America is Great Because...

I searched the Internet for the phrase "American is great because" and found the following...

• "America is great because she is good." (attributed to Alexis de Tocqueville though it doesn't appear in his writings)
• "America is great because America is free."
• "America is great because of the American people and their determination to fight for their rights and freedom."
• "America is great because it was built on foundation of Bible principles."
• "America is great because its people aspire for independence, not dependence."
• "America is great because it is accepting."
• "America is great because it has as much diversity in geographies as it does in peoples."
• "America is great not just because we have wonderful rivers and streams and great geography or that we have natural resources. America is not great because we have the best government. America is not great because we have the best corporations. Without a question America is great because we have great people. It is the people of America that make it the strongest and most powerful nation on the planet. And America's people are great because we have great parents who made us great."
• "America is great because of the compassion and generosity of its people."
• "America is great because free people have had the chance and the incentive and the opportunity to dream, strive and work toward their goals."
• "America is great because of the dynamic of free people working together in a system based on economic liberty and the rule of law, and not because of government."
• "America is great because of its spirit, we believe it is the spirit of God."

Stephen Ambrose, an American historian, studied and wrote about the American military. In his book, The VICTORS: Eisenhower and His Boys: The Men of World War II, he tried to answer the question how simple citizen soldiers could have faced such great evil and conquered. He wrote this:

"At the core, the American citizen soldiers knew the difference between right and wrong, and they didn't want to live in a world in which wrong prevailed. So they fought, and won, and we all of us, living and yet to be born, must be forever profoundly grateful."

Then he talked about what the war meant to the men who fought it. One man, he said, summed it up in a way he could never forget. I personally believe this is why America is great. That man said:

"Imagine this. In the spring of 1945, around the world, the sight of a twelve-man squad of teenage boys, armed and in uniform, brought terror to people's hearts. Whether it was a Red Army squad in Berlin, Leipzig, or Warsaw, or a German squad in Holland, or a Japanese squad in Manila or Seoul or China, that squad meant rape, pillage, looting, wanton destruction, senseless killing. But there was an exception: a squad of GIs, a sight that brought the biggest smile you ever saw to people's lips, and joy to their hearts."

"Around the world this was true, even in Germany, even - after September 1945 - in Japan. This was because GIs meant candy, cigarettes, C-rations, and freedom. America had sent the best of her young men around the world, not to conquer but to liberate, not to terrorize but to help. This was a great moment in our history."

Yes, we're not a perfect nation, but our blemishes are the exceptions, not the rule. I love this great country.

Cougar Stadium From Above

If you're a huge Cougar football fan like I am but live too far away to visit the stadium regularly, you can still see it through the web. While it's not live, you can still get up close and personal through the miracle of satellite imagery.

It's interesting to compare the images of Cougar Stadium available from the major mapping websites: Mapquest, Google Maps, and Yahoo Maps. Take a look:

Yahoo Maps

MapQuest

Google Maps (Note that Google Maps also has a Street View feature; see a screenshot below)

If you have any ideas what years these images were taken, please let me know. Note that in two of the three, the Cougar Club tent is up to the northeast of the stadium, but it's a different type of tent in the two.

Enjoy!

Michael, Heber, and Hyrum

Faithful Servants to the End

Hyrum Smith never left Joseph. Heber C. Kimball always stood by Brigham Young. When many of Joseph's and Brigham's closest associates and leaders of the Church turned against them during some of the darkest hours in early Church history, Hyrum and Heber never wavered in their support of these two great prophets.

I believe they are type. Where Joseph had Hyrum and Brigham had Heber, I believe that Jesus had Michael. More importantly, I believe they are an example we can follow.

Few of us are called like Joseph and Brigham to lead. All of us, however, have the opportunity to support and sustain our leaders. Hyrum and Heber are shining examples of faithful support. Elder M. Russell Ballard described Hyrum Smith as “one of the firm pillars of the Restoration.” He spoke of this aspect of Hyrum's character:

After his older brother Alvin’s death in 1823, Hyrum bore significant responsibility in the Smith family. At the same time, he assisted and served his brother, Joseph the Prophet, throughout the long and arduous process of the Restoration. Ultimately, he joined Joseph and other martyrs of past gospel dispensations. His blood was shed as his final testimony to the world.

Through it all, Hyrum stood firm. He knew the course his life would take, and he consciously chose to follow it. To Joseph, Hyrum became companion, protector, provider, confidant, and eventually joined him as a martyr. Unjust persecution engulfed them throughout their lives. Although he was older, Hyrum recognized his brother’s divine mantle. While he gave Joseph strong counsel on occasion, Hyrum always deferred to his younger brother. (M. Russell Ballard, “Hyrum Smith: ‘Firm As the Pillars of Heaven’,” Ensign, Nov 1995, 6)

Heber was no less faithful in his support to Brigham. Following Heber's death, Elder George A. Smith said the following:

As we follow him to his last resting place, we must recollect that those men who stood side by side Joseph Smith the Prophet, who bore with him his burdens, and shared his troubles; who stood shoulder to shoulder with President Young while he faced the storm of apostacy, mob power and organized priestcraft, are rapidly passing away. Brother Kimball was foremost among them. (Journal of Discourses, Volume 12, The Death of President Heber C. Kimball)

Also speaking of Heber after the death, Elder George Q. Cannon said this:

It is now twenty-four years lacking three days, since Joseph and Hyrum were taken away from us. Twenty-four years so fruitful in labor, so abundant in toil, so rich in experience! During that period bro. Heber has never wavered, never trembled. It may be said of him with as much truthfulness to-day, as was said by bro. Brigham on one occasion in Nauvoo, "his knees never trembled, his hands never shook." He has been faithful to God; he has been true to his brethren; he has kept his covenants. (Journal of Discourses, Volume 12, The Death of President Heber C. Kimball)

While thinking of these great men and their faithful service to their leaders, it came to mind that Michael, or Adam, had also been an example of eternal support to the Great Leader, Jesus Christ. It was Michael who lead the forces of good against Lucifer in the war in Heaven:

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.” (Revelation 12:7-8)

Michael may have also been the angel who came to support our Savior during his suffering in Gethsemane. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said, “We know that an angel came from the courts of glory to strengthen him in his ordeal, and we suppose it was mighty Michael, who foremost fell that mortal man might be” (Bruce R. McConkie, “The Purifying Power of Gethsemane,” Ensign, May 1985, 9).

Elder Mark E. Peterson spoke further of Michael's role and position relative to Jesus Christ: “The Prophet Joseph Smith clearly identifies both Adam and Michael as one and the same person, an angel, the chief angel, or archangel, of heaven, the special servant of God and Christ” (Mark E. Petersen, “Adam, the Archangel,” Ensign, Nov 1980, 16).

May we follow the example of these great and just men—Michael, Heber, and Hyrum—in faithfully serving our sustained leaders to the end.

Photos of President Hinckley's Final Public Appearance

What was probably President Gordon B. Hinckley's final public appearance took place on January 20, 2008 when he presided over the rededication of the Garden Park Ward in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photos of President Hinckley at this meeting have been racing around the Internet. Deseret Book posted them on their website: http://deseretbook.com/temple/hinckley.

In honor of our beloved prophet, I created a video with these photos and set it to the beautiful hymn, God Be With You Till We Meet Again.

Ronald Reagan on Religious Bigotry

Ronald Reagan made it very clear during his presidency that religious intolerance and bigotry was unacceptable in America. Sadly, decades after America appeared to overcome religious intolerance by electing a Catholic president, it appears vestiges of this bigotry still exist. John Geer, a political scientist at Vanderbilt, designed a survey to assess religious bias against Mitt Romney. The poll found that “bias against Mitt Romney’s religion is one of the reasons that the tag 'flip-flopper' sticks with the former Massachusetts governor but not his Republican opponents.”

The following are quotes from Ronald Reagan on intolerance and bigotry. My hope, like his, is that we, as a nation, will overcome this evil and vote for the best candidate based on qualifications and values, not religious affiliation.

_________________________

“Now, there's another major wrong done to traditional American values that needs to be corrected. Our forefathers were religious people, and they were also enlightened enough to realize the follies of religious intolerance.”

Remarks at the Annual Convention of the American Legion in
Salt Lake City, Utah, September 4, 1984

“So, please use your pulpits to denounce racism, anti-Semitism, and all ethnic or religious intolerance as evils, and let us make it clear that our values must not restrict, but liberate the human spirit in thought and in deed.”

Remarks at the Annual Convention of the National Association of Evangelicals
in Columbus, Ohio, March 6, 1984

“[W]e must teach tolerance and denounce racism, anti-Semitism, and all ethnic or religious bigotry, wherever they exist, as unacceptable evils.”

Remarks at the Young Leadership Conference of the United Jewish Appeal
March 13, 1984

“The ideals of our country leave no room whatsoever for intolerance, for anti-Semitism, or for bigotry of any kind -- none. ”

Remarks to Members of the Congregation of Temple Hillel and
Jewish Community Leaders in Valley Stream, New York
October 26, 1984

“We must never remain silent in the face of bigotry. We must condemn those who seek to divide us. In all quarters and at all times, we must teach tolerance and denounce racism, anti-Semitism, and all ethnic or religious bigotry wherever they exist as unacceptable evils. We have no place for haters in America -- none, whatsoever.”

Remarks to Members of the Congregation of Temple Hillel and
Jewish Community Leaders in Valley Stream, New York
October 26, 1984

“The Founders realized that we must guard freedom of religion with eternal vigilance against tyranny and bigotry.”

Proclamation 5866 -- Religious Freedom Week, 1988
September 27, 1988

“Today bigotry has been beaten down, but not yet totally destroyed. It falls now to you to carry on the battle. So, fight racism; fight anti-Semitism; fight in all its variations the bigotry and intolerance that we Americans have worked so hard to root out. I make much of all we've done to combat discrimination in our country because it seems to me of central importance to our essay on peace. Here in this green and gentle land people of all nations, people of all races and faiths, have learned to live in harmony to build one nation.”

Remarks at the High School Commencement Exercises in
Glassboro, New Jersey, June 19, 1986

“And let me add, in the party of Lincoln, there is no room for intolerance and not even a small corner for anti-Semitism or bigotry of any kind. Many people are welcome in our house, but not the bigots.”

Remarks Accepting the Presidential Nomination at the
Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas
August 23, 1984

“No one group in this country is better than another. No one race or religion or sex or color is better than another. And no region is better or worse than another. It's time we erased the last vestiges of intolerance, bigotry, and unkindness from our hearts. Decency demands this and so does our history.”

Remarks and a Question-and-Answer Session at the
"Choosing a Future" Conference in Chicago, Illinois
September 5, 1984

“I was raised to believe that there's no sin greater than prejudice or bigotry.”

Remarks and a Question-and-Answer Session at the
"Choosing a Future" Conference in Chicago, Illinois
September 5, 1984

“And let me say there is no place in the Republican Party for those who would exhibit prejudice against anyone. There's no place in our party for the kind of bigotry and ugly rhetoric that we've been hearing outside our party recently. We have no room for hate here, and we have no place for the haters.”

Remarks and a Question-and-Answer Session With
Elected Republican Women Officials, June 29, 1984

“[R]acial discrimination and religious bigotry have no place in a free society.”

Remarks at the Annual Convention of the
National Religious Broadcasters, February 9, 1982

“And let me add that we will continue to fight against discrimination wherever there are any vestiges of it remaining, until we've removed such bigotry from our entire land.”

Remarks at a Meeting With Asian and
Pacific-American Leaders, February 23, 1984

“I firmly believe that there is no room for partisanship on this question. Democrats and Republicans alike must be resolute in disassociating ourselves from any group or individual whose political philosophy consists only of racial or religious intolerance....”

Letter to the Chairman of the Commission on Civil Rights
Concerning the President's Views on the Ku Klux Klan
April 30, 1984

“We will continue to fight against discrimination, wherever there are any vestiges of it remaining, until we've removed such bigotry from our entire land.”

Written Responses to Questions Submitted by Pacific Magazine on
United States Policy in the Pacific Island Region
May 4, 1984

“I was raised in a household in which the only intolerance I was taught was intolerance of bigotry.”

The President's News Conference, June 30, 1982