…an essay of encouragement for US Citizens to reject fear with inspiration from the Word, pastors, leaders, veterans, and a simple humble citizen, knee deep in the fight for God’s country.

by Wendi Montgomery Dial, Deputy State Director of Restore Liberty Oklahoma

Fear….a time tested tool of the serpent’s playbook when it comes to attempts to influence the population.

Well, why wouldn’t he use it?

It would be logical as a strategic matter to use what works when attempting to control the behavior of a large population. After all, COVID showed the communists, who are atheists and wish to erode the first amendment, that the American public is full of pushovers when it comes to matters of ‘safety’ to the point of gladly handing over their inalienable rights.

Fear came into the world upon the first disobedience of God by Adam. Genesis 3:10 is where we are told that after Adam and Eve had eaten from the tree of the Knowledge of good and evil, deceived by the serpent into doubting God’s Word (that sounds familiar), Adam tells God that he was hiding from Him because he was afraid. This was an insidious way to create separation between humans and God, and the serpent knew exactly what he was doing and also knew what the result would be. Genesis calls him the most cunning of the creatures in the garden.

Adam and Eve, for their role and to our detriment, listened to the serpent over God. And when they did they became afraid of God for the wrong reason. Knowledge made them afraid and separated their minds from God. God spends a tremendous amount of time in the Bible instructing us to not be afraid. Have you ever wondered why that might be?

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

That old trick to control man over God’s Word, fear, was thrown out into the mix for this election cycle just a couple of weeks ago.

We, the People of this country, need to make a pact with each other for November 5th.

The pact is that if we are registered to vote that we WILL VOTE on November 5.

No matter what.

I saw a statistic that 36 million evangelical Christians plan to sit out this election. Here’s a quote from a recent article in the Christian Post on the consequences of that decision by many Christians and the impact for the country.

‘Huey told CP that it’s “the Church that holds the answer to this upcoming election,” suggesting that pastors have an obligation to ensure that their congregation is actively engaged and prepared to vote.’

“It’s the Church that is the secret weapon to winning the election, and yet the pastors are quiet. Very few Evangelicals are doing what’s necessary to mobilize the Church to vote for, not against, their values,” Huey said. 

If you believe that God founded this nation to bring freedom to people, as per His Word, why would you hand it over, carte blanche, to evil and enslavement? On a platter and without even a fight? It’s one thing to vote and lose an election. It’s another to sit it out when you know what the result will be, or if you know the elections are compromised and sitting out the election makes rigging it easier. It’s aiding and abetting the theft of an election and the theft of the country by communists.

If you are not of a faith, why would you give up the opportunity, whenever it is given, to choose the officials who make the laws that run the country you live in? It makes no sense, when voting and engagement in the process takes very little time compared to the large impact it could make in your community.

Voting means taking an hour or so every couple of years to fill out a sheet of paper and maybe a few hours of research into the candidates running for office and making an effort to be educated about the issues, and I don’t mean just reading biased mailers that come in your mailbox that candidates spend too much money on. It’s taking an hour to two a couple of times a month to attend monthly meetings of your city council or school board.

What are the consequences for America of Americans of all walks of life staying home and not voting? Just look at the past few decades as an example of what happens when people disengage from the political system, do not vote, do not hold their elected officials accountable while they hold office, and then complain and choose not to engage in the public discourse when their choices have the predictable effect.

This is not a time for worrying about stepping on toes. This is a time for direct talk and encouragement among the citizens of the United States.

Face it, American Family. We have almost blown it.

It’s not the events that have happened over the last few decades that have shaped our world and our country.

It’s our response to them.

I give you Noah Webster, who I accuse of being psychic when I speak to an audience on the problems with Oklahoma elections.

Our response has been so poor that we are in a perilous position regarding the condition of our elections themselves, and are in danger of having our right to vote taken away in a single ‘emergency’ situation.

Let me give you an example of what I mean using my home state of Oklahoma.

In 2019 I wasn’t paying attention to what was going on in my state government. I was a busy mom and just trying to get my youngest son raised and my oldest son through college. In 2019 revisions to our election law, Title 26, were passed that could have a profound effect on this election in just a couple of short weeks. This law and the changes to it, give our State Election Board Secretary almost total control over our elections should an ‘election emergency’ be declared in our state.

What defines an election emergency?

Title 26 lays out general conditions for an election emergency in the state of Oklahoma. An emergency may be defined by the threat of terrorism. And if you paid attention the last couple of weeks to the national and international news, you saw what happened in Oklahoma regarding the arrest of an Afghan refugee in this state that was not properly vetted. Or was he? The news reported shortly after his arrest that he was employed by the CIA in Afghanistan. The story has gone quiet. For now.

The following is an AI generated list, the results of a search of ‘How do authoritarian governments leverage terrorism as a pretext for restricting voting rights and consolidating power?’

Please note number 3.

“Based on the provided search results, authoritarian governments may leverage terrorism as a pretext for restricting voting rights and consolidating power in the following ways:

1. Erosion of civil liberties: Authoritarian regimes may use anti-terrorism rhetoric to justify restrictions on civil liberties, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and association. This can lead to the suppression of opposition voices and the consolidation of power.
2. Manipulation of electoral processes: Governments may use terrorism as a pretext to manipulate electoral processes, such as gerrymandering, voter ID laws, or limiting access to voting registration. This can disenfranchise certain groups, including political opponents and minority communities.
3. Emergency decrees: Authoritarian leaders may declare states of emergency or national security crises, allowing them to bypass constitutional checks and balances, and impose restrictions on voting rights, political freedoms, and individual rights.
4. Targeting of minority groups: Regimes may use terrorism as a pretext to target minority groups, such as religious or ethnic communities, and restrict their political participation, often under the guise of national security or anti-terrorism measures.
5. Creation of parallel institutions: Governments may establish parallel institutions, such as intelligence agencies or paramilitary groups, which operate outside the rule of law and are accountable only to the authoritarian leader. These institutions can be used to suppress opposition and manipulate political processes.
6. Use of propaganda and disinformation: Authoritarian regimes may employ propaganda and disinformation campaigns to create a climate of fear and uncertainty, blaming terrorism on political opponents or minority groups, and justifying further restrictions on civil liberties and political freedoms.
7. Co-optation of political opposition: Regimes may attempt to co-opt or neutralize political opposition by offering concessions or patronage to leaders who are willing to collaborate with the authoritarian government, effectively silencing dissenting voices.

Examples of authoritarian governments leveraging terrorism as a pretext for restricting voting rights and consolidating power can be seen in:

• Nicaragua, where the government used anti-terrorism rhetoric to justify a constitutional overhaul and consolidate power.
• Hungary, where the government has used anti-immigration and anti-terrorism rhetoric to restrict voting rights and undermine democratic institutions.
• Russia, where the government has used anti-terrorism and anti-extremism measures to suppress political opposition and restrict civil liberties.

It is essential to recognize that authoritarian governments often use terrorism as a pretext to justify their actions, and that these actions can have far-reaching consequences for democracy and human rights.”

We cannot give in to fear and stay home on Election Day due to any threat of any kind. The Oklahoma Constitution states in Article 3 Section 5 that:

“No power, civil or military, shall ever interfere to prevent the free exercise of the right of suffrage, and electors shall, in all cases, except for treason, felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance on elections and while going to and from the same.”

So we vote. I would argue that we vote no matter what.

What happens if our government ever plots to ‘breach the peace’ in order to violate our right to vote? Well, we are We The People, and in that instance I would suggest that We The People follow the Declaration of Independence and rely on God’s law in practice, as the founders did. Do not be afraid, and don’t let your voice and your vote be taken from you for any reason.

Given the reality of the compromised election situation in Oklahoma and current events regarding the tyranny of the State Election Board against it’s own appointees, it’s a logical imperative for citizens to ask whether there might be a possible plan to have an election emergency in the playbook of the responsible parties of Oklahoma election manipulation, just in case it was needed for a national rig. 2024 is shaping up to potentially be such a year with the most recent polls showing former President Donald John Trump opening up a very sizable national lead over current Vice President Kamala Harris. We must also ask the question regarding down ballot races for US Congress and the need for possible control there, since any fraud in a Presidential election constitutionally would throw the election out of the hands of the People popularly voting in each state for a slate of electors, and into the hands of the US House of Representatives.

This is the type of thinking as citizens that has become necessary because We the People have neglected our duty and privilege given to us by God to participate actively in our communities and government.

I would like to share some quotes of encouragement for you from some national and Oklahoma State heavy hitters on patriotism, voting, and election integrity.

Most of these incredible individuals are military veterans who have fought and served so that we can freely have this discussion today over the importance of not allowing fear and manipulation to keep us from the polls in less than two weeks’ time.

Seth Keshel, former Army Intelligence officer. Election Integrity is his wheelhouse and as November 5th approaches his national profile just keeps rising. This New York Times article is definitely a classic for the founder of the phrase ‘Electile Dysfunction.’ Find his substack here.

Hey Wendi – happy to give you an original and it’s a true story

“When I was a junior in high school, I was chosen to attend a youth leadership conference in Washington, D.C.  Shortly after I was selected, the 9/11 attacks happened.  I was not even 17 at the time and was terrified of traveling there with so many threats for repeat attacks.  My father told me, ‘son, I didn’t serve three tours in Vietnam for my son to be afraid of a bunch of Stone Age, camel herding savages.’

Who do you think got on that plane in November?  

Ultimately, if Americans change their plans for anything impacting their liberties, then we have already lost the purpose of the American experiment.  Fear should not prevail over the duty of the people to cast their ballots.”

Wayne Hill, OK Grassroots, current GOP Vice Chairman for the state of Oklahoma, and veteran:

“Oklahomans, let us not succumb to fear on Election Day by not voting. We must understand the importance of voting and consequences of staying home. This is one of the most important elections in our history. The decision we make on November 5th will have lifetime effects for our posterity, future generations. When John Hancock signed The Declaration of Independence, it is stated he said,”now the king doesn’t need spectacles to see my signature, he can double the bounty on my head.” May we all have the courage of Mr. Hancock.”

Christie Cain, current State Director for Restore Liberty Oklahoma and Freedom Brigade Logan County Lead, mom and veteran:

“The very act of voting is an exercise of “Free Speech”. We voice our concerns and our preferences for the leadership and ultimately the destiny of our country. Just prior to and during the civil war, our country was terribly divided and literally straining at the bridle of civility and decorum. It was not uncommon for bad actors with a vested interest in a particular outcome to engage in guerrilla warfare, i.e. “terrorism”. Americans once again find themselves at a similarly bitter divide and today, just as nearly 160 years ago, it is vitally important to not be silenced by either the threat of violence or actual violence. If we do not fight, we lose. Period. The fight starts at the ballot box but it by no means ends there!”

Darin Gaub, former army Lieutenant Colonel and helicopter pilot, minister, National Co-Founder of Restore Liberty:

“Nothing should keep every American from voting this year. The left will pull out every stop to intimidate voters, and this [threat of terrorism in Oklahoma] should make every patriot even more determined to have their voice heard.”

Blaine D. Holt, Brig Gen (ret), USAF, national Co-Founder, Restore Liberty

“Veterans, myself included, love hearing our fellow citizens thank us for our service. We are humbled by the gratitude and honored to have worn our nation’s uniform.

That said, we kindly ask all Americans now to consider their own service to the nation. Every American should take their civic duty to vote as seriously as we did America’s battlefields. To preserve our Constitutional republic, indeed our liberty, we must set aside the demands on our time and go vote like our future depends on it.

It does.”

Charity Linch, Oklahoma GOP National Committewoman and Founder of the Freedom Brigades

‘“We are in a war. We must be vigilant and not allow ourselves to be swayed by fear. This is the most important election in our lifetimes to date. Be brave and fight for your freedom, regardless of threats, in the ballot box on November 5th. The future of the Republic is at stake.”

Leslie Mahan, Oklahoma State Director, Red America First

‘As the Oklahoma State Director for Red America First, I understand with it being 12 days from the election how the recent arrest of a terrorist in our state and in our area is concerning, but we must not live in fear or they win and our freedoms will be gone for good. It is imperative that we get out and cast our vote for President Donald J. Trump because he has been called back by I believe GOD Himself to finish what he started after his first term on Making America Godly Again. We all now know that evil stole your vote and mine from us when we went to the polls on Tuesday, 11/3/2020. We can’t give them a chance to steal it again. Please get our and vote and please share this message with at least 9 other friends that are registered to vote in our GOP party. Thank you. ‘

Dear American Family, who are we, and what will we be when we finally grow up? A people who have foolishly given God’s gift of a free country over to evil and communism, or a people who have taken responsibility for our freedom and fought everything, including our own encroaching federal and state governments, to restore our liberty and constitution?

As Caesar was to Rome, We The People are to the United States of America. It’s time to act like it and ‘render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s’ as Jesus commands and encourage our fellow citizens to the dignity of the head of our government where we sit, and where God, from the beginning of creation has put us in order to glorify Him. This country belongs to us and freedom is His divine gift. On November 5th and beyond, it is time to finally grow up, be free and fearless as God intended, and take America back.

First published on Restore Liberty Oklahoma Substack on October 24, 2024.