America's Hope - Why Every Other Civilization Has Failed and What You Can Do to Save This One

I'm writing this review as we enter into the July 4th weekend. You can'tescape the rampant patriotism, the pride of place, that most of us feelas citizens of the United States of America.

At the same time, the entire concept of "patriotism" is being re-examinedin many quarters. Politicians and pundits alike are anxious to re-shapethe idea to fit their own aims, thus blurring the definition and distractingus from what really matters.

Some time ago, I accepted a definition of "patriotism" that has servedme well: "My country, right or wrong. If it's right, celebrate it. If it'swrong, fix it." There's much that is right about America, but there isalso much that is wrong.

The idea of "fixing" what is wrong is at the heart of Brinley's book.Using as his basis the idea of "covenant" -- an agreement made betweenpeoples, and indeed between God and man -- the author illustrates how disasterbefalls a nation when it violates its covenants with God.

Brinley sees the a clear pattern that leads a nation from blessing todestruction, taking place in ten stages:

Stage 1: the Lord leads the righteous to the promised land.

& Stage 2: God covenants with the inhabitants of the land.

& Stage 3: God establishes laws for the governance of the people.

& Stage 4: When most of the people choose evil over good, the covenantis breached.

& Stage 5: The Lord warns the inhabitants when they are in dangerof being swept off.

& Stage 6: The inhabitants respond to the warnings from God's servants.

& Stage 7: When the people reject prophetic warnings, the judgmentsof God begin.

& Stage 8: The spirit of the Lord withdraws from the people.

& Stage 9: The inhabitants become fully ripened in iniquity andcast out the righteous.

& Stage 10: The wicked are destroyed.

His 13th chapter, "The Role of the Latter-day Saints," lays down a challengefor all who claim the Restored gospel as their heritage to begin takingthis seriously and take steps to avoid the collapse of the current system.

This book is in the larger tradition established by Ezra Taft Benson,and others, who have devoted their lives to the spread of the gospel andto the fulfilling of the covenantal obligations implicit in the Church'sreason for being. Brinley pulls no punches, laying the responsibility forthe salvation of the American ideal directly at the doorstep of the Church.

In just a few hours, the fireworks will begin as our nation once againcelebrates its founding and independence. However one understands the rootcauses of our problems -- whether one believes that they are essentiallyreligious in nature -- it is clear that there are some wrongs that needto be fixed. Indeed, let's celebrate the good, and study carefully whatneeds to be done to fix the deficient.

Is Brinley correct in his diagnosis? Only time will tell. In the meantime,he represents a view that deserves inspection. If Pres. Benson were stillwith us, he would be proud.&
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