Leadership Message
July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence. Sunday will mark 245 years since that momentous day and celebrations will commemorate this weekend.
Many of us watched the Taylorsville Dayzz parade and/or the fireworks last week in celebration of the incorporation of the City of Taylorsville. As parade watchers stood and placed our hands on our hearts with the passing of the Color Guard, I choked back tears. I remember seeing my father marching tall and proud as part of the Color Guard in every 4th of July parade as I was growing up. He served in the Army near the end of WWII, in India and Burma. He loved his country and taught us to love it and to be grateful for the freedoms we enjoyed.
I DO love America! I am aware that all is not well and that many injustices have transpired here but I love my country in spite of all that. I love the variety of climates. scenery, and cultures. I also love seeing God’s hand in the forth-coming of this nation. President Ezra Taft Benson spoke at a BYU fireside in 1977. His talk is titled “ God's Hand in Our Nation’s History”. I will be quoting almost exclusively from that speech. He said that a person “must be persuaded by God’s truth if he is to obtain a true and complete picture of our nation’s origin and destiny.”
The imperfect men who helped found The United States of America recognized the Lord’s importance and intervention. George Washington said, “The success which has hitherto attended our united efforts, we owe to the gracious interposition of heaven…'' Benjamin Franklin one day addressed the Continental Congress by saying, “We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings that ‘except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this. And I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel. .... I therefore make the move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business…”
“Listen to the convictions of two other delegates to the Constitutional Convention. First, Charles Pinckney: “When the great work was done and published, I was struck with amazement. Nothing less than the superintending hand of Providence that so miraculously carried us through the war . . . could have brought it about so complete upon the whole.” Here is another testimony, this from James Madison, sometimes referred to as the “Father of the Constitution”: “It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution.”
I firmly believe the Lord helped preserve and create this nation. Then He promised that whatsoever people “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).
My dear brothers and sisters, let us be true and faithful followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we may enjoy the blessings of heaven and preserve “one nation under God” for our posterity.
Sister Lyman
Meeting Program
Announcements
COVID Restrictions Lifted
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We are pleased to announce that all remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted this Sunday. What will this mean for you and your family?
1. The sacrament will be administered at the beginning of the meeting, instead of at the end.
2. Empty benches will no longer be required between rows in the chapel.
3. Sacrament trays will be prepared and passed as they were before the pandemic.
4. Hymn books will return to the pews.
We are so grateful for the many efforts that have been made to keep each other safe during the pandemic. As we move forward, please continue to be sensitive to the health conditions and health concerns of those around you.
As a stake, we will continue to broadcast sacrament meeting for those who are unable to attend in person. We will not broadcast the ordinance of the sacrament, but the rest of the meeting will be available online. If you would like to attend virtually, please contact a member of your bishopric.
Please know how much we love you. Have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!
Sincerely,
Randy L. Foote, Stake President
Kayle D. Loertscher, 1st Counselor
Jeremiah D. Stettler, 2nd Counselor
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