LDS FLAG(TM) INFORMATION

The Colors of Blue and White symbolize:
Faith in Christ (blue)
Repentance of sins (white)
Baptism by immersion (blue)
The Gift of the Holy Ghost (white).

Blue is for Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Mark 11:22 "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God."Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." James 2:17 "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."Matthew 9:29 "According to your faith be it unto you." Luke 22:32 "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren."1 Cor. 16: 13 "Watch ye, stand fast in thy faith." Heb. 10:23 "Hold fast to the profession of our faith."

White is for Repentance Acts 3:19 "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."; Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together Saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Blue is for Baptism by immersion. Matthew 3:13 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28:19 "Then cometh, Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptised." Eph. 4:5 "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." John 3:5 "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of the water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Acts 2:36 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

White is for the laying on of hands to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." Acts 13: 2-3 "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." Acts 8:17 "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."

LARGE CENTER STAR: The large star in the center of the circling stars represents the Savior, Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 8:6 One Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.); The Oneness of God (John 17:21 That they may be one; as thou Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; the light of Christ (John 8:12 Then spake Jesus agian unto them, say, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life; and God's Pure Love (John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life).

12 STRIPES/STARS: The 12 stripes (alternating blue and white), as well as, the 12 circling stars, represent perfection ((Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect); the gathering of the 12 tribes of Israel for the Savior's return (Amos 9:9 I will sift the house of Israel amoung all nations. Micah 2:12 I will surely gather the remnant of Israel); the 12 apostles and prophets of the Lord (Luke 6:13 He called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles); and all people who identify, understand, and follow the Savior ('Come unto Christ').

13 TOTAL STARS: The 13 total stars represent enduring, faithfully, to the end; completely following God's will and commandments (John 14:15 if ye love me, keep my commandments. John 15:10 if ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; and a reminder of the 13 LDS Articles of Faith (Example, AF1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. AF13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men...).

LDS FLAG(TM) HISTORY/INFORMATION
The concept of raising a religous banner is not a new one. When we look back at LDS Church history we find plenty of evidence that the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. used flags to unite, rally, defend, and pursue the purposes of peace. The Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. and church leaders such as Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilfred Woodruff and others used real and literal emblems in the service of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.


(Oil paintings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the first vision. Christus statue)

In 1833 during Zion's Camp Joseph used a flag as a "Standard of Peace" on the way to Jackson County, Missouri. Even in preparation to defend Nauvoo from the violent and persistent attacks by anti-Mormon mobs, on June 22nd, 1844, Joseph Smith gave the instruction to church leaders, "for a standard (flag) to be made and raised for the nations."

After Joseph Smith's death the Nauvoo City Charter was repealed by the State of Illinois and the citizens of Nauvoo had to organize the city, and protection of it, under the LDS Church's priesthood leadership. Brigham Young used a blue and white flag as a signal. "It was decided to hoist a striped flag on the temple tower when the officers of the Nauvoo Legion were to muster..."

When arriving in Salt Lake Valley Brigham Young expressed his thoughts frankly with the church leaders, " I know that this is the spot, we were led by the Lord to it. We have come here according to the suggestion and direction of Joseph Smith. I knew this spot as soon as I saw it. Up there on that table ground we shall erect the Standard of Freedom... Joseph Smith and myself had both seen this place years ago and that is why we are here."


(The deathmask of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. Photo of President Brigham Young.)

B.H. Roberts explains the pioneers use and need for an LDS FLAG as this: "The Ensign that these Latter-day Saint Pioneers had in mind, and of which they had frequently spoke en route, was something larger and greater than any national flag whatsoever; and what it was meant to represent was greater than any earthly kingdom's interest… This Ensign in the minds of the Mormon Pioneers concerned not one nation, but all nations; not one epoch or age, but all epochs and all ages; not nationality buy humanity, is its scope and concern. It was the sign and ensign of the Empire of Christ; it was a prophecy of the time to come when the kingdoms of this world would become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and forever."

An LDS Flag was displayed by the church when the corner stones of the Salt Lake Temple were laid, as referenced in the Deseret News conference report of April 1853. An LDS Flag, "a blue-and-white banner with stripes and twelve stars encircling a single large star, was unfurled to the breeze"

An LDS Flag is also referenced in songs of the church. High On A Mountain Top A Banner is Unfurled, Ye Nations Now Look Up It Waves To All The World! (Joel H. Johnson, 1853). The morning breaks, the shadows flee. Lo, Zion's standard is unfurled! (Parley P. Pratt, 1840) As an ensign to the nation, They unfurled the flag of truth. (Ida R. Alldredge,1948)

(Ensign Peak, LDS Temple SLC, UT.)

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VALUE AND PURPOSE OF LDS FLAG(TM)
People need flags. There seems to be, in all people, an innate desire for an outward expression of an inner commitment. People from various cultures worldwide throughout history have used flags. Flags are displayed at various times and for specific purposes. Cities, states, and countries have their banners which are flown as a certain society’s identification. Families, businesses, schools, and clubs fly flags for certain occasions. Most are proprietary and individualized; made to represent the heritage and culture of the standard bearer.

(Calvanist flag, Catholic flag, Danish flag, Rainbow Peace flag)

(GreenPeace flag, Lutheran Rose flag, Narayana's Love flag, Utah/US/LDS flags at Ensign Peak, SLC, UT)

Some of the value and purpose of a flag is to honor, unify, promise, commemorate, and exalt. A flag can reveal participation in a practice, express one’s view to others, and give information. A flag is the externalization of hopes and beliefs; a symbol of truth and a reminder of a promise to follow a prescribed plan. A flag can communicate an enormous amount of information within its simple display.

Today, each government in the world has a flag; many have existed for centuries, while others represent the newness or rebirth of a particular nation. As governments change, so do their flags. Major (and a significant amount of minor) religious denominations have their own flags. Displaying a church flag seems to be a basic necessity for many followers of the various world religions. However, until recently, most members of the LDS church had forgotten, or never knew that they had a flag to call their own. We, as members of the LDS faith, living in freedom, have a wonderful opportunity to display the LDS Flag(TM) as a beacon for all the world to see!

The LDS Flag(TM) a symbol for the hope of a better society
The LDS Flag(TM) is a symbol not only for the hope of a better tomorrow, but a testimony of a society and culture that has grown through adversity. As prophets have emphasized, "Whatsoever is good, cometh from God" (Alma 5:40). The LDS Flag(TM) is an emblem of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the purpose of the Gospel is to bring about a better way of life: a “good” society that can establish a social order here on earth in which perfection in the laws, government, morality, and spirituality of the people would prevail. All of the holy prophets and all good men and women have consciously worked toward the building of a better world.

As Elder Bruce R. McConkie explains, “We prophesy that this great latter-day work will come off triumphant, that the great God will guide the destinies of his people, that this kingdom of God now set up on earth will roll forth until the kingdom of heaven shall come, until the Lord Jesus Christ shall come again in the clouds of heaven to reign gloriously among his Latter-day Saints. And we invite all who will to come and partake of the goodness of God, that they may gain peace in this life and be inheritors of eternal life in the world to come.“ (Ensign, Nov. 1979)

President Thomas S. Monson declares, "The Savior 'went about doing good for God was with him.' (Matthew 11: 28-30) May we follow that perfect example...may we also follow that advice from the Apostle Paul which will help to keep us safe and on course: 'Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think of these things' (Philippians 4:8). Together we shall move forward doing His work." (Ensign Magazine, May, 2008).

LDS Flag(TM)

Additionally, President Thomas S. Monson in his October 2008 general conference address reminded us, "May we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed...I pray that all of us will reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ...He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of our Salvation. He beckons, 'Follow me.' He instructs, 'Go, and do thou likewise.' He pleads, 'Keep my commandments.' Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example.

It's a wonderful blessing to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We should love the gospel and feel “not ashamed” of our religious heritage.

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