The following article is an edited transcript of a speech given by then CDR Swanson at a National Day of Prayer luncheon at Naval Air Station, China Lake, CA. At the time he was Commanding Officer of the Naval Weapons Test Squadron.

As a midshipman, I was cautioned never to speak of religion, sex or politics at meals. Since this is a prayer luncheon, I will make an exception and talk about religion. I trust I will be excused on this occasion.

I was asked to speak today about morals. When you think about it, the subject of morals is wide open. What are morals, after all? As for me, I believe that morals are not what we say we believe, how we argue about our beliefs, or how rational our arguments, but that morals reflect what is in our hearts. What is in our hearts ultimately determines our morals, and our behavior. Conversely, we may conclude that our behavior will ultimately follow our heart.

Just prior to the civil war, Congressman Clay from Kentucky, an avid abolitionist, spoke in Congress:

"For those of you who believe in the laws of God, I have this argument." And, he placed a Bible on the lectern.

"For those of you who believe in the laws of man, I have this argument." He placed a copy of the Constitution on the lectern.

"For those of you who don’t believe in either the laws of God or the laws of man, I have this argument." He laid upon the lectern two pistols that had been given to him by Abraham Lincoln.

Of course, we know that logic and civil debate did not carry the day. Our civil war followed as an example of rational thought and argument yielding to the passions of the heart.

In recent history, we have seen a general attempt to secularize society, that is to remove from public discourse and policy any reference to, or reverence for, an almighty being. God has been cast aside as the basis for our morality. We have gone from looking above for guidance to looking within ourselves to decide correct moral principle and behavior. Even if we were to assume that man apart from God were capable of establishing correct moral conduct, history has already shown us time and again that man apart from God is unable to do consistently what is right, but most often gives in to temptation and unbridled passions.

Of course, it is true that man has always behaved immorally. But the difference now is that we as a society have departed from the foundation on which our morality was established. Much of what society formerly found morally reprehensible we now find socially acceptable. What the Bible calls an abomination we are now told is an "alternative lifestyle." The result is a loss of restraint which leads to an immoral free hand. Lately, society has even recognized this loss of moral foundation and restraint, with the result that there is a cry for values education in our school systems. Our own Navy has found it necessary to teach "core values"—values that our young people used to come to us already armed with, because they were understood to be the foundation of our society.

We could debate the various effects of secularization of our society and come up with unending tragic stories and examples. But what we would come back to is the individual heart. What is in our hearts—who or what we believe in—will determine our behavior and our choices of right and wrong. Government will not solve our moral deficiencies. Policies handed down by government are currently limited by secular premise. Policies and slogans will not help when we are faced with temptation to defraud our marriage vows, to compromise our integrity, to deal truthfully, regardless of the consequences. We must each have a core, a foundation, a heart for what is right.

What must be in our heart is a relationship with God. If we have not established a relationship with Him, based upon a belief in Christ, then we are condemned to our own unregenerate heart that will lead us inevitably in the paths of immorality, lost integrity and despair. Once we accept Christ we are truly free. We are grounded in His moral foundation and that will free us to deal with the many sins that surround us. We can confidently face every trial, temptation and tribulation with an abiding inner peace because we know the Master who holds our future, and loved us so much that He didn’t even spare His son. Truly, "How Firm a Foundation."

It is politically correct, today, to question the faith of our founding fathers. A discourse on deism versus Christianity is far beyond my scope here today, and would be counterproductive. Let me close, on this day of prayer, by simply citing an historical event whereby the simple act of prayer probably preserved the nation.

During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the delegates were deadlocked over representation. The southern states wanted representation based upon land under cultivation. The northern states wanted representation based upon population. The small states feared they were being ganged up on by the larger states, both northern and southern. The convention began to break up (a portion of the New York delegation had already gone home and several others were preparing to do so). At this point, elder statesman Benjamin Franklin, then 81, stood and quietly addressed the convention:

"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor . . . and have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: ‘. . . that God governs the affairs of man.’ And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?

We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it. I firmly believe this.

I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of heaven and its blessing our deliberation be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business."

This speech and the silence that followed marked the turning point in the convention, the end result of which was the Constitution of the United States of America.

Captain Dane Swanson, USN, is a 1977 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. As a Naval Aviator he has enjoyed a distinguished career in operational and test flying. Captain Swanson has an MBA and is a graduate of the Air Force Test Pilot School. He is a decorated veteran of the Gulf War and has commanded Fighter Squadron Forty-Three and the Navy Weapons Test Squadron. An OCF member, he is now the Executive Officer of the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River, Maryland, where he resides with wife, Karen.