Purpose: To celebrate as a family and to rejoice in our country as a whole and in the flag and our liberties.
**although I highly doubt that my blog will ever reach international acclaim, I understand that if someone that is not from the USA were to have a desire to follow my FHE lessons, they won’t need a lesson specifically dealing with American Pride. You can chose to focus on the title of liberty, or you can replace this (and probably the previous 2) lesson(s). I wasn’t overly concerned about making this a world-wide thing since it’s meant mostly for my family. If you’d ever like me to change that, I’d welcome some feedback or an email or something. **
Possible scriptures: Proverbs 24:21; Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 24:6-7; John 8:32; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:1; 2 Nephi 2:27; 2 Nephi 10:11; Mosiah 5:8; Mosiah 29:16-17; Mosiah 29:26; Mosiah 29:32 (obviously the whole chapter is good); Alma 58:40; Alma 61:14-15; Ether 8:25-26; Doctrine and Covenants 58:22; Doctrine and Covenants 88:86; Doctrine and Covenants 98:5; Doctrine and Covenants 98:10;
Possible Songs: America the Beautiful, Hymn 338; My Country Tis of Thee, Hymn 339; Battle Hymn of the Republic, Hymn 60; The Star Spangled Banner, Hymn 340; Love One Another, Hymn 308; God of Our Fathers, Known of Old, Hymn 80; My Country, Children’s Songbook page 224; My Flag, My Flag, Children’s Songbook page 225. ** Or any national song for your own country** For the US, you may consider God Bless America, You’re a Grand Old Flag, and This Land is Your Land. I feel like there are plenty that fit here that are just as classic but these 3 seem to be the most colloquially accepted.
Possible Materials: An American Flag, a picture of Betsy Ross, and a picture of Moroni with the Title of Liberty (or the scripture figure of him and his flag).
Preparation: Begin with prayer. Read the suggested scriptures, this account of Betsy Ross and the Flag and Alma 43-49 (use the arrow on the right to go to the next chapter). Read through the lesson, including any links, and carefully select the most relevant material for your family. Children: Watch this video about Betsy Ross and this one about Captain Moroni.
Lesson:
Discuss how last week’s challenge went.
Introduction: Hold up an American flag and ask your family what it is. Ask them if they know anything about it. For younger kids, help them count the stripes. You could count the stars, too, but that will take quite a bit of time! Discuss symbolism as much as your family is able to do so.
- 13: there were originally 13 colonies that fought against Great Britain.
- stripes: Rays of sunshine
- red: Valor and bravery
- white: Purity and innocence
- stars: aspirations of all humankind – getting to heaven; also, it’s a new constellation!
- 50: the number of states now in the United States.
- blue: perseverance and justice.
- (Source)
Then talk about the rules of the flag (PLEASE! This Air Force Brat is begging you!!!).
- Don’t let the flag touch the ground.
- The flag should always be lit, whether by sunlight or another light source.
- The flag should always be in good repair.
- Never put any other symbol on top of the flag.
- Never ever display the flag upside down. If you do, prepare to either be saved or destroyed by a veteran. An upside down flag is a sign of distress. It means something to a vet, and not some showy political statement.
- Always keep flags in predominant places, higher than other flags, and in the center of other flags.
- When walking with a flag, it should be placed on a pole and allowed to wave.
- When a flag is passing in a procession, when it is raised or lowered, or when it is displayed during the national anthem, stand, remove your hat, and place your hand on your heart to show respect. What you’re respecting is the sacrifice of men and women who served you. Some of those men and women died for you. They died for that flag and all it means. We can thank them by simply standing and placing our hand on our hearts.
- It doesn’t matter if the flag is displayed horizontally or vertically, the union (stars) should always be on the top left (aka the flag’s right) side. It may not seem like an important distinction, but to a vet, it brings memories of their fellow soldiers that they helped bury. On a casket, the union is on top and over the left shoulder. To a vet it’s a symbol of life vs death.
- There is a specific way to fold the flag. It has so much more symbolism than I can cover here, but as an Air Force brat, that triangle means a lot! That triangle brings images of mourning loved ones and what it really costs to be a Veteran.
From World History: Hold up a picture of Betsy Ross. Ask your family if they know who she is. What is she sewing in this picture? Tell your family that before America became the United States, it was under the rule of King George III in Great Britain. The colonies did not like the way that King George was treating all the people moving across the ocean to live in America. They were not happy that they were not being listened to and how expensive King George was making everything with his taxes. They also came to America for freedom and religious beliefs, so they didn’t like having to report to someone that had no idea what went on. The people decided to fight against King George. This fight was called the Revolution. The Revolution was the start of America! At one point, Britain was thinking that the people in America were getting ready to give in because the flag looked like their own flag. In 1776, George Washington, the leader of the revolution, decided that the colonists needed their own flag. Flags are a good way to say how you feel without words! He asked his church friend to make one for him. She had lost her husband to the revolution, and she was good at sewing and at making furniture. She beat the odds and we are grateful to her for helping design the flag.
From the Scriptures: Tell your family that there is another story about flags having a meaning. Hold up a picture of Captain Moroni (or the scripture figure of Moroni and his flag). Read Alma 48:11-13 and Alma 60:36. What kind of guy was Captain Moroni? Point out the flag in the picture. Tell your family that Captain Moroni was sad because some people were trying to control the Nephites. They were trying to take away the liberty of the Nephites. Liberty means freedom and agency. He made a flag from his own coat because he wanted to show his people his message. He called his flag “The Title of Liberty.” Have someone read Alma 46:12-13. What did Moroni write on his flag? Why was it important? It gave the Nephites something to remember, something to protect, and something to come together.
Further Discussion:
Read Alma 46:23-24. What is the symbolism behind using his coat for the Title of Liberty? Now read Genesis 37:31-36. What does Captain Moroni make the connection toward? It is interesting how many symbolic uses one single coat can have! It was a sign of mourning what was lost when Israel tore his own. The scrap of the coat of many colors represented that not all of the house of Israel would be destroyed. It was a sign of favor and blessings (see Genesis vs 3). And it was lost as Joseph lost his freedom.
Read Alma 46:13. Why are we given a specific list of the armor that Captain Moroni wore? Now read Ephesians 6:11-18. As a family, discuss what each piece of armor that Captain Moroni wore would symbolize and how that particular concept would/could help him in his declarations and protections of freedom.
Recent Conference talks to consider in your discussion: Embrace the Future with Faith, by Russell M. Nelson; Divine Love in the Father’s Plan, by Dallin H Oaks; Following Jesus: Being a Peacemaker, by Neil L Andersen; Defending our Divinely Inspired Constitution, by Dallin H Oaks; Love Your Enemies, by Dallin H Oaks.
Challenge:
Here is a coloring page of Moroni praying and holding the Title of Liberty for younger families.
The Challenge this week is to remember the importance of the flag while you celebrate the 4th of July this week. If you see a flag, show it respect. And if you see a veteran, tell him thank you. Because of his sacrifice, you have freedom of religion, peace, and families.
Giving due credit: as usual, I read and learned from the Primary 4 Lesson 26, and the Family Home Evening Resource Manual on Citizenship, and Gospel Topics from Gospel Library on Citizenship and War. Also, I found this Bookofmormoncentral article that was worth the read: What Are the “Just and Holy Principles” of the US Constitution? And a Church News article on Citizenship and Conscience that fits the last 3 lessons.
