The Country Long at War

The country long at war
Declared a holiday
Though the land had grown torn
They paused to give thanks and pray

Many lost their lives
Doing what was right
Unafraid of hard times
They sought God to help them fight

In a Troubled Day

We have been placed on earth
In a troubled day
Complexity's now hurl
As powers struggle and weigh

The schemes of man
Are more at work
To destroy God's plan
With a downwards jerk

Deeply concerned
For this country of love
To serve...we must turn
And proudly stand up

This message is not sweet
But must be told
From God.. now we sweep
Unto socialism cold

Shockingly, now born
For the whole world to see
Policies have torn
Fabrics of liberty

The executive branch
Through supreme court call
Have worked hard to launch
A nation without God

Our future ... forlorn
Is frightening indeed
We must get informed
If we want to be freed

Stand for freedom's role
No matter the cost
It can save your soul
Without God...we are lost

Through complacency
We are now in danger
For our prosperity-
We must no longer languor

The time has come to heed
And get our homes in order
Portent storms indeed
Now lay upon four corners

If we are prepared
We shall not fear
God's Word, we must share
And proclaim He is near

George Washington

Out numbered, out generaled, and completely out done
George Washington crossed the frozen Delaware
For he knew a surprise attack had to be won
As only a man of God would know to dare

Laboring to keep virtue his guiding star
He relied heavily upon faith
Wielding unassailable power to travel far
It was more than tyranny he'd learned to face

With the Declaration of Independence in adoption
For eight long years, as the General, he exerted
Knowing quitting was never an option
He worked with troops who oft times deserted

The night was long and his plan was bold
It was a nine mile march to reach Trenton
None would have thought to do so in this bitter cold
But, the wind blanketed all noise from detection

In a fierce battle they went door to door
And forty five minutes later they'd won
Then on to Princeton, they fought once more
But, then, his enlistments were done

As the drums rolled, their leader did plead
To reenlist none stepped forward to fight
Each had farms at home and families to feed
And hope of payments had not reached their sights

Washington turned and rode away, too
But, then stopped, came back and said, "My dear fellows"
"You have done all that I've asked you to do"
But, still the war rages and bellows

Your homes and country's at stake
Please give it one more month to this day
And we'll end this war for liberties sake
Then...men stepped forward...they engaged without delay

That they rose to the occasion I give my thanks!


Education Week: George Washington was a man of true virtue | Mormon Times

The Glorious Cause of America
David McCullough
MTC
Sept. 27, 2005





Education Week: George Washington was a man of true virtue | Mormon Times

Having Been Formed as a Nation Under God

Having been formed as a nation under God
Our laws and freedoms come of Him
And the hot breath of destruction upon our necks will fall
As the slippery slope leads to hell's oven

Let us not be afraid to cling to our guns,
Our religion, and constitution
Let us rally together as Americans
And declare our allegiance with resolution

Let us re awake the Declaration of independence
For what else do we have at the end of the day?
Let us believe once again in divine providence
And commit to integrity, truth, and honor while we pray

thoughts from
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38891505/ns/politics-more_politics

Tens of thousands flock to Restoring Honor event
Tens of thousands of people heeded broadcaster Glenn Beck's summons for his "Restoring Honor" rally Saturday from the same marble steps at the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King Jr.'s gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech 47 years ago to the day.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38891505/from/toolbar

"What else do we have, at the end of the day," beyond faith in God, Palin said, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

"You're not afraid to cling to your guns and your religion — and your Constitution," she added, echoing remarks by President Barack Obama in 2008 during campaigning.

The Constitution Should Not be Misconstrued

The Constitution should not be used
As a weapon to end debate
Especially when proposals abuse
The guarantees given to each state

For who is closer to the people
Who've sovereignty to embrace
Than the local government, pure and simple
Righting the issues that they face

And above all, may religious freedom reign
To promote righteousness and civic virtue
That faith in America not wain
For the good that it can do

Let us each express gratitude
To God for life and liberty
Then lest our laws be misconstrued
Let us work to balance them properly

“Fundamentals of Our Constitutions” - Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Utah’s Constitution Day Celebration

Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah

IN GOD WE TRUST

The author of freedom
Watches over this great land
Lighting us with wisdom
When we've goodness at hand

That each may progress
Freely by way of choice
He's laid a path that does bless
Those who want to hear His voice

"In God we trust"
There is no other way
That is properly just
And kind to obey

When there's a set back
Amidst uncertainty and gloom
May each family stay on track
With hope sweet in rich bloom

Each family filled with nurture,
Values, and service
Will help us claim our future
And strengthen resolve and purpose
america, in god we trust

Now is the Time

Now is the time
America is the place
To lift up our eyes
And lead the human race

...With the constitution in our arms
We must combine for the right
Protect the family from harm
And restore morals and might

Let's bring America back
Sovereign and strong
With our vote let's attack
All that has gone wrong

Dependency's a drug
Entitlement's corrupt
Let's stand up, show up
And declare: WE'VE HAD ENOUGH

For prosperity's sake
Let's restore order
We've coalitions to make
To defend each border

We'll not give up lightly
For strength, let's unite and pray
Unto God Almighty
He will light the way

inspired by Mitt Romney

The Faith of Abraham Lincoln

The choicest bounties of heaven
Have been ours, richly given
Preserved with peace and prosperity
Only to forget God because of vanity

Now, in war, we need to ask for clemency
And pray humbly for forgiveness
We are in need of God's mercy
To feel His hand once more upon us

Time passed, everything seemed stricken
I got down on my knees to pray
Mightily to God in heaven
And felt all my fears wash away

For this war was His war
And our cause was His
Though this nation now was torn
God would resolve this whole business

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which has preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” [March 30, 1863]

“Well, I will tell you how it was. In the pinch of the campaign up there (at Gettysburg) when everybody seemed panic stricken and nobody could tell what was going to happen, oppressed by the gravity of our affairs, I went to my room one day and locked the door and got down on my knees before Almighty God and prayed to Him mightily for victory at Gettysburg. I told Him that this war was His war, and our cause His cause, but we could not stand another Fredericksburg or Chancellorsville… And after that, I don’t know how it was, and I cannot explain it, but soon a sweet comfort crept into my soul. The feeling came that God had taken the whole business into His own hands and that things would go right at Gettysburg and that is why I had no fears about you.” [July 5, 1863]

The Freedom To...

What Freedoms are you Thankful For?


What freedoms are you thankful for?
Given time and purpose to pursue
Line upon line, we will fulfill more
If we thank God for all we have and do

Living as families
Together in love
Awaking daily, happily
Can we give thanks enough?

Let us not be held back
Limited by circumstance
But look to God in all we lack
For the faith to advance

And... especially
Let us pray for
Those who've not liberty
That doors open unto more

I Do Solemnly Swear

I cried for Adam today
My tears a long downpour
Not in the old familiar way
But for what he stood for

Under God, as man of his word
He kept his solemn oath
The extended call, he heard
Though he'd done the time he owed

With but one small reserve-
A short weekend honeymoon
Again he stood to serve
Then...fallen, he died all too soon

In support of the Constitution
He defended it to his death
With courage his contribution
As a hero he took his last breath

I have been studying the constitution's birth- seeing the sacrifices and the inspiration in it. I was hit with emotion when I learned what I guess I'd forgotten-the oath is in support and defense of the Constitution.


The wordings of the current oath of enlistment and oath for commissioned officers are as follows:

"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." (Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).

"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God." (DA Form 71, 1 August 1959, for officers.)

Army Sgt. Adam W. Estep
Died April 29, 2004 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom

23, of Campbell, Calif.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; killed April 29 when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his patrol in Baghdad.California soldier killed in Iraq ‘never showed fear’

Associated Press
Army Sgt. Adam W. Estep - Honor the Fallen - MilitaryTimes.com
SARATOGA, Calif. — Sgt. Adam Estep was remembered Tuesday by friends and family as a soldier who never showed fear, even in the most violent battles.

Estep, a 23-year-old tank driver, died April 29 in a rocket-propelled grenade attack outside Baghdad.

“Every day he touched lives in ways that cannot be erased,” friend and Marine Sgt. Jason Steele said at the funeral. “We should all aspire to be like him. You all must rejoice in the memories we have of him and know that he will always be with you.”

Estep, who was active in ROTC in high school in San Jose, joined the Army in 2000 and drove tanks for the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment and 1st Cavalry Division.

He had been stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, and served a six-month tour in Kuwait. In December, the Army extended his commitment for 14 months. He left for Iraq in March.

His wife of two months, Demara Estep, said her husband longed to attend college and start a family. He lined his letters with sophisticated sketches.

Thank You Veterans!

How can our thanks be enough?
As you sacrifice so much.
You are what we rely on-
To keep our freedom strong

Through Common Ground we Build up Bridges

Through common ground
We build up bridges
Here friendships are found
Not on the fringes

A Responsible Approach

A responsible approach
To immigration reform
Is to cause those who encroach
To respect laws and conform

Nations have the right
To enforce law and order
To seek out and indict
Illegals who've crossed the border

A just and caring society
Maintains love for its neighbors
While balancing propriety
As for its citizens it labors

There's an ever present need
To gather families home
May those separated leave
And strengthen up his own

my thoughts on immigration
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Church Supports Principles of Utah Compact on Immigration
found at LDS.org newsroom

It is our Duty- Thanksgiving

It is our duty
To solemnly adore
And give thanks fully
To Jesus our Lord

Having been given
Divine providence
Let us more give Him
Sincere penitence

Under His nurturing hand
There's prosperity and peace
May we unify across the land
And let all strife and tension cease



FOR AS MUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth "in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)

wikipedia is looking for funding to keep its wonderful service growing. I am thankful for wikipedia!
Wikipedia is about the power of people like us to do extraordinary things. People like us write Wikipedia, one word at a time. People like us fund it, one donation at a time. It's proof of our collective potential to change the world.

Let's Work to Reverse Roe vs. Wade

Let's work to reverse
Roe vs. Wade first
Then let each state decide
Where its people now side

Being compassionate
Let's speak to hearts and minds
Being condsiderate
Let's see what our efforts find


thoughts from reading the Mitt Romney Central site

“Well, I think all of us — I believe almost all of us in the room would say that we’d love to have an America that didn’t have abortion. But the truth of the matter is that — (applause) — that’s not what America is right now. That’s not where the American people are right now, and so I’d like to see Roe v. Wade overturned and allow the states and the elected representatives of the people and the people themselves have the ability to put in place pro-life legislation.

And of course it’s our aspiration that at some point we’ll see a nation that doesn’t have abortion. But until that time, I certainly believe that allowing states and citizens and their representatives to fashion their own laws to protect the sanctity of life is very, very important.

I recognize that for many people, that is considered an act of murder, to have an abortion. It is without question the taking of a human life, and I believe that a civilized society must respect the sanctity of a human life. But we have two lives involved here: A mom and unborn child. We have to have concern for both lives. And so the expression of our compassion and our consideration — and work to change hearts and minds — and that’s the way, in my view, we’ll ultimately have a society without abortion.” -- 8/5/07 at Des Moines, IA debate

Americans are Tolerant

Americans are tolerant
Generous and kind
We oppose bigotry and disparagement
And same-sex marriage, you will find

For 3,000 years unopposed
The world's known traditional marriage as an institution
For the raising of children first and foremost
And we ought to state so in our constitution

thoughts from reading the Mitt Romney Central site

“Like the vast majority of Americans, I’ve opposed same-sex marriage, but I’ve also opposed unjust discrimination against anyone, for racial or religious reasons, or for sexual preference. Americans are a tolerant, generous, and kind people. We all oppose bigotry and disparagement. But the debate over same-sex marriage is not a debate over tolerance. It is a debate about the purpose of the institution of marriage and it is a debate about activist judges who make up the law rather than interpret the law.” -- Mitt Romney 12/14/06 National Review Online

The American Culture

The American culture
Values strong families and hard work
Invests in the future
And does not see dependency as a perk

Citizens let's unite
And work to curb social ills
Sexual promiscuity- let's fight
Along with pornography and drug thrills

The new and rising generation
Must follow our initiative
And self-promote abstinence education
While seeking opportunities where they live

thoughts from reading the Mitt Romney Central site
The strong family has been, and should continue to be, a source and foundation of American culture.
Couples should get married before they have children. Children benefit greatly from having both a mother and father at home.
Abstinence education should be given to students.
Pornography and sexual promiscuity are great threats to families and our culture.
The United States has always valued hard work, education, and belief in God.
Initiative, risk taking, and opportunity need to continue to be key values of American culture. Dependency is culture killing

Check out this great MSN Video: Touching Soldier Homecomings

Check out this great MSN Video: Touching Soldier Homecomings

Sons of Liberty Boy Scout Encampment

On Eagle's Wings, A Memorial

Before he was formed as a fetus
God knew Jeremiah...and he was sanctified
To be a special witness of Jesus
But who listened...as children they sacrificed

Bald Eagle Music Video "This Is America" (AEF)

JFK on Mormons

Of all the stories heard
From the days of pioneers
Let's look to the Mormon's words
And how they persevered

To see the right prevail,
with unflagging determination
Their courage did not fail
Despite orders for extermination

They had unity to restation
With patience and faith set in motion
It would do well for our nation
To follow these qualities and notions

As the Mormons have succeeded
We, too, can succeed
If we go not back, defeated
But heed their voices as we lead

Mitt Romney "Faith in America" Speech part 1

Mitt Romney "Faith in America" Speech part 2

The Law - Life is a Gift from God

Man, Freedom and Government-PART1

Man, Freedom and Government-PART2

Man, Freedom and Government -PART3

Faith of the Founding Fathers Constitution

Prager University: The American Trinity

American values
How are they different?
Here freedom rules
Heaven sent

Here immigrants
Assimilate
Equality grants
We don't differentiate

Epluribus unum
Race, color, creed- we don't care
We're an American union
A love for God and freedom- we all share

Born equally
With inalienable rights
Our equality
Puts talents within sights

You Were Closed Minded

You were very closed minded
And found it becoming
To know you'd decided
What was forthcoming

I knew it was pointless
To warn with a word
Your nose pointed highest
You saw not nor heard

Your nose was sky high
Continually sunning
So I thought "why try"
When I saw the dog running

Foaming at the mouth
Panting with a drool
He jumped. You went south
Into a muddy pool

With mud on your face
Your neck straightened, and still
Unphased by disgrace
You re-stubborned your will.

narcissistic

The Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior

The rules of civility and decent behavior
Are now being reviewed, discoursed, and favored
When one focuses on manners- how to be courteous to others
One is governing actions as it's through respect one honors

Ever as one who would honor and obey natural parents
We, also, ought to speak of God seriously and with reverence
Let us labor to keep alive in our breast
That celestial fire, sparking as our conscience

look at Foundation Magazine...
http://www.foundationsmag.com/civility.html
and see a summary of what applies to civility

By age sixteen, Washington had copied out by hand, 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. They are based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595. Presumably they were copied out as part of an exercise in penmanship assigned by young Washington's schoolmaster. The first English translation of the French rules appeared in 1640, and are ascribed to Francis Hawkins the twelve-year-old son of a doctor.

Who Will Dare to Leave their Comfort Zone?

Who will dare to leave their comfort zone
And go after a way not passed before
To reach a potential that's now unknown
And find what truly breathes at the core

Each man has something alone to do
Which lies uniquely ahead to find
By stepping off the fishing boat, trusting God anew
There is hope in Christ to become our own one of a kind

Thank you Joel Osteen
and your soft spoken ministry
go to his site by click the above title
or read fox news interview where he
spoke kindly of Mitt Romney and accepting
Mormons as Christians
Pastor Osteen got a lot of persecution
from many religions for what he said.
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,318054,00.html

God's Promises For You

Philippians 4:13

"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

Matthew 19:26

"Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."

2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."

Joshua 1:9

"This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

An Interview with Mitt Romney - 5/25/2010

There is nothing inevitable about decline
As it is now and ever has been a choice
The future of our country is ours to decide
Though doing what is right might stir up some noise

Let us be true to our American heritage
As we have faced challenging times before
This is what gives us the leading edge
As then our resolve for unity is reborn

We are a shining city on a hill
Though our example is not as bright as it could be
We have glorious works to fulfill
And must meet our problems head on...honestly

The American spirit is being rekindled
Through tea parties and community action
For we recognize that we have been swindled
And refuse to leave our future to the hands of a socialist faction

In the Public Arena- Civility

In the public arena
It's an ambiguous task
To decide who is civil
And who's being an *ass

The language, the tone
The color of faces
Our character's shown
During political races

Civility is when
Opinions are spoken
With the playing field even
And minds laying open

As we separate issues
From factions or people
We debate and progress
And soar with the eagles



*as in the biblical meaning- donkey
Civility lecture tour at Salt Lake library Thursday night
By Amy Choate-Nielsen

Deseret News
Thursday, May 27, 2010


Incivility can be manifested "in the language, the tone, the shouting and the red faces and the malicious glee at someone else's discomfiture," said Alexander Morrison, executive director of the Alliance for Unity in Salt Lake City.

Determining what qualifies as civil or uncivil behavior in the public arena is an ambiguous task, said Republican Senate candidates Tim Bridgewater and Mike Lee...

Civility in separating issues from people when discussing differing opinions is a precursor to compromise and progress, and it's a necessity, Lee said.

But public protests and being involved are just as important, Bridgewater said.

"I think by and large the ability to protest is as American as apple pie and can be done very civilly," he said. "People must speak up."

But they must be careful about what they say, says BYU political science professor Kelly Patterson. More people are paying attention to politics these days because of more easily accessible media. The average person is turned off by shrill politics, he says.

Though it is essential for Americans to be involved and voice their opinions, there is one way to know if the discourse is civil, Patterson says.

"Follow the golden rule," he says. "That kind of internal restraint probably couldn't do much harm."

I Am Only Half Awake

I am only half awake to what I can be
Habitually, I fail to use that other side of me
There's great force in intellectual distraction
However, the great aim of education is not knowledge but action

Inspired by passages from Dale Carnegie's book
How to Win Friends and Influence People
page xix

Annual Reagan Lecture Featuring Mitt Romney - 5/25/10

I Have Confidence in God

I have confidence that God's light shines down upon man
When we search within and shut out the world- thoughts inside us land
So who knows what hopeless problems we will solve
When we seek His hand and humble ourselves and become one, involved

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I have confidence that He is watching over us
Who knows what wonders He'll lead us to find as we ask and seek
Then watch out world, for we are generous
As we help others we'll find what we've lost that makes this fine country


I believe in people
I believe in love
I believe in families
And God's help from above

Civility

The political world is astir
And public trust is waning
As economies falter
The hearts of men are raging

Where are the voices of moderation?
Who will balance these times of extremes?
What will calm all agitation?
As society unravels more at the seams

Anonymous and unsourced news...
The media favoring strife
Politicizing- dominating rules
Midst fractured community and family life

What has happened to virtues and manners?
That make for a peaceful coexistence
A civil society, for longevity, matters
And is founded on the character of it's citizens

A healthy democracy is maintained
Through diverse means of equilibrium
A patchwork of competing interests
Helps set up an onward momentum

Ultimately, the fabric of a great land
Is based on the integrity of its people
For its through this outward manifestation in man
That rigorous debates are based on righteous principles

Fidelity, charity, generosity
Are pathways of service and trust
Humility and responsibility
Help us interact civilly, thus

When a spirit of good will prompts our thinking
Efforts unite for problem solving
Ultimately these thoughts continue linking
Until gratifying results are evolving

The moral basis of civility
Is and has ever been the Golden Rule
The ethics of reciprocity
Works... as through pluralism we are schooled

Let us eliminate the weakness of one
Standing alone to find a solution
And combine efforts that things get done
As of cooperation there is no substitution

The Mormon Ethic of Civility
click on the title to go directly to the News Room for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- 16 October 2009 LDS.org...
"Echoing this mode of civil engagement, President Monson declared: “As a church we reach out not only to our own people but also to those people of goodwill throughout the world in that spirit of brotherhood which comes from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Speaking of civility on a personal level, Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught Latter-day Saints how to respond to criticism: “Some people mistakenly think responses such as silence, meekness, forgiveness, and bearing humble testimony are passive or weak. But, to ‘love [our] enemies, bless them that curse [us], do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us], and persecute [us]’ (Matthew 5:44) takes faith, strength, and, most of all, Christian courage.”

Tim McGraw If You're Reading This

Each Sunday, the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Veterans For Peace is on the beach in front of well-known Stearns Wharf all day, interacting with the many tourists from all over the world through a project now called "Arlington West." Arlington West consists of a small white cross for every soldier killed in Iraq.
www.ltkenballard.com/ArlingtonWest.htm


"1,000 Is Just a Number,
Till You See the Crosses"
For freedom, men now slumber
Come and feel how much this costs us

Celebrate America!

Those who went before
And sacrificed for us
We proudly remember
By serving each other, thus

Celebrate America!
You have a charitable heart
Reach up and stand up
And graciously impart

Lion Wind

A lionesque wind
Came to circle and howl
There to prey in the end
Upon a small space to prowl

With the strength of a pride
It tore an opening
And its mouth opened wide
For a sickening happening...

If all we know is storm
We'll not be prepared
As evil performs
Subtly aired

Socialism is Like a Scourge

Socialism is like a scourge
...That has never worked before
For entitlements are urged
That harm free will at the core

Come On Let's Bring America Back

Come on let's bring America back
Through the providence of God
We are a nation under attack
And the need for liberty is broad

Fallen Not Forgotten

SGT, I salute you
It is Memorial Day
I want to pay you tribute
Your memory never fades away

Fallen Heroes of Operation Iraqi Freedom
Remembering the servicemembers who died in the service of their country.
Army Sgt. Adam W. Estep
23, of Campbell, California.
Estep died in Baghdad, Iraq, when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his patrol. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Died on April 29, 2004.




http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/estepadamw.html

Sing Along America

There is nothing like the unity
That birthed our nation free
Rising in belief they sacrified
With faith in God...they uprised

Let us sing this song together
And as one voice reunite and reform
Too, let us for prayers gather
That our bright nation might be reborn

Ponder how many groups came
To this country for religious freedom
And how it would be a shame
To now turn to socialism

LDS (Mormon) Church: Glenn Beck on Mormonism

A public figure
Has found God
An admitted failure
Now lives in awe

No longer in shame
Is his admission
He serves in God's name
Blessed with a new mission

LDS Church Leaders preparing us for the 2nd Coming of Christ

Families- Gather Today and Teach Your Children

Families, gather today
And teach your children
Let them hear you pray
Seek what lights from heaven

A nation is as good
As its citizens let
Strength lies in brotherhood
And we can do better yet

Let us start by believing
We are a nation under God
That through Him we are weaving
A fabric of beauty, bright for all

The Line Was Drawn in the Sand

The line was drawn in the sand
By God... a long time ago
It is time to choose where we'll stand
A love for our country now must grow

The Savior alone can dig us out
Of this pit we have fallen into
Without a shadow of a doubt
To God's laws we must be more given unto

The Lord's footsteps show us the way
As, too, He carries us daily through strife
And we must work hard without delay
To protect our God given freedoms in life

There's a Delicate Balance in Caring for the Needy

There's a delicate balance
In caring for the needy,
Improving circumstance,
And not attracting the greedy

With government so large
Can they do this job for us?
As with handout takers charge
And who learns to be generous?

Is it selfish to be giving?
Can receiving hurt esteem?
We love whom we're serving
Givers and receivers are as a team

Let us restore charity
That God's love press more forward
For then we share equally
As to Him we aim our lives toward

Who from their heart says thank you
When it comes without a face
Who determines what to give, too
So varied the needs of the human race

Entitlements spawn claims,
Resentment, and even lawsuits
As we become one of many names
Without the "pass it forward" attitude

If we let government over tax us
We will not only be poorer for it
But charity will be replaced by justice
As desires to help become more foreign

Gratitude is the natural glue
That binds society together
For a pass it on chain begins anew
Each time we start a charitable endeavor

Faith, Hope, and ...Government?
Gary C. Lawrence
Meridian Magazine


"There are three problems when government becomes the source and conduit for charity:

Waste
Stunted national character
Diminished gratitude"

When a person receives help from a voluntary organization, he or she is more likely to perform an act of charity for someone else and a pass-it-on chain begins. When a person receives help from government, however, that’s the end of the chain reaction.

Gratitude is one of the natural glues that bind society together. If the glue goes, we go with it.

http://ldsmag.com/ideas/100506faith.html

How Far Can One Go with Higher Knowledge?

How far can one go with higher knowledge
To destroy all that is good?
When one becomes a Supreme Court Judge
There's permanent power to destroy livelihood,

Our military, our conception of man and wife
Our basic freedoms, our way of life

President Obama’s Supreme Court Justice nominee to replace Justice John Paul Stevens, Elena Kagan, must be opposed. She has never been a judge at any level and throughout her early years was an outspoken socialist whose views remain far outside of mainstream America to this day. Her expressed prejudices and views on cases and policies, although extremely scant and subject to interpretation, do not suggest she has the impartiality required of a United States Supreme Court Justice.
*ANTI-FAMILY: Elena Kagan’s zeal for “homosexual rights” will taint her rulings on pro-family cases.
*ANTI-FAITH: Kagan has expressed hostility toward faith-based organizations and would limit their impact on public policy decisions.
*ANTI-MILITARY: Kagan opposes the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and banned military recruiters from the Harvard Law School campus during a time of war in protest of such “discrimination.”
*ANTI-SOVEREIGNTY: Kagan’s views on transnational law undermine America’s self-rule and national sovereignty.
*ANTI-CONSTITUTION: Kagan has called the Constitution “defective” and shares President Obama’s view that we should have an “evolving” or “living” Constitution, thus marginalizing its ultimate legal authority. She has written about a supposed need to increase the power of the Executive Branch at the expense of legislative bodies. http://www.libertyaction.org/22081/offer.asp?Ref_ID=3484&CID=313&RID=23999746
why does this sound like it is out of the Book of Mormon?

LDS Prophets warn us of the dangers facing America

We have been placed on earth
In a troubled day
Complexity's now hurl
As power struggle and weigh

The schemes of man
Are more at work
To destroy God's plan
With a downwards jerk

Deeply concerned
For this country of love
To serve...we must turn
And proudly stand up

This message is not sweet
But must be told
From God.. now we sweep
Unto socialism cold

Shockingly, now born
For the whole world to see
Policies have torn
Fabrics of liberty

The executive branch
Through supreme court call
Have worked hard to launch
A nation without God

Our future ... forlorn
Is frightening indeed
We must get informed
If we want to be freed

Stand for freedom's role
No matter the cost
It can save your soul
Without God...we are lost

Through complacency
We are now in danger
For our prosperity-
We must no longer languor

The time has come to heed
And get our homes in order
Portent storms indeed
Now lay upon four corners

If we are prepared
We shall not fear
God's Word, we must share
And proclaim He is near

LDS Leaders warn us and encourage us to fortify our homes

Study the LDS view of the Constitution

Protecting Freedom: A Basic Part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ of LDS (M...

The Book of Mormon and Freedom

Integrity is

Integrity is doing the right thing
at the right time
for the right reason
At any cost

While adhering to a code of conduct
that's eternal
and internal
Or else all is lost



For some things are worse than dying
corrupting one's name
spreading sin's flame
Being spiritually flawed


Thus, we should find time for prayer
trusting in His kind care
sharing all that we bear
Becoming complete with God!


A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal
Or tolerate those who do
As to do so there will be no appeal
Being expected to always be true

Jason Swensen
Elder Holland Addresses West Point Cadets
LDS Church News 5/7/2010

Concerning This Land So Fine- Columbus

Concerning this land so fine
Our Lord unlocked my mind,
Sent me upon the sea,
And gave me fire for the deed

Those who heard of my enterprise
Understood not what called beyond the skies
They claimed me foolish, mocked, and laughed
But who can doubt the Holy Ghost marked my path?

thoughts from
“Our Lord unlocked my mind, sent me upon the sea, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my enterprise called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed. But who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me?” (Jacob Wasserman, Columbus: Don Quixote of the Seas [Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1930], pp. 19?20).

The War in Heaven: Continues on Earth Today (Messages from LDS/Mormon Pr...

Moral agency
Righteous unity
We cannot compromise
We must be wise


found a great site
latterdaysaintconservative

No Apology Song - The Case for Ameican Greatness VIDEO

No One Can Avoid Calamity

No one can avoid calamity
As it comes, both, to the rich and the poor
Thus we must strive for ability
While drawing nigh unto the Lord

With so many things to do with our time
Who would to not benefit from His light
For He sustains us even when we're tired
If we seek His will, we will know if our paths be right

With personal revelation, one can prioritize
And navigate life with strength and confidence
Thus keeping commitments, our word, and family ties
As we're bathed in His help midst turbulence



And Upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit"
Julie B. Beck
Ensign, May 2010

Wake Up America

Wake up America
And see where you are strong
You're the brightest hope of
Righting all that's wrong

What a shame it would be
If your light became dim
Not just for liberty
But, the service that you give

With your worldly power gone
So too your influence for good
What then of freedom's song
And foundations of brotherhood?

Rise again, America!
Renew the valiant fight
A resurgent beacon to the world
A champion of truth and right


'Keep up,' young adults told
By D. Ryan Efros
Church News contributor
Published: Saturday, April 24, 2010

my husband wrote the last verse....

Elder L. Tom Perry speaking to the youth of Las Vegas
"Unless this nation wakes up and realizes (its strength) and stands up for it, then we will lose it," he said, "and what a shame that will be- not because of the worldly power that will be lost, but because of the service that will be lost to other nations."

See our Country Flag Wave Upon the Breeze

See our country flag
Wave upon the breeze?
May it never still nor sag
But flow lovely like the trees

May it ever flutter far
Freely to be seen by all
Like the sun, moon, and stars
May our freedom never fall

The Divinely Inspired Constitution

We have an inspired constitution
What exactly does that mean to me?
Through the law and through obedience
I can enjoy life and liberty

How did the quest for freedom begin?
What led these men to struggle within?
How many of them each other knew
Did they speak from where their yearnings grew?

For checks and balances more seasoned
Our founding fathers met and reasoned
As common cause became their goal
It united them with purpose whole

A miracle did unite this group
Though they could not pay for their own troupe
With borrowed money and with debt
They had much work that they must do yet

A bill of rights, soverenity
How to treat each man with dignity
How to maintain the rights of all flesh
Yet politically combine and mesh

Dallin H. Oaks, Utah Supreme Court Justice from 1980 to 1984
Ensign, Feb 1992, 68
“The Divinely Inspired Constitution, ”

Our Nation Was Founded

Our nation was founded
Upon righteous principles and thought
As outcry was sounded
The battle for freedom was fought

With this sense of community
Each man rose to the call
And in the name of unity
Sacrificed to give his all

How could one prosper
When taxes don’t support
Only fairness is proper
When ruled from own courts

Now as a country
Do we value our roots?
Do we strive to agree?
And resolve all disputes?

Perhaps what is needed
Is a return to God
For when He is heeded
Opportunities are broad

The blessing pour about
Upon homes and neighbors
And there is little doubt
That we gain from our labors

America must be reborn
And treasure liberty
Through a vote for reform
Unto righteous dignity

May the Blood of Good Men

May the blood of good men
Redeem each land
May God’s blessings descend
As we seek out His hand

May we fight for freedom
That tyranny might end
Unto furthering God’s kingdom
For the covenants it lends

Unto righteous purposes
We pray for those who lead
It is through works one purchases
Let us lengthen more and feed

Let us too obey
The laws of the land
Might each in His own way
Be an example grand

In loving memory of Adam Estep
who joined our family but for months

Abraham Lincoln

Years ago our great land
Was destitute and in need
Our leader called for fasting
In humility indeed

Hoorah for Abraham Lincoln
Who arose from poverty
To live as one righteous
And lead our poor country

Now… who will lead us
Unto a final recovery
Perhaps… none save Jesus
The greatest of all history

Who will rise up in His name
And restore this nation onto God
With a title of liberty reclaimed
Creating the shock and awe!

Proclamation of a Day of Fasting

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas a joint Committee of both Houses of Congress has waited on the President of the United States, and requested him to “recommend a day of public humiliation, prayer and fasting, to be observed by the people of the United States with religious solemnities, and the offering of fervent supplications to Almighty God for the safety and welfare of these States, His blessings on their arms, and a speedy restoration of peace:” —

And whereas it is fit and becoming in all people, at all times, to acknowledge and revere the Supreme Government of God; to bow in humble submission to his chastisements; to confess and deplore their sins and transgressions in the full conviction that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and to pray, with all fervency and contrition, for the pardon of their past offences, and for a blessing upon their present and prospective action:

And whereas, when our own beloved Country, once, by the blessing of God, united, prosperous and happy, is now afflicted with faction and civil war, it is peculiarly fit for us to recognize the hand of God in this terrible visitation, and in sorrowful remembrance of our own faults and crimes as a nation and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him, and to pray for His mercy, — to pray that we may be spared further punishment, though most justly deserved; that our arms may be blessed and made effectual for the re-establishment of law, order and peace, throughout the wide extent of our country; and that the inestimable boon of civil and religious liberty, earned under His guidance and blessing, by the labors and sufferings of our fathers, may be restored in all its original excellence: —

Therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do appoint the last Thursday in September next, as a day of humiliation, prayer and fasting for all the people of the nation. And I do earnestly recommend to all the People, and especially to all ministers and teachers of religion of all denominations, and to all heads of families, to observe and keep that day according to their several creeds and modes of worship, in all humility and with all religious solemnity, to the end that the united prayer of the nation may ascend to the Throne of Grace and bring down plentiful blessings upon our Country.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed, this 12th, day of August A.D. 1861, and of the Independence of the United States of America the 86th.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

By the President:

WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.

Everything Was Prepared

Everything was prepared
Freedoms were in place
Lighting hope to be shared
With answers to embrace

It Is Time For America

It is time for America
To show what she’s made of
As the brightest hope to be seen
For, here, each person is free to dream

May we, as a people, humbly kneel
And pray for our nation to rise and heal
Then, with courage, let’s roll up our sleeves
And rise also to work hard for what we believe

thoughts from
No Apology
The Case for American Greatness
Mitt Romney
St. Martin’s Press

To Keep America Strong

To keep America strong
And preserve its place in the world
We must endure and go on
Undaunted by the hard times now hurled

The determined strength of this great nation
Has been challenged by hardships before
Honestly, for freedom now we must station
Upon the altar of sacrifice once more

Let us all strive to secure the future
Of freedom, peace, and prosperity
Only then will we be safe and secure
And bequeath to our grandchildren- liberty

No Apology Will Come From Me

No apology will come from me
For what I feel and believe
Concerning this country that I love
I know it’s been formed by God above

That being said, I sense a call
For myself as well as our nation
To rise up with energy and give our all
For what’s been the brightest hope since its formation

We need renewal… and all are invited
Not just for ourselves but for the world
Through a new commitment to being united
May the common cause of liberty be unfurled

Thoughts from
No Apology- the Case for American Greatness
Mitt Romney
St. Martin’s Press

We Are the Freedom Fighters

We are the freedom fighters
In righteousness we’re to stand
For truths, we must reach higher
If we are to understand

Let history now be retold
Unto heroes for our day
With purpose we must be bold
And shine brighter, come what may

The Greatest Pickup Line Ever Made

The greatest pickup line ever made
His name was Big Jake and hers was Jade
He said, “I’ve been waiting for you all my life,
I’ve dreamt that you are to be my wife”

She asked of him a simple request
That their wedding day be the best
She wanted Daddy there for that great day
For he would want to give his girl away

Of the proposal, in a letter he wrote
Then, her daddy sent back this proud note:
Till I can give away your hand,
Please wear dear Momma’s wedding band

But….news came the next day… a purchase was made….
The first of many from Big Jake to Jade
A small jade pendant strung upon a brass braid
Shaped in precision of a lone hand grenade

In memory of her daddy… and the lives he had saved
As he tossed a handful unto a firing brigade
…Time passed and upon a grave vows were made
While on a string were Momma’s ring and a piece of jade

Wedding guests please honor Daddy’s quest:
To give a needed hand with no regrets
This free and safe country Jade deserves
A man learns that who he love he serves

Band of Brothers

In the fires of shared experience
Come some of the closest friendships
They form bonds based on love and trust
Where otherwise emotions crush
From a shared grief or happiness
Comes an amplified tenderness
When we struggle, we must gather
To share what really does matter

To preach the gospel, To change lives
To leave home comforts, To baptize
To serve God and build His kingdom
And humbly seek out for wisdom
United by a common goal
To usher in another soul
As we link our arms together
We soon journey towards forever

Never forget the value of
A great cause and of selfless love
Captain Moroni rent his coat
And to his countrymen, he wrote
In memory of our religion,
Freedom, peace, wives and our children
Once united, he could lead them
To transcend their lives to his vision

Threatened by familiar neighbors
Once two- thousand stripling warriors
Were needed to fight in a war
They prepared for what was in store
With armory, swords, and knives
They trusted God would save their lives
Knowing too that they must fight
To help their fathers keep their plight

They learned of faith from their mothers
That fear’s a thick fog which smothers
When we are loyal and faithful
The impossible is possible
Each night may we write down new goals
For each labor and varied roles
So each day we’ll learn, as we grow
Keeping bonds, for Christ our hero

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin
learning from the LDS faith about brotherhood
from wikipedia:
As a young man, Wirthlin earned the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. As a standout high school quarterback, Wirthlin was offered a football scholarship at the University of Utah, but deferred it and served as a missionary in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland from 1936 to 1939, returning to Utah just before the outbreak of World War II. Wirthlin played American football as a running back for the University of Utah following his mission. Before his call as a general authority, Wirthlin was a prominent business leader in Salt Lake City. He was also president of a trade association in Utah.

You Are Truly Not a Soldier

You are truly not a soldier
Till you’ve put your life on the line
And carried someone on your shoulders
And felt heat around you shine

Thus, you must practice drills
Midst leaders screaming in your face
That you might have adrenaline chills
Which makes the heart stop and then race

You are not truly a soldier
Till you leave loved ones behind
Who misses you so deeply
That they’re always on your mind

Dear Soldier, May you fight for their freedom
Awaiting the day that you’ll reunite
And know that all the little weesomes
Are praying for you tonight

What’s a country without the brave
Who are willing to sacrifice?
That to tyranny we’ll not cave
No matter what the price

I am ever thankful for the land
That’s protected from above
And for the soldier who understands
Truly what it is to serve and love

Dear Adam, I still miss you
As a mother does her son
In our hearts we are ever true
To our link forever strung

Dear Adam, Please Forgive Us

Dear Adam, please forgive us
As in life we have moved on
For you now live with Jesus
And with Renny, Demara is strong

When you died, she nearly vanished
As her heart whithered away
As a soul ever famished
Till dear Renny came her way

Truly you were a giving man
And you said to do the same
Moving on was in the plan
If the war your life did claim

Thank you for your brave life
We miss that precious smile
How you cherished your wife
Please know we miss you all the while

Our Country Under God

Our country under God
Raised for righteousness
On this beautiful sod
May He be found in us

The Ox Knows His Owner

The ox knows his owner
The ass its master’s stall
And, without the Lord we’re stragglers
For which He ever calls

Shall our nation go astray
Rebel and openly sin?
Being weighed down the backward way
Shall we ignore what’s taught within?

How then does one reverse
This path that does perverse?
We must repent, return to God
And be nourished on gospel sod

Isaiah 1
3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward

To Find North, South, East, and West

To find North, South, East, and West
I face the true star of the north
And feel lined up with the earth
To salute the flag thus forth

Then, its stripes flow from East to West
As does the sun, from the right
Ever our laws were given to bless
Founded upon truth and light

Three colors… what do they mean?
Our flag of red, white, and blue
Red…for the blood that’s coursing
Courageously, for me and you

Brothers in arms let us prove
We are white with integrity
Patriots- trained as one to move
Uniformed with dignity

Under skies of blue, united
With vows to protect liberty
Once immigrants, now ignited
With purpose and charity

My hand knows its place upon my heart
Here gratitude does flow
To search beyond the stars
And humbly submit and know

To form religious rebirth
And pursue a righteous kingdom
Onto our corner of the earth
Pioneers came seeking wisdom

Representing all the earth
We’ve a responsibility
To serve each fellow man
To the best of our ability

Let’s recruit more freedom fighters
So that together we might stand
In the belief that the righteous prosper
As we troop and lend a hand

Our Solemn Group

Our solemn group, stands between the many headstones
With a gun solute, we fold a flag that no longer waves
Here one family surname comes to a final close
For this great cost tears come as each soul moans
With the world at war, for a moment, my whole heart caves
Yet there is pride for those who died with a purple heart
And for their faithful wives who will oft visit graves
Who wait alone trusting in a love torn apart
How can one not hope and rejoice in our Savior
Who art in Heaven awaiting to reunite great love
That’s made eternal…from the heart

Many dear children say to a grave, “I love you, Dad”
They have tales of courage lingering as their memories
Families wanting all that they never had
There’s good with bad. It is truly sad
At every grave site rests a casket filled with life long stories
One understands why a hand is placed upon the heart,
Overwhelmed by thoughts of wars price for victories
For those who died, courageously, who did their part
How can one not hope and rejoice in our Savior
Who art in Heaven awaiting the righteous who believed liberty,
Was a gift from God from the start