America's Destiny: Choosing God's Will or Ours (A Historical & Latter-day Saint Perspective

by Tad R. Callister

"America's Destiny sets forth compelling evidence of America's divine origin and destiny-that it was a nation founded upon divine providence, not coincidence, as testified repeatedly by the Founding Fathers, respected historians, and statesmen. This revised edition also adds numerous scriptures and statements from prophets of God attesting to this truth.
With that perspective, America's Destiny asks the question that should be on all of our minds, "What is the greatest challenge facing our nation today and how should we confront it in a way that pleases God?" The economy, national security, immigration, gun control, poverty, racism, crime, national pandemics, climate change? While each of these is a valid concern and deserves attention, none of them strikes at the heart of our greatest challenge, namely, finding a way to build stronger homes and bring about a return to family, God, and moral values. To put our prime focus on challenges other than these is to strike at the leaves, not the root of the problem.
It is now our choice and America's choice - to place our trust in the wisdom of God or the wisdom of the world - to be a nation under God or without God. If we become a nation under God, then we become eligible to receive the "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." (Psalm 33:12)

336 pages, Hardcover

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

Tad R. Callister is an emeritus General Authority Seventy and was the 21st Sunday School General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Presidency of the Seventy from 2011 until 2014 when he was called as Sunday School General President. Brother Callister received a BS in accounting from Brigham Young University, a JD from the University of California-Los Angeles, and an MS in tax law from New York University Law School. He spent most of his professional career practicing tax law. He is the author of the best-selling books The Infinite Atonement, A Case for the Book of Mormon, The Inevitable Apostasy, and The Blueprint of Christ's Church. He and his wife, Kathryn Louise Saporiti, are the parents of six children.

Reviews

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking book that I learned a lot from. The book was obviously well-researched and there were a lot of great quotes I was previously unfamiliar with from America's Founding Fathers, other Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, and other statesmen and writers that I liked. This book is unabashedly patriotic, pro-Christianity (particularly as taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), and mostly politically conservative. I think the author tried to approach political issues in a fairly even-handed way, but ultimately there is no mistaking where he stands on his religion or his politics so doubtless some would bristle at and disagree with his arguments and conclusions.

I thought there were a lot of really good points about many subjects throughout the book. As a history major I enjoyed the chapter on Christopher Columbus and found it interesting learning more about his background and character with quotations straight from some primary source documents. I enjoyed the chapters on the Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary War, and the Constitution for similar reasons although I was more familiar with that history before reading this book. I strongly agree with the Founding Fathers on the importance of morality and religion in preserving our nation so I enjoyed reading that chapter and discovering some great new quotes about that I hadn't read before. I found the chapter on judicial activism very troubling and learned a lot I didn't know before. I also found the portions of the book regarding abortion very sobering and sad. I learned some new things in the chapters on same-sex attraction and gay marriage that I think helped my understanding and perspective on that subject mature somewhat. The chapters on capitalism and socialism were interesting and had a lot in them I hadn't given much thought to before. I'm not sure if I entirely agree with the author on everything in those chapters, but I learned a lot and I will need to mull that over for awhile and read more more about it before I reach my own conclusions.

I thought the author's arguments based on scripture and the teachings of the prophets throughout this book were very solid, but his arguments based on history, economics, statistics, etc were sometimes a bit messier and not always as clear-cut in my mind as I think the author sees them as being in his. I agree with a lot of his warnings and concerns about dangerous trends we see in the United States of America today, and like him I am very troubled by how far we have wandered from some of the key principles that our nation was founded on. I too love my country, love freedom, and feel deep gratitude for the sacrifices of former generations who worked, suffered, and even died to establish and preserve our freedoms. I too feel concerned for the future of our nation and generally loathe the angry, contentious political discourse that is constantly going back and forth day after day.

This book gave me a lot to think and pray about. I'm glad I read it because I think it will help me be a better citizen of the United States of America.

[Addie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing book! Tad Callister puts truth right out there, asking the vital questions and giving honest answers that promote the need for God in our American lives! My favorite chapters were on Columbus (ch. 2), the Establishment of America/Founding Fathers (ch.3), the Declaration and Constitution (ch.4), and the last 4 chapters (ch. 18-21) which focus on what we can do, who we can look for to lead our country, and promoting God in our political lives again in order to have His blessing on the freedoms of our country; after all, our American motto is: In God We Trust! Callister does include some of the most pressing issues of our day and addresses them by asking if God has spoken on these matters; which were powerful. But the 2 chapters on abortion (ch. 11-12) were very difficult to read because of the intense and distrubing details that were included. I cannot read details about babies' deaths without it affecting me so badly and heartbreakingly. A tender soul such as mine could hardly bear it through those horrific chapters, and I truthfully had to drop a star. Otherwise, it was a powerfully moving book, which I loved! It inspired me to not only study our Constitution better, but to continue teaching my children and those within my influence more about the Founding Fathers and other Patriotic ideals.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, was this a rewrite of America's Choice by the same author? They seemed like the same book. So my review is similar.

A Conservative Christian's view of the Constitution and American politics.

The legal and scriptural concepts are sound, but it was repetitive. I hear you and agree slavery, abortion, and socialism are bad. Perhaps if I were not in agreement with the concepts presented I would have needed the additional arguments.

Quotes:
Socialism is government of steroids. It has an inherent creeping quality. Always seeking more power and control and with each step forward toward supposed equality the common man is forced to step backward in his or her individual liberty.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. George Santayana

All that is necessary for evil to triumph over good is for enough good men and women to do nothing. Attributed to both Edmund Burke and John Stuart Mill

[Paul Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful that Tad Callister writes about the founding of the United States of America
including God's hand in the Constitution. It reminds me that God blessed our ancestors (and us) richly. We should live to continue meriting His blessings, support, and inspiration.

The last two-thirds of the book addresses half a dozen of the most pressing and foundational questions in our country and society: Constitutional interpretation, religion in public discourse, abortion, same-sex relations and marriage, zero-population growth, and socialism. He includes the strongest arguments for aspects of those, problems that arise from them, and quotes from statesmen and prophets.

I gave this only four stars because I thought it would all (or mostly) inspired history. I found the extended treatises on the issues compelling and enlightening, but I didn't expect them.

[Rachel]

This book puts forth the truth that in order to be a successful and blessed nation we must remember we are "one nation under God." Tad R. Callister seeks to understand differing viewpoints and then pulls us back and asks, "What does God say? What is God's will? Where will each decision lead?" It was refreshing to read a book about modern America whose author has God in his mind and heart. Worth a read if you want to take your head out of the mist of darkness and see things as they really are.

It seems this is written by a member and for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He assumes you have a knowledge of their scriptures, prophets, and teachings concerning the United States of America. If the reader doesn't I'm not sure how it will be interpreted.

[Brandon "Buddy" Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a wonderful job of explaining America's history and its founding/governing documents; vindicating Christopher Columbus from the various, modern untruths about him, his character, and his actions; how America's success will depend on the conservation of moral values; how objective moral values come from religion; and how we Americans can do better as citizens in general.

Callister cites authorities both from America's history and from the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It is a wonderful book that will benefit and enrich anyone (regardless of their faith or political leanings) to read it.

[MykeWeber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every patriotic American. If you ever wanted a collection of evidence that revisionist history is false, this is it! If you ever wanted to motivate or inspire someone to understand the true greatness of America this is it!

Tad Callister has done his homework! The references and bibliography are thorough and irrefutable!

If you ever wondered how you could get involved and make a significant difference. This is a great place to start! I recommend this book without reservation!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book needs to be read by every American! This book covers everything from the discovery & founding of this country, to the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights, and then from abortion, LGBT+ and capitalism to the most essential element of a functional government and country being the value of strong families. I have learned so much about God, His love for us and His hands in this great nation, the truths that He has provided us and the necessity for us to live by and uphold those truths!

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved this. Perfect summertime read around the 4th of July.