In honor of our nation's 250th birthday, here are 5 events showing God's power in our nation's history, as shared by Sara Hacken, a friend and neighbor.
1. Columbus credited the Lord with putting into his mind the fact that it was possible for him to sail from Italy to the Indies. Many people laughed at him but he sailed east and found the Western Hemisphere, opening it up for exploration and eventual colonization by Europeans. Modern prophets have testified that Columbus was inspired and guided to this land.
2. George Washington was preserved to lead our country. In the well-documented book Bulletproof George Washington, the story is told how George Washington survived the Battle of the Monongahela in the French and Indian War when 70% of the British troops were wounded or killed. Washington wrote his mother that bullets had pierced his clothing in 4 places and 2 horses shot from under him. Later, he encountered an Indian chief who had fought against the British during that battle. He told Washington that he had ordered his men to kill Washington but all their shots had missed. He declared, "a power mightier far than we shielded [Washington] from harm." He predicted that Washington would become the chief of nations and the founder of a mighty empire.
3. Weather played a crucial role in the Revolutionary War. During the British invasion of Long Island, the Americans were caught off guard and were badly outnumbered. The British stopped their attack to dig trenches. The British general expected the Americans to surrender and also expected British ships to cut off the Americans from their only place of retreat. Washington spent that night getting 9000 men to safety but still wasn't done when morning came. Those remaining men would be captured or killed. But then a heavy fog settled over the area and the army was able to conceal their movements from the British. Additionally there was no wind which meant the British ships could not move to cut off the Americans. As soon as the Americans were safe, the fog lifted, the wind blew, and the British realized they had lost their prey.
4. Weather came to the rescue again in the War of 1812. The British were burning the Capitol building and the White House when in the morning, a severe thunderstorm came in, possibly a hurricane, and the pouring rain put out all the fires. A severe wind sent debris flying killing British soldiers. The British decided to bail and left after just 26 hours.
5. Wilford Woodruff was in the St. George temple when the spirits of many founding fathers surrounded him and said, You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, yet nothing has been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy and we remained true to it and were faithful to God. Wilford Woodruff said he went immediately to the baptismal font and was baptized for 100 prominent founding fathers, including Columbus. He and his companion also were baptized for all the presidents of the United States, "...except three; and when their cause is just, somebody will do the work for them." (I thought that part was especially funny.)
I am truly grateful to be a citizen of this country and know freedom that billions of people have never known. I believe God helped this country become a free nation and it is up to us to preserve that. Religious freedom truly protects our freedom by making us a moral people. Happy birthday, USA!
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