Lessons on Freedom and Patriotism
Lesson No. Twenty-Nine
Living the Gospel is True Patriotism
George Washington in his Farewell Address spoke of patriotism: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriot, who would labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens." Patriotism requires religion and morality. Therefore, by Washington’s definition living the gospel is true patriotism.
Captain Moroni is an example of a true patriot – “Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God. Yea, he had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites….And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians” (Alma 48:7-10).
Today, a true patriot desires truth and acknowledges the hand of God in the affairs of men and the destiny of nations. They look to God as the source of security. A patriot is committed to correct social and economic principles based on agency and accountability, right and wrong. To a patriot liberty is not license to do as one chooses, but true liberty requires that our actions must be consistent with a divine standard to which men are accountable.
A true patriot is more concerned about being morally correct than politically correct.
Amalickiah is an example of a counterfeit patriot – Amalickiah desired power and promised his supporters positions in his government if he became the ruler. (See Alma 46:4-5) He used “cunning device and…many flattering words [to lead] away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them” (Alma 46:10).
Today, counterfeit patriots rely on their own strength and take God out of public life. They espouse harmful social and economic theories based on the philosophies of men. They espouse moral relativism. Moral relativism teaches there is no right or wrong, no divine law or absolute standard of conduct and therefore there is no sin. The philosophy of moral relativism was well stated by Korihor who taught that “every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime” (Alma 30:17).
Testimony - If we live the gospel it will be said of us as it was of Moroni: “He was a man of perfect understanding; …a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery; Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people. Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion,….and this was the faith of Moroni, and his heart did glory in it; not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity” (Alma 48:11-16).