Eighty-one years ago today, Allied troops came ashore on the beaches of Normandy during “Operation Overlord,” more widely known as the “D-Day” invasion. Although much fighting, suffering, destruction, and death remained to be endured, it was the beginning of the end of the Third Reich. The debt that we owe to those who fought on the coast of France, and especially to those who gave their lives on that horrible day, can never be repaid. And it should never be forgotten.
Back in 2017, during my long overdue but, so far, only pilgrimage to Normandy, I had an entirely unexpected but wonderful experience with a group of aging veterans of the D-Day landings. I’m still moved, just thinking about it. I would be surprised if any of them are still alive today, and I hope for the Lord’s blessings upon all of them. I posted about that memorable encounter here. See “At Pegasus Bridge.”
Please, on this day, take at least few minutes to read the prayer that was given eighty-one years ago on national radio by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. (Listen to it here.) Sadly, I can’t imagine a like prayer being given by any president in recent years. We have lost something important.
My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest — until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas — whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them — help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too — strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment, let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace, a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen.
Meanwhile, the Interpreter Foundation continues its abundantly attested and shockingly unproductive sleepwalk through 2025, posting only four new items today:
Anachronisms: Accidental Evidence in Book of Mormon Criticisms, Chapter 6, “Old World Journeys by Land and Sea,” written by Matthew Roper
[Editor’s Note: We are pleased to present chapter 6 from a book entitled Anachronisms: Accidental Evidence in Book of Mormon Criticisms. It is presented in serialized form in this volume of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship.]
Interpreting Interpreter: “(Non-)Anachronisms – Old World Journeys,” written by Kyler Rasmussen
This post is a summary of the article “Anachronisms: Accidental Evidence in Book of Mormon Criticisms — Chapter 6: Old World Journeys by Land and Sea” by Matthew Roper in Volume 65 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreterarticles may be seen at https:/interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https:/interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.
A video introduction to this Interpreter article is now available on all of our social media channels, including on YouTube at https://youtube.com/shorts/goEdwNmVEVw.
The Takeaway: Roper continues his examination of claimed Book of Mormon anachronisms, looking at 21 elements from the text related to travels within and from the Old World. He concludes that all (100%) of these anachronisms have received subsequent confirmation.
“Seeing with a Hat: How Joseph Smith Used a Hat in Translating the Book of Mormon,” written by Stan Spencer
Abstract: Joseph Smith’s use of a seer stone and hat in producing the Book of Mormon has been a point of confusion, dismay, and even embarrassment among some believers. These feelings may reflect a lack of understanding of the functions of these objects in enabling Joseph to receive divine revelation. As the term was used in the Bible and commonly used in Joseph Smith’s day, a seer was a “see-er” of visions. Accordingly, a seer stone was a stone used for seeing visions. Joseph was reported to have used seer stones to receive the translation of the Book of Mormon in vision. This is how he reportedly described the experience of translation to others. According to these reports, Joseph said that he read the translation from a manuscript that appeared before him. The revelation of the Book of Mormon translation to Joseph in vision places him in the company of ancient seers such as Ezekiel and Lehi, who also read from sacred manuscripts seen in vision. This paper specifically addresses the nature of Joseph’s hat and its function in the revelation of the translation of the Book of Mormon.
“Interpreting Interpreter: Rocks and Hats,” written by Kyler Rasmussen
This post is a summary of the article “Seeing with a Hat: How Joseph Smith Used a Hat in Translating the Book of Mormon” by Stan Spencer in Volume 64 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreterseries is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.
A video introduction to this Interpreter article is now available on all of our social media channels, including on YouTube at https://youtube.com/shorts/1Be5_25KHhs.
The Takeaway: Spencer provides a thorough review of historical accounts of the Book of Mormon translation process, weighing the information regarding the use of the interpreters, seer stone and hat to produce descriptions of how that process may have worked—as an experience where Joseph would see, via vision, the text of the Book of Mormon, with a plain farmer’s hat pulled tight at the brim around his face used to block out ambient light.
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