PROVO — American Mormons love flags, fireworks and the 4th of July. But it wasn't always that way, said Ryan Tobler, a recent graduate in English and history at BYU.

Tobler spoke on Thursday, July 2, at BYU during the Mormon Scholars Foundation Summer Seminar "Parley and Orson Pratt and the Formation of Mormon Thought." Tobler's paper examined Parley Pratt's shifting views on the promise and role of America.

At first, according to Tobler, early Latter-day Saints were very patriotic — agreeing with their countrymen that America's progress was part of God's overall plan. Pratt saw America as an "empire of freedom," and enjoyed "the most exalted feelings of patriotism and love of country."

But then unchecked persecution came down upon the members of the LDS Church.

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