I’m so sad about last week’s event at the U.S. Capitol Building. I went there two springs ago with our homeschool group, as part of a week-long American Heritage trip. Twenty-four of us got to tour the Capitol. We even got to go inside the gallery for the House of Representatives. Little did I know that this building would be the site of protest and violence after the next presidential election. This is the first time the transfer of power from president to president has not been peaceful.
What can we do?
President Ballard encouraged us to pray for the leaders of the USA, over a year ago, when he toured New England. I admit, I haven’t been doing that diligently. It’s time to repent.
Here’s an excerpt from his talk:
“Our nation was founded on prayer, it was preserved by prayer, and we need prayer again. I plead with you this evening to pray for this country, for our leaders, for our people and for the families that live in this great nation founded by God. Remember, this country was established and preserved by our founding fathers and mothers who repeatedly acknowledged the hand of God through prayer.”
You can read the full transcript of the talk here.
So I’m going to pray every day for the USA’s leaders. My friend Katie sent out an email invitation today, asking everyone to pray every day at 12 noon Central Time. Here’s what she said:
“I feel the most responsible thing we can do to help our Country at this time is to join together at the same time in prayer to create a ‘Power of 8 Circle.’
“If you would like to combine your voice with hundreds of thousands, I invite you to set your alarms for 12:00 noon daily thru January 20th, and include these words to give power to our combined prayer (as the research has shown in this above book):
“~For our President, for Protection over him.
“~For blessing, discernment and wisdom, that God will have mercy on us.
~For we the people of this land to Return back to Him. (Psalms 119: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I have kept thy word.” “It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes.” ) “
Katie goes on to say:
“Watch more on this invitation from Curtis Bowers:”
No matter your opinion of Trump, he deserves protection from harm as all human beings do, as children of God. He also deserves full freedom of speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment. If private companies censor him, they have that right, true. Private companies are not the government. They shouldn’t complain if private companies censor people they like, or refuse service.
Tree of Life Mothering 
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I’m grateful for these heartfelt pleas for the power of prayer. I’d add a plea to pray for all of us as the stakeholders of America, for more tolerance and understanding of those who don’t share our political views. Our leaders are divided, because of the deep divisions among us. Here’s a remarkable quote from President Hugh B. Brown from 50 years ago that describes our current situation to a T: “The possibility of coherent community action is diminished today by the deep mutual suspicions and antagonisms among various groups in our national life.
As these antagonisms become more intense, the pathology is much the same . . . The ingredients are, first, a deep conviction on the part of the group as to its own limitless virtue or the overriding sanctity of its cause; second, grave doubts concerning the moral integrity of all others; third, a chronically aggrieved feeling that power has fallen into the hands of the unworthy (that is, the hands of others). . . .
Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: 1) An excessively simple diagnosis of the world’s ills; and 2) a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all. . . .
Blind belief in one’s cause and a low view of the morality of other Americans—these seem like mild failings, but they are the soil in which more insidious weeds take root . . . the deep, destructive cleavages that paralyze a society.”
I suggest that in addition to praying for President Trump, we pray for President Biden as well. He is a man of deep faith and cares deeply about our country, in spite of whatever policy differences we may have with him.
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I agree the private company should have the freedom to refuse service to anyone they choose. They should also have the right to keep their doors open for business.
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In regards to the book the power of eight, This number coincides with the Hebraic 7 + 1 = 8. 7 is complete by adding 1 which is the almighty God you are transcended. Eight is a very powerful number.
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