American And European Ideals

“Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.” That also is God’s doctrine the doctrine of common consent, exemplified at every Church, stake or ward conference, where the names of the presiding authorities are regularly placed before the people, to see whether they will sustain them as their leaders and teachers. This they manifest by giving or withholding their consent.

Compare this doctrine with the notion once prevalent in European as in Oriental countries, that the king or hereditary ruler of a nation was the owner of that nation, the proprietor not only of the land, but of the people living upon it. They all belonged to him and he might dispose of them as he saw fit, not being accountable to any human power for his actions. When a reigning princess married the monarch of another realm, all her dominions and all her subjects went with her as part of the bridal dowry.

Source: Elder Orson F. Whitney
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: Government

Lincoln And Joseph Smith

That is the American idea, “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” as Lincoln expressed it in his famous Gettysburg speech.

And nothing proves more conclusively that Joseph Smith, God’s prophet, was a real and true American, than his reply to one who inquired of him how he managed to govern a people made up of so many different nationalities, with all their varied languages, customs and traditions. Said the Prophet: “I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.”

Source: Elder Orson F. Whitney
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: Government, Ideal

The Mission Of America

Were I to say that the founders of this Nation builded better than they knew, few if any would question the statement. But if, in addition to that, I should voice my conviction that this great Government was established purposely to favor the coming forth of the Church of Christ in this dispensation—the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times—many would deem my declaration presumptuous and even preposterous. Great movements are generally so regarded in the beginning.

It was “presumptuous” in Columbus to pit himself against the learned ignorance of his age, and proclaim the earth round, when public opinion held it to be square and flat or shaped like a cheese. But his “presumption” led to the discovery of the Western Hemisphere and the founding of the mightiest nation of modern times. It was “presumptuous” for the American colonies to declare their independence and array themselves against the militant might of the British Empire. But they succeeded, and their “presumption” was swallowed up in victory, amid the thunders of the world’s applause. In like manner it may look presumptuous for a little handful of people, numbering only half a million all told, to claim that a nation originally of three millions and now of one hundred and ten millions, was founded for the express purpose of furthering their God- given mission of preparing the way before Messiah’s second advent. But when the Kingdom of Heaven prevails, and Christ is reigning in person over a glorified planet, sucha claim will not be considered presumptuous, preposterous, nor at all out of the way.

All great builders build better than they know. Some realize in part, but others not at all, that they are instruments of Deity, used for carving out his sublime and beneficent purposes.

Source: Elder Orson F. Whitney
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: America, Heritage

The unveiling of a hidden hemisphere, the discovery of the Land of Zion, the predestined theatre of wonderful events in the last days, events connected with the winding up of the Lord’s work upon this planet—the Land where the New Jerusalem is to rise, unto which Christ will come as King of kings, to usher in the reign of peace and right. This was God’s purpose, accomplished through Columbus.

The lovers of liberty who followed in his wake and were actuated by the same Spirit, as a further preparation for the great Latter-day Development, founded upon this North American continent a nation, the mightiest on earth, under whose protecting aegis, the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, the Church of God came forth, to be nurtured unto the complete fulfilment of its destiny.

Source: Elder Orson F. Whitney
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: America, History

The Glorious Future

Columbus built better than he knew. Wycliffe, Luther, the reformers, explorers and conquerors all, as well as the founders of this Nation, did likewise. And even the Latter-day Saints, with all their knowledge of divine plans and purposes, revealed from heaven, to enable them to execute another phase of God’s “marvelous work and wonder,” have no adequate conception of its future greatness and glory.

Nor is it necessary that we should have, at this time. Well for us if we diligently discharge the duty of the present hour, and patiently bide the time of Him whose omnipotent and unerring hand is guiding the Cause of Christ to its glorious consummation.

Source: Elder Orson F. Whitney
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: America, Destiny

Was not the great Columbus inspired of the Lord to cross the unknown seas and discover the western world? What a wonderful stride in the cause of human liberty! America, a choice land above all other lands, withheld during the many centuries of the past to become a place of refuge for the downtrodden peoples of the old world, to become the habitation of free men where no kings shall oppress or hold the reins of government, as the Nephite prophets have foretold, and how literally have their predictions been fulfilled!

Then came Washington, the father of his country, who fought the revolutionary battles which gave us our national independence; Hamilton, the constructive genius of the constitution of our country, and Jefferson, that great champion of the rights of men, who wrote the Declaration of Independence and inspired his fellow-countrymen with love for the principles of human liberty.

Source: Elder Rulon S. Wells
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: America, History

Life and liberty are our inalienable rights and were vouchsafed unto us in that primeval council when our great champion, even Jesus Christ, said: “Here am I, send me” for he came and organized this earth as a dwelling place for the children of God, for you and me:

To live and to be free,
To worship God alone
As conscience guideth me,
As my own heart is prone;
For these are rights God given,
He gave them all to me
They emanate from heaven,
E'en life and liberty.

This is the thought that comes into my mind when I contemplate the history of the world, that Providence is over all.

Source: Elder Rulon S. Wells
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: Rights

This human liberty for which these mighty men, to whom I have alluded, have struggled, great and glorious though it is, is after all only a measure of civil liberty. There is a greater freedom to which we should aspire; for, let it be known that even in this great and glorious republic, the greatest one that ever existed upon the face of the earth, where the greatest measure of human liberty is meted out to our Father’s children, in this land of the free and home of the brave, we are not free. “The whole world lieth in sin and groaneth under darkness and under the bondage of sin,” but the truth that emanated from God, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, that was proclaimed in that primeval day shall make us free indeed if we will only receive and obey it.

Source: Elder Rulon S. Wells
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: Christianity; Freedom

Let me add one final stop to your American journey. The place—Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia the tomb of America’s unknown soldier. Today the remains of three servicemen from three wars lie there. The inscription reminds us, “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.” There are in addition 4,724 other unknown servicemen buried in Arlington, and all across the nation and the world. I have seen the crosses, row upon row, marking the places where lie America’s honored dead, literally in the thousands. What did it cost them that this nation might remain “the land of liberty”? How shall we honor them, you and I?

In two ways it seems to me: First, by striving to make our citizenry the righteous people the Lord requires of us. And second, by telling the story of what the Lord has done for you and me and this great church, and why.

Source: Elder Paul H. Dunn
General Conference, October 1975

Topics: Responsibility

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