a real hero

You know the age old question : If you could meet any person, dead or living, who would it be?

Such an easy question for me. Captain Moroni.

For those of you who may not be familiar with this man, prepare to be amazed. I probably could never do him justice. In our church, we have a book called the Book of Mormon. It is, in short, a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and another testament of Jesus Christ.

Moroni was a man who lived approximately 100 B.C.-56B.C. He was a patriot and a skilled and righteous military leader.

I often feel troubled these days by all the terrible things in the world, and especially by the corruption of leaders and threats to our liberty and freedoms. Moroni was experiencing many of these same challenges in his day and faced them head on with courage and faith. He was a man who loved his people, his country, and his God. He was dealing with men who wanted to destroy his people and the free government.

"And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery..."

He didn't like to fight, and he prayed for his enemy, but he knew that God commanded them to defend their families even unto bloodshed. He was willing to look evil in the eye and deal with it. He inspired his soldiers with the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom from bondage. As a result of his passionate dedication, he took his coat and wrote upon it:

"In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace,
our wives, and our children"

and he fastened it on a pole which he waved everywhere he went. He diligently remembered what was most important and prepared his people spiritually and physically for the challenges that faced them. There is a small verse that I'm afraid is so easily passed over, but is so powerful:

"And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians,
and the freedom of the land might be favored"

As an American Christian who enjoys so many freedoms, I desire to follow the example of Moroni every time I fall on my knees.

"...A man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.

Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of blood.

Yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men."

Now that is what I call a hero.

-Jodi