characteristics to come together in oneness – in unity – to bless a husband and wife, their children and grandchildren.  For the greatest happiness and productivity in life, both husband and wife are needed.  Their efforts interlock and are complementary.  Each has individual traits that best fit the role the Lord has defined for happiness as a man or woman.  When used as the Lord intends, those capacities allow a married couple to think, act, and rejoice as one – to face challenges together and overcome them as one, to grow in love and understanding, and through temple ordinances to be bound together as one whole, eternally.  That is the plan” (p. 69).

                We can find true happiness in our marriages if we follow the plan outlined and taught by prophets of God.  Elder Scott explained that we need to “recognize that spouses need each other” to form a whole.  Spouses need to recognize that both of them work hard for the benefit of the family and each needs to feel appreciated in their roles.  He also explained “there is a difference in how the priesthood is used in the home and how it is used in the Church.  Because the Church is an organization where there are different levels, a hierarchical structure, we sometimes need to make decisions for those who are serving under us.  In the home, the priesthood is not used that way.  It is a patriarchal order… [where spouses] “make every decision together.”  If we cannot come to a decision, we should work at it under we can. 

                Elder Scott suggested that we include prayer in our decision-making process.  “You will find the greatest happiness if you will base every decision on the question, `What does the Lord want us to do?’  Seek together the will of the Lord.  That, I believe, is the way to keep the balance we should.

                “Throughout your life on earth, seek diligently to fulfill the fundamental purposes of this life through the ideal family.  While you may not have yet reached that ideal, do all you can through obedience and faith in the Lord to consistently draw as close to it as you are able…” (pp. 70-71).

                I encourage you to study the proclamation on the family and choose some part of it to work on with your spouse.  If we truly desire our homes to become heaven on earth, we will follow the counsel of Prophets and Apostles.  We can obtain more freedom by making our marriages and homes happier.

Mentors Help

                We can bring the greatest of all liberties into our individual lives by living true and correct principles.  This liberty comes to us as we learn to live as though Jesus Christ were walking beside us.  We gain this freedom when we invite the Holy Ghost into our lives.

                The liberty principle for today is the ninth in a series of true principles suggested by Elder Richard G. Scott in his book 21 Principles – Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit.  I will merely introduce the principle and suggest that you obtain Elder Scott’s book in order to truly understand this principle.  Elder Scott explained that principles “are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.  A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and challenging circumstances.”  You can see principle #1 “True Principles of Freedom” here, principle #2 “Trust the Holy Ghost” here,  principle #3 “Try New Things” here,  principle #4 “Accept Promptings” here, principle #5 “Decisions Determine Destiny” here, principle #6 “Accept God’s Will” here, principle #7 “Power Limited” here, and principle #8 “Discerning Answers” here.  

                Principle #9 is the simple counsel that our answers to prayer sometimes comes through inspired counsel from mentors.  Elder Scott taught, “One of the great sources of help we can receive as we make our way through mortality comes from the presence in our lives of mentors, people who want to help us, who are interested in our well-being, who may have had greater experience than we have.  Such a person needs not be older that we are, but should be someone who is willing to give counsel that is founded in principle and doctrine.

                “Some of the greatest lessons I have learned in my life have been taught to me by those brethren and sisters who have mentored me, given me counsel, seen me struggling with an issue and taken the time to share their experience and provide tremendous encouragement….

                “Sometimes just the way a person lives provides a mentoring experience for others…” (pp. 45-46).

                My life has been blessed by the experiences of many mentors.  My parents and siblings have been very helpful to me in numerous situations; my children have also helped me with their knowledge and experiences.  I am always willing to listen to someone who I know cares about me and wants to help me.  I received life-changing counsel by listening to a song in sacrament meeting.  I do not know or remember the title of the song but the following words continue to ring in my mind:  “How many drops of blood did the Savior shed for me?”  Since I heard those words, I have tried to live my life in such a way that I would not cause Him to shed any more drops for me.

                Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also spoke about mentoring:  “Each of us, from time to time, is mentored and has chances to mentor.  In my experience, truthful and caring one-liners that occur within such nurturing relationships have a long shelf life!  You can probably recount three or four examples of how people have said something – probably a sentence or clause – and you remember it still.  It moves and touches you still.  Such has been the case with me….

                “Thurs, giving encouragement and perspective to each other – including spiritual one-liners – occurs in life so often, as in the well-known case of the young man who accompanied Elisha on the mount that was surrounded with hostile horses and chariots.  The anxious young man asked, `How shall we do?’ (2 Kings 6:15).  His eyes were then opened so that he too saw the reassuring horses and chariots of fire.  Elisha counseled the young man, `They that be with us are more than they that be with them’ (2 Kings 6:16).  How vital that same truth is for all of us, especially when we may seem outnumbered or overwhelmed in life’s varied circumstances.”

                Elder Maxwell continued by explaining that “Jesus’ mentoring and tutoring arose out of His divinity, of which I testify, and often occurred in the form of searching questions, sometimes even wrenching questions.  For example, the tender, thrice-put query to Peter:  `Simon Peter, … lovest thou me?’ (John 21:15; see also John 21:16-17).

                “Unlike some of our questions to others, Jesus’ questions were not flippant, nor were they mere rejoinders.  Instead, they were true invitations, though only the meek may actually respond.  Nevertheless, deep insights are embedded in Christ’s questions!

                “Lesson-laden, Jesus’ questions are relevant for us too.  Some are multidispensational, such as the question to the returning and healed leper about the forgetful ingratitude of his peers.  Jesus asked the question, `Where are the [other] nine?’ (Luke 17:17).

                “Some of the Master’s queries require an entire shift in one’s frame of reference.  Consider the question asked the brilliant but as yet spiritually untamed Saul on the road to Damascus:  `Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?’ (Acts 9:4).  An entire frame of reference was changed by an inspired question.

                “There are tactical advantages as well as spiritual advantages that can accompany inspired questions….

                “Moreover, we soon find in this process of tutoring and mentoring that chastening may be involved in both the Lord’s questions and in His training of us.  The Lord tells us that He chastens those whom He loves.  In fact, the chastened may be the only individuals willing so to learn (see Mosiah 23:21).  After all, where could one get more profound, personal insights than from the Lord – and in the context of divine charity?”

                Elder Maxwell’s talk has many more profound and interesting thoughts about mentoring.  I encourage you to read the entire talk here.  (“Jesus, the Perfect Mentor,” Ensign, February 200).  I am grateful for mentoring given by Elder Maxwell and sorely miss him since his death.  I am however blessed with many other mentors who continue to give me greater understanding in various areas of my life.  I hope that I have been of help to other people!

Freedom and Well-Informed Citizens

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the simple fact that freedom is connected to well-informed citizens.  No nation can maintain freedom without its citizenry being well-informed with the facts – the truth.

                Our Savior, even Jesus Christ, taught the connection between knowing the truth and being free:  “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

                Thomas Jefferson understood the connection between liberty and being well informed and left several quotes about it.  1) “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”  2) “I look to the diffusion of light and education as the resource most to be relied on for ameliorating the conditions, promoting the virtue ad advancing the happiness of man.”  3) “I feel … an ardent desire to see knowledge so disseminated through the mass of mankind that it may, at length, reach even the extremes of society:  beggars and kings.”

                Jefferson obviously understood this connection between liberty and a well-informed citizenry:  4) “And say, finally, whether peace is best preserved by giving energy to the government or information to the people.  This last is the most certain and the most legitimate engine of government.  Educate and inform the whole mass of the people.  Enable them to see that it is their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them.  And it requires no very high degree of education to convince them of this.  They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”  5) “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”  6) “Whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, the people, if well informed, may be relied on to set them to rights.”  7)  “It is an axiom in my mind that our liberty can never be safe but in the hands of the people themselves, and that, too, of the people with a certain degree of instruction.  This is the business of the state to effect, and on a general plan.”

                On January 10, 1963, a list of 45 declared goals for the Communist takeover of America was read into the Congressional Record by Hon. A.S. Herlong, Jr. of Florida in the House of Representatives.  (See Congressional Record – Appendix, pp. A34-A35, January 10, 1963.)  It has now been fifty years since this record was made – and most of the goals have been met.  Here are the goals that pertain to the topic today.

                Goal #17:  “Get control of the schools.  Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda.  Soften the curriculum.  Get control of teachers’ associations.  Put the party line in textbooks.

”

                Goal #18:  “Gain control of all student newspapers.”

                Goal #19:  “Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.”

                Goal #20:  “Infiltrate the press.  Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policy-making positions.”

                Goal # 21:  “Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.”

                The Communists know that if Americans must be kept in the dark about their plans for America.  They know that they must control the information that comes into lives.  They know that they must control the schools in order to indoctrinate the rising generation.  They know that they must control the media.  They know that they must lie to Americans in order to take freedom away.

 I am sure that it would have been easier to keep us in the dark without the alternative media on the Internet.  The President and congressional leaders can tell their lies, and the main stream media will carry them.  The truth comes from ordinary Americans over the Internet in blogs such as this one, Facebook, and other technology.  We must fight for our right to know the truth and stand for the truth at all times!  We must inform ourselves because the government and the main stream media will not give us the true facts.  They do not want us to be well-informed!

Respect and Honor Heroes

                    The topic of discussion for this Freedom Friday concerns how we remember and honor the heroes who protect our nation.  The heroes and their families make many sacrifices in our behalf and deserve to be remembered and honored for those sacrifices; however, when a hero makes the ultimate sacrifice, we must give more recognition to the sacrifices made by the family.

                    The Savior taught, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  Our military men and women offer their lives that we may live free because they love their country and their fellow citizens.

                    A friend on Facebook posted a letter from an airline pilot describing how one fallen soldier was shown honor and respect.  If you can read this letter without shedding tears, you have more control than I because I shed many tears as I read it.

"My lead flight attendant came to me and said, `We have an H.R. on this flight.'  (H.R. stands for human remains.)  `Are they military?' I asked.  `Yes,' she said.  `Is there an escort?' I asked.  `Yes, I've already assigned him a seat.'  `Would you please tell him to come to the flight deck?  You can board him early.' I said.

                    "A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck.  He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier.  He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier.  The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.

                    "`My soldier is on his way back to Virginia,' he said.  He proceeded to answer my questions but offered no words.

                    "I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no.   I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers.  The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand.  He left the flight deck to find his seat.

                    "We completed our pre-flight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure.  About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin.  `I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying is on board,' she said.  She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year-old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home.  The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left.  We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia.

                    "The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear.  He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival.  The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane.  I could hear the desperation in the flight attendant's voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do.  `I'm on it,' I said.  I told her that I would get back to her.

                    "Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages.  I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio.  There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher.  I was in direct contact with the dispatcher.  I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted.  He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

                    "Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher.  We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family.  I sent a text message asking for an update.  I saved the return message from the dispatcher, and the following is the text.

                    "`Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you.  There is policy on this now, and I had to check on a few things.  Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft.  The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side.  A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family.  The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp.  It is a private area for the family only.  When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home.  Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans.  Please pass our condolences on to the family.  Thanks.'

                    "I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job.  I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father.  The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, `You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'

                    "Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing.  After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area.  The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway.  It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit.  When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.

                    "`There is a team in place to meet the aircraft,' we were told.  It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane.  As we approached our gate, I asked the co-pilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers.  He did that and the ramp controller said, `Take your time.'

                    "I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake.  I pushed the public address button and said, `Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking.  I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement.  We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect.  His name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life.  Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold.  Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter.  Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first.  Thank you.'

                    "We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures..  A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door.  I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see.  I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

                    "When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands.  Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping.  Words of `God Bless You,' I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane.  They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

                    "Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made.  They were just words, I told them; I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

                    "I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and [Britain]."

                    There was a footnote to the post:  "I know everyone who has served their country who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me.  Please send this on after a short prayer for our service men and women.  They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honor and respect.

                    "`Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.  Protect them as they protect us.  Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.'

                    "Just send this to people in your address book.  Do not let it stop with you.  Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.

                    "GOD BLESS YOU!!!  Bring the rest home safe and sound.  We need to be there for them now more than ever."

Miraculous Constitution

                    The topic of discussion for this Freedom Friday is the genius of the United States Constitution and its application of People's Law.  The American Colonists considered themselves to be loyal subjects of the King of England and they did not want to break away from their mother country.  The Revolutionary War did not start with the idea of achieving independence from the King; it started because the colonists wanted to protect the rights of the people.  After fighting with the British for two years, the Americans realized in early 1776 that independence from the Crown was the only way to protect their rights.

                    The colonists operated in America for 180 years (1607-1787) before they wrote the Constitution that has governed our nation for more than 200 years.  It was not an easy task and took time and effort to come up with formula for success.  The colonies operated under the Articles of Confederation during the Revolutionary War and almost lost the war because of it.  The Articles of Confederation had "no executive, no judiciary, no taxing power, and no enforcement power."  The national government made recommendations to the states but had no power to enforce them.

                    An example of the problems of operating under the Articles of Confederation is clearly shown by the suffering and death of soldiers at Valley Forge and Morristown.  The central government did not have power to force the states to send manpower, funds, or supplies to the army; therefore, it was unable to provide food, clothing, equipment, and manpower to fight the war.  There were approximately 8,000 soldiers at Valley Forge at the beginning; about 3,000 simply went home and about 2,000 died of starvation or disease.  General Washington thought the weakness of the central government was the principle problem for non-support. 

                    None of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention could have written the Constitution alone, and each delegate understood this fact.  They knew that they needed to work together because their states were very divided.  Their new nation was struggling for several reasons:  1) The Continental dollar was nearly worthless due to inflation.  2) The economy was not good.  3) The people were fighting against each other in riots.  4) The New England states were threatening to withdraw from the union.  5) England and Spain were ready for an opportunity to step in and grab any straggling states.

                    It was not easy to be a delegate to the Constitutional Convention.  The delegates did not expect to be away from home for four months, and some of them had to return home to handle problems while others were borrowing money to meet expenses.  The first rule of the Convention was to keep all the discussion secret from anyone outside the Convention.  The delegates did most of their debating and the majority of discussing in what was called "the Committee of the Whole" because the decisions of "committees" were less final than a Convention vote would be.  After the delegates had argued and finalized their decisions, they would reassemble themselves into the "Convention" to make their official votes. 

Founders wanted agreement on what the Constitution was to do, and they discussed the various topics until they could reach a consensus.  After four months of discussions, there were three topics upon which they could not reach agreement:  slavery, how to proportion representation, and how to regulate commerce.  These were the only issues that had to be settled by compromise.

The Framers completed their work, signed the document on September 17, 1787, and sent it to Congress.  Congress did not make any changes but ratified it and sent it out to the states.  Some of the states did not like everything in the Constitution and threatened to reject the whole Constitution.  There were five significant objections raised:  1) the loss of sovereignty for states; 2) the absence of a Bill of Rights to protect the citizens from federal power; 3) fear that the President would become like the King they had just defeated; 4) fear of the independent federal judges; 5) fear about the federal power to tax.

The states were encouraged to ratify the main body of the Constitution and then submit suggestions about how to amend the document, ultimately submitting 189 suggested amendments.  In the first Congress held under the new Constitution, James Madison went through all the suggested amendments and narrowed them down to twelve, ten of which were approved and ratified by the states.  These ten became the Bill of Rights.

The Framers of the Constitution were geniuses as a group, and they brought forth a miraculous document.  They came together at just the right time, they were able to discuss and compromise where necessary, and they wrote 4400 miraculous words.  After the first ten amendments were approved as the Bill of Rights, only seventeen other amendments have been made in the course of more than two hundred years.  Two of those amendments are considered to be "throw away amendments" as they established and then abolished Prohibition. 

The true genius of the Constitution is that it created a system of government that could continue to govern the nation as the nation grew in both geographical area and population.  It is miraculous in its ability to defy both anarchy and tyranny.  The words "We the People" found in both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution proclaim the principle that God gives men unalienable rights and the purpose of government is to protect those rights.

Ideas and information are from W. Cleon Skousen in The Five Thousand Year Leap - 28 Great Ideas That Changed the World, pp. 18-22.  This is a wonderful book with many different ideas about freedom.  It is well worth the money to purchase it and the time and effort to study it!

People's Law

                    The topic for this Freedom Friday is that People's Law is in direct opposition to Ruler's Law.  The Founders fought a war to escape the tyranny of Ruler's Law and wanted to set up a system of government that made every citizen free.  This "Great Experiment" of the Founders started with their knowledge of the freedom under People's Law as originally practiced by the Anglo Saxons. 

Thomas Jefferson in particular admired People's Law.  One authority on Jefferson wrote:  "Jefferson's great ambition at that time [1776] was to promote a renaissance of Anglo-Saxon primitive institutions on the new continent.  Thus presented, the American Revolution was nothing but the reclamation of the Anglo-Saxon birthright of which the colonists had been deprived by a `long trend of abuses.'  Nor does it appear that there was anything in this theory which surprised or shocked his contemporaries; Adams apparently did not disapprove of it, and it would be easy to bring in many similar expressions of the same idea in documents of the time" (Gilbert Chinard, Thomas Jefferson:  The Apostle of Americanism, pp 86-87).

The main points of People's Law as practiced by the Anglo-Saxons are as follow:  "1) The Anglo-Saxons considered themselves a commonwealth of freemen.  2) All decisions and the selection of leaders had to be with the consent of the people, preferably by full consensus, not just a majority.  3) The laws by which they were governed were considered natural laws given by divine dispensation, and were so well known by the people they did not have to be written down.  4) Power was dispersed among the people and never allowed to concentrate in any one person or group.  Even in time of war, the authority granted to the leaders was temporary and the power of the people to remove them was direct and simple.  5)  Primary responsibility for resolving problems rested first of all with the individual, then the family, then the tribe or community, then the region, and finally, the nation.  6) They were organized into small, manageable groups where every adult had a voice and a vote.  They divided the people into units of ten families who elected a leader; then fifty families who elected a leader; then a hundred families who elected a leader; and then a thousand families who elected a leader.  7) They believed the rights of the individual were considered unalienable and could not be violated without risking the wrath of divine justice as well as civil retribution by the people's judges.  8) The system of justice was structured on the basis of severe punishment unless there was complete reparation to the person who had been wronged.  There were only four `crimes' or offenses against the whole people.  These were treason, by betraying their own people; cowardice, by refusing to fight or failing to fight courageously; desertion; and homosexuality.  These were considered capital offenses.  All other offenses required reparation to the person who had been wronged.  9) They always attempted to solve problems on the level where the problem originated.  If this was impossible they went no higher than was absolutely necessary to get a remedy.  Usually only the most complex problems involving the welfare of the whole people, or a large segment of the people, ever went to the leaders for solution."

The Founders also studied the record of the ancient Israelites, and they realized that the ancient Israelites and the Anglo-Saxons had a similar system of government.  The principle characteristics of the law practiced by Ancient Israel are as follow:  "1) First of all, they were set up as a commonwealth of freemen…. 2) All the people were organized into small manageable units where the representative of each family had a voice and a vote…. 3) There was specific emphasis on strong, local self-government.  Problems were solved to the greatest possible extent on the level where they originated…. 4) The entire code of justice was based primarily on reparation to the victim rather than fines and punishment by the commonwealth…. 5) Leaders were elected and new laws were approved by the common consent of the people…. 6) Accused persons were presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.  Evidence had to be strong enough to remove any question of doubt as to guilt.  Borderline cases were decided in favor of the accused and he was released.  It was felt that if he were actually guilty, his punishment could be left to the judgment of God in the future life."

The Founders studied and understood the People's Law as practiced by the Anglo-Saxons and the divinely-inspired and perfect system of government used by Ancient Israel.  When they wrote the Constitution of the United States, they used this knowledge to organize a government for Americans built on solid principles, principles that had been proven and used by other governments.

Americans must realize and acknowledge that the Founders had a successful formula and must insist that our government be restored to constitutional principles.  We must also strengthen the love for God, family, and country and bring morality back into our lives, business and government.  We must remember the words of John Adams who stated:  "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

I was very interested in the fact that both the Anglo-Saxons and the Ancient Israelites governments were based on a bottom up philosophy.  When Brigham Young became the leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had the responsibility to lead thousands of people to the Salt Lake Valley, he wondered how he could govern so many thousands of people.  The word and the will of the Lord came through Brigham Young to the people.  Part of that counsel was, "Let all the people of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those who journey with them, be organized into companies, with a covenant and promise to keep all the commandments and statutes of the Lord our God.

"Let the companies be organized with captains of hundreds, captains of fifties, and captains of tens, with a president and his two counselors at their head, under the direction of the Twelve Apostles" (Doctrine and Covenants 136:2-3). 

Each company was responsible to have teams of animals, seeds, and farming utensils and to bear an equal proportion of the poor, the widows, the fatherless, and the families of men who had gone into the U.S. Army.  The fathers and/or mothers were responsible for their individual families.  Ten families were grouped under a captain of ten; five groups of ten families were put under a captain of fifty, and two groups of fifty were put under a captain of one hundred.  It was a government that was built from the bottom up, and it worked!

The United States is organized under a similar pattern:  families, communities, cities, counties, states, and federal government.  This order works well if there is no grabbing of power.  Problems in a family are best handled in the family; problems in a community are best handled in the community; the same is true of cities and counties.  The federal government should concentrate on their assigned duties and responsibilities as stated in the Constitution and restore power to the states for those tasks that are reserved to the states.

Many of the ideas and quotes came from W. Cleon Skousen in The Five Thousand Year Leap - 28 Great Ideas That Changed the World, pp 13-18.  If you do not currently have regular access to this book, I encourage you to purchase it.  The book is invaluable in learning about the freedoms we enjoy - or should enjoy - under the U.S. Constitution.