The Mayflower Promise

01/16/2022

On this National Religious Freedom Day in the United States, my plea is that all religions work together to defend faith and religious freedom in a manner that protects people of diverse faith as well as those of no faith. Catholics, Evangelicals, Jews, Muslims, Latter-day Saints, and other faiths must be part of a coalition of faiths that succor, act as a sanctuary, and promulgate religious freedom across the world.

Religious accountability benefits secular society. There are a multitude of good works that religion inspires people of faith to perform on behalf of others. The humanitarian efforts of religious-based organizations can do things beyond what others can do. It is my personal prayer that we can collectively elevate appreciation of faith in and accountability to God as we defend religious freedom.

11/25/2021

November 1621 marked one year of the landing of the Mayflower in the New World. Of 102 original passengers, only 51 survived the harsh conditions and diseases of the first year. To celebrate and give thanks to God, they set aside first, a day of prayer and fasting, and then a celebratory, harvest feast of Thanksgiving. Their determination, sacrifices, and pursuit of religious freedom is why we give thanks today.

Nov. 26, 1807, on the day of Public Thanksgiving by Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris proclaimed the following:

“On this festive anniversary we commemorate, and we exult in, the security of our persons and properties, our national honour and welfare. What we rejoice in, we will cherish; we will maintain. The love of liberty is so ingrafted into our hearts, that the sword which cuts it out, or that hews down the pillars which support our Independence, must be of firmer blade and have a keener edge than that we resisted and blunted which was thirty-two years ago wielded against us.”

02/21/2021

Thank you Representative Chris Stewart for this great message.

"Minority rights and freedom of thought have always required diligent defense," Rep. Stewart writes.

11/26/2020

Every year since 1961 “The Wall Street Journal” newspaper has published an identical editorial the day before Thanksgiving in the United States remembering the Pilgrim founders of Plymouth Colony in 1620. The Pilgrims had crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the Mayflower intent on finding a place to worship God to the full extent of their belief. Now they confronted a harsh, wintry landscape.

The chronicle states, “Being now passed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before them in expectations, they had now no friends to welcome them, no inns to entertain or refresh them, no houses, or much less towns, to repair unto to seek for succour” (Wall Street Journal, “The Desolate Wilderness,” Nov. 26, 2019). Half of them died that first winter.

I am grateful for those undaunted souls of centuries past who, doing their best to serve God, helped prepare the way for the return of the gospel, priesthood, and Church of Jesus Christ once again to the earth.

11/26/2020

Thank you for participating with us in this two week celebration of the Mayflower landing and our heritage of religious freedom. Until next year’s conference, may God bless each of you and bless our nation that this may be a land of liberty and that the promise of the Mayflower will be kept.

11/25/2020

The Providence Foundation shares the history of religion in America and the role it's played in society.

11/24/2020

United States Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina's fifth congressional district shares her thoughts on the 400 year anniversary of the Mayflower landing and the importance of religious freedom.

11/24/2020

United States Congressman Greg Murphy, MD of North Carolina's third congressional district shares his thoughts on the 400 year anniversary of the Mayflower landing and the importance of religious freedom.

11/24/2020

United States Rep. Ralph Norman shares his thoughts on the 400 year anniversary of the Mayflower landing and the importance of religious freedom.

11/23/2020

In 2016, Georgia Gwinnett College officials stopped student Chike Uzuegbunam not once, but twice, from peacefully sharing his Christian faith with fellow students on his college campus. First, officials said he had to get advance permission to use one of two tiny speech zones that made up far less than 1% of the campus and were only open 10% of the week. Despite following these policies, Chike was again prevented from speaking. After ADF challenged the unconstitutional policies, Georgia Gwinnett argued that Chike’s speech should receive no constitutional protection, changed its policy, and claimed it should be able to avoid any penalty for violating Chike’s free speech rights. Two courts agreed. Now the Supreme Court has agreed to hear Chike’s case.

Find out more at https://www.adflegal.org/case/uzuegbunam-v-preczewski

In 2016, Georgia Gwinnett College officials stopped student Chike Uzuegbunam not once, but twice, from peacefully sharing his Christian faith with fellow stu...

11/23/2020

Leadership Institute President Morton Blackwell shares his thoughts on the 400 year anniversary of the Mayflower landing and the importance of religious freedom.

11/23/2020

Stuart Adams, president of the Utah State Senate, shares his thoughts on the 400 year anniversary of the Mayflower landing and the importance of religious freedom.