Today is July 4th – Independence Day. One of my top 3 favorite holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas are my other favorites). This is the first 4th of July in 2 years that I get to actually celebrate Independence Day in the United States and be proud to be an American without people calling me ‘baby killers’ or saying something to me for being American. The past two 4th of Julys were spent in Germany. Now don’t get me wrong – I love Germany. But there’s just something special about the USA. It’s HOME.
I started thinking last night about America. About it’s history and the reason why it’s so special. Which then led my thinking to the Gospel and the Church. I thought about what we learn about America in the scriptures. Because Heavenly Father is all knowing, He knew about America and the potential it had to help bring about His work. Which is why America is the promised land.
I searched the scriptures (mainly The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ) and looked up talks given by leaders of the Church. And this is what I discovered:
“The discovery of the Americas was not an accident. The event had been foreordained in the eternal councils.” – N. Eldon Tanner, If They But Serve the God of the Land
In the very beginning of The Book of Mormon, we read about the prophet Lehi and his family. They were directed by the Lord to leave Jerusalem and were led to a land of promise. The Lord tells Lehi’s faithful son, Nephi, that “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).
The rest of The Book of Mormon tells of what happens to Lehi, his family, and posterity. We also read of others who were led by the hand of the Lord across many waters to this promised land.
In the first book of Nephi we read of a vision that Nephi had of the promised land and of what was to happen thousands of years after his posterity had fallen away from the Gospel. Nephi writes, “And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles [the Gentiles refers to those on the Eastern Hemisphere], who was separated from the seed of my brethren [the seed of his brethren refers to those living in the Western Hemisphere – Lehi’s posterity] by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land” (1 Nephi 13:12). Can you figure out who Nephi was writing about? This man, from the Eastern Hemisphere, was touched by the Spirit of God and he crossed many waters till he reached the Western Hemisphere, which was already inhabited – by the seed of Lehi. This man was Christopher Columbus.
In a letter to Spanish hierarchy Columbus wrote, “Our Lord unlocked my mind, sent me upon the sea, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my emprise called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed. But who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me?” (quoted in Mark E. Peterson, The Great Prologue) I have no doubt that the Holy Ghost or Spirit of God inspired and lead Columbus to the Americas.
Nephi’s vision continues, “And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles [still referring to those in the Eastern Hemisphere]; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters” (1 Nephi 13:13). In history books we learn that after Columbus discovered America that many people left Europe and traveled to America to escape religious persecution – ‘religious captivity’ you could say.
The vision goes on, “And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles [those who were on the Eastern Hemisphere but crossed the many waters to America] upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten” (1 Nephi 13: 14). We also learn that after the pilgrims came to America that the Indians, those who had inhabited America before it was discovered by Europe (or in other words, the seed of Lehi), were (as the scripture says) ‘scattered’ and ‘smitten’.
Here’s what I find interesting as I continued reading in 1 Nephi 13: “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them” (verse 16). The Lord blessed the people who came to America because they were humble. He was with them. This was very evident as America continued to develop and grow. “And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them. And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations” (1 Nephi 13: 17-19). This refers to the event which led to America’s freedom. The war for our independence. Their ‘mother Gentiles’ refers to England, who, on water and on land fought against those humble pilgrims. And the power of God was with them and they were delivered by the hand of God. Happy day of independence!
God continued to be with them as they developed and built our great nation. In a revelation given to the prophet Joseph Smith the Lord tells of His hand in the development of the United States of America, “According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles; That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood” (D&C 101: 77-80).
I then thought about why America is called the land of promise. What exactly is this promise that makes America so special? We learn in 2 Nephi 1: 5-7 that America “is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me [Lehi] should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord…there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so it shall be because of iniquity…”
The Lord has promised those who live in America, those whom HE has brought into the land, that this land will be a land of liberty to them, that they will be free from bondage. HOWEVER, there is a condition to this promise. Those who live there ‘shall serve HIM’ and keep HIS commandments, THEN will this land be a land of freedom. And IF they are brought into captivity it will be because of iniquity, of not serving God or keeping His commandments.
Later in The Book of Mormon we read of another people who were brought by the hand of God to America. They were told that “this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ…” (Ether 2:12) Here we learn that the god we are to serve is Jesus Christ.
God promised Lehi and his family that “this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles. And I will fortify this land against all other nations. And he that fighteth against Zion shall perish, saith God. For he that raiseth up a king against me shall perish, for I, the Lord, the king of heaven, will be their king, and I will be a light unto them forever, that hear my words. Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed. And them who shall be numbered among they seed, forever, for the land of their inheritance for it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands, wherefore I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God” (2 Nephi 10:11-14, 19).
As I read and pondered on the promise that we have from God, that if we keep His commandments and worship Him, that we will be free. I thought about how that almost seems like we don’t have a choice in the matter. But then I remembered that God has given us the priceless gift of free agency – the ability to choose for ourselves what we will do. I remembered the scripture verse in 2 Nephi 2:27 where we learn, “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto men, and they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” It’s interesting, when WE choose to keep the commandments of God we are free. Not only are we free from other nations but we are free from our sins. The verse also tells us that when WE choose NOT to keep the commandments that we will be in captivity. It may not be in captivity of another nation at this time, but we are captive to our sins.
As I continued to search the scriptures I found a warning given to us if we choose not to keep the commandments: “ But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord – having a knowledge of the creation of the earth, and all men, knowing the great and marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them to do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the beginning, and having been brought by his infinite goodness into this precious land of promise – behold, I saw, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them. Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten” (2 Nephi 1: 10-11). The same thing that happened to the seed of Lehi, those who possessed the land before Columbus came to America, will happen to us if we lose our faith. If we reject our Savior, Jesus Christ, and choose not to keep His commandments, we will be ‘scattered’ and ‘smitten’. That’s a scary thought!
Today in church we sang, The Star-Spangled Banner. Verse 3 reads, “Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand between their loved homes and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace,
may the heav’n-rescued land praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, and this be our motto:
“In God is our trust!” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”
This 4th of July, Independence Day, I am more grateful than ever to live in this promised land. I hope that every day I can put my trust in God and keep His commandments so that I may be free from bondage and enjoy the blessing that come from living in the USA!
