Band of Brothers

Joyce and I took our Zone Leaders to Valley Forge National Park, the place where George Washington and his ragtag army spend a miserable winter in 1777. This was the year after the Declaration of Independence had been signed and the Revolutionary War commenced. Philadelphia was the capital of the United States and the British army had taken over the city. The American army was without food, clothing, munitions, medical supplies, communications and hope. Yet the hand of God was evident in many miraculous ways. The British army, though much larger, stronger and powerful was unable to defeat the upstarts. Ten years later the Constitution was written -- a stunning set of ideas, contrary to any roadmap ever created for a country. The basic idea was that the land was to be ruled by the vote of the people, where all are created equal. This same document insisted in the right of every person to worship according to the dictates of his own mind and soul. And thus the ground was laid for the restoration of Christ's original Church on April 6, 1830. (For more information on the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please go to http://www.josephsmith.lds.org.)



Without the vision, determination, courage and belief of the founders and fighters of the American Revolution, we would still be in the dark.

"And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart. For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it. Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven." Doctrine & Covenants 123:19-21.