Many years ago, my husband and I were living with our four small children in a small 3 room house. One room served as a combination kitchen, living room, dining room, and laundry room. Another was our bedroom, which we shared with our youngest child. The third room was shared by our three older children and you had to pass through this room to access the tiny bathroom. I was also pregnant with child #5. Needless to say, we were feeling a little bit cramped!
We had plans to build a home that would be over 3000 square feet. This was a huge upgrade from our current dwelling and we were excited! We designed house plans and sent them to a contractor, who looked them over and made a few changes. The long-awaited day came when we began construction.
Of course, I was eager to see progress, but for the first couple of months, what I saw was a big hole being dug in the ground, with trenches around the outside of the hole that extended farther down into the ground. Then came the process of placing lengths of rebar into those trenches and pouring a concrete foundation. It was only after this process of creating the foundation was complete that we started to see an actual house.
Once the house was completed, we enjoyed the big kitchen, the pantry, the bathrooms with actual bathtubs instead of a small shower stall, the multiple bedrooms, and the large and comfortable family room. You couldn’t even see the foundation resting beneath it and we certainly didn’t think much about it! Years later, we still don’t think much about the foundation that is underneath that house because it is still standing strong and doing its job. When would we start giving serious thought to the foundation again? Probably only when serious problems developed in the house that indicated that the foundation was cracking or sinking, thus endangering the entire house.
The elections are drawing near and there is, of course, much talk about who should be chosen to lead our communities, our states, and our nation. This is as it should be. Elected officials should be carefully chosen. However, are there indications that the foundation of our country may be cracking and sinking, placing our freedom and happiness in danger? Is it time to strengthen and reinforce our foundation?
On Oct. 12, 1778, the Continental Congress passed a resolution containing the following admonition to the states: “Whereas true religion and good morals are the only solid foundations of public liberty and happiness…it is hereby recommended to the several States to take the most effectual measures for the encouragement thereof.”1 Two foundations are identified here: true religion and good morals. Is this two separate foundations or two components of a single foundation that work together and support each other?
In his 1796 farewell address, George Washington said, “Let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion.”2 In other words, the Father of our Country advised us to be very careful in placing our trust in the ability of the people to maintain a standard of right and wrong without that standard being held in place by a system of religious beliefs and practices.
In a letter written to Ezra Stiles shortly before his death, Benjamin Franklin identified what he considered to be the key elements of religion. “I believe in one God, Creator of the universe. That he governs it by his Providence. That he ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting his conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental principles of all sound religion.”3
So, amidst the debates and fanfare of an election season, we invite you to take a few moments to consider the foundation of our country. It is certainly important to be informed about the upcoming elections and vote for candidates that understand the way our system of government is set up and will do all in their power to defend our local and state constitutions and our community charters of government. It is also critical that we examine our personal foundation and our national foundation. My little family was so anxious to move into a bigger house, but it was critical that we take the time to build a solid foundation before building the house. Our founding fathers also understood that they must build a free government on a solid foundation. What are the most “effectual measures” you can take to encourage true religion and good morals, the “solid foundations of public liberty and happiness”?
- Journal of the Continental Congress for October 12, 1778.
- George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
- Benj. Franklin, Letter to Ezra Stiles, 9 March 1790, in John Bigelow, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin, at 12:185-86 (New York: Putnam’s, 1904)
2 comments
Marylynne Nelson
This is a potent message that is pivotal for this exact time. Choosing a candidate is much easier when we remember the foundation on which this great Nation was built and has sustained us for over 200 years. Thanks for this needed focus.
Rene McSherry-Bray
I believe the Constitution will unite our country once again. Educating the masses of our national heritage is crucial. Truth will prevail if we back it with prayer.