“Give Me Liberty…”

Title of Liberty, by Larry Conrad Winborg

Captain Moroni Fought for God, Family, and Country

As our country celebrates its 250th birthday, we can reflect upon the beauty of our brightest accomplishments that took teamwork to build. No matter the challenge, there was always more than one voice, more than one bright mind in the room to meet the moment. This stands true today. In the spirit of Independence Day, we are still stronger together.

How We Formed a More Perfect Union

“We the People” is the iconic opening phrase and introductory mission statement of the United States Constitution. Drafted in 1787, it establishes that the government’s power originates directly from the citizens rather than from individual states or a ruling monarch.

The complete preamble text reads:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

The American Revolution was fought to bring about Liberty to our land and to secure it for posterity.

The mindset of our Founding Fathers who created these documents to ensure our Blessings of Liberty is seen by many as nothing short of divine intervention—a miraculous or unexplainable event where a deity or a higher power gets directly involved in human affairs to change a situation, alter destiny, or provide life-saving protection.

Same Fight, Different War

Even more miraculous is to consider the importance of Liberty for the Nephites, led by Captain Moroni, who fought nearly 1,800 years before the American Revolution for the same religious freedoms in the War Chapters of Alma 43-63 in the Book of Mormon.

There is a history of death and destruction throughout the Book of Mormon showcasing the vengeful Lamanites persecuting the Nephites through hundreds of years of generational warfare.

Defending God, Family, and Country

But two-thirds of the way through this saga, we are introduced to Captain Moroni, a strategic military leader over the Nephite armies who anchors himself to God. A power struggle for who will lead the country—a judge who welcomes fair trials, or a king who is self-serving—Amalickiah is the would-be evil king, flattering the wealthy people by promising them power over others to sway them politically. The church is experiencing many members falling away, leaving the Nephites in a precarious and dangerous position, despite having just won a war against the Lamanites.

When Captain Moroni learns of these dissensions, he makes a token covenant that the Lord will protect the righteous. He then waves a flag made from his torn coat writing the rally cry upon it to defend God, family, and country. Captain Moroni then shouts in the streets, asking who will follow him and Christ?

“And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.” (Alma 46:12)

The Title of Liberty

The Nephites come running in support against the Amalickiahites because they know Moroni’s purpose for war is to defend Christian liberties. The Amalickiahites do not believe in their leader’s cause, so they retreat, or agree to keep the peace with the Nephites.

Hoisting Flags of Liberty

Moroni hoists flags of “Liberty” onto every tower in the land of Nephites, while Helaman and the high priests maintain order in the church.

“And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.” (Alma 46:36)

All of the blessings we enjoy in this land of Liberty were fought and hard-won by those before us who knew it would be important to protect their posterity. Let us be ever grateful to our God for our knowledge of these things we hold precious.