The Threatened Demise of Religion in the Public Square - Talk Given by Elder Lance B. Wickman at J. Reuben Clark Law Society - LDS Newsroom

The Threatened Demise of Religion in the Public Square - Talk Given by Elder Lance B. Wickman at J. Reuben Clark Law Society - LDS Newsroom


Just before a bill was lodged
Fully in the eleventh hour
The social rights bullet was barely dodged
In the UK by convincing voting power

For, in the name of equality
It would mandate rules of hire
Ridding our church of the ability
To prescreen, with recommends required

We, with a coalition of churches
Banded to preserve religious freedom
Standing up to discrimination charges
But, these assaults are coming in all kingdoms!

From the plaza to the postage stamp
The demise of religion threatens
Nearly forbidding one to morally stand
By using social rights as weapons

George Washington once said of his time and season
"We have abundant reason to rejoice
That in this Land the light of truth and reason
Has triumphed..." and these words, today, are still choice

The Threatened Demise of Religion in the Public Square - Talk Given by Elder Lance B. Wickman at J. Reuben Clark Law Society - LDS Newsroom

The following is part of a talk given by Elder Lance B. Wickman, a member of the Seventy, at J. Reuben Clark Law Society on 11 February 2010.

"As I travel about in my current capacity as a General Authority of the Church and as the general counsel of the Church, I often hear this question: What is the greatest challenge faced by the Church? I suppose there are a number of candidates for an answer—a continuing rapid growth that makes retaining new converts a top priority or perhaps finding and training local leaders. But from where I sit, the greatest challenge faced by the Church is the challenge to religious liberty that is growing worldwide. "

Verse 1] Just before a bill was lodged Fully in the eleventh hour The social rights bullet was barely dodged In the UK by convincing voting power [Verse 2] For, in the name of equality It would mandate rules of hire Ridding our church of the ability To prescreen, with recommends required [Chorus] We stood together, side by side To keep the freedom of belief alive Not for privilege, not for gain But conscience must not bow to shame From every pulpit, every shore Let faith and freedom stand once more [Verse 3] We, with a coalition of churches Banded to preserve religious freedom Standing up to discrimination charges But, these assaults are coming in all kingdoms! [Verse 4] From the plaza to the postage stamp The demise of religion threatens Nearly forbidding one to morally stand By using social rights as weapons [Chorus] We stood together, side by side To keep the freedom of belief alive Not for privilege, not for gain But conscience must not bow to shame From every pulpit, every shore Let faith and freedom stand once more [Bridge] George Washington once said of his time and season We have abundant reason to rejoice That in this Land the light of truth and reason Has triumphed, and these words today are still our choice [Final Chorus] We stand together, side by side With room for every conscience alive Let equal justice light the way And leave the human heart its say From every pulpit, every shore Let faith and freedom stand once more [Outro] The light of truth and reason Still calls us to rejoice

George Washington- "One More Month"

Out numbered, out generaled, and completely out done
George Washington crossed the frozen Delaware
For he knew a surprise attack had to be won
As only a man of God would know to dare

Laboring to keep virtue his guiding star
He relied heavily upon faith
Wielding unassailable power to travel far
It was more than tyranny he'd learned to face

With the Declaration of Independence in adoption
For eight long years, as the General, he exerted
Knowing quitting was never an option
He worked with troops who oft times deserted

The night was long and his plan was bold
It was a nine mile march to reach Trenton
None would have thought to do so in this bitter cold
But, the wind blanketed all noise from detection

In a fierce battle they went door to door
And forty five minutes later they'd won
Then on to Princeton, they fought once more
But, then, his enlistments were done

As the drums rolled, their leader did plead
To reenlist none stepped forward to fight
Each had farms at home and families to feed
And hope of payments had not reached their sights

Washington turned and rode away, too
But, then stopped, came back and said, "My dear fellows"
"You have done all that I've asked you to do"
But, still the war rages and bellows

Your homes and country's at stake
Please give it one more month to this day
And we'll end this war for liberties sake
Then...men stepped forward...they engaged without delay

That they rose to the occasion I give my thanks!

[Verse 1] Out numbered, out generaled, and completely out done George Washington crossed the frozen Delaware For he knew a surprise attack had to be won As only a man of God would know to dare Laboring to keep virtue his guiding star He relied heavily upon faith Wielding unassailable power to travel far It was more than tyranny he'd learned to face [Chorus] One more month One more month to this day Give it one more month And we'll end this war for liberties sake [Verse 2] With the Declaration of Independence in adoption For eight long years, as the General, he exerted Knowing quitting was never an option He worked with troops who oft times deserted The night was long and his plan was bold It was a nine mile march to reach Trenton None would have thought to do so in this bitter cold But, the wind blanketed all noise from detection [Chorus] One more month One more month to this day Give it one more month And we'll end this war for liberties sake [Verse 3] In a fierce battle they went door to door And forty five minutes later they'd won Then on to Princeton, they fought once more But, then, his enlistments were done As the drums rolled, their leader did plead To reenlist none stepped forward to fight Each had farms at home and families to feed And hope of payments had not reached their sights [Bridge] Washington turned and rode away, too But, then stopped, came back and said, My dear fellows You have done all that I've asked you to do But, still the war rages and bellows Your homes and country's at stake Please give it one more month to this day And we'll end this war for liberties sake Then...men stepped forward...they engaged without delay [Final Chorus] One more month One more month to this day Give it one more month And we'll end this war for liberties sake


Education Week: George Washington was a man of true virtue | Mormon Times

The Glorious Cause of America
David McCullough
MTC
Sept. 27, 2005





Education Week: George Washington was a man of true virtue | Mormon Times

The Duty of All

The duty of all
Is to give thanks for the laws
Of Almighty God
And prayerfully pause

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington

The Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior

The rules of civility and decent behavior
Are now being reviewed, discoursed, and favored
When one focuses on manners- how to be courteous to others
One is governing actions as it's through respect one honors

Ever as one who would honor and obey natural parents
We, also, ought to speak of God seriously and with reverence
Let us labor to keep alive in our breast
That celestial fire, sparking as our conscience

click on the above title to go to Foundation Magazine...
and see a summary of what applies to civility

By age sixteen, Washington had copied out by hand, 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation. They are based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595. Presumably they were copied out as part of an exercise in penmanship assigned by young Washington's schoolmaster. The first English translation of the French rules appeared in 1640, and are ascribed to Francis Hawkins the twelve-year-old son of a doctor.