A Declaration

John Adams

When attending Harvard as a young man John Adams often felt discouraged.

    . "I feel my own ignorance.  I feel concern for knowledge.  I have a strong desire for distinction...I never shall shine, 'til some animating occasion calls forth all my powers."  

Could he be searching for his life's mission? Perhaps the spirit of God is nudging his heart in preparation for "some animating occasion"? In the Doctrine and Covenants section 101 one can see that the Lord was clearly involved:

"...I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up..."

John Adams defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre.  "It's of more importance to community, that innocence should be protected, than it is , that guilt should be punished."

His mission first began to unfold as a lawyer with the intent to use "...all [my] knowledge, well digested and ready at command, to assist the feeble and friendless, to discountenance the haughty and lawless, to procure redress to wrongs, the advancement of right, to assert and maintain liberty and virtue, to discourage and abolish tyranny and vice."

John Adam's mission expanded to include a passion to fight for the independence of America from Great Britain

He would give the most powerful and important speech in Congress to persuade the delegates to vote for independence. Although no notes were kept of the meeting Monday July 1, 1776, John Adams would recollect :

"[I was] carried out in spirit, as enthusiastic preachers sometimes express themselves."

Thomas Jefferson would record that he spoke,  "with a power of thought and expression that moved us from our seats." 

 Richard Stockton praised him as, " the man to whom the country is most indebted for the great measure of independency...He it was who sustained the debate, and by the force of his reasoning demonstrated not only the justice, but the expediency of the measure."

When one does not fulfill their mission humanity suffers.

What is your mission?  How can you prepare?

Homework:

1. Book Colloquium is this Thursday Oct. 25th. 
2. Memorize, memorize, memorize!!
3. You can enter the We the people contest by writing a song or essay.  The official rules for 2013 entries will be posted November 1st!

Devotional: Lilly

Presentation: Kaylee