The Message

I just finished reading an amazing book entitled, "The Message". The book tells the true story about a man named Lance Richardson who had an accident which left him in a coma for several weeks, during which time his spirit left his body on several occasions and visited the world of spirits. He finds that after-life for those who have lived honorable lives is wonderful and peaceful beyond imagination, but that people are not sitting around on clouds playing harps. They are busily and happily working and serving one another and their posterity on earth. He emphasizes that he would do absolutely ANYTHING to be ensure his eventual return to that place and feel again the intense feelings of love and peace. He is taught some very important lessons, which he is instructed to share with the world upon his return to mortality (hence the reason he wrote the book) to warn the people of our world that we are quickly headed for self-destruction if we do not alter course. Some of the critical lessons he is allowed to remember and instructed to share are:

1- God inspired the best men of their time to establish the government of the United States of America and its Constitution founded upon the principle of Liberty. Many who gave their fortunes, honor, and/or lives to defend this Land of Liberty wish to ask those of us who now enjoy the fruits of their sacrifices- what are we doing to preserve the cause of Liberty when it is now in peril, beyond just enjoying the blessings which have been bequeathed to us by previous generations? This will be one of the questions each of us will have to answer on Judgment Day.

2- The principle of service to our families, communities, and nation is a bedrock, life changing domino effect that can save our nation from the the calamity which already had us tightly in its grip. Allow me to quote, "Our families, our society, our nation, and our world are at risk. If we do not join together, as friends and neighbors, taking a stand for these ideals (Love, God, Family, Country, and Service) by reinstating them as priorities in our lives, and beginning to genuinely love one another through Service, we may lose them.

This book provided a needed megadose of hope and reassurance. It was difficult to put the book down and finally go to sleep in the wee hours of the morning instead of continuing to read.
I strongly encourage each of my immediate and extended family members and friends to obtain a copy of this book (either from the website below or from someplace like Amazon) and read and contemplate THE MESSAGE.

http://www.americanfamilypublications.com/



Speaking of liberties being at risk and the responsibility of citizens to defend against this, please read these remarks by a former professor of law and Utah Supreme Court Justice (and widely considered expert on the U.S. Constitution) and now an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Elder Dallin Oaks.

The Executive Summary:
http://beta-newsroom.lds.org/article/apostle-extols-fundamental-principles-of-us-constitution

The full text of his speech:
http://beta-newsroom.lds.org/article/fundamentals-of-our-constitutions-elder-dallin-h-oaks

In a time when most people are demanding their "rights", Elder Oaks encourages citizens to fulfill the following responsibilities:

1- Understand the Constitution
2- Support the Law
3- Practice Civic Virtue
4- Maintain Civility in Political Discourse
5-Promote Patriotism