It is great to be a citizen of the United States of America. Our country, although not perfect, still provides the greatest benefits a country can provide to its citizens. I am grateful to live in a land where we are guaranteed the freedom of religion and to openly express it. I am so grateful for the many thousands of citizens and soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to preserve this freedom. Recently, as we celebrated our day of independence, my thoughts turned toward the many aspects of America's greatness.

One of these aspects is that the founders of our nation believed in God. They fervently believed in the benefits that this belief had for them as well as all future generations of Americans. It is interesting that although they did not want to establish a governmental religion, they still recognized God's reality and importance to this nation. They had no intention of removing God from our lives nor minimizing his hand in the providence of our country.

I understand God to be loving and tolerant. In his mercy we need to be tolerant of each other. If we are to move forward in this country, we must not lose sight of the fact that each citizen has the right to express their views, including those of a religious nature. In the great effort by many to remove God from our society they are, by default, forcing us into their belief system as an atheistic society. Our courts should not force its citizens into a government religion of

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atheism by allowing all references to God to be removed. It is inconsistent that many are intolerant of even the mention of God in the pledge of allegiance or the motto "In God We Trust" on our currency. At the same time we are being forced into accepting their beliefs at the cost of our own.

It is appropriate for our government and its courts to continue to recognize the importance of God, while at the same time allowing each individual to establish his or her own belief system. This great nation will continue to prosper, but only to the degree that we remember that all removal of God from our society will not accomplish this. Secure societies are based on religious freedom. We must stand at every opportunity to defend the recognition of God in our society. It sets us apart. Through the ages, religion has provided a pillar and cornerstone of true liberty.

Upland 1st Ward, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Where: 1130 W. 21st St., Upland

Phone: (909) 231-8293

Bishop Duane Blake

Services: Sunday sacrament meeting - 12:30 p.m., Sunday school - 1:45 p.m.