Sunday Spiritual thought: Liberty of our God

One of the darkest days in American history was the battle of Gettysburg during July 1-3^rd 1863. During the first few skirmishes went relatively without a winner. It was July third that mistakes happened on the part of the confederates and the union defeated them. There was a great cost on both sides. The war continued on but this battle really put the odds in favor of the Union.

The war was won, the slaves were freed, the states were united once again, but probably the most important document was written by Abraham Lincoln after the battle at Gettysburg:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln

November 19, 1863

The day this address was given, there was another speech highlighting the events by a man named Edward Everett. His speech was meticulously worded and painstakingly derived and covered multiple pages. Many of the people who walked away from the ceremony were somewhat disappointed by how much less elaborate President Lincolns speech was. But there is a reason why the Gettysburg Address went in history over Everett's remarks. In my opinion it’s because of a simple message that is expressed in the last line

“That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth”.

The book of Mormon highlights a promise over and over that “inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise… a land which is choice above all other lands.” (1 Nephi 2: 20). In order to achieve the greatest freedom, one must follow the greatest government- which is God. We have Gods promise that if we are true to the commandments we will prosper and have freedom.

We may not be able to adjust the outcomes of others decisions to our benefit. But we as individuals will experience the great freedoms that this land (USA) promises as we are obedient to the laws of God and the laws of the land. If we all do this, the world will be better but even if you are the only one, your world will be blessed with greater freedom and prosperity.

I leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.