Archive for category: Podcast

In today’s episode we’ll be diving into our American family history, learning about some of the people who came to North America in the mid-1600’s. In learning about them, we also learn something of what it means to be American.

The history called, “Of Plimoth Plantation,” written by the second governor of Plimoth (Plymouth) Plantation, William Bradford, tells the story of the people who came to America on the Mayflower. Some of those on the boat called themselves “Saints,” while others were called by the Saints, Strangers. Although the story Of Plimoth Plantation eventually becomes the story of both groups, it starts out in the broader context of Christian warfare, namely, of multiple groups seeking to worship God as they saw fit, and of Christians fighting against Christians in a decidedly unChristian way.

Jesus of Nazareth, whose name Christians take upon themselves, taught that the two greatest commandments were to love God and to love others. As recorded in the Bible’s book of John, He said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35). The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, records Jesus as teaching, “For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.” (3 Nephi 11:29).

In spite of Jesus’ clear teaching, in too much of history, Christian denomination fought against Christian denomination, treating those who dared practice their religion differently as though they were criminals worthy of torture, persecution, and death.

Thus, chapter 1 of Governor Bradford’s history begins like this:

In today’s episode, I want us to think about economic policies. To help in that, I’ll share two parables.

One reason that parables are powerful is that they can teach different lessons to different people, and even teach different lessons to the same people when considered at different times. A parable can have a primary meaning or lesson but may also teach or convey additional lessons.

The two parables I am about to share are from the New Testament portion of the Bible, specifically, the Book of Matthew. The primary topic of the parables is the Kingdom of Heaven. But the parables also teach important lessons about business, labor, rights, money, and contracts.

Whether you are religious or not, Christian or not, they can help frame principles that can be used to decide what government should and should not do.

In today’s episode we’ll be hearing the words of an American founding father who was killed in a duel, and of a Democratic president who served near the end of the 19th century.

We at times make choices and support policies that as a past United States president wrote, “indulge our charitable sentiments” but do not bring about true public welfare or individual good. In other words, in a desire to help others, we may trample the rights of some or many, including those we wish to help. Efforts made in good will may not only weaken freedom but can also injure character.

In the first episode on the Declaration of Independence, I mentioned that a key criterion for a choosing a president of the United States is whether or not he or she knows and will uphold the principles, limitations, and governmental structure of the Constitution and of the Declaration of Independence. Today we’ll begin discussing what some of those are. These lessons are essential in this time of choosing those who will run our government and in knowing which laws are good and which are bad.

These lessons are drawn from the Declaration of Independence and include other truths and knowledge.

Welcome to the Fire of Freedom Podcast where I’ll be discussing the principles of liberty and responsibility. In today’s episode you’ll hear the final sections of the Declaration of Independence wherein the colonists justify their forming a new nation and conclude their declaration that through obedience to duty they “are, and of Right ought to be Free and independent”.