Cleon Skousen: Defender of God and Country

I've really been delving into the writings of Cleon Skousen lately and started digging on the internet to learn more about this great defender of America and God. Truly, I am in awe of his mind and his immense patriotism and righteousness.

I found his obituary, which was amazing:

Obituary of W. Cleon Skousen

W. Cleon Skousen, prolific supporter of God, country, and the unlimited potential for greatness in all people, passed away at his Salt Lake City home on January 9 of natural causes incident to age, just 11 days shy of his 93rd birthday. He was lovingly surrounded by his wife of 69 years, Jewel, and many family members.

The Making of AmericaKnown by millions for his devoted understanding and support of the U.S. Constitution, his love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, his insights into politics, religion, good government, and human nature, he leaves behind an exhaustive work of scholarship created over three-quarters of a century that covers dozens of specialties. Among the 46 books he wrote are the best sellers, The Naked Communist, The Naked Capitalist, So You Want to Raise a Boy, The Making of America, The Five Thousand Year Leap, and Fantastic Victory about the Israel-Arab war of 1967.

His books on religion, such as The First 2,000 Years, Prophecy and Modern Times, Isaiah Speaks to Modern Times, Treasures from the Book of Mormon, and Days of the Living Christ, reached millions of readers in the Christian, Jewish and Islamic communities.

And his speech entitled "A Personal Search for the Meaning of the Atonement" is perhaps the most widely distributed audio tape among members and missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-a fact that made him smile in astonishment. "I've had missionaries tell me that speech has been translated into Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, and has been passed around on every continent where missionaries serve."

Skousen served 16 years in J. Edgar Hoover's FBI as an agent and the communications director during the waning years of the gangster era and WWII. He also was the editor of the nation's leading police magazine, "Law And Order."

He was a popular teacher of several thousand students at Brigham Young University for 16 years, and a popular speaker across the country where he sometimes gave as many as 300 speeches a year. His devotion to America's founding fathers and the Constitution led to the creation of The Freeman Institute that later became the National Center for Constitutional Studies, an organization through which his speeches and writings educated and united large segments of voters to elect senators, congressmen, governors and presidents who loved the Constitution.

Known for his untiring devotion to principle and integrity, he served as Salt Lake City's chief of police and created what Time Magazine called "A model police force." After 4 years of service, the city mayor created a firestorm of protest when he fired Skousen on trumped-up charges, an event the mayor later called the worst political mistake of his life.

Warmly embraced with the friendly honorarium "a living national treasure," Skousen and his wife maintained a modest home in Salt Lake City that became a mandatory stopover for any person with political aspirations both in Utah and beyond. Friends and visitors included ecclesiastical leaders of all faiths, politicians from all major parties, students of all ages, and of course, local missionaries every Sunday night.

Skousen was born in Raymond, Alberta, Canada on Jan. 20, 1913, and was educated in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. He served a 2-year mission for the LDS Church at age 17. He earned his PhD at George Washington University. He and Jewel are the parents of eight children, 50 grandchildren, and 67 great-grand children. He was preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters, his daughter Kathleen, two grandchildren, and one great-grand child. He is survived by his wife Jewel, and children David (Judy), Orem, UT; Eric (Cheryl), Orem, UT; Julianne (Glenn) Kimber, Alpine, UT; Sharon (Russ) Krey, Washington; Harold (Anne), Riverton, UT; Paul (Kathy), South Jordan, UT; Brent (Myralynne), West Jordan, UT.

Deseret News - Friday, 13 January 2006

Glenn Beck, oddly, was the one who brought Cleon Skousen back to the forefront of my mind. On one of my book tours, I was signing books at Moon's Book Store in Dallas, TX when I found Br. Skousen's Days of the Living Christ. I don't think I signed enough books to pay for what I purchased that day. But I believe that is when I truly began loving the mind of Cleon Skousen. He was so unabashedly patriotic and truly understood the divine purposes of the United States of America. For that alone, I could offer the man my greatest and utmost respect.

Everyone who is a follower and reader of my blog knows how deeply I love America, what she stands for and equally, why she was created. Certainly, at this time our nation's history I believe the wisdom and knowledge of Cleon Skousen could go a long way in helping Americans to understand where we came from and where we are headed.

I am unwilling to give up the fight for America. I believe there is so much more to America than most Americans know. It is one of our divine missions to remain as the bastion for liberty to the world. In order to do that, we must restore the U.S. Constitution as the rule of law. Help me, America. Let us take our nation back.

Have you called your senators and congressmen and filled them in on how you feel about what's going on?

Have you called the White House and left Barack Obama no doubt about your feelings as to what he's been doing?

Have you educated yourself on the U.S. Constitution, the Republic form of government, the dangers of Socialism/Communism and our founding fathers?

Have you shared with your family, friends, neighbors and peers what you're learning and the truth about America?

Have you taught your children the truth about America instead of what is being taught today?

Have you awakened to the dangers facing America now and simply said, "Not on my watch."

We must roll up our sleeves, dig in and simply get the job done. The alternative is unacceptable.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved by Candace E. Salima.