The Bronze Bow, The Title of Liberty and other weapons of peace

I must have been in about the 7th or 8th grade when I read "The Bronze Bow". It's about a young man who wanted revenge on the Romans for the deaths of his parents at their hand. He is a Zealot for a cause he believes to be honorable: saving his people from oppression. A friend of the sword, he is ready to fight to the death until he meets a rabbi named Jesus. This book is a very good read.

In the Book of Mormon we have the account of the Nephite nation - peace loving people at that time who sent out many missionaries to teach the Gospel but opposing Lamanites threaten war on their families, faith and freedom. Captain Moroni hoists a flag, The Title of Liberty, to gather valiant men who are willing to defend their country in the face of an attack by their enemies.

Peace is always the preferred plan. From the Savior, the Zealot learned to love and forgive. The Nephites, on the other hand, had tried the peaceful way and had no choice but to defend themselves.

Now, in the 21st Century A.D. there are many wars going on all around us. Some are of nations and some are individual; some are violent and some are of words, but evil is on the rise and last year we were called upon by the Lord to help "fight" for the cause of freedom by raising a new flag; the banner in favor of Proposition 8 which supports the family and moral living.

Proposition 8 won but this was only a battle. More opposition is coming our way and I am proud to be part of the voice of freedom. I am also proud of my father who lives in San Francisco, where most of the people are against it. I am thankful for a faithful heritage. I am thankful for a father who puts God and family before anything else.

This cause will be on the ballot again and again. It is not going away. They keep pushing harder for their right to break commandments and for the law to support it and schools to teach it. We may not be able to prevent it from ever coming to pass, but we can hold it off for as long as possible and we can also go on the Lord's record as having done what we can by following His counsel. If we are to remain a free nation we must keep the commandments.