A Land of Promise
“In God’s economy, America is now and has always been a choice and favored land. God has decreed for her a final, great, and glorious destiny. Here Zion is to be established and the New Jerusalem is to be built. From here the law of God shall go forth to all nations.” Marion G. Romney
Early July, in the United States, is a time of celebration and remembrance as we show gratitude for the blessings of freedom we enjoy and honor those whom the Lord called to construct this nation and the principles upon which it was founded. As a homeschooling mom, I’ve studied and taught about the origins of the United States through historical documents, textbooks, scriptures, and conference talks and devotionals by apostles and prophets. I feel a deep appreciation and have a high regard for the people and events that brought about the miraculous formation of the nation I have been privileged to call home. Studying United States history has increased my testimony that God directed and provided the means and miracles to make it possible for the Constitution to be created and the United States of America to become a nation, unlike any other, providing the place where the gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
When I ponder America’s beginnings, I’m filled with sincere gratitude and love for our founding fathers, men who risked and sacrificed so much for the cause they believed in. They were real. They were human. They were ordinary men who became extraordinary—heroes—because of their willingness to use their gifts for the cause of freedom and to press on even in the face of daunting obstacles and seemingly impossible odds, made possible through the grace of an omnipotent God. No less admirable and heroic are the many nameless, faceless, unheralded men and women who suffered, starved, froze, and fought, on and off the battlefield, so that their children and posterity would have something better than what they had.
“I am going to bear my testimony to this assembly, if I never do it again in my life, that those men who laid the foundation of this American government . . . were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. These were choice spirits, not wicked men. General Washington and all of the men that labored for the purpose were inspired of the Lord . . . Every one of those men that signed the Declaration of Independence with General Washington called upon me as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ in the temple at St. George two consecutive nights and demanded at my hands that I should go forth and attend to the ordinances of the House of God for them. . .” Wilford Woodruff

I’ve never had to experience war. I’ve never had a loved one die in a battle for my country’s freedom. I’ve never been hungry or frozen or bloodied fighting for the land I love. But I watched, live on television, airplanes fly into the twin towers and government buildings. I felt the grief and fear of knowing enemies were attacking innocent people and the country I call home. I had a desperate need to have my children around me. That evening I sat in a church with many other concerned members, comforted by the words of our prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley.
“Dark as is this hour, there is shining through the heavy overcast of fear and anger the solemn and wonderful image of the Son of God, the Savior of the World, the Prince of Peace, the exemplar of universal love, and it is to Him that we look in these circumstances. It was He who gave His life that all might enjoy eternal life.”
From an address given on September 11, 2001, in the Tabernacle on Temple Square.
Afterwards, with tears streaming down my face, my throat tight, and my heart pounding in my chest, we sang,
Oh, beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
Sobered by these events and their long-reaching effects on freedom, I was reminded that the scriptures teach us the only way we can hold on to this land and the blessings of liberty.
“And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity.
“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 2:9, 12

It’s unpopular now to express a love for our country for fear of offending someone or being labeled racist or nationalist. It is not with a feeling of pride or superiority, but humility and gratitude, that I share my love for the United States of America. Pledging allegiance to the flag, and the Republic for which it stands, is not worshiping them, nor is it claiming that its citizens are any better or more beloved of our Father in Heaven.
“In this land we often sing ‘God Bless America.’ Let us continue to do so as a prayer. But why not also sing God bless England, and God bless Scandinavia, and God bless South America and Mexico and the Orient, and God bless Australia and New Zealand, and God bless all other lands? He will bless them—every one—if they will turn to him with full purpose of heart. But there is no other way.” Mark E. Peterson

“I testify to all of you—young and old—that God, our Heavenly Father, and His Son Jesus Christ have visited this land. They appeared in the state of New York to Joseph Smith, Jr. I testify that their appearance was a reality…
“I testify that this is the Lord’s church. He presides over it and is close to His servants. He is not an absentee master; of that you can be assured. Yes, you young people are privileged to live in this choice land—a land of Zion—a land reserved for the second coming of our Lord and Savior, and the Lord’s base of operations today. When all these events are finished and written, we will look back and not be astonished to see that the prophecies, ancient and modern, about this land and these events were but our history in reverse. For that is what prophecy is.
“May God bless us all to be faithful and true to this vision and to uphold, sustain, and defend this nation, its founders, and the kingdom of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.” Ezra Taft Benson
About Me
I’m Jen, mother of 7 amazing humans, Gran of 5 (so far), divorce survivor, homebody, health seeker, and devoted follower of Jesus. This is the place where I share how the hiccups and detours in the road of my life strengthen my hope in Christ.
Jen, thank you for reminding all of us of the blessing it is to be born in this most blessed land, the land of America. My heart swells with humbleness and love for those who have fought, suffered and died to make this nation free. My only sadness now is that we will lose the blessings of Heaven on this land because we have turned away from God.
Bless you, Jen, for your thoughts.
Jackie, don’t give up hope. 🙂 There are still many people who love and serve God. You are a shining example of that.