Called to Serve. . . Return with Honor - Week 47: Holms on the Potomac

Elder Morrison explains the tour to Workmans.

Simmonses, Sister Gardner, Workmans and Holms

The movie we saw there.

When you hear “Called to Serve,” what do you think of? When you hear “Return with Honor,” what do you think of?

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we sing: “Called to serve Him, heavenly king of glory, Chosen e’er to witness for his name, Far and wide we tell the Father’s story, Far and wide his love proclaim. . .” It’s a missionary hymn for messengers who go into the world to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with God’s children.

We say, “Return with honor,” to remind ourselves and our children to live with integrity—to be true to ourselves, to other people and to God.

Elder Holm and I went to Annapolis yesterday with three other couples for a tour of the United States Naval Academy from Elder Morrison. He and his wife, Mary, are senior missionaries who provide love and support to Academy midshipmen who are church members and their friends.

Our first stop was a movie: “Called to Serve,” where we saw midshipmen (and women) arrive at the beginning of “Plebe Summer” to undergo weeks of rigorous coaching designed to prepare them for four years of physical and academic training that prepares them to become naval officers.

It reminded me of what our grandson, now Elder Jacob Roetto, experienced in Army boot camp: tough, demanding and not for quitters. The part that made me teary-eyed was watching them take the oath.

The midshipmen we saw were all sharp-looking and polite. One took a photo of our group. Refreshing young people! The ornate casket. . . is the crypt of John Paul Jones, "Father of the American Navy." The Chapel is the loveliest building on campus, and was the first building built after the Academy started in 1845. Many Biblical stained-glass windows feature stories about water. One, however, shows Jesus Christ watching over a midshipman. (The term "midshipman" comes from old times, when a sailor stood midway down a ship's deck to relay shouted orders from the captain.) Finally, as one leaves the Academy, he is reminded to "Return with Honor."

These young people swear this oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States agains all enemies foreign and domestic. . . so help me God."