America as a Promised Land RestoredGospel Foundations Topic

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America as a Promised Land Restored-Gospel Foundations, Topic 4

America as a Promised Land Restored-Gospel Foundations, Topic 4

Living History

Living History

Living History

Living History

Living History

Living History

Living History

Living History

Living History

Living History

�“America is such a place, but of course it wasn’t always called America nor

�“America is such a place, but of course it wasn’t always called America nor has it always been identified by a distinctive continental shape. Originally it was simply a portion of that large, single land mass which God in his creative process called ‘Earth’ and which, when completed, was pronounced ‘good. ’ (Gen. 1: 10. ) Whatever its name and geographical configuration, however, it was from the beginning a land of divinity as well as a land of destiny. ” “A Promised Land”

�“The choicest part of this earthly creation was a garden ‘eastward in Eden’ where

�“The choicest part of this earthly creation was a garden ‘eastward in Eden’ where God placed our first parents, Adam and Eve. This resplendent place filled with paradisiacal glory was located on that part of the land mass where the city Zion, or the New Jerusalem of the earth’s last days, would eventually be built. (See D&C 57: 1– 3, D&C 84: 1– 3; and Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3: 74. ) After Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, they dwelt at a place called Adam-ondi. Ahman, located in what is now Daviess County, Missouri. ” “A Promised Land”

�“With what Washington called ‘the singular interpositions of Providence’ a political path had been

�“With what Washington called ‘the singular interpositions of Providence’ a political path had been prepared that would allow the ‘restitution of all things. ’ (Acts 3: 21. ) Less than a score of years after the Constitutional Convention had concluded its work and freedoms of conscience, speech, press, and worship had been guaranteed in a historic Bill of Rights, the Prophet Joseph Smith was born in clear, graceful Vermont, home of Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys. ” “A Promised Land”

� “With his center stake in America, God began stretching the cords of his

� “With his center stake in America, God began stretching the cords of his tabernacle to all the world, lengthening the habitation of Israel and establishing Zion wherever the pure in heart dwell. When that great global mission is complete and the angels declare ‘there shall be time no longer’ (D&C 88: 110), then the king and master of heaven and earth shall return to his temple and reign for a thousand years on a renewed and paradisiacal earth. These two cities, Zion (the New Jerusalem) and the ancient city of Jerusalem, will be those capitals out of which both the word and law of the Lord shall go forth and to which all nations shall flow. (See Isa. 2: 2– 3. )” “A Promised Land”

Seeing History C. C. A. Christensen, Saints Driven from Jackson County, Missouri, at the

Seeing History C. C. A. Christensen, Saints Driven from Jackson County, Missouri, at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art (in public domain from wikimedia. org)

�According to Holland’s address, why is America special, and what sacred places and events

�According to Holland’s address, why is America special, and what sacred places and events are associated with its land because of its unique designation? Reason from the Source

�“The Prophet Joseph Smith said, ‘We ought to have the building up of Zion

�“The Prophet Joseph Smith said, ‘We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object’ (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 186). In our families and in our stakes and districts, let us seek to build up Zion through unity, godliness, and charity, preparing for that great day when Zion, the New Jerusalem, will arise” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Nov. 2008 Ensign). Relate the Words of Modern Prophets

“My country! ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land

“My country! ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrim’s pride, From every mountain side, Let freedom ring! My native country, thee, Land of the noble, free, Thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills. My heart with rapture thrills Like that above. ” “Let music swell the breeze And ring from all the trees, Sweet freedom’s song; Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong. Our fathers’ God to thee, Author of liberty, To thee we sing. Long may our land be bright With freedom’s holy light. Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King!” (Hymns, no. 115). “America’s Promise”

�“The truths received by Joseph Smith went further. They identified the ‘Great God’ implored

�“The truths received by Joseph Smith went further. They identified the ‘Great God’ implored by Samuel F. Smith as Jesus Christ. They also declared that in order for us to enjoy the protection of his might, we must accept him as our God and keep his commandments. ” �“The words ‘Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King’ imply that the God of the land is also King of the land. And this is true. ” “America’s Promise”

�“The Book of Mormon, quoting Jesus as he spoke here in America, reads: ‘This

�“The Book of Mormon, quoting Jesus as he spoke here in America, reads: ‘This land shall be a land of liberty … and there shall be no kings upon [it]. …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. … For it is a choice land, saith God … wherefore I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me’ (2 Ne. 10: 11– 19). ” “America’s Promise”

� “Now why do I emphasize this theme? I do so as a warning

� “Now why do I emphasize this theme? I do so as a warning against the ongoing anti-Christ trend in America today. Some years ago reference was made on a local editorial page to ‘a super-duper, eager-beaver atheist’ who ‘does not like Christianity’ at all, ‘and is out to destroy it. … In a national magazine [this atheist] is quoted as thundering from her ‘pulpit’ ‘Churches are leeches. …’ ‘Now that she has moved on prayer and Bible reading in U. S. public schools, ’ the editorial continues, ‘her next targets, it appears, are tax-exemptions for churches, ousting chaplains from the armed services and omission of ‘God’ in courtroom oaths, on money and in the pledge of allegiance. ’” “America’s Promise”

�“In distinguishing communism from the United Order, President David O. Mc. Kay said that

�“In distinguishing communism from the United Order, President David O. Mc. Kay said that communism is Satan’s counterfeit for the gospel plan, and that it is an avowed enemy of the God of the land. Communism is the greatest anti-Christ power in the world today and therefore the greatest menace not only to our peace but to our preservation as a free people. By the extent to which we tolerate it, accommodate ourselves to it, permit ourselves to be encircled by its tentacles and drawn to it, to that extent we forfeit the protection of the God of this land. ” “America’s Promise”

�“Relying on that part of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United

�“Relying on that part of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States which reads, ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, ’ the United States Supreme Court has ruled against Bible reading and prayer in public schools. By so doing, said President David O. Mc. Kay, ‘the Supreme Court of the United States severs the connecting cord between the public schools of the United States and the source of divine intelligence, the Creator himself, ’ who, of course, is the God of this land. ” “America’s Promise”

�“Now, of course, we all believe and wholeheartedly support the separation of church and

�“Now, of course, we all believe and wholeheartedly support the separation of church and state; but we must not let this wresting of the First Amendment, nor communism, nor atheism, nor any other anti-Christ influence, weaken our conviction that Jesus Christ is the God of this land nor diminish our determination to obey his laws. ” “America’s Promise”

Seeing History Baptist minister Samuel Francis Smith (1808 -1895) from Poems of Home and

Seeing History Baptist minister Samuel Francis Smith (1808 -1895) from Poems of Home and Country (in public domain on wikimedia. org)

�From President Romney’s address, what do you learn about God as an “author” and

�From President Romney’s address, what do you learn about God as an “author” and “king”? Reason from the Source

�From both addresses, what do you learn about how the welfare of America is

�From both addresses, what do you learn about how the welfare of America is “closely bound up with the welfare of all mankind”? Reason from the Source

�“Today we live in a choice land, yes, a land choice above all other

�“Today we live in a choice land, yes, a land choice above all other lands. We live amid unbounded prosperity—this because of the heritage bequeathed to us by our forebears, a heritage of self-reliance, initiative, personal industry, and faith in God, all in an atmosphere of freedom. Were these Founding Fathers and pioneer forefathers to counsel us today in their fundamental beliefs—so manifest by their acts—what would they say to us” (President Ezra Taft Benson, November 1976 Ensign)? Relate the Words of Modern Prophets

�How do the documents relate to FACE Principle #1: God's Principle of Individuality: “Everything

�How do the documents relate to FACE Principle #1: God's Principle of Individuality: “Everything in God's universe reveals His infinity and diversity. Each person is a unique creation of God, designed to express the nature of Christ individually in society. The quality of man's government is primarily determined in his heart”? Relate the FACE Seven Principles

� How do the documents relate to Ether 2: 7 -12? ◦ “And the

� How do the documents relate to Ether 2: 7 -12? ◦ “And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people. ” ◦ “And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them. ” ◦ “And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity. ” Relate the Anchor Scriptures

� How do the documents relate to Ether 2: 7 -12? ◦ “For behold,

� How do the documents relate to Ether 2: 7 -12? ◦ “For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off. ” ◦ “And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done. ” ◦ “Behold, 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, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written. ” Relate the Anchor Scriptures