I So Swear

Yesterday, Alvin and I were incredibly privileged to attend the ceremony of a young man we lovely dearly as he swore his citizenship oath to the United States of America. We met Jarel many years ago, and over time came to love him as if he were our own son.

After completing his 2-year mission for the Lord, he went to BYU Hawaii to complete his college education. There he met his sweetheart, Genna, who became his life. Now he has an adorable daughter, and is finally a citizen of the United States of America. We are so very proud of him, and so happy for him and his sweet family. Congratulations, Jarel.

I am of the opinion that every single American, at the age of 18, should take the citizenship oath of the United States of America. And because I believe that, I so swear:

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

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Copyright 2014. All rights reserved by Candace E. Salima.