First Presidency Releases Statement

A statement has been circulated that asserts in part that the youth of the church today "were generals in the war in heaven...and [someone will] ask you, "Which of the prophet's time did you live in?"and when you say "Goddon B. Hinckley' a hush will fall,....and all in attendance will bow at your presence". A notice from the Office of the First Presidency reads: "This is a false statement. It is not Church doctrine. At various times, this statement has been attributed erroneously to President Thomas S. Monson, President Henry B. Eyring, President Boyd K. Packer and others. None of these brethren made this statement." The notice about the statement, which was sent to General Authorities, Area Seventies, stake, mission, district and temple presidencts and bishops and branch presidents, instructed that priesthood leaders "should see that it is not used in Church talks, classes, bulletins or newsletters. Also the notice instructed them to correct anyone who attempts to perpetuate its use."

Sorry I had this on my blog. I have removed it and apologize.

 

My Country Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty

So many thoughts and feelings have been circulating about my mind. I started some time ago thinking of the events of our day, our war and the actions of some of our elected officials and judges and the political correct crowd and the ignorance of some our American people who seem to have no feelings for the value of our Country our Constitution, our Liberty, and our Military who put their life on the line every hour to defend that liberty. It is so unlike the Second World War. It was wonderful to see the patriotism after 9-11, remember our congressmen united, regardless of party, all singing “God Bless America” on the steps of our nation’s Capitol? Remember singing along with Toby Keith, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue” Someone called it an angry song, and it was and so were we. Remember the beautiful flags of Missouri? They were everywhere! Do you see many flags anymore? Are our Congressmen united? Have we forgotten? Why should patriotism fade when we are still at war, is it no longer in our hearts? It is so unlike the Second World War. I was a little girl in World War II When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor I was only 9. My emigrant, proud to be an American, father always had a flag pole and always flew the flag. He never gave a thought to fly the Swedish flag. He was an American and loved the Stars and Stripes. Those feelings of pride were in his heart because he had to earn them to become an American citizen, as did my Mother. They spoke English and flew an American Flag. As a country we were united as Americans. And the music was wonderful. I am so thankful I grew up with a family who sang; not only my immediate family, but aunts and uncles and cousins. When ever we got together the guitars came out and so did the Swedish songs, every aunt had their favorite and my Dad sang them all. Then came the 1st World War songs and on up to the present day. My Uncle Gus played the guitar and so did my cousin Allen. So many songs were written during the war that united us as a people and put strength, faith and patriotism in our hearts. In grade school – now called elementary school, we always began our school day with the Pledge of Allegiance, and most always sang My Country Tis of Thee. Irving Berlin wrote a song for the First World War and then re- wrote it for the second. In 1938 Kate Smith sang for the first time his “new” God Bless America. We sat around the radio listening to it. It was an immediate favorite of the people and remains so. It had an introduction that was always sung then, but not often now. “While the storm clouds gather far across the Sea, Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free; let us all be grateful for a land so fair, as we raise our voices in a solemn prayer – “God Bless America, land that I love, stand beside her and guide her, through the night with the light from above, from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home.” Many years later around the television set, a tribute was given to Irving Berlin for his music, and again Kate Smith sang “God Bless America” Tommy was little, maybe in the first grade, he sat there with tears in his eyes and covered with goose bumps. It touched his heart. What I have posted as a picture is dear to me, it is something I had felt was important to keep as a child, and still keep it today to remind me of learning things by “heart”. When we learn something by heart, it is not just memorizing, it is more important, it is in our heart, and it becomes a part of us. It is love. Fly your flag with pride, every day that you can, with love and with your heart.