Uphold the Constitution

We need not fear invasions from without, so long as we as a nation and as a people understand and uphold the Constitution of the United States, and reject not the God of the land who is Jesus Christ. But if we permit ourselves to forget God, we have no promise!

Moved upon by the Holy Spirit, the Prophet Lehi prophesied this regarding America:

“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. Italics added.)

What a simple recipe for peace and safety in this choice land!

Source: Elder ElRay L. Christiansen
General Conference, October 1967

Topics: Christianity; US Constitution

Pledge our sacred honor

Like the patriots of old who, under extreme difficulties and discouragements, hammered out our constitution, may we say of that inspired document:

“And for the support of this with a firm reliance upon the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our, fortunes, and our sacred honor. (Declaration of Independence.)

Source: Elder ElRay L. Christiansen
General Conference, October 1967

Topics: America, Heritage; Responsibility

My independence is sacred to me. It is a portion of that same Deity that rules in the heavens. There is not a being upon the face of the earth who is made in the image of God, who stands erect and is organized as God is, that would be deprived of the free exercise of his agency so far as he does not infringe upon other’s rights, save by good advice and a good example.

Source: Brigham Young
Discourses of Brigham Young, 1943 ed., p. 62.

Topics: Free Agency

The history of the world with all its contention and strife is largely an account of man’s effort to free himself from bondage and usurpation.

Man’s free agency is an eternal principle of progress, and any form of government that curtails or inhibits its free exercise is wrong. Satan’s plan in the beginning was one of coercion, and it was rejected because he sought to destroy the agency of man which God had given him.

Source: President David O. McKay
General Conference, October 1965

Topics: Free Agency

Be Faithful to Constitutional Government

[L]et us be true to our country and to our country’s ideals. Nearly three thousand years ago an ancient prophet said that this is a land choice above all other lands (see 1 Nephi 2:20), and it is, and the Constitution of the United States, as given to us by our fathers, is the real government under which individuals may exercise free agency and individual initiative.

Let us oppose any subversive influence that would deprive us of our individual freedom or make this government a dictator instead of a servant to the people.

Source: President David O. McKay
General Conference, October 1965

Topics: Free Agency; US Constitution, Defend

Government of Laws

One of our great United States Senators had this to say regarding the laws of the land:

“It is a form of anarchy to say that a person need not comply with a particular statute with which he disagrees. Ours is a government of laws, not men, and our system cannot tolerate the philosophy that obedience to law rests on the personal likes or dislikes of any individual citizen whether he supports or opposes the statute in question.” (Senator Richard Russell of Georgia.)

Source: Elder Thorpe B. Isaacson
General Conference, October 1964

Topics: Government, Forms of; Law

An American’s Creed

We believe in the United States of America without reservations. This nation under God is my home, my country, my hope, and my concern. Here I work and rest and pray, and here I build and dream. Here my toil is rewarded by an unmatched abundance for my well-being. Here I have freedom to live, to think, to worship. That freedom is mine yet, guaranteed by the law in this nation under God. Here I am a part of the government, able to vote, to serve, and to carry my share of the common load.

God grant us wisdom and strength to safeguard our country’s welfare and to develop a devotion to measure up to this country’s greatness.

Source: Elder Thorpe B. Isaacson
General Conference, October 1964

Topics: Patriotism

Respect for another’s rights and property is fundamental in good government. It is a mark of refinement in any individual, it is a fundamental Christian virtue.

Source: President David O. McKay
General Conference, April 1964

Topics: Christianity

The foundation of a noble character is integrity. By this virtue the strength of a nation, as of an individual, may be judged. No nation will become great whose trusted officers will pass legislation for personal gain, who will take advantage of public office for personal preferment, or to gratify vain ambition or who will, through forgery, chicanery, and fraud, rob the government, or be false in office to a public trust.

Honesty, sincerity of purpose, must be the dominant traits of character in leaders of a nation that would be truly great.

“I hope,” said George Washington, “that I may ever have virtue and firmness enough to maintain what I consider to be the most enviable of all titles—the character of an honest man.”

It was Washington’s character more than his brilliancy of intellect that made him the choice of all as their natural leader when the thirteen original colonies decided to sever their connection with the mother country. As one in eulogy to the father of our country truly said: “When he appeared among the eloquent orators, the ingenious thinkers the vehement patriots of the Revolution, his modesty and temperate profession could not conceal his superiority; he at once, by the very nature of his character, was felt to be their leader.”

Let us in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as citizens of this beloved land, use our influence to see that men and women of upright character, of unimpeachable honor, are elected to office; that our homes are kept unpolluted and unbroken by infidelity; that children therein will be trained to keep the commandments of the Lord, to be honest, true, chaste benevolent, and virtuous, and to do good to all men. (See Thirteenth Article of Faith.)

Source: President David O. McKay
General Conference, April 1964

Topics: Citizenship; Virtue

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