Let’s take a quick trip through history. Bear with me on the history recap, I swear it will be brief.
The Revolutionary War started in 1775.
Some rag-tag colonists decided to stand up to and fight for independence from the greatest power in the world. I’ll say that again, a group of mostly untrained men decided to take on the greatest military force on earth at that time. Louder for those in the back, a group of settlers stood up to THE world superpower.
Can you believe how truly insane that was? Just that they revolted was crazy. Surely that got smashed into submission…right? WRONG!
They won! Independence. How? Tons of stories from that time point to divine intervention. We can save those for another day.
244 years ago, July 4, 1776 The Declaration of Independence was signed.
1777 The Articles of Confederation were written. This would be the first constitution of the United States.
1787 The Constitution we have today was written.
1791 the Bill of Rights was written for the United States.
Amendment I of that Bill of Rights:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
1805 The Prophet Joseph Smith was born.
1820 God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith.
1827 Joseph Smith received the golden plates.
1830 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Christ’s restored church was re-established on the earth.
Fourteen short years after the Bill of Rights was established and set forth the freedom of religion in this choice nation a prophet was born. 29 years after the established freedom of religion Heavenly Father appeared to His prophet. Four short decades after the Bill of Rights was ratified Christ’s Church was restored.
Think about that for a moment. Human history spanning thousands of years. Yet, somehow, within 15 years of a free nation set forth the guidelines for free religion, a boy was born who 15 years later would claim visitation from God the Father. He would establish a church from meager means. Within 200 years that church would have millions of members across the globe.
Talk about all the coincidences.
It was less than 40 years after freedom of religion was established in the United States of America that the Church of Jesus Christ was organized.
What spectacular timing.
I know there aren’t coincidences in God’s plan. I know he reared up and prepared inspired, God-loving, intelligent men to establish this great nation. Men who desired freedom above all else. I know that soon after they did their part in establishing this free country it was finally time in God’s plan to establish His Church. There had to be a place for the Church to be restored first. There was nowhere else in the world the Church of Jesus Christ could have been established.
God works in miraculous and spectacular ways for His purposes.
I know the exact timing of Joseph Smith’s birth and the exact timing of the freedom of the United States were no coincidence. They were planned out long ago.
On this Fourth of July I’m grateful to our founding fathers.
I’m grateful to Joseph Smith.
More than anything I’m grateful to God for His perfect plan.
I’m grateful for a country where I can worship whom, how, and where I please. I’m grateful that I can pray in private or public. I’m grateful to be born in a country free. I’m grateful that I’ve never been truly persecuted for my religious beliefs. We live in a special country. We live in a country founded on true principles: freedom, liberty, and equality. I know it took some time for those principles to be truly established and I know we’re still working on some of those principles. But the principles are there. There are still parts of the world, many parts of the world, where freedom, liberty, and equality are not even considered.
The most important principle of all that this nation was founded on: faith and belief in God.
I know right now America is in a predicament. We have turned from God. God gave us this great nation and helped its establishment. Now we spit on Him and marvel at our own great strength and power. We’re American! THE Global Superpower. Doesn’t that sound familiar. We know what happens to global superpowers that rely on their own strength.
If we don’t humble ourselves and confess to whom we owe all, God in Heaven, He will take back His land. We are only as strong and powerful as our faith in God allows. Like England during the Revolutionary War we will fall if our pride is not removed. We must return to God. He founded this country and it will continue to degrade until we return to the source of all strength. It’s time to repent.
I love this country. I hope we can return to our principles and be better. I hope we can love God and keep Him here with us.
GOD Bless the USA
