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By Rosemary Pollock
Elder Scott Talks to Provo Audience About Liberty
PROVO, UTAH -- Cautioning 15,000 Utah county residents gathered
during the annual Patriotic Service of America's Freedom Festival,
Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints told listeners to stay
away from books and authors that centered their words on finding and
highlighting the imperfections of the early leaders of the nation.
"We all have imperfections," he said. "Let us rejoice in their
accomplishments." Speaking before the patriotic crowd Elder Scott
said America is a sacred land that will only remain free as long as
its people remain righteous. "Few elected officials are willing to
make the personal sacrifice," Elder Scott said decrying corruption in
public office and among self-serving politicians.
"My heart fills with gratitude each time I return to this land from
foreign travel," he said. He spoke before a filled BYU Marriott
Center on Sunday and said that this country has divine guidance, now
as well as before its inception. "We must teach our children to
reverence our great nation," he added.
The Freedom Award was awarded to four people during the Patriotic
Service by members of the Freedom Festival Board of Trustees. The
first award went to Miracidia Baric-Adam, a 1992 Summer Olympian from
Sarajevo, Provo resident, Bill Taylor a former POW during WWII, for
his work in placing flags at his own expense and Maj. Gen. Patrick
Brady for his service in Vietnam. The final award went to Sam
Billison, a retired Marine who served on Iwo Jima during WWII.
"Freedom requires no effort to enjoy but requires heroic efforts to
preserve," Elder Scott said. "We should oppose any infringement of
our fundamental rights." "If listening tonight, you have the
impression you could do more to defend liberty, then do it," he said.
"Failure to recognize God engenders a climate in which crime and
conflict flourish," Elder Scott said. "When we do not feel
responsibility to God, then our allegiance is replaced with devotion
to special interests and the will of the majority is sacrificed to
the will of the few."
In his concluding remarks, Elder Scott said, "May God bless us in our
desires to become citizens of conviction and leaders of influence,
willing to forget self in service to our country. May God bless us to
become true patriots."
Sources:
Elder Scott hails Founding Fathers
Deseret News 2Jul01 N1
By Rob Rogers: Deseret News staff writer
Rejoice in their successes, he says at service
Preserve freedom, speaker says
Provo UT Daily Herald pgA1 2Jul01 N2
By Caleb Warnock: The Daily Herald
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