America in Coming Days: The New Home of the Brave
America is “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. It has a rich heritage and, despite what critics may think, a promising future.
Posts may contain affiliate links, including Amazon links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. See disclosure policy for details.
Some time ago, I stood with a congregation at church to sing our American national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”. Tears came to my eyes as we sang the third verse:
“Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust!”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”
A Divine Purpose
I’ve sung this verse before, but this time I saw it in a new light.
The Founding Fathers were lead to America for a divine purpose:
“I established the Constitution of this land,” said the Lord, “by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose.”
I imagine there was a time, earlier in their lives, when the Founding Fathers loved their country of England, and had no plans to leave. I’m sure they each had wonderful memories of family and friends and special traditions in that beautiful land.
I’m guessing that, in many, many ways, it was difficult to leave the only home they’d ever known, but they chose to leave.
Why?
For an opportunity to create something better.
A Restoration of Truth
Reading patriotic essays and singing patriotic songs remind me how grateful I am to have been born and raised in this country that was founded by these men who sacrificed so much to create something better.
But they did much more than “create something better”.
They created a free land on which the gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored and flourish, a place for temples to be build, and a place for the gathering of Israel to take place as we prepare for the return of the Savior:
“Our Father in Heaven planned the coming forth of the Founding Fathers and their form of government as the necessary great prologue leading to the restoration of the gospel…America, the land of liberty, was to be the Lord’s latter-day base of operations for His restored church.”
Ezra Taft Benson, “Our Divine Constitution”, October 1987
God led these men to this promised land, and his purposes for doing so have been fulfilled:
the church of Jesus Christ has been restored,
temples dot the earth,
and Israel is being gathered.
Now what?
don’t miss a thing!
Subscribe to receive the latest content and inspiration.
Our Call to be Brave
My children and I have a deep and abiding love and respect for the Founding Fathers, and for this great nation, but we realize that our calling is not the same as the one given to the Founding Fathers. While the Founding Fathers were called upon to create and preserve this land of freedom, we, on the other hand, have been called upon to do all in our power to:
(1) protect religious freedom (and in so doing protect other freedoms)
(2) gather Israel, and
(3) prepare the world for the second coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Our calling is not to preserve this great nation as we know it.
As much as we’d like to, we can’t preserve the land that we’ve come to love…the land where so many wonderful memories of family and friends and special traditions have been made, nor should we want to, for we have been called to create something far better. We have been called upon to fulfill scriptural prophesy by helping to build Zion and the New Jerusalem, a place where the rightous will dwell for a millenium.
We have been called upon to build a new world, the ultimate land of liberty, and with God’s help, we will succeed.
“Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.”
1 Nephi 4: 14
As the stanza in the song “The Star-Spangled Banner” so aptly states, this heaven-rescued land will be blessed with victory and peace. With God’s help, we will conquer and preserve this great nation, just perhaps not in the ways we may have always imagined.
A Glorious Future
Will the star-spangled banner continue to wave throughout the millennium? Some believe so. Either way, the principles of freedom represented by the flag will be alive and well.
Our “land of the free” has many glorious things in store in the near future. We are about to witness events more spectacular than the parting of the Red Sea. We must take courage as we blaze a trail that looks different than that of the Founding Fathers in our pursuit to create a new land, a land of righteousness, a land where the Lord will dwell.
“The small acts of today will blossom in the not-too-distant future into great events prophesied by biblical and Book of Mormon prophets.”
Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Eurasian Area Instruction Meeting, 14 September 2024
Our beautiful nation of America, now so full of strife and confusion, is marked by God. We can act with courage to help America, once again, fulfill its destiny by becoming “a land of the free and the [new] home of the brave”.
“Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust!”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”
Take Action
Check out these fun and creative ways to help America fulfill her God-given destiny:
Ways to Protect Religious Freedom
“Have we read The Federalist papers? Are we reading the Constitution and pondering it? [And] are we aware of its principles? Are we abiding by these principles and teaching them to others? Could we defend the Constitution? Can we recognize when a law is constitutionally unsound? Do we know what the prophets have said about the Constitution and the threats to it?”
Ezra Taft Benson, “Our Divine Constitution”, October 1987
70+ Creative Ways To Protect Family, Faith, And Freedom: An invaluable list of recommendations for the entire family
30 Freedom Loving Patriotic Activities for the Whole Family: Family-friendly activity ideas
Ways to Gather Israel
“Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.”
Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” worldwide devotional for youth, June 3, 2018, churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts
Little Family History Celebrations: 3 Inspiring Ideas: Celebrate with food and stories
Ministering Training Guide: 10 Building Blocks: Strengthen relationships
300+ Activity Ideas: Physical, Spiritual, Intellectual and Social: Get creative with your personal, family, and community activity ideas
Find this post helpful?
Pin it on Pinterest for later
Ways to Prepare the World for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ
“’This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God’ (Alma 34:32). Are we preparing?
What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? [Additionally], what accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear?
If we would do those things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained?”
President Dallin H. Oaks, “How To Prepare For The Second Coming“, December 2014
Godly Men and Women: Where Are You?: A bold invitation for men and women everywhere
Raising The Bar: 4 Ways To Arise And Shine Forth: Shine your light for the world to see
A Letter To The Rich Young Ruler: A Modern-Day Parable: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”
Good Better Best: False Traditions and The Law of the Harvest: Learn about the Good Better Best Philosophy
Experience the Thrill: Becoming a Better Version of Yourself: Four Steps to becoming a better version of yourself
The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming by President Russell M. Nelson
Gain access to our Printable Library
Create a more fulfilling life and a happy home and family with these FREE, fun and creative printables and downloads.
