Having Faith in America

April 15th is Tax Day for America, although recently released statistics show that nearly 50% of Americans don't even pay taxes into the system. Has America become a welfare state? When did the responsibility for providing one's own needs become the role of the federal and state government? Those who rely on the government for their daily bread are chaining themselves to a master that is slowly dismantling their freedom of choice. The process of losing one's agency comes bit by bit when we allow the gov't to provide for our basic needs, i.e. housing, food, health care, etc. Soon our attitudes change and we think, why yes!, the gov't should provide these things. We say, "I've paid into the system, I should be able to take advantage of the offerings." Or "I'm entitled to receive these benefits. I shouldn't have to work for everything in life, because working is true bondage."

How false these statements are and how damaging they are to one's soul. The truth is that men and women must work to be successful. Laziness and procrastination only make us more depressed and leave us feeling unfulfilled. I am mostly writing this post to myself. There is much work to be done and no one else is going to do it for me. We need to get to WORK. We have in our power to change the world, one individual/family at a time.

I love Sister Elaine S. Dalton, General Young Women President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She asks the question, "What could be more deceptive than to entice women, young and old, you and me, to be so involved in ourselves, our looks, our clothes, our body shape and size that we lose sight of our divine identity and our ability to change the world through our virtuous influence?

She said, "I truly believe that one virtuous young woman or young man, led by the Spirit, can change the world, but in order to do so, we must return to virtue." We have been blessed with the truth of the gospel. We are daughters of a loving Heavenly Father, we were sent to Earth for a purpose and to fulfill a divine mission. Each of us was born to be a queen.

So onward then to victory; We can and will change this world for good. The time has come for women everywhere to re-accept our role as the Guardians of Virtue. Let us speak no evil, let us be strong and courageous to speak the truth regarding our divine role as mothers and daughters of God. This nation will never fail if we return to virtue. Let us shun every evil thing, for me and my family, this includes almost every main media outlet available. Ask yourself if you could watch or listen to this in the chapel or in the temple. If the answer is no, then why allow it in your home.

I'm sure this post is a bit random, from taxes to virtue, to changing the world. This is how my brain works so this is what you get! I end with this quote by Harold B. Lee.

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges. I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through." (Ye Are the Light of the World, p350-51)