Future of the US Constitution

[lundbaek]

Sometime back a late evening talk show comedian, I think it was Jay Leno, mentioned that the United States was helping Iraq develop a new national constitution. He suggested we should just give them ours, since we don’t use it anymore. Sad but true, as is evidenced by repeated violations of our Constitution by all three branches of the U.S. government. Even Latter-day Saints in Congress and seeking positions in government, without exceptions as far as I know, have in various ways demonstrated disdain or ignorance, or both, for the Constitution of the United States.

In 2007, a Latter-day Saint patriot, Christopher S. Bentley, wrote and compiled book “A Glorious Standard For All Mankind” that shows us that the Lord Himself has stated unequivocally that He is the Constitution’s Author, that documents that almost every prophet in this dispensation has emphasized the vital importance of defending, upholding and adhering to the Constitution, that shows that several prophets have warned that we have apostatized in various ways from the Constitution, and that presents evidence that the Constitution’s role goes beyond just providing a single free nation in which the gospel and true Church could be restored to the Earth.

Following are some excerpts that I selected to emphasize the fact that our Constitution is intended to become the governing system for the whole world, and will eventually spread over the whole world, and all who are living at that time will seek to abide by them.


Freedom will be established for the entire human race. ....The Lord has already established the political foundation upon which it will be built: the Constitution of the United States. ....the Lord told us through his Prophet Joseph Smith that the Constitution should be “maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh” (D&C 101:77), and that this sacred “principle of freedom belongs to all mankind” (D&C 98:5).

In April 1966, Elder Marion G. Romney delivered a talk in the General Priesthood meeting. In his opening remarks, he stated: “This is the first time I have ever attempted to give a talk a second time. My excuse is that the Brethren have asked me to give this talk here tonight.” He had originally delivered it at Brigham Young University. President David O. McKay asked him to deliver the same message in the priesthood meeting.

As Elder Romney contrasted Satan’s plan of slavery versus the Lord’s plan for freedom, he stated the following” ....”When Zions redeemed, as it most certainly shall be, it will be redeemed under a government and by a people strictly observing those “just and holy principles” of the Constitution that accord to men their God-given moral agency, including the right to private property.”

Closing his remarks, he stated, “And now in line with these remarks for three things I pray,” one of which was: “That we will develop the understanding, the desire, and the courage born of the Spirit, to eschew socialism and to support and sustain, in the manner revealed and as interpreted by the Lord, those just and holy principles embodied in the Constitution of the United States for the protection of all flesh, in the exercise of their God-given agency.”

We should ever remember these two things. First, Zion will be redeemed by “a people strictly observing those “just and holy principles” of the Constitution.” Second, we can only “support and sustain” “those just and holy principles embodied in the Constitution of the United States for the protection of all flesh” if we “develop the understanding, the desire, and the courage” that are “born of the Spirit.”

“....may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely tshe Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever. (March 27, 1836, Doctrine and Covenants 109:54, Dedicatory Prayer of the Kirtland Temple) [Joseph Smith]

“I expect to see the day when the Elders of Israel will protect and sustain civil and religious liberty and every constitutional right bequeathed to us by our fathers, and spread those rights abroad in connection with the Gospel for the salvation of all nations. I shall see this whether I live or die.” (July 28, 1866, Journal of Discourses, 11:262-263) [Brigham Young]

“I want my young brethren and sisters to feel that the institutions founded and established in America are God-given; the constitution of the United States is a revelation from the Lord, for all the earth, and not only for America; and that the Lord has committed unto this land the mission of lifting up an ensign to the nations of the earth.” (April 1917, General Conference) [Melvin J. Ballard]

“[The] Lord established the Constitution of the United States for the blessing of all flesh. In my soul I believe that is part of the great Kingdom of God, the political part,....God’s word shall not fail when He predicted that the instrument known as the Constitution of the United States, the Spirit of Liberty established here by a few weak colonists, was his order of things for the government of men, and it should roll forth to fill the whole earth.” (October 1918, General Conference) [Melvin J. Ballard]

“For America has a destiny - a destiny to conquer the world, - not by force of arms, not by high purchase and favor, for these conquests wash away, but by high purpose, by unselfish effort, by uplifting achievement, by a course of Christian living; a conquest that shall leave every nation free to move out to its own destiny, a conquest that shall bring, through the workings of our own example, the blessings of freedom and liberty to every people, without restraint or imposition or compulsion from us....” (February 24, 1944, Los Angeles, California) [J. Reuben Clark]

“This is a great and glorious nation, with a God-given divine mission to perform for liberty-loving people everywhere. This mission cannot be performed unless America is kept strong and virile, unless this people adhere to those eternal principles in the gospel and in the Constitution of our land.” (April 1953, General Conference) [Ezra Taft Benson]


( I invite additions to this subject from other sources - Lundbæk )

[Army Of Truth]

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

“Next to being one in worshiping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this Church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States!”– David O. McKay, GC, Oct. 1939, p.105; Ezra Taft Benson quoted this in GC 1967; Elder L. Tom Perry repeated this quote at a BYU forum address on September 17, 1987

"No greater immediate responsibility rests upon members of the Church, upon all citizens of this Republic and of neighboring Republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States." – David O. McKay, GC April 1950; Ezra Taft Benson quoted this in GC 1966

“I am convinced that the people generally of the United States have not studied the Constitution. Many of them have never read it, and some know nothing concerning what it is all about.” – Joseph Fielding Smith, General Conference—April 1950

“Many will be hoisted because of their money and the worldly learning which they seem to be in possession of; and many who are the true followers of our Lord and Savior will be cast down because of their poverty. There will be two great political parties in this country. One will be called the Republican, and the other the Democrat party. These two will go to war and out of these two parties will spring another party which will be the Independent American Party. “The United States will spend her strength and means warring in foreign lands until other nations will say, "Let's divide up the lands of the United States", then the people of the U. S. will unite and swear by the blood of their fore-fathers, that the land shall not be divided. Then the country will go to war, and they will fight until one half of the U.S. army will give up, and the rest will continue to struggle. They will keep on until they are very ragged and discouraged, and almost ready to give up--when the boys from the mountains will rush forth in time to save the American Army from defeat and ruin. And they will say, 'Brethren, we are glad you have come; give us men, henceforth, who can talk with God'. Then you will have friends, but you will save the country when its liberty hangs by a hair, as it were". – Mosiah Hancock, who was a boy of about ten at the time, quotes Joseph Smith as saying this just a few days before his death (Mosiah Hancock Autobiography, pg. 28, BYU Special Collections)

“I wish to say with all the earnestness I possess that … when you see government invading any of these realms of freedom which we have under our Constitution, you will know that they are putting shackles on your liberty, and that tyranny is creeping upon you, no matter who curtails these liberties or who invades these realms, and no matter what the reason and excuse therefore may be.” – J. Reuben Clark, Improvement Era, July 1940, former Undersecretary of State for President Calvin Coolidge, Chief Legal Counsel for the U.S. State Department and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.

“Maybe the Lord will never set up a specific Church program for the purpose of saving the Constitution. Perhaps if he set up one at this time it might split the Church asunder, and perhaps he does not want that to happen yet, for not all the wheat and tares are fully ripe. The Prophet Joseph Smith declared it will be the Elders of Israel who will step forward to help save the Constitution, not the Church.” – Ezra Taft Benson, GC April 1965

[Amore Vero]

Wonderful posts Lundbaek & Army of Truth! Thank you so much. I can't wait for the day when we have such a government & a society of great men who uplift it & provide us a world of peace & safety.

[masterdmjg]

I found an interesting link on the Constitution on Meridian Magazine's page:

http://www.meridianmagazine.com/ideas/0 ... ution.html

Here's one quote I like:

President John Taylor declared that the Elders of Israel should “begin to understand that they have something to do with the world politically as well as religiously, that it is as much their duty to study correct political principles as well as religious, and to seek to know and comprehend the social and political interests of man, and to learn and to be able to teach that which would be best calculated to promote the interests of the world.” (Journal of Discourses 9:340 (1862))

When I was reading the words of President Taylor, I wondered how many Elders of Israel have no clue about the Constitution, but know everything about the NBA, NFL, MLB, College football and basketball, etc. I have relatives that seem to only be able to discuss athletics and nothing else. I think sports have been one of Satan's tools to "neutralize" the priesthood, as some have said. Many could care less about the state of politics in this country, yet they know how many points LeBron James had last night.

Is this a common find for others? I hope this is staying on topic....

[Proud 2b Peculiar]

Back when I was dating, I felt that the young men were too interested in sports to even look at real life...

So I agree, sports have been used to distract. Fun recreation is good.. professional sports.. not so good.

[buffalo_girl]

Yep, bread and circuses. A tool for keeping the masses occupied with meaningless distractions. Pornography, reality tv, endless sporting spectacles, 10 second sound bites, creation of a 'common' enemy, alcohol, drugs, creation of distrust of your neighbors or some other group of people all serve to keep us flitting from one thing to another.

It's an old magician's trick. Distract the eye away while the trick is played.

[lundbaek]

I read the Meridian Magazine article and responded with thoughts of my own. If there is a group of LDSs serious about the Constitution, I'd like to support it.