Lessons on Freedom and Patriotism
Lesson No. Twenty-Two
Our Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance
Symbols and ceremonies remind us of our covenants and promises – The Lord often gives us symbols and ceremonies to remind us of our covenants. We make covenants and receive the symbols in important ceremonies. Baptism and the sacrament are ceremonies where we are symbolically reminded of our covenants. In the temple we participate in ceremonies in ways that are intended to remind us of our temple covenants. Our flag and the Pledge of Allegiance involves symbols and ceremonies that can remind us of our covenants.
The title of liberty was a symbol and a reminder that some things must be defended – When the liberty of his country was threatened Captain Moroni rent his coat and wrote on it things that must be remembered and defended: “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and or children” (Alma 46:12). To rent your coat when taking an important oath was a Hebrew custom to emphasize “I mean what I am saying!” (This is evidence of the Hebrew origins and truth of the Book of Mormon.) From his rent coat Moroni prepared the flag called the title of liberty. “He went forth among the people, waiving [his flag] in the air” (Alma 46:19). He also caused this flag to be “hoisted on every tower which was in all the land” (Alma 46:36).
The title of liberty was a symbol and a reminder that living the gospel brings blessings and protection – By waiving this flag Moroni invited others to “come forth in the strength of the Lord and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them. And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God” (Alma 46:21). Similarly, after September 11, 2001 flags were flying everywhere, and many in our country turned to God.
Our flag is a reminder the Lord will bless us and our land if we are righteous – For me the “Stars and Stripes” becomes a symbol like the title of liberty. It is a reminder that this land is consecrated” for those who keep the commandments, and “it shall be a land of liberty unto them” and “unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever” (2 Nephi 1:7). Living the gospel is true patriotism. It is the most important thing we can do to defend “our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” (Alma 46:12).
The Pledge of Allegiance should be a reminder of our covenant to live the gospel - The Nephites tore their coats as a reminder of their covenant to live the gospel. It can be the same for us when we repeat the Pledge of Allegiance. As we face the flag and salute or put our hand over our heart, like Moroni renting his coat, this emphasizes "I really mean what I am saying that I will live the gospel so that the Lord will bless me, my family, my Church, and my country."
Testimony - Ever since childhood my favorite part of a rodeo or a parade is the flag ceremony. I remember well my feelings as I placed my hand over my heart and repeated the Pledge of Allegiance at school. While wearing the uniform of our country I was touched every time I stood at attention and saluted our flag. I am very grateful that throughout my life the Holy Spirit has confirmed to me that the symbols and ceremonies associated with our flag and the Pledge of Allegiance are important. They have reminded me that if we are righteous the Lord will bless and protect us, our families, and our nation.