Every year, 11 November is set aside as the day that we celebrate Veterans Day. The purpose of the day is to pay honor and tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces who have either served, or are currently serving this great nation of ours by putting their lives on the line to defend and protect the freedoms that we so dearly cherish. Have you ever wondered why this  day is celebrated only on 11 November? Let us take a brief look back into the annals of history and see how this day came to be.

World War I was known as "The Great War." The war officially ended on 28 June 1919 when the Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. The actual fighting; however, had ceased seven months earlier when an armistice or temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. It is for that reason, 11 November 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed 11 November as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: 

To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.

Originally the celebration was to be a day observed with parades and public meetings, with a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m. 

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved 13 May 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." The day was primarily set aside to honor the veterans of World War I. However, in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen in the nation’s history, and after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the Veterans Service Organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on 1 June 1954, 11 November became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Whether we agree or disagree with the conflicts that our nation may be engaged in, we must never forget these valiant soldiers who stand a vigilant watch by day and by night, by land, by air, and by sea. They make great sacrifices to defend "the land of the free and the home of the brave." These ordinary, but yet extraordinary men and women, are husbands and fathers, wives and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. We must remember them, and we must also remember the families that they leave behind as they go off on assignments to foreign lands with the hopes of returning home one day soon, but also with the realization that they may not make it back home. 

Someone has once said, "Freedom is never free." As a 30-year honorably retired United States Navy veteran I can personally attest to the validity of that statement. Freedom carries with it a  hefty price tag. That price is often paid by the spilt blood of those men and women who are willing to give their all to defend the cause of freedom today, freedom tomorrow, and freedom forever. We say that these men and women are brave and courageous; however, as the English writer, G.K. Chesterton so aptly put it, "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die." But, as Elmer Davis, a well-known news reporter, author, and the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II reminded us, "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." These men and women are true patriots. They are men and women of valor. They are in many ways the unsung heroes of the world. When we look up the word hero in a dictionary, each of their names should be listed as examples of what a true hero is. 

George Canning, a British statesman and politician who served as Foreign Secretary and briefly as Prime Minister, once asked a very forthright question. He asked, "When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?" I would hope that each of us would be able to answer that question with a resounding "NO!" In times of conflict, as well as, in times of peace, and not only on 11 November, but each and every day, we should pay honor to the men and women who don the military uniform and serve their country faithfully and honorably. Indeed, we should salute them. And let us not forget to include them in our daily prayers that the Lord will watch over them, protect them, and sustain them. Let us also remember as President John Fitzgerald Kennedy told us, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." Finally, on this Veterans Day, and every day, we pay special honor to those who with their last ounce of courage gave their all that we might forever remain free. I speak of those fallen heroes who with the last full measure of their devotion gave the greatest sacrifice of all - their lives. May God bless all of those who have served, are now serving, and will one day serve to preserve our great nation. And may God bless the United Sates of America. Semper fidelis Deo et patria!



I do not mean to come across as being callous, cruel, or mean-spirited, but the older I get, the more discouraged and dishearten I become as I watch some of our young people - the future of our world, place themselves in a proverbial box called defeatism.

Where has the time gone? It is hard to believe that in just a few short hours another year will have come and gone and will have taken its place among the annals of history.

Wise men of old came from afar asking the timeless question, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:2). Following the star that they had seen in the east, they were led to where the Christ Child was.

The tiny babe who in Bethlehem’s manger lay was no ordinary child. Some people called Him the son of David. Others called Him the son of Joseph. The scriptures call Him the son of David, the son of Mary, the son of man, the Son of God.

Every year, 11 November is set aside as the day that we celebrate Veterans Day.

The Apostle Paul Preaching At the Areopagus (Mars Hill)

While on his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul visited the city of Troas on the Mediterranean coast. While in Troas, a vision appeared to Paul in the night.

I know that someone is going to read the title of this article and their first thought is going to be, "Keith, I think that you might have that a little backwards.

The word “service” can be defined as the action of helping or doing work for someone. “Service” can also be defined as someone’s contribution to the welfare of others.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

This talk was given on Saturday, September 03, 2011, on the occasion of the baptism of Andrew Jerry Calabrese.

With Hurricane Irene now behind us, I would like to use the analogy of a ship caught in a raging storm at sea to share my personal reflections and thoughts on how we as a family and as a Church should care for and protect one another during a time of crisis.

My father, the late John Wallace Brown, began working as a short-order cook during his High School years and continued working in that profession up until the time of his death on 20 November 2006, at 71 years of age.  He would be promoted during his career to Kitchen Manager.

This is an open address to the students of today and the future teachers and leaders of tomorrow to give them some food for thought as they begin a brand new school year.

Good morning. I would like to begin my remarks today by asking each of you a question.

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the clarion voice of the American Civil Rights Movement, was assassinated on the evening of Thursday, 4 April 1968, at the young age of 39 years, while standing on the balcony of his room (room 306) at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis Tennessee.

I am but a young man of 52 years. However, within my short life time I have slowly watched the world spin out of control on a downward spiral. Many of the nonsensical things that are occurring in our day and time would have never been thought of or heard of when I was a young lad growing up.

All of us are probably guilty at one time or another of participating in idle gossip and hearsay. How many times have we been a part of a conversation that begins something like the following: “I don’t know if it is true or not, but I heard that ____”? And we can each fill in the blank.

In the twenty-second chapter of Matthew, beginning at verse 34, we read of a Pharisee, who was a lawyer by trade, who asks the Savior a question by saying, "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" The Savior answers him by saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and

My father, the late John Wallace Brown, was a hard working man. As a young boy growing up it was not uncommon for my father to work two or three jobs just to pay the bills, keep food on the table, and a roof over his little family’s head.

This talk was given on the occasion of the baptism of Josephine Mae Hunter on 11 June 2011 in Annapolis Maryland.

“God does not send thunder if a still, small voice is enough” (Ensign, November 1976, p.14) - Neal A. Maxwell

President Howard W.

Someone once said, "The person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other person finds an excuse." Some people seem to have a knack for always having an excuse as to why they cannot do something, no matter how simple or difficult the task at hand may be.

I am sorry - three little words - eight letters - and yet one of the most difficult things for some people to say. Perhaps it is the word “sorry” that some people seem to have so much trouble with, for as Sir Elton John, the singer/songwriter says in his song, sorry seems to be the hardest word.

Alma 26:8 - "Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever."

Traditionally, every third Thursday in November is set aside for the celebration of Thanksgiving Day.

I have always enjoyed listening to the music of the late James Joseph Croce, better known to the world simply as Jim Croce. His was a very unique style of music, especially the ballads that he wrote and sang. Two of my favorite songs by Jim are “Time In A Bottle” and “Photographs and Memories”.

Growing up as a boy on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, in what was at that time known as the little town of Salisbury; I can recall the good times that we had as a family gathered around the family table.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Leadership is all about people. It is not about organizations. It is not about plans. It is not about strategies. It is all about people--motivating people to get the job done.

On Friday, 10 May 1963, a baby girl was born to John Wallace and Frances Mae Harmon Brown. The parents named her Sharon Christine Brown. She would be their third child. At the time of her birth I was only four years of age.

And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.

And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, how long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. - 1 Kings 18:21

Pythagoras is attributed as saying, "Choices are the hinges of destiny".

As I take a look around my small, but humble apartment, I am absolutely amazed at how pampered and spoiled I really am. In my apartment I have all sorts of electronic gadgets that are used on a daily basis to help make my life easier.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

The central core of the foundation of any society is the home. President Thomas S. Monson has taught us, “Actually, a home is much more than a house.

President Gordon Bitner Hinckley
President Gordon Bitner Hinckley
President Gordon Bitner Hinckley
In Loving Memory Of A Prophet Of The Lord
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1 Peter 3:13-17

13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
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  • I do not mean to come across as being callous, cruel, or mean-spirited, but the older I get, the more discouraged and dishearten I become ...
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  • With Hurricane Irene now behind us, I would like to use the analogy of a ship caught in a raging storm at sea to share my personal reflect...
  • Key Verse : 2 Corinthians 5:20 “ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead,...
  • Jewish Independence Day - The Passover Scripture Lesson: Exodus 12:13-14 " And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the hous...
  • Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the fles...
  • “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the...
  • Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. - 1 Peter 5:8   On S...
  • Study Verses : 2 Corinthians 8:16 – 9:15 Key Verses : 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also spari...
  • All of us are probably guilty at one time or another of participating in idle gossip and hearsay. How many times have we been a part of a c...
The Joseph Smith Papers
The Joseph Smith Papers

On February 25th, 2008, the Church announced the establishment of a new imprint for publishing works that relate to the origin and growth of the Church.

The first project by the Church Historian's Press is The Joseph Smith Papers. This comprehensive series of journals, letters, legal documents, and business papers chronicles the life of Joseph Smith. When finished, this project will include more than 30 volumes.

The first three volumes are scheduled for publication later this year and will include Joseph Smith's early journals.

In time, the published volumes are expected to be made available in their entirety through the Web site Joseph Smith Papers.
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