The Flag

On a summer day in a foreign prison camp, the war prisoners were just completing a talent show, when suddenly, without any announcement, two soldiers stood up in front of the group holding a rolled-up blanket. They looked quickly but carefully in all directions to make sure no guards were watching. Then, holding the blanket high, they let it unroll. Fastened to the inside of the blanket was their country’s flag!

At the time of their surrender, one of the soldiers had taken down the flag and somehow managed to wrap it around his body. Covered by his uniform, it had not been discovered during the inspection of his personal belongings. He had been able to keep it hidden until he arrived at the prison camp.

When the men saw the flag as the blanket that concealed it was unrolled, a ripple of wonder and amazement ran through the group, followed by a deep silence that comes only when one’s heart is too full to permit words to be spoken. With their eyes still gazing upon this beautiful banner, the soldiers began to sing. Softly, but with an ever-increasing depth of feeling, they sang their national anthem.

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Twelfth Article of Faith

Illustrated by Preston Heiselt