The Maryland Baltimore Mission senior missionaries took a field trip on February 2nd to the home of America's first elected president, George Washington, in northern Virginia. Visiting Mount Vernon with our group caused me to ponder and reflect again upon the attributes of one of our greatest founding fathers while stirring deep feelings of gratitude to Heavenly Father for preserving this great land for all of us who live here to be able to enjoy our many freedoms.
In the Book of Mormon, the Lord decreed that America is “a land choice above all other lands” to those who keep his commandments. The scriptures point out that we remain here in this land as a free people as long as we remain in God’s divine favor.
And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.
- 1 Nephi 2:20 Book of Mormon
Beautiful Mt. Vernon overlooking the Potomac River
George Washington once described his beloved Mount Vernon property as follows: "No estate in United America is more pleasantly situated than this . . ." Even today, long after his death in 1799, Mount Vernon is "pleasantly situated" and a lovely place to visit. It is said that George Washington was so loved and respected by the people in his day that he could have been crowned a king, but he understood what kings were capable of becoming based upon the colonies experience with Great Britain, which led to the American Revolution. Because he knew that the government rightfully belonged to the people, George Washington retired to his home in Mount Vernon after two terms as President.
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we believe that the Constitution of the United States was divinely inspired, and the founding fathers were a select group of men born into this world at the specific time in our nation's development when they could help to shape the destiny of this republic while ensuring both religious freedom and liberty for future generations to come.
Ezra Taft Benson, former President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has said, "America has a spiritual foundation. But today she stands at the crossroads. The crisis before her is a crisis of faith; the need is for greater spirituality and a return to the basic principles upon which this nation was founded."
Another witness, John Taylor, third president of the Church warned: “When the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States, the elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth, and proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men, and extending the hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations.”
There are many today in positions of authority among our political leaders who want the government to exercise ever more power and authority over the people. Knowing that we will continue to be protected by God's unseen hand and kept free only as long as we choose to keep the Commandments, we best turn towards Him and not the ways of the world.
It was nice of George Washington to invite all of you over!
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