THE SPECIAL IMPORTANCE OF THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO MEMBERS OF
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

“And for this purpose have I [The Lord Jesus the Christ] established the Constitution of this land by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose,…” (D&C 101:80)

“[The] laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established…, should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;” (D&C 101:77).

“…may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.” (D&C 109:54)

“We must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers” (President Ezra Taft Benson, October General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

THE SPECIAL IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

by Ralph Hughes

If there is one single verse of Scripture that has been ringing like a clarion call in my head in recent years, it is Verse 6 of the 98th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants. “Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;”. Given by the Lord Jesus Christ thru the Prophet Joseph Smith, at Kirtland, Ohio, August 6, 1833, its message is clear that “The saints are to befriend the constitutional law of the land.” as stated in the section outline. It is preceded in Verse 4 by the statement “…it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.”, and I believe it was well echoed and even magnified by then Apostle David O. McKay’s statement in the October 1939 General Conference that: “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.”

By revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, as recorded in Verse 80 of the 101st Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord declared that He had established the Constitution of the United States thru “wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose.” In the April 1918 General Conference Heber J. Grant stated: “I believe, as does our beloved President Joseph F. Smith, that the Constitution of the United States was written by the inspiration of Almighty God.” And in the April 1935 General Conference, President J. Ruben Clark said: “To me…that statement of the Lord, ‘I have established the Constitution of this land,’ puts the Constitution of the United States in the position in which it would be if it were written in this book of Doctrine and Covenants itself. This makes the Constitution the word of the Lord to us.”

In the April 1963 Conference, then Apostle Ezra Taft Benson said: “…the Lord told his prophet there would be an attempt to overthrow the country by destroying the Constitution.” And on another occasion he stated: For years we have heard of the role the elders could play in saving the Constitution from total destruction. But how can the elders be expected to save it if they have not studied it and are not sure if it is being destroyed or what is destroying it?” (TETB)

In the October 1966 General Conference President McKay stated: “We all know that…there has been an alarming increase in the abandoning of the ideals that constitute the foundation of the Constitution of the United States and of the American home, and you will agree with me that there is real cause for apprehension. But now it seems left to us to decide for ourselves if the situation has improved or worsened since then.

In the October 2001 General Conference, President Gordon B. Hinkley reminded us that “The Constitution under which we live….is our God-inspired national safeguard ensuring freedom and liberty, justice and equality before the law.”

Included in a First Presidency statement of 15 January 1987 is, I think clarification of what it means to “befriend” the US Constitution: “We encourage Latter-day Saints throughout the nation to familiarize themselves with the Constitution. They should focus attention on it by reading and studying it. They should ponder the blessings that come through it. They should recommit themselves to its principles and be prepared to defend it and the freedom it provides.”

In the April 1966 General Priesthood Meeting, Marion G. Romney stated in his opening remarks: “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” In it, he said: “[The Lord] has told us that in preparation for the restoration of the Gospel, He himself established the Constitution of the United States, and He has plainly told us why He established it….He said He established the Constitution to preserve to men their free agency, because the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ presupposes man’s untrammeled exercise of free agency. Man is in the earth to be tested. The issues as to whether he succeeds or fails will be determined by how he uses his agency. His whole future, through all eternity, is at stake. Abridge man’s agency, and the whole purpose of mortality is thwarted.”

In presenting this and what follows, I want to make it clear that I am not advocating the teaching of the U.S. Constitution or of its principles as such in our church meetings. The time is past when we can make and hear statements such as the above, and others even stronger, over the pulpits and in our church classes. Members will have to find other routes over which to become involved in preserving the US Constitution and its principles. This includes self-study and discussions within the confines of our own homes and communities.

Active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in general have many demands placed upon them, including providing for and spending quality time with their families, making time for personal and family prayers and Gospel study, engaging in missionary work, conducting family history research, attending the temple, fulfilling ministering assignments, and participating in other worthy activities. In spite of all these responsibilities, it appears we are also under obligation to defend and promote the freedoms that make all these activities possible.

-Ralph Hughes

THE SPECIAL IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Introduction

In October of 1941 the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints received letter of September 30, 1941 from a William C. FitzGibbon, Defense Savings Staff, Treasury Department, Washington, D. C., requesting that the Church endorse and support the Defense Savings Program. The reply of the First Presidency to Mr. FitzGibbon outlining its position declining the request, a little-known but lengthy and powerful letter, emphasizes a tenet of the Latter-day Saint faith that is very seldom discussed in church now, namely the special importance of the United States Constitution to Latter-day Saints. The following statements within that letter that address this and related tenets are quoted below.

“The people therefore believe that the President of the Church, his counselors, and the Council of the Twelve Apostles have a right to the revelations of the Lord as to the conduct of the Church and the members thereof; that the Lord actually speaks through them as the result of the revelations which He gives them; and that therefore the members are under obligation, when the President of the Church speaks, to follow his advice and counsel.”

“In the first place, we should tell you that it is a part of the doctrine of the Latter-day Saints, as much a part as any other tenet of our religion, that the Lord Himself “established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood”, and that this Constitution “should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and hole principles.” Our people believe that they have a special relationship to the Constitution and its preservation.”

“We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.”

“We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.”

“Now we have said all of the foregoing with a complete understanding in our own minds that we have said nothing or little of anything that may now be of practical value, but this much we feel we can definitely say, that unless the people of America forsake the sins and the errors, political and otherwise, of which they are now guilty and return to the practice of the great fundamental principles of Christianity, and of Constitutional government, there will be no exaltation for them spiritually, and politically we shall lose our liberty and free institutions.”

THE SPECIAL IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO LATTER-DAY SAINTS

What the Lord Jesus the Christ Has Told Us About the U.S. Constitution

“For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father….” (Revelation given to Nephi, son of Helaman, 3 Nephi 21:4)

“And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose.” (D&C 101:80).

In the April 1935 General Conference, President J. Reuben Clark stated: “To me…that statement of the Lord, “I have established the Constitution of this land,” puts the Constitution of the United States in the position in which it would be if it were written in this book of Doctrine and Covenants itself. This makes the Constitution the word of the Lord to us. That it was given, not by oral utterance, but by the operation of his mind and spirit upon the minds of men, inspiring them to the working out of this great document of human government, does not alter its authority….” Hopefully, it is clear that the United States Constitution sprang from our Creator and not from government. The Lord Jesus the Christ is the real author of the Constitution of the United States of America, even though He suffered those American colonials to work out its wording, even with some now-agreed upon imperfections, for nearly four months in a secluded room in Philadelphia with no air conditioning, the same room in which the Declaration of Independence was discussed, voted on, finalized, and signed by a total of fifty-six delegates representing all of the thirteen original American colonies, eleven years earlier.

President Ezra Taft Benson wrote on Page 1 of THE CONSTITUTION – A HEAVENLY BANNER, published in 1986: “It would be erroneous for us, however, to conclude that the document was the sole genius of the Founding Fathers. Theirs was a combined wisdom derived from heavenly inspiration, knowledge of political government from ages past, and the crucible of their own experience. We pay honor – honor to the document itself, honor to the men who framed it, and honor to the God who inspired it and made possible its coming forth.”

“[The] laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established…, should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;” (D&C 101:77).

According to statements in the Doctrine and Covenants and recorded statements especially of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, John Taylor, Melvin J. Ballard, J. Reuben Clark, Harold B. Lee, and Ezra Taft Benson, (too extensive to include here) it appears that God committed to Americans the task of learning and upholding the principles of the U.S. Constitution as it was intended to be understood by the Lord, such that by example those principles would reverberate to other nations “for the rights and protection of all flesh”, where people would desire to live by its precepts and choose to be governed by them, and those principles would be established forever. Interesting it is that those statements were given specifically to Latter-day Saints.

“…may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.” (D&C 109:54, included in the prayer at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, as given the Prophet Joseph Smith by revelation.)

In D&C 109:54 one reads that the Lord intended that “those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.” This is immensely significant, as it confirms that “[T]he Constitution’s role goes beyond providing a free nation in which the gospel and true Church could be restored to the earth once again. The Constitution will become the governing system for the whole world during the Millennium.” (Christopher S. Bentley, A GLORIOUS STANDARD FOR ALL MANKIND, Pg. 2). Also, hopefully, this helps us better understand the statement of the Prophet Joseph Smith, which has since been paraphrased or referred to by several other latter-day prophets, that “…when the Constitution is on the brink of ruin this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction.” (19 July 1840, as recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; Manuscript in the Church Historians Office, Salt Lake City). Later prophets and apostles quoted or paraphrased this statement on several occasions.

“And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, that it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them. And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land; And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.” (D&C 98:4-7)

Simply put, “The saints are to befriend the constitutional law of the land.” (Preamble to D&C 98)

THE SPECIAL IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO LATTER-DAY SAINTS

What Latter-day Prophets Have Told Us About the U.S. Constitution

In the October 1987 General Conference, President Benson asked: “How then can we best befriend the Constitution in this critical hour and secure the blessings of liberty and ensure the protection and guidance of our Father?” He then proceeded to tell us.

“First and foremost, we must be righteous. John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” (The Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams, Boston: Little, Brown Co., 1851, 4:31). If the Constitution is to have continuance, this American nation, and especially the Latter-day Saints, must be virtuous. The Book of Mormon warns us relative to our living in this free land: “Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever” (2 Ne. 1:7). “And now,” warned Moroni, “we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fullness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fullness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity” (Ether 2:9). Two great American Christian civilizations—the Jaredites and the Nephites—were swept off this land because they did not “serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ” (Ether 2:12). What will become of our civilization?

“Second, we must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers. Have we read The Federalist papers? Are we reading the Constitution and pondering it? Are we aware of its principles? Are we abiding by these principles and teaching them to others? Could we defend the Constitution? Can we recognize when a law is constitutionally unsound? Do we know what the prophets have said about the Constitution and the threats to it? As Jefferson said, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free … it expects what never was and never will be” (Letter to Colonel Charles Yancey, 6 Jan. 1816).

“Third, we must become involved in civic affairs to see that we are properly represented. The Lord said that “he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them” [governments] “both in making laws and administering them” (D&C 134:1). We must follow this counsel from the Lord: “Honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil” (D&C 98:10).

“Fourth, we must make our influence felt by our vote, our letters, our teaching, and our advice. We must become accurately informed and then let others know how we feel. The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “It is our duty to concentrate all our influence to make popular that which is sound and good, and unpopular that which is unsound. ‘Tis right, politically, for a man who has influence to use it. … From henceforth I will maintain all the influence I can get” (History of the Church, 5:286).

Note well that President Benson, speaking as a prophet, told us five things that we MUST do:

“We must be righteous.”

“We must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers.”

“We must become involved in civic affairs.”

“We must make our influence felt by our vote, our letters, our teaching, and our advice.”

“We must become accurately informed and let others know how we feel.”

“We encourage Latter-day Saints throughout the nation to familiarize themselves with the Constitution. They should focus attention on it by reading and studying it. They should ponder the blessings that come through it. They should recommit themselves to its principles and be prepared to defend it and the freedom it provides. (D&C 109:54.) . We believe the Constitution will stand, but it will take the efforts of patriotic and dedicated Americans to uphold it. . . . We, as Latter-day Saints, must be vigilant in doing our part to preserve the Constitution and safeguard the way of life it makes possible. (From a First Presidency statement in January 1987).

“In the revelation he [the Lord] gave to the Prophet Joseph Smith, he said “And now, verily I say unto you concerning the…law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, [that it] belongs to all mankind and is justifiable before me.” [D&C 98:4-6]. (President Spencer W. Kimball, April 1974 General Conference).

“We urge members of the Church and all Americans to begin now to reflect more intently on the meaning and importance of the Constitution, and of adherence to its principles.
(President Harold B. Lee, November 1973, The First Presidency Statement on the Constitution}.

“We therefore commend and encourage every person and every group who is sincerely seeking to study Constitutional principles and awaken a sleeping and apathetic people to the alarming conditions that are rapidly advancing about us.” (President David O. McKay, April 1966 General Conference)

“[Above] all else, strive to support good and conscientious candidates of either party who are aware of the great dangers inherent in communism, and who are truly dedicated to the Constitution in the tradition of our founding fathers.” (President David O. McKay, October 1962 General Conference)

“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,” (President David O. McKay, February 1956, The Instructor, 91:34)

“I am saying to you that to me the Constitution of the United States of America is just as much from my Heavenly Father as the Ten Commandments.” (President George Albert Smith, April 1948 General Conference)

“I thank God that we believe that the constitution of our country was given to us under the inspiration of the living God,…” (Heber J. Grant, October 1924 General Conference).

“…we believe that the men who wrote the Constitution of this country were inspired of the living God.” (President Heber J. Grant, October 1919 General Conference)

“By revelation to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, the Lord declared that he had established the Constitution of the United States through “wise men raised up unto this very purpose.” (President Joseph F. Smith, March 26, 1907, Messages of the First Presidency, 4:150).

“[The Church’s] members are under divine commandments to revere the Constitution as a heaven-inspired instrument.” (President Wilford Woodruff, December 12, 1889, Messages of the First Presidency.)

“We believe that the Constitution of the United States was given by inspiration of God” (President John Taylor, April 9, 1882, Journal of Discourses, 23:53).

“The General Constitution of our country is good, and a wholesome government could be framed upon it, for it was dictated by the invisible operations of the Almighty….” (President Brigham Young, July 4, 1854, Journal of Discourses 7:13-14).

“Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the Constitution is on the brink of ruin this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction….I know these things by the visions of the Almighty.” (The Prophet Joseph Smith, July 19, 1840, as recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; manuscript in Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City).

“The time will come when the constitution and government would hang by a brittle thread and would be ready to fall into other hands but this people the latter-day Saints will step forth to save it.” (The Prophet Joseph Smith, May 1843, James Burgess Journal, 1818-1904, Church Archives, vol. 1)

In the opening address of the October 1987 General Conference, President Benson asked this question: “Do we know what prophets have said about the Constitution and the threats to it?” Actually, most prophets in this dispensation have emphasized the special importance of the United States Constitution and the vital importance of Latter-day Saints learning, upholding, defending and adhering to its principles. In that same address, President Benson said: “I desire, therefore, to speak to you about our divine Constitution, which the Lord said “I established the Constitution of this land…” (D&C 101:80), “belongs to all mankind” (D&C 98:5), “should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles” (D&C 101:77), and was to “be established forever.” (D&C 109:54).

“I testify that America is a choice land. God raised up the founding fathers of the United States of America and established the Constitution.” (President Ezra Taft Benson, October 2, 1988 General Conference)

“The Constitution under which we live….is our God-inspired national safeguard insuring freedom and liberty, justice and equality before the law.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, October 2001 General Conference)

“During a period in Church history when many Latter-day Saints were being denied the protection of the Constitution, Joseph Smith wrote: “The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner.”……The men who framed the Constitution were directed by the Spirit of the Lord in establishing the basic freedoms guaranteed the citizens of this country….Unless we members of the Church do all we can to preserve the freedoms we have, within the bounds of the laws of God, we will be held accountable.” …”The Constitution was established through the inspiration of God to preserve the liberty of the people and to maintain his promise.” (Principles of the Gospel, Page 135-136, Page 146-147, Published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1991).

THE SPECIAL IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO LATTER-DAY SAINTS

The Constitution is in Danger

In the opening address of the October 1987 General Conference, President Ezra Taft Benson asked this question: “Do we know what prophets have said about the Constitution and the threats to it?” Actually, there exists an avalanche of statements by the Lord Jesus Christ, and latter-day prophets and apostles about the United States Constitution and its special significance to Latter-day Saints. And many of those statements refer to statements attributed to the Prophet Joseph Smith about the U.S. Constitution being in jeopardy and being rescued by efforts involving members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. I have selected and quoted below such statements by eight latter-day Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Joseph Smith

“Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the Constitution is on the brink of ruin this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction….I know these things by the visions of the Almighty.” (July 19, 1840, as recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; manuscript in Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City)

“The time will come when the constitution and government would hang by a brittle thread and would be ready to fall into other hands but this people the latter-day Saints will step forth to save it.” (May 1843, James Burgess Journal, 1818-1904, Church Archives, vol. 1)

Brigham Young

“Will the Constitution be destroyed? No: it will be held inviolate by this people; and as Joseph Smith said, “The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread. At that critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction.” It will be so.” (July 4, 1854, Journal of Discourses, 7:15)

“When the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the “Mormon” elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it.” (February 18, 1855, Journal of Discourses, 2:182)

“During the lifetime of the Prophet Joseph Smith he predicted that the time would come when it would devolve upon the Latter-day Saints to uplift, defend and maintain the Constitution of the United States.” (May 26, 1855, Messages of the First Presidency, 3:12-14)

John Taylor

“…we have been told by Joseph Smith that when the people of this nation would trample upon the Constitution, the Elders of this Church would rally round the flag and defend it.” (October 19, 1884, Journal of Discourses, 25:349-50)

“We have prophecies something like this somewhere, that the time would come when this nation would do as they are now doing – that is, they would trample under foot the Constitution and institutions of the nation, and the Elders of this Church would rally around the standard and maintain those principles which were introduced for the freedom and protection of men. We expect to do that, and to maintain all correct principles.” (February 1, 1885, Journal of Discourses, 26:156)

Wilford Woodruff

“It is also part of our belief that the time will come when the country will be distracted and general lawlessness prevail. Then the Mormon people will step forward and take an active part in rescuing the nation from ruin.” (December 16, 1889, Millennial Star, 50:788)

Lorenzo Snow

“They will sustain the constitution and the laws and institutions of the United States, and be the champions of liberty and of that constitution when its integrity shall be threatened,” (September 15, 1898, Journal History of the Church, 3)

Joseph F. Smith

“Joseph Smith, the prophet, predicted that the time would come, when the Constitution of our country would hang as it were by a thread, and that the Latter-day Saints, above all other people in the world, would come to the rescue of that great and glorious palladium of our liberty.” (October 1912, General Conference)

Harold B. Lee

“I concluded by calling attention to the prophecy of Joseph Smith that “the Constitution would hang as by a thread….if such a downfall of the Constitution were imminent, the righteousness of this people might again importune the Almighty to save it because of their pleadings.” (August 5, 1973, Bonneville Stake meeting; comments from President Lee’s diary, as recorded in Harold B. Lee: Prophet and Seer, 531-32)

Ezra Taft Benson

“We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: “Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the Constitution is on the brink of ruin this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction.” (October 1987 General Conference) (July 19, 1840, as recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; manuscript in Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City)

THE SPECIAL IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Responsibility of Latter-day Saints to the U.S. Constitution

So little is mentioned now about liberty and the U.S. Constitution in meetings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that one might justifiably wonder if members of the Church really do have a responsibility to the Lord to do their best to insure that laws are made, and so administered, to insure “to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.” (D&C 134:1-2). Therefore, it would seem wise for us to learn what the Lord and latter-day prophets and apostles have said in this connection.

We know that the American Founding Fathers, in framing the United States Constitution as the “blueprint” for the government of the new nation, were inspired in their work by the Lord, Jesus the Christ. (D&C 101:80). Therefore, it would seem logical that we should carefully (even prayerfully) consider what He, through His prophets and apostles, has told us about our duty to the Constitution. So let’s do that.

In the October 1962 General Conference, President David O. McKay counselled: “[Above] all else, strive to support good and conscientious candidates of either party who are aware of the great dangers inherent in communism, and who are truly dedicated to the Constitution in the tradition of our founding fathers.” And in “A Letter from the First Presidency” of 2 November 1964, was the statement that “We have urged you, above all, to try to support good and conscience candidates…who are truly dedicated to the Constitution in the tradition of our fathers.”

In the April 1976 General Conference, Elder Ezra Taft Benson told us that “We should understand the Constitution as the founders meant that it should be understood. We can do this by reading their words about it, such as those contained in the Federalist Papers. Such understanding is essential if we are to preserve what God has given us.” And speaking as the Prophet in the October 1987 General Conference he told us in no uncertain terms that “We must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers.” And the prophet followed that statement with the suggestion that reading the “Federalist Papers” would be helpful in that endeavour. And it may well be fair to say that the word “must” makes learning the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers a commandment to us.

What is meant by saying that Latter-day Saints must learn, uphold and abide by the principles of the US Constitution as the Founders meant it to be understood, or in the tradition of the Founding Fathers? To my mind, one of the best constitutionalists in the Church was the late Jerome Horowitz, author of the book THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL AND THE CONSTITUTION, which was recommended in the April 1972 General Conference. But his later book, THE GOSPEL KEY TO OUR TRUE CONSTITUTION was written, I believe, to address this very question. In the beginning of Chapter One, Brother Horowitz explains that “[T]he United States has two Constitutions. One is the Framers’ Constitution – the written Constitution that was ratified by the people. The second Constitution is the Supreme Court’s Constitution.” He cautions that while “[T]he Framers’ Constitution involves a small federal government”, and “makes state authority supreme over federal authority in most matters of daily life”, “The Supreme Court’s Constitution involves a pervasive federal government…that exercises compulsory authority even over local matters within the individual states”, and empowers the Federal government to exercise supervisory control over the state governments, even to the extent of dictating what religious practices it will permit, and what laws the states must adopt and enforce.” Further study of this issue is recommended by purchase of the book or reading the PDF version of THE GOSPEL KEY TO OUR TRUE CONSTITUTION is accessible at http://www.inspiredconstitution.org/jh_gk/index.html

Another easy-to-understand explanation of this subject is found in the Boy Scouts of America CITIZENSHIP IN THE NATION pamphlet, Page 19. “Written words in the Constitution can be changed or added through the formal amendment process described in Article V…..In the informal amendment process, changes in the Constitution take place over time without altering or adding to the written words. These informal amendments develop as a result to congressional legislation, presidential actions, Supreme Court decisions, activities of political parties, and custom.”

When President Heber J. Grant called J. Reuben Clark to become a member of the First Presidency in 1934 (He was to serve three Church Presidents in that position over a period of twenty-seven years), President Grant reportedly told him he was called to that position because he was “the best constitutionalist in the Church” In the October 1942 General Conference, President Clark said “So, Brethren, I wish you to understand that when we begin to tamper with the Constitution we begin to tamper with the law of Zion which God Himself set up, and no one may trifle with the word of God with impunity.”

True, very little has been said in recent years by Church authorities about the United States Constitution and the responsibility of Latter-day Saints to learn, uphold, and adhere to its principles. Nevertheless, among my personal goals is doing what I can toward helping to prepare a people to restore the American government to its proper role of protecting our God-given and inalienable rights when opportunity arises . And this includes making Latter-day Saints aware of what I consider our divinely mandated responsibilities to study, uphold and abide by the principles of the US Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers, or as the Founders meant it to be understood, and to understand and support the proper role of government according to gospel principles. I occasionally find myself embroiled in controversy regarding what I consider the importance of our doing so in a time when political freedom and our understanding and adhering to the principles of the U.S. Constitution are clearly not prophetic priorities. Brother Jerome Horowitz, LDS author of THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL AND THE CONSTITUTION and THE GOSPEL KEY TO OUR TRUE CONSTITUTION, has given me what I consider the best reasons for the silence from Church authorities on this subject. He wrote to me, “Confirming our telephone conversation I think the Church is cautious about openly participating in freedom promotion activities partly because of concern about government retribution that might unduly hinder its primary religious mission and partly because so many members have been indoctrinated to favor federal dominance and federal welfare and regulation that there is concern that a strong constitutional position might split the Church.”

Yet, in the course of a KSL5 radio interview in 2014, when Elder Dallin H. Oaks was asked “Do you think that religious and secular people understand the constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion?”, his reply included the statement “But I see it as a responsibility for well-educated citizens, members of the bar and opinion leaders to be acquainted with the United states Constitution and its guarantees.”

So one might well wonder “What should I do?” “What is my personal responsibility to the U.S. Constitution?” To answer that question properly, I can only recommend serious consideration of a statement by President Russell M. Nelson in the April 2018 General Conference: “My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … In coming days, it will not be possible to survive without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” In trying to follow that counsel from President Nelson, I have become more convinced that this is not obsolete doctrine, but has become not less, but more important now; — at least for me.