JULY
Of Patriots and Pioneers
Every month of the Gregorian calendar is associated with some meaning, moment, holiday or symbol. Some of these are personal (Like my birthday in July) some are international; Christmas & Easter, which are international and religious. Some are national as is Independence Day. For me, July will always be associated with Patriots and Pioneers.
When I think of these two groups of people, I think of my father. He served 30 years in the military, having lied about his age to join the US Navy. He transferred to the USAF and retired with honors in 1976. Because of what he taught me, mostly by observation, I am unapologetically patriotic. I get emotional when I see Old Glory snapping in the breeze, a parade of men and women in uniform or sing a patriotic hymn. I get really angry at those who fail to apreciate the gifts of freedom bought so dearly and at such great cost; I get downright ugly when someone dishonors the symbols of that freedom.
My second thought is of my mother. Although my father's side of the family claims ancestors that crossed the plains with Brigham Young, my mother is a pioneer in her own right. First in her family to join the church, leave small town Montana, travel the world with her military husband, and first to learn how to put down roots no matter where she was, whether she wanted to or not. She taught me that pioneers keep moving forward.
Love, Courage, Commitment, Faith. Four qualities of spirit that Patriots and Pioneers have in common with each other; four traits they laid in the foundations we build our lives on.
We do what we do, endure what we do for love. Love of God, family, country, friends and self. We strive hard to prove ourselves to our Father in Heaven and show that the sacrifice of His Son was not in vain. We work hard because we love our families, we serve our country because we appreciate the gift of freedom. And we strive to improve ourselves because we are children of a God, we are of value and we deserve the best us we can make.
Courage is that lyric "put one foot in front of the other". It's having babies even though we know it's painful and frightening. Courage is sending sons and daughters on missions; being a woman in today's world. Courage is leaving hearth, home, family, community and beginning over in a new world, crafting a new country from the ground up, pledging lives, fortunes and sacred honor to remain committed to the idea of a true democracy. Courage is putting a weapon in the hands of a beardless young man and telling him to protect and serve. It's putting scriptures in the hands of a daughter and exhorting her to preach repentance and baptism.
It's been said that commitment is what "transforms promise into reality." Where would we be if soldiers weren't committed to the cause? Would the western Unites States even be settled without the commitment of the pioneers. Would there be a St. George, Las Vegas, California, Idaho or Salt Lake? They left behind a legacy of commitment to their God, religion and family.
Then there is faith. The "substance of things hoped for but not seen." The mustard seed that gives us the courage to step into the darkness and wait for the light. It's the light on the hill, the hope in our hearts. It's the guiltess lamb to the slaughter, the unlearned prophet, the single sister and her oxen, the new RS president, the nursery leader, the Gospel Doctrine teacher, the prayers we say as we lay our heads down at night, knowing with absolute assurity that the sun will rise tomorrow. These are the gifts of Patriots and Pioneers, the foundation we build on.
Lori-Jean
When I think of these two groups of people, I think of my father. He served 30 years in the military, having lied about his age to join the US Navy. He transferred to the USAF and retired with honors in 1976. Because of what he taught me, mostly by observation, I am unapologetically patriotic. I get emotional when I see Old Glory snapping in the breeze, a parade of men and women in uniform or sing a patriotic hymn. I get really angry at those who fail to apreciate the gifts of freedom bought so dearly and at such great cost; I get downright ugly when someone dishonors the symbols of that freedom.
My second thought is of my mother. Although my father's side of the family claims ancestors that crossed the plains with Brigham Young, my mother is a pioneer in her own right. First in her family to join the church, leave small town Montana, travel the world with her military husband, and first to learn how to put down roots no matter where she was, whether she wanted to or not. She taught me that pioneers keep moving forward.
Love, Courage, Commitment, Faith. Four qualities of spirit that Patriots and Pioneers have in common with each other; four traits they laid in the foundations we build our lives on.
We do what we do, endure what we do for love. Love of God, family, country, friends and self. We strive hard to prove ourselves to our Father in Heaven and show that the sacrifice of His Son was not in vain. We work hard because we love our families, we serve our country because we appreciate the gift of freedom. And we strive to improve ourselves because we are children of a God, we are of value and we deserve the best us we can make.
Courage is that lyric "put one foot in front of the other". It's having babies even though we know it's painful and frightening. Courage is sending sons and daughters on missions; being a woman in today's world. Courage is leaving hearth, home, family, community and beginning over in a new world, crafting a new country from the ground up, pledging lives, fortunes and sacred honor to remain committed to the idea of a true democracy. Courage is putting a weapon in the hands of a beardless young man and telling him to protect and serve. It's putting scriptures in the hands of a daughter and exhorting her to preach repentance and baptism.
It's been said that commitment is what "transforms promise into reality." Where would we be if soldiers weren't committed to the cause? Would the western Unites States even be settled without the commitment of the pioneers. Would there be a St. George, Las Vegas, California, Idaho or Salt Lake? They left behind a legacy of commitment to their God, religion and family.
Then there is faith. The "substance of things hoped for but not seen." The mustard seed that gives us the courage to step into the darkness and wait for the light. It's the light on the hill, the hope in our hearts. It's the guiltess lamb to the slaughter, the unlearned prophet, the single sister and her oxen, the new RS president, the nursery leader, the Gospel Doctrine teacher, the prayers we say as we lay our heads down at night, knowing with absolute assurity that the sun will rise tomorrow. These are the gifts of Patriots and Pioneers, the foundation we build on.
Lori-Jean
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