Active Citizenship

A friend of mine recently posted on Facebook that "the only time and place the voice of citizens matters, or has an impact, is when you elect your leaders...we either hope those you voted for do the right thing or go be a politician yourself...we have no control over this country".

I believe that this kind of detached, defeatist attitude by citizens about not being able to exert any influence over our government or hold elected officials accountable, is one of the reasons our government is in the mess that its in.

I really like, and highly recommend, this 27 minute April 1, 2014 BYU Devotional by Professor Larry Walters about the crucial need for active citizens if the American experiment with a democratic republic form of government Of the People, By the People, and For the People is to remain successful.

View video of devotional on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ownP47EtfQ

Listen to audio of devotional.
http://www.byuradio.org/episode/6d32df77b6f14a71ad2033cdd29752bb/byu-devotional-larry-walters

Audio and Video links are also available here.
The text of this devotional will also eventually be available here.
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2173