SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Men and women from the U. S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Coast Guard and Air Force filled the San Diego California Stake center's chapel and portion of the cultural hall Dec. 8 as they gathered to hear addresses by Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy and president of the America West Area, which includes California. The group of about 800 military personnel, some accompanied by spouses, gathered from various areas in San Diego County.

Photo by Matt Read

Elder Robert D. Hales, second from right, and Elder Lynn G. Robbins, second from left, stand with Sgt. Van Whatcott, Cpl. McKay Christensen and Lance Cpl. Mark Patterson. The three military men performed in a singing group for fireside.

Elder Craig Bullock, Area Authority Seventy, conducted the meeting. Elder Bullock recognized the unusually large military population of Southern California and noted, "Much of the foundation of the Church in San Diego and its present strength is a direct result of righteous military men in past generations."

Speaking of his own experiences as a fighter pilot at the end of the Korean conflict, and referring to several passages of scripture, Elder Hales indicated he had come to understand the importance of obedience, freedom and free agency. He said that on his fighter plane were the words "Return with Honor."

In the pre-mortal existence each person chose to come to the earth, Elder Hales said, and "our goal was to return with honor."

He said that the world says "real men" are macho, don't cry and don't say, "I'm sorry."

In contrast, he said, "Real men are men who are obedient, who know they are the sons of God, who know who they are and where they are going. Real men pay their mortgages, love their wives and are true to them." He quoted 1 Samuel 15:21, "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

Elder Hales quoted from Alma 43:48 in which the young Captain Moroni inspired his men with these thoughts: "Yea the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom from bondage." He spoke of Moroni's writing on the title of liberty: "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children. . . ." (Alma 42:12.)

He also quoted President John Taylor, who said, "Another mission of the Church is to perpetuate the liberty and rights of men. Besides the preaching of the gospel, we have another mission, namely the perpetuation of free agency of man and the maintenance of liberty and freedom and the rights of men." (Quoted in Improvement Era, April 1941, p. 222.)

Concluding, Elder Hales said, "Fighting for freedom and liberty is justifiable before the Lord. When I think of this great land and our Constitution, what it stands for and what it means as an ensign to all nations, I ask for the Lord's blessings to be with you. I want to give credit and appreciation to every service man and woman for what they do and to have you know that the gospel of Jesus Christ, the very foundation of the gospel, is based on agency, the ability of men and women to make decisions in their lives for who they are and what they will be."

Elder Robbins began by looking at the congregation, silently making quick eye contact with those sitting throughout the chapel, before saying, "The word 'heroes' comes to mind. Many of our fathers have spoken about their military service and we have revered them. I remember my father who served near Pearl Harbor. You, too, will be heroes in the minds of many."

Elder Robbins explained that the Book of Mormon teaches the importance of defending righteous causes. He said that is why 54 chapters, or one quarter of the Book of Mormon, is about wars. Specifically, he said that the Book of Mormon testifies that Jesus is the Christ, America is the Promised Land, and "God will fight our battles as long as we serve the God of this land."

— Elders Phillip Flores and Jonathan Cathell-Williams of the California Carlsbad Mission contributed to this article.