This very early Independence Day morning, as I lie awake, my thoughts are on the day we call the 4th of July, or Independence Day. Having grown up in the east in the very boughs of the Cradle of Liberty, this day is more than just the proverbial "hotdogs on the grill" day. I reflect on our forefathers and the courageous stand they made in declaring their indipendence from the rule of Great Britain. This was not a quick and done decision, as it took many meetings, pondering, praying, and some even giving their own lives to the cause of freedom. Our courageous soldiers do that every day, and sadly we only hear about those that died in the service of their country in between news about some pop star, or our government. What a sad statement on society when those that perish are only known to their local community. Many times, not even the names have been mentioned, rather, "5 soldiers have died in an ambush...". Their families that they leave behind know all too well the price of freedom that has been given. What is not ever mentioned in the stories of our great forefathers is their families and how it affeced them. So, let's imagine for a moment that scenario.

I'm pretty sure that what was being done was mentioned to family members. Perhaps the forefathers sought counsel through their families as they knew that it would affect them too. Imagine a family council where one of the forefathers is talking about the signing of a piece of paper and that signing  would signify that they are now seen as traitors to the British Crown. Imagine them telling their families about the perils of making such a decision but even more important imagine them telling their families of what can be by signing that piece of paper, the Declaration of Independence. I think that the forefathers and their families knew of some of the results of this decision. Knowing that they could not depend on things that they might have taken for granted in the way of foods and other supplies from the British Monarchy; that they would now have to fend for themselves  to live in this land. For those who signed the Declaration of Independence, they could only see into the future for a little. What they started by that simple act of bravery and defiance would have far-reaching effects for hundreds, and perhaps thousands of years.

We, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like our forefathers can be defiant in the face of secularism and sin. We can declare our independence from evil by adhering to the Ten Commandments that were signed by a God on the mountain. These Ten Commandments, along with the 13 Articles of Faith penned by Joseph Smith, the Family Proclamation signed by modern prophets of God are our Declaration of Independence. Just as one of the effects of signing the Declaration of Independence was freedom, we too, have freedom. In the grand Council before the world was, our Declaration of Independence was being mapped out by our Heavenly Father and many other important  people. We can only speculate who was involved in the makings of that grand council, but I am pretty sure that Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ and Lucifer were involved in that. Might I also suggest that our Heavenly Mother was involved too? We know what the outcome of that council and the ensuing battle in heaven. We know that Lucifer had his idea for our Declaration of Independence, by NOT giving us our agency. We also know that our Savior, Jesus Christ had His Faher's Declaraion of Independence in mind when He said, "..send Me, and the glory be Thine.." We know that we who are on this earth accepted the plan of our Heavenly Father and chose Jesus as our Savior. We also know, but sometimes don't know the power of agency, or freedom.

We carry the joy and truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. We declare that we believe in our free agency and want others to  also enjoy and recognize the God-given gift to mankind. We all can choose, and we certainly do. Some for good, some not for good. The documents that our great forefatherrs drafted are being picked apart, changed to suit the times. The word "God" is being taken out of places where it held great prominence. Mankind is exercising their agency to do so and redefine things that were once held sacred all in the name of equality. Sunday is no longer held as the Lord's Day, but just another day off work on a weekend. Sin and dishonesty are the norm.

We, as Latter-day Saints need to hold our ground, not be swayed to and fro like a blade of grass in the wind. We must stand for for what is right. We must defend the name of our creator and all that has been given to us. It is now our turn to stand in the face of the adversary and declare our religious freedoms. We know of the outcome of all of this. We can do this and still be humble. We can declare our testimonies to others. We can be examples of truth and light. And we can show the world why we carry a smile on our face even in the depths of our own trials. We know that if we endure, the great promise made will be given to us. Our own Declaraions of Independence; on how we love our Lord are "engraved upon our hearts..". This is the true Declaration of Indepence that we have and share with the world.

We (as Latter-day Saints) hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men (and women) are created equal, that (we) are endowed by our Creator (our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ) with certain (heavenly gifts), that among these are life (eternal), liberty (to choose our course of action), and the pursuit of happiness (through the great plan of our Heavenly Father)... (parentheses added by myself).


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