I'm writing this review as we enter into the July 4th weekend. You can't escape the rampant patriotism, the pride of place, that most of us feel as citizens of the United States of America.

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

Some time ago, I accepted a definition of "patriotism" that has served me well: "My country, right or wrong. If it's right, celebrate it. If it's wrong, fix it." There's much that is right about America, but there is also 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 between peoples, and indeed between God and man -- the author illustrates how disaster befalls a nation when it violates its covenants with God.

Brinley sees the a clear pattern that leads a nation from blessing to destruction, 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 covenant is breached.

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

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

 Stage 7: When the people reject prophetic warnings, the judgments of God begin.

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

 Stage 9: The inhabitants become fully ripened in iniquity and cast out the righteous.

 Stage 10: The wicked are destroyed.

His 13th chapter, "The Role of the Latter-day Saints," lays down a challenge for all who claim the Restored gospel as their heritage to begin taking this 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 and to the fulfilling of the covenantal obligations implicit in the Church's reason for being. Brinley pulls no punches, laying the responsibility for the 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 again celebrates its founding and independence. However one understands the root causes of our problems -- whether one believes that they are essentially religious in nature -- it is clear that there are some wrongs that need to be fixed. Indeed, let's celebrate the good, and study carefully what needs 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 still with us, he would be proud. 
 
 

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Jeff Needle
July 4, 2005