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President Ezra Taft Benson once said:

“Every person on the earth today chose the right side during the war in heaven. Be on the right side now.” (Assembly Hall, Temple Square, Feb. 1966)

The doctrine of a war in Heaven is not exclusive to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In Revelation 12:7–9, we read:

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Though all Bible believing religions recognize a war in Heaven, the knowledge of what the war was all about is exclusive to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We read in Moses 4:3,

Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

Above, we read the words of Ezra Taft Benson explaining the need to be on the right side of that war now. That war is not over. President David O McKay said:

There are “two contending Forces. Those forces are known and have been designated by different terms throughout the ages. “In the beginning” they were known as Satan on the one hand, and Christ on the other… In these days, they are called “domination by the state,” on one hand, “personal liberty,” on the other.”

From the words of the Prophets we see that battle isn’t over, and where the battle lines are drawn today. We see that what Christ has fought for, continues to fight for and asks us to fight for is freedom of the individual, “personal liberty”.

In fact, John Taylor said,

“Besides the preaching of the Gospel, we have another mission, namely, the perpetuation of the free agency of man and the maintenance of liberty, freedom, and the rights of man.” –General Conference April 1882

To magnify this point, the February 2006 Ensign magazine, had an article written by Elder Shirley D Christensen of the Seventy, entitled, “I, the Lord God, Make You Free.” In it he said;

“Are we doing all that we should to preserve freedom wherever we live? …The Lord has placed upon His children the responsibility of preserving their precious freedoms.”

The Lord made us free, and He instituted governments to protect us in our freedoms (See D&C 134). Is there a specific governmental structure that He has created to fulfill his purposes in this regards?

The Lord tells us in D&C 101:77–80

The laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, …

That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment…And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land…

. Reiterating the Constitutions importance, President David O McKay said, and recently, Elder L Tom Perry reiterated:

“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” (BYU, Sept. 1987)

Unfortunately sometimes we think this is engaging in politics. President Joseph F Smith had something to say in those regards:

“There has been a tendency among some Latter-day Saints, even when the Constitution is mentioned, to say, ‘There he goes talking politics.’ I am not talking politics. I am quoting the words of the Lord.” Joseph F. Smith CR April 1946

The Constitution is the word of the Lord, why would we want to skim by, or ignore such a thing as this?

Why do we need to be united in “upholding and defending the Constitution”? Why does it need defending? No one would want to attack or weaken it… would they?

The prophets have some revealing insight on the matter. In Gen Conf. President J. Reuben Clark Jr. of the First Presidency said. “I say unto you with all the soberness I can, that we stand in danger of losing our liberties, and that once lost, only blood will bring them back; and once lost, we of this Church will, in order to keep the Church going forward, have more sacrifices to make and more persecutions to endure than we have yet known, heavy as our sacrifices and grievous as our persecutions of the past have been.” -Conference Report, April 1944

President Clark taught us here that our freedom is under attack. What is the cause of such a threat to freedom?

President Benson said,

“Concerning the United States, the Lord revealed to his prophets that its greatest threat would be a vast, worldwide “secret combination” which would not only threaten the United States but also seek to “overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations.”- Conference Report, October 1961

Expounding on this, President Benson said:

“Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon was the “keystone of our religion” and the “most correct” book on earth. (DHC, vol. 6, p. 56.) This most correct book on earth states that the downfall of two great American civilizations came as a result of secret conspiracies whose desire was to overthrow the freedom of the people.

Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work, but it has singled out as the greatest threat the Godless conspiracy. There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon—it is a conspiracy fact. And along this line I would highly recommend to you a new book entitled, ‘None Dare Call It Conspiracy’.”(Gen. Conf. April, 1972)

The scriptures describe this latter-day conspiracy that seeks to destroy the freedoms of all lands, nations and countries Ether 8:23–25 teaches us that this Latter-Day conspiracy seeks to:

• Get Power (Vs. 23)
• Get Gain or Money (Vs. 23)
• Murder (vs. 24)
• Overthrow Freedom in all Lands, Nations, and Countries (vs. 25)
• Bring Destruction to all People (vs. 25)

As was shown before, the Lords prophets have admonished us to “do all we can to preserve freedom”. Moroni pleads for the same here as well. He says that when we “awake to our awful situation,” that we must

• Repent of Our Sins (vs. 23)
• Not Allow This Conspiracy to Get Above You (vs. 23)

If we do allow it, it will prove our destruction just as it did the Jaredites and the Nephites.

We are still involved in this Satan vs. the Lord battle, and Latter-day Saints are Satan’s biggest obstacle to accomplishing his plan, so we are his major focus. Satan tries to trick Latter-day Saints not to “get involved” in the freedom battle.

In General Conference of April 1965, then Elder Benson, exposes those tactics of the evil on;

“We really haven’t received much instruction about freedom,” the devil says.

This is a lie, for we have been warned time and again… Last conference I spoke of a book embodying much of the prophets’ warnings on freedom…which I commend to you. It is entitled Prophets, Principles, and National Survival.

“You’re too involved in other church work,” says the devil.

But freedom is a weighty matter of the law; the lesser principles of the gospel you should keep but not leave this one undone. We may have to balance and manage our time better.

“Don’t worry,” says the devil “the Lord will protect you, and besides the world is so corrupt and heading toward destruction at such a pace that you can’t stop it, so why try.” Well to begin with, the Lord will not protect us unless we do our part. But many of the prophecies referring to America’s preservation are conditional. That is, if we do our duty we can be preserved, and if not then we shall be destroyed. This means that a good deal of the responsibility lies with the priesthood of this Church as to what happens to America and as to how much tragedy can be avoided if we do act now.

“Don’t do anything in the fight for freedom until the Church sets up its own specific program to save the Constitution.”

To those slothful servants who will not do anything until they are “compelled in all things.” Maybe the Lord will never set up a specific church program for the purpose of saving the Constitution.

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared it will be the elders of Israel who will step forward to help save the Constitution, not the Church.

ETB Gen Oct 1966

Just live the gospel; there’s no need to get involved in trying to save freedom and the Constitution (says the devil)….

Of course, this is dangerous reasoning, because in reality you cannot fully live the gospel without working to save freedom and the Constitution…

Now that we understand there are no good excuses and we need to be actively engaged, what are we to do?

In General Conference, October 1987, President Benson, as President of the Church laid out these steps:

First and foremost, we must be righteous

Second, we must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers

Third, we must become involved in civic affairs to see that we are properly represented…

Fourth, we must make our influence felt by our vote, our letters, our teaching, and our advice.

Then in the General Conference of October 2003, Elder M Russell Ballard said:

“’The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ We need to raise our voices with other concerned citizens throughout the world in opposition to current trends.

Elder Christensen, in the February 2006 Ensign, emphasized this as well when he said,

What a sacred privilege and responsibility is ours to participate with other like-minded people to ensure that basic freedoms are preserved wherever we reside.

In addition to certain things we can do on our own, we have a “Responsibility” to join and work with others to reverse current trends and preserve freedom. Elder Christensen recommends working with those of “like-mind”. Those groups of like-minded people should understand the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers, and that its biggest threat is a conspiracy that seeks to destroy every land and country.

In the June 2007 Ensign President Hinckley said,

“That war (the War in Heaven), so bitter, so intense, has never ceased. It is the war… between agency and compulsion, between the followers of Christ and those who have denied Him. His enemies have used every stratagem in that conflict. They’ve indulged in lying and deceit. They’ve employed money and wealth. They’ve tricked the minds of men. They’ve murdered and destroyed and engaged in every kind of evil practice to thwart the work of Christ.”

Those enemies of Christ have sought to destroy His work, but those efforts are in vain. In the end, the Lord wins! President Benson testified,

The Lord has declared that before the second coming of Christ it will be necessary to “destroy the secret works of darkness” in order to preserve the land of Zion” the Americas. (2 Nephi 10:11–16.) – General Conference, Sept. 1961

Those that seek to destroy freedom in America must be defeated. They will be defeated. The only question that remains is; which side of the fence will we be on?

Some would like to argue that standing up and being bold about Freedom equates to engaging in politics. I would like to argue against that.

D&C88 states:

And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom… in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand… things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations…knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms- That ye may be prepared in all things… I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor. Abide ye in the liberty wherewith ye are made free…

Ezra Taft Benson quoting President David O. McKay saying:

There should be no question in the mind of any true latter day saint as to what we shall preach… the gospel plan of salvation.” … Then President McKay lists the areas our preaching should cover and admonishes us to include in our preaching what governments should or should not do in the interests of the preservation of our freedom. Do we preach what governments should or should not do as a part of the gospel plan, as President McKay has urged or do we refuse to follow the Prophet by preaching a limited gospel plan of salvation? The fight for freedom cannot be divorced from the gospel – the plan of salvation. (Our Immediate Responsibility. BYU Devotional, October 25, 1966.)

President J. Reuben Clark also warned us of the importance of standing up for Freedom:

Do not think the members of the church shall escape. The Lord has assured us that the church will still be here when he comes again. But has the Lord assured us that we can avoid fighting for freedom and still escape unscathed both temporally and spiritually? We could not escape the eternal consequences of our pre-existent position on freedom. What makes us think we can escape it here?

I say to you with all the soberness I can, that we stand in danger of losing our liberties, and that once lost, only blood will bring them back; and once lost, we of this church will, in order to keep the church going forward, have more sacrifices to make and more persecutions to endure than we have yet known, heavy as our sacrifices and grievous as our persecutions have been. (J. Reuben Clark, Conference Report, April 1944, pp. 115-116; quoted in Newquist, op. cit., p. 89.)

Again Ezra Taft Benson stated:

I also do not agree that spiritual leaders cannot comment on basic issues which involve the very foundation of American liberty.

In fact, if this were true, we would have to throw away a substantial part of the Bible. Speaking out against immoral or unjust actions of political leaders has been the burden of prophets and disciples of God from time immemorial. It was for this very reason that many of them were persecuted. Some of them were stoned, some of them were burned, many were imprisoned. Nevertheless it was their God-given task, as watchmen on the towers, to speak up.

It is certainly no different today.

To Moses God said: “….proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” (Lev. 25:10)

Why? For God knows full well that the gospel – His plan for the blessing of His children can prosper only in an atmosphere of freedom.

To modern men God has said: the Constitution “should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh.” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:77)

Is the Constitution being maintained or is it in jeopardy?

(Stand Up For Freedom. Assembly Hall at Temple Square, Feb 11, 1966. Given to The Utah Forum for the American Idea)

Fotrunately all hope is not lost:

This is still God’s world. The forces of evil, working through some mortals, have made a mess of a good part of it. But it is still God’s world. In due time, when each of us has had a chance to prove ourselves–including whether or not we are going to stand up for freedom–God will interject himself, and the final and eternal victory shall be for free agency. And then shall those complacent people on the sidelines, and those who took the wrong but temporarily popular course, lament their decisions. To the patriots I say this: Take that long eternal look. Stand up for freedom, no matter what the cost. Stand up and be counted. It can help to save your soul–and maybe your country.” (Teachings of Ezra T. Benson Chapter 5 P. 592)

What’s the moral of the story? We know that Satan has gained much dominion over the earth, and because we, those who stand up for Freedom, are still too few in numbers, we must bare it patiently. We must not give up. Each of us can take a stand for what is right. We all have our own unique talents and knowledge; the key is to ask the Lord what he would have us do, and do that.

If you get discouraged, remember the words of Edward Everett Hale, when he said:

I am only one, but I am one.
I can’t do everything, but I can do something.
What I can do, that I ought to do,
And what I ought to do,
By the grace of God, I shall do!

Brothers and Sisters, it is an honor to stand before you this beautiful Sabbath morning. Because July is a month in which our hearts are turned back, in a special way, to our fore fathers, both those who founded this great nation, and those who carved a beautiful garden out of this wilderness in the tops of the mountains, I have been asked to spend a few minutes on some of the elements associated with those great events.

This subject-matter is among my favorite topics, and I have spent a lifetime in study and contemplation of the principles surrounding these issues. Because of the shortness of the time, my enthusiasm for this subject, and in an effort to keep myself from taking too many side-trips along the way, I have written my talk.

I have titled this address: “The Blessings of Liberty for Ourselves and our Posterity.” It really is the subject of the gospel. Perhaps it would be appropriate to call it a central “golden thread” which is woven into the beautiful tapestry of the gospel—from the pre-mortal existence, to the eternal life which we all hope to obtain.

You see, liberty, whether we would be free to choose, was the principle over which the great conflict raged in the pre-mortal council. Father was and is absolutely committed to the principle of agency, and His great Plan of Life and Exaltation was founded upon it. All mankind must have our agency—our ability to freely choose the path we will follow if we are to “prove [that we] will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;…” You can read about that in Abraham chapter 3, verses 22-28.

We all know the story of how Father gathered us into a grand council, and told us of His plan to allow us the blessing of entering mortality and gaining experiences which were not possible had we simply remained unembodied spirits. We all know how one of Father’s sons stepped forward and attempted to modify Father’s wonderful plan. The usurper would have implemented a plan of compulsion—force—which would not honor our freedom to choose. The modification would have destroyed mankind’s agency, and dethroned God, our eternal Father. It would have resulted in the destruction of Father’s great work and glory, that of bringing to pass the eternal life and exaltation of His children. (See Moses 1:39)

Of course, our Savior—the Father’s Beloved and Chosen from the beginning stepped forward in support of His Father’s plan, and offered Himself as an Eternal Sacrifice on behalf of those who would conform to the Father’s will.

Hear the words of Moses chapter 4 verses 1-4:

1 AND I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying–Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

2 But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me–Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

3 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

4 And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.

In Doctrine and Covenants section 29, verses 36-37 we are told:

36…for, behold, the devil… rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency;

37 And they were thrust down, and thus came the devil and his angels;

So critical was mankind’s agency, that our loving Father was willing to loose a third part of the hosts of heaven in order to preserve that blessing for those who would accept His plan.

And we know that Satan and his minions have continued their war against God’s eternal plan even on this earth.

One of the most succinct statements I have found on the matter was made by President George Albert Smith in the dedicatory prayer of the Idaho Falls Temple. It is interesting to me that about 15 to 20 percent of that dedicatory prayer was focused on this issue. In the interest of time, I will quote only a short segment of that prayer. President Smith prayed thus:

“We thank thee, oh God, for the choice land upon which we reside, and for the marvelous promises thou hast made concerning America. That it should be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven so long as the inhabitants of the land should worship the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ. Thou hast revealed unto us that in the great controversy which took place in Heaven that the cornerstone of Thy plan of salvation was the free agency of man, and that Lucifer, who was an angel in authority in Thy Holy presence, proposed a different way; that Lucifer’s plan was rejected because the effect of its application would be to deprive Thy children of their free agency. When Lucifer’s plan was rejected by Thee he rebelled against Thee; there was war in Heaven and he and his followers were cast out. We thank Thee that Thou hast warned us by revelation that Satan would deceive the nations in our time. As we look about the world among the various countries we find philosophies and forms of government the effect of which is to deprive men of their free agency, but by reason of thy timely warning to us, we know that they are not approved of Thee. Since the God of this choice land is Jesus Christ, we know that His philosophy of free agency should prevail here. There are those, our Heavenly Father, both within and without our borders who would destroy the Constitutional form of government which Thou hast so magnanimously given us, and would replace it with a form that would curtail if not altogether deprive man of his free agency.

“We thank Thee that Thou hast revealed to us that those men who gave us our Constitutional form of government were men wise in Thy sight and that Thou didst raise them up for the very purpose of putting forth that sacred document.” (Temples of the Most High, compiled by N. B. Lundwall, Bookcraft, pg. 187-189)

There were many wonderful principles touched upon in those few brief sentences, and we shall again refer to some of them for they are found within our scriptures.

From this we know that God’s plan was based upon that marvelous gift of agency, and that agency was an absolutely necessary element. We learn that this land is a chosen and choice land, that as long as the inhabitants of the land would worship the god of the land, who is Jesus Christ, that they would be free from bondage and captivity. We learn that Satan’s philosophies are rampant upon the earth, and that he institutes forms of government which deprive mankind of their god-given agency. We learn that there are even efforts upon this land to foster Satan’s ways. We learn that this displeases God. And we learn that God raised up the founding fathers of this nation to create the form of government which they established under His divine guidance. What marvelous truths!!

It is interesting to me that the scriptures predicted the special nature of this land, and the founding of this nation. Time will not permit a full review of these scriptures, but let us briefly touch upon them.

Ether chapter 2 verses 7-11 tell us of the journey of the Jaredites to this land:

7 And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people.

8 And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared, that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fullness of his wrath should come upon them.

9 And now, 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.

10 For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fullness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off.

11 And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles [and I will parenthetically interject here that the Prophet Joseph Smith said that this reference to Gentiles referred to us modern-day inhabitants of this land], that ye may know the decrees of God–that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fullness come, that ye may not bring down the fullness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.

Of course, there are many other marvelous Book of Mormon scriptures which we could review which would reinforce the understanding that the hand of God was upon the founding of this nation. For instance, First Nephi chapter 13 reviews how the Spirit of God moved upon Columbus and brought him to this land, and how the pilgrim/puritan migration was based upon God’s Spirit moving upon them, and how the Revolutionary War was to bring forth a free and prosperous nation, and how this was to create an environment in which the Gospel could be restored.

These facts, and the privilege of living under these conditions and circumstances, should thrill us!

It is also interesting to me that the prophets have informed us that the establishment of this nation under the United States Constitution was an essential prelude to the restoration of the Gospel.

The United States of America was a relatively young nation when the Prophet Joseph Smith was born. In 1775, just thirty years before the Prophet Joseph’s birth, the conflict in quest of the Nation’s freedom began in earnest.

In 1776, the founders of the Nation declared the United States a free and independent Nation. But declaring their independence did not automatically make it so—there were seven more arduous years of conflict after the declaration before it was recognized.

The Revolutionary War was concluded at the signing of the treaty of peace with England in 1783, but the Nation still struggled without a firm foundation until the United States Constitution was penned in 1787, and finally ratified and put into operation in 1789.

By the end of 1791 the Bill of Rights, which recognized and guaranteed freedom of religion, speech, the press, property, numerous other elements of liberty and justice, and which further declared restrictions limiting the power of government to abuse its authority, had been ratified by the States.

Many latter-day prophets have declared that these conditions were essential to the restoration of the gospel. Indeed, these critically necessary elements of freedom and properly framed government have been called the “prelude” or “prologue” to the restoration of the gospel in this dispensation.1 Thus, just a few short years after this great preparatory work had been accomplished by the Founding Fathers of the United States, Joseph Smith Jr. was born in Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont, and the stage was set for the gospel to be restored for the blessing of all mankind.

After the Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to the fourteen-year-old Joseph Smith in 1820, and the revelations of Moroni and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon which followed soon afterward, the great eternal principles and saving ordinances of the gospel burst forth upon the world in a veritable torrent of light and knowledge from the eternal courts on high! The great work of the Father and the Son continues today to roll forth as the stone cut out from the mountain without hands,2 and it will continue until it has filled the whole earth.

It is interesting to note the ongoing importance of liberty and properly framed government, as expressed by the Lord and His servants, as the gospel is to be carried to all mankind! In August 1833 the Lord stated3:

4 And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.

5 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.

6 Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;

7 And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.

In December 1833, the Lord revealed the following:4

77 According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;

78 That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.

79 Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.

80 And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I have raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.

The Prophet Joseph Smith testified that the Savior dictated to him the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple. That dedicatory prayer is recorded as Doctrine and Covenants Section 109. Verse 54 of that section reads:5

54 Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.

Among his many statements on the Constitution, Joseph Smith declared:

We say that God is true, that the Constitution of the United States is true, that the Bible is true, the Book of Mormon is true, that Christ is true,… 6

It is of interest to note the close association which Joseph Smith makes with these great and important truths! It is also of great interest that the Prophet Joseph Smith also stated: “I am the greatest advocate of the Constitution of the United States there is on the earth.”7

Joseph Smith and the brethren of the Twelve had such high regard for the United States Constitution that the charter that they penned for the City of Nauvoo refers to the U.S. Constitution seven times.8

The Prophet Joseph Smith’s devotion to the foundation principles embodied in the United States Constitution are clearly stated in each of his recorded comments. As he campaigned to be elected as President of the United States in 1844, the Prophet published his “Views on the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States.”9 In that political tract, he outlined Constitutional solutions to the vexing slavery issue, proposed a viable method to eliminate the national debt, supported a system of money for the United States which would have prevented the economic disruption which plagues the Nation, addressed the method for assuring that the people of the Nation would hold the means of production and be able to continually grow in prosperity, and many other wonderful principles of liberty. And all of the solutions looked to the application of the founding principles of the Nation as embodied in the United States Constitution.

It is of interest that, as the latter-day apostles circulated Joseph Smith’s document on his views regarding government among the prominent citizens of the Nation in that day, it was received with acclaim and excitement. Letters from members of the Quorum of the Twelve reflect the hope the people found in the Prophet’s proposal, and a willingness to embrace and apply it.

After the martyrdom of the Prophet, the leaders of the Church have continued to recognize the great importance of the United States Constitution, and of sustaining it so that the gospel may continue to roll forth most effectively. Indeed, many latter-day prophets have asserted that the United States Constitution is part of their religion, and that “its words are akin to scripture, for God has placed His stamp of approval upon it.”10

Among the many testimonies of Brigham Young regarding the United States Constitution is his following statement:

“I want to say to every man, the Constitution of the United States, as formed by our fathers, was dictated, was revealed, was put into their hearts by the Almighty, who sits enthroned in the midst of the heavens; although unknown to them, it was dictated by the revelations of Jesus Christ, and I tell you in the name of Jesus Christ, it is as good as I could ask for.”11

It appears that the principles of freedom and proper government are interwoven as part of God’s eternal plan for His children.

And President David O. McKay was emphatic in his support of these principles, saying:

“If we would make the world better, let us foster a keener appreciation of the freedom and liberty guaranteed by the government of the United States as framed by the founders of this nation. Here again self-proclaimed progressives cry that such old-time adherence is out of date. But there are some fundamental principles of this republic which, like eternal truths, never get out of date, and which are applicable at all times to liberty-loving peoples. Such are the underlying principles of the Constitution, a document framed by patriotic, freedom-loving men, who Latter-day Saints declare were inspired by the Lord.”12

“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.”13

“I am grateful for this republic and for the individual freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.”14

“I repeat that 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.”15

And President Ezra Taft Benson expressed his faith that the United States Constitution will be preserved by those who remain faithful to its precepts:

“I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. It will be saved by the righteous citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church—among others—men and women who understand and abide the principles of the Constitution.

“I reverence the Constitution of the United States as a sacred document. To me its words are akin to the revelations of God, for God has placed His stamp of approval upon it.

“I testify that the God of heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government, and He has now sent other choice spirits to help preserve it.

“We, the blessed beneficiaries of the Constitution, face difficult days in America, ‘a land which is choice above all other lands’ (Ether 2:10).

“May God give us the faith and the courage exhibited by those patriots who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

“May we be equally as valiant and as free, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”16

Relatively recent statements made by President Gordon B. Hinckley regarding his views of this Nation’s founders and their principles capture his view on these matters:

“A news magazine writer asked me the other day during an interview concerning my belief in the Constitution of our country. I replied that I felt it was inspired. That both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were brought forth under the inspiration of God, to establish and sustain the freedom of the people of this Nation. I told him that I looked upon the Founding Fathers as men who believed in God, as men who prayed to God, as men who recognized God, and wished to do His will. What a singular and remarkable group they were. As I look across the world today I search in vain for such a group as walked together across the stage of history, when this Nation was born….

“Just think for a moment of George Washington, of Franklin, of Madison, of the Adams, of Thomas Jefferson and their associates who signed the Declaration of Independence, or participated in the Constitutional Convention. Where in all the world today can even one or two such men be found, let alone the great aggregation who participated in the birth of America? Can anyone deny that they were raised up unto this very purpose? That working together they brought forth on this continent an independent nation, at the risk of their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. It is my conviction that while we’ve had a few great leaders since then, there has not been before or since so large a group of talented, able and dedicated men, as those who we call the Founding Fathers of this Nation.”17

In a more recent general conference address, President Gordon B. Hinckley made the following statement:

“Great are the promises concerning this land of America. We are told unequivocally that it is a ‘choice land and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ’ (Ether 2:12). This is the crux of the entire matter—obedience to the commandments of God.

“The Constitution under which we live and which has not only blessed us but has become a model for other constitutions, is our God-inspired national safeguard ensuring freedom and liberty, justice and equality before the law.” 18

We have much to live up to! As previously mentioned, many prophets have declared that the establishment of the United States of America under the Constitution was the “great prologue” (meaning that which comes before) to the restoration of the gospel. If we who live in this blessed Nation are to remain the platform from which the Lord takes the gospel to all of His children throughout the world, it is imperative that this great Title of Liberty be maintained over this land.

We must maintain the liberty and economic strength to perform these labors, and it cannot be done if we do not “obey, honor and sustain” the law which God established in this land.

If we are to fulfill our responsibility, we cannot be swept into the mainstream of the world and embrace the false and destructive principles which are so universally taught and accepted today. The world’s principles are not God’s principles. The truth has been revealed and may be known by those who will seek diligently and faithfully to obtain it.

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that the time would come when the Constitution would hang by a thread, and the elders of the Church would have a hand in its preservation.19 Many other prophets have restated that prophecy. Indeed, we have a divine mandate to preserve the Constitution!

As the prophet, President Benson declared: “Unfortunately, we as a Nation have apostatized in various degrees from different Constitutional principles as proclaimed by the inspired founders. We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith [regarding the Nation and the Constitution being on the brink of destruction]“. If this is the case, then what are we to do?

In his monumental October 1987 General Conference address, “Our Divine Constitution,” which included the statement just noted, President Ezra Taft Benson outlined our responsibility. They are the words of God’s mouthpiece to us, defining how we may preserve the government God ordained for this Nation.

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.” If the Constitution is to have continuance, this American nation, and especially the Latter-day Saints, must be virtuous….

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.”

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 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).

Note the qualities that the Lord demands of those who are to represent us. They must be good, wise, and honest.

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).20

The United States Constitution itself promotes the idea that the people are the keepers of the Constitution,21 and therefore an informed electorate is the key to keeping all of their representatives in line with the proper constitutional principle. In light of the many testimonies which have been borne by the latter-day apostles and prophets in regard to this marvelous God-ordained document, it is apparent that the people, and particularly members of the Church, have a responsibility to become knowledgeable “Constitutionalists.”

As noted above, 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.”22

Brothers and Sisters, the time is spent, but as we contemplate during this season the great blessings of liberty which have been bequeathed to us by our loving Heavenly Father, and the sacrifices which were so expended not only in the establishment of the nation, but also in the efforts to establish the communities here in the Rocky Mountains that we may be free to worship our god, to practice our religion, to enjoy our freedom and our peace, and to support our wives and our children (see Alma 46:12), let us resolve that these blessings shall not be lost because of our slothfulness.

The importance of the preservation of liberty in this land must not be under-estimated—it is so critical is mankind’s liberty, and the eternal principle of agency, in the effort to take the message of salvation to the world. The Constitution is truly a “Heavenly Banner” which was divinely inspired, and which must be preserved if this nation is to continue to be the platform from which the message of salvation may be taken to our brothers and sisters throughout the world.

I bear testimony of God the Eternal Father, and of His divine Plan of Life and Exaltation.

We must be willing to subject ourselves to His great, eternal wisdom, His plan, His love.

I bear testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His perfect fulfillment of His Father’s will.

We must come unto Christ with all our hearts if we are to fulfill the great purposes for which we came to this earth.

We must be willing to embrace His principles, His ordinances, His government if we are to have all that He has promised us is possible.

We must become obedient in all things before Him.

It is for these purposes His gospel has been restored and is declared unto us.

For these purposes ordinances of salvation are administered unto the children of men.

For these purposes prophets have been called to declare the words of salvation to all mankind.

For this purpose was God willing to send His Only Begotten Son, His Chosen and Beloved from the beginning, to be our Savior.

For this purpose Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane, and ignominiously upon the cross.

Of these things I testify, in the sacred name of our Savior and Messiah, even Jesus Christ, amen.

End Notes:

1. Petersen, Mark E. The Great Prologue. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1975; “Our Divine Constitution,” President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1987, pages 4-7.

2. The Old Testament,, Daniel 2:45.

3. Doctrine and Covenants 98:4–7.

4. Doctrine and Covenants 101:77–80

5. Doctrine and Covenants 109:54.

6. Times and Seasons vol. 1, page 134; also, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 148.

7. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Six 1843–44, p.326; also, History of the Church 6:56-57.

8. History of the Church, Vol.4, Ch.13, p.239-p.249; also History of the Church, Vol.4, Introduction, p.22-23.

9. History of the Church, Vol.6, Ch.8, p.197-209.

10. “Our Divine Constitution,” President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1987, pages 4-7.

11. Henry, D. “The Prophets on the Christ.” Liahona: The Elders’ Journal (26 Dec 1908) 6:678; also in Roberts, B. H. Mormonism, 27-28.

12. Conference Report, October 1940, p. 104.

13. Conference Report, October 1939, p. 105.

14. —DNCS, September 6, 1952, p. 3.

15. Conference Report, April 1950, p. 37. ; Gospel Ideals, p.319-320.

16. “Our Divine Constitution,” President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1987, page 7.

17. President Gordon B. Hinckley, Fireside Address, BYU Marriott Center, 29 June 1997; also Standing for Something, pg xv.

18. President Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Times in Which We Live,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, p. 72.

19. 19 July 1840, as recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; ms. in Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City.

20. “Our Divine Constitution,” President Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1987, pages 6-7.

21. United States Constitution, Preamble.

22. History of the Church, 5:286.

On the 17th day of September, 1987, we commemorate the two-hundredth birthday of the Constitutional Convention, which gave birth to the document that Gladstone said is “the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.”

I heartily endorse this assessment, and I would like to 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.

To understand the significance of the Constitution, we must first understand some basic, eternal principles. These principles have their beginning in the premortal councils of heaven.

Some Basic Principles

The first basic principle is agency. The central issue in that premortal council was: Shall the children of God have untrammeled agency to choose the course they should follow, whether good or evil, or shall they be coerced and forced to be obedient? Christ and all who followed Him stood for the former proposition—freedom of choice; Satan stood for the latter—coercion and force.

The war that began in heaven over this issue is not yet over. The conflict continues on the battlefield of mortality. And one of Lucifer’s primary strategies has been to restrict our agency through the power of earthly governments.

Look back in retrospect on almost six thousand years of human history! Freedom’s moments have been infrequent and exceptional. We must appreciate that we live in one of history’s most exceptional moments—in a nation and a time of unprecedented freedom. Freedom as we know it has been experienced by perhaps less than 1 percent of the human family.

The second basic principle concerns the function and proper role of government. These are the principles that, in my opinion, proclaim the proper role of government in the domestic affairs of the nation:

“I believe that governments were instituted by God for the benefit of man; and that He holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them. …

“[I] 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. …

“[I] believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments.” (D&C 134:1-2, 5.)

In other words, the most important single function of government is to secure the rights and freedoms of individual citizens.

The third important principle pertains to the source of basic human rights. Rights are either God-given as part of the divine plan, or they are granted by government as part of the political plan.

If we accept the premise that human rights are granted by government, then we must be willing to accept the corollary that they can be denied by government. I, for one, shall never accept that premise. We must ever keep in mind the inspired words of Thomas Jefferson, as found in the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

The fourth basic principle we must understand is that people are superior to the governments they form. Since God created people with certain inalienable rights, and they, in turn, created government to help secure and safeguard those rights, it follows that the people are superior to the creature they created.

The fifth and final principle that is basic to our understanding of the Constitution is that governments should have only limited powers. The important thing to keep in mind is that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they, themselves, have in the first place. Obviously, they cannot give that which they do not possess.

By deriving its just powers from the governed, government becomes primarily a mechanism for defense against bodily harm, theft, and involuntary servitude. It cannot claim the power to redistribute money or property nor to force reluctant citizens to perform acts of charity against their will. Government is created by the people. The creature cannot exceed the creator.

God Raised Up Wise Men

With these basic principles firmly in mind, let us now turn to a discussion of the inspired document we call the Constitution. My purpose is not to recite the events that led to the American Revolution—we are all familiar with these. But I would say this: History is not an accident. Events are foreknown to God. His superintending influence is behind the actions of His righteous children.

Long before America was even discovered, the Lord was moving and shaping events that would lead to the coming forth of the remarkable form of government established by the Constitution. America had to be free and independent to fulfill this destiny. I comment to you as excellent reading on this subject Elder Mark E. Petersen’s book The Great Prologue (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1975). As expressed so eloquently by John Adams before the signing of the Declaration, “There’s a Divinity which shapes our ends.” Though mortal eyes and minds cannot fathom the end from the beginning, God does.

In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Savior declared, “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.) These were not ordinary men, but men chosen and held in reserve by the Lord for this very purpose.

Shortly after President Spencer W. Kimball became President of the Church, he assigned me to go into the vault of the St. George Temple and check the early records. As I did so, I realized the fulfillment of a dream I had had ever since learning of the visit of the Founding Fathers to the St. George Temple. I saw with my own eyes the record of the work which was done for the Founding Fathers of this great nation, beginning with George Washington.

Think of it, the Founding Fathers of this nation, those great men, appeared within those sacred walls and had their vicarious work done for them. President Wilford Woodruff spoke of it in these words:

“Before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, ‘You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God.’

“These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights. …

“I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon Brother McAllister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men.”

These noble spirits came there with divine permission—evidence that this work of salvation goes forward on both sides of the veil.

At a later conference, in April 1898, after he became President of the Church, President Woodruff declared that “those men who laid the foundation of this American government and signed the Declaration of Independence were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits … [and] were inspired of the Lord.” We honor those men today. We are the grateful beneficiaries of their noble work.

But we honor more than those who brought forth the Constitution. We honor the Lord, who revealed it. God himself has borne witness to the fact that He is pleased with the final product of the work of these great patriots.

In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith on 6 August 1833, the Savior admonished: “I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land.” (D&C 98:6.)

In the Kirtland Temple dedicatory prayer given on 27 March 1836, the Lord directed the Prophet Joseph to say: “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.)

A few years later, Joseph Smith, while unjustly incarcerated in a cold and depressing cell of Liberty Jail at Clay County, Missouri, frequently bore his testimony of the document’s divinity: “The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner.”

How this document accomplished all of this merits our further consideration.

Major Provisions of the Constitution

The Constitution consists of seven separate articles. The first three establish the three branches of our government—the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. The fourth article describes matters pertaining to states, most significantly the guarantee of a republican form of government to every state of the Union. Article 5 defines the amendment procedure of the document, a deliberately difficult process that should be clearly understood by every citizen. Article 6 covers several miscellaneous items, including a definition of the supreme law of the land, namely, the Constitution itself. Article 7, the last, explains how the Constitution is to be ratified.

Now to look at some of the major provisions of the document itself. Many principles could be examined, but I mention five as being crucial to the preservation of our freedom. If we understand the workability of these, we have taken the first step in defending our freedoms.

The major provisions of the Constitution are as follows:

First: Sovereignty lies in the people themselves. Every governmental system has a sovereign, one or several who possess all the executive, legislative, and judicial powers. That sovereign may be an individual, a group, or the people themselves.

The Founding Fathers believed in common law, which holds that true sovereignty rests with the people. Believing this to be in accord with truth, they inserted this imperative in the Declaration of Independence: “To secure these rights life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Second: To safeguard these rights, the Founding Fathers provided for the separation of powers among the three branches of government—the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. Each was to be independent of the other, yet each was to work in a unified relationship. As the great constitutionalist President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., noted:

“It is this union of independence and dependence of these branches—legislative, executive and judicial—and of the governmental functions possessed by each of them, that constitutes the marvelous genius of this unrivalled document. … It was here that the divine inspiration came. It was truly a miracle.”

The use of checks and balances was deliberately designed, first, to make it difficult for a minority of the people to control the government, and, second, to place restraint on the government itself.

Third: The powers the people granted to the three branches of government were specifically limited. The Founding Fathers well understood human nature and its tendency to exercise unrighteous dominion when given authority. A Constitution was therefore designed to limit government to certain enumerated functions, beyond which was tyranny.

Fourth: Our Constitutional government is based on the principle of representation. The principle of representation means that we have delegated to an elected official the power to represent us. The Constitution provides for both direct representation and indirect representation. Both forms of representation provide a tempering influence on pure democracy. The intent was to protect the individual’s and the minority’s rights to life, liberty, and the fruits of their labors—property. These rights were not to be subject to majority vote.

Fifth: The Constitution was designed to work with only a moral and righteous people. “Our constitution,” said John Adams (first vice-president and second president of the United States), “was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

The Constitution Requires Loyalty and Support

This, then, is the ingenious and inspired document created by these good and wise men for the benefit and blessing of future generations.

It is now two hundred years since the Constitution was written. Have we been wise beneficiaries of the gift entrusted to us? Have we valued and protected the principles laid down by this great document?

At this bicentennial celebration we must, with sadness, say that we have not been wise in keeping the trust of our Founding Fathers. For the past two centuries, those who do not prize freedom have chipped away at our Constitution until today we face a crisis of great dimensions. 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 upon 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.”

Will we be prepared? Will we be among those who will “bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction?” If we desire to be numbered among those who will, here are some things we must do:

1. We must be righteous and moral. We must live the gospel principles—all of them. We have no right to expect a higher degree of morality from those who represent us than what we ourselves exhibit. To live a higher law means we will not seek to receive what we have not earned by our own labor. It means we will remember that government owes us nothing. It means we will keep the laws of the land. It means we will look to God as our Lawgiver and the Source of our liberty.

2. We must learn the principles of the Constitution and then abide by its precepts. Have we read the Constitution and pondered it? Are we aware of its principles? Could we defend it? Can we recognize when a law is constitutionally unsound?

I quote Abraham Lincoln:

“Let [the Constitution] be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in primers, spelling-books, and in almanacs; let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation.”

3. We must become involved in civic affairs. As citizens of this republic, we cannot do our duty and be idle spectators. It is vital that we 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.)

Note the qualities that the Lord demands in those who are to represent us. They must be good, wise, and honest. We must be concerted in our desires and efforts to see men and women represent us who possess all three of these qualities—goodness, wisdom, and honesty.

4. We must make our influence felt by our vote, our letters, and our advice. We must be wisely informed and let others know how we feel. We must take part in local precinct meetings and select delegates who will truly represent our feelings.

I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. It will be saved by the citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church—men and women who will subscribe to and abide the principles of the Constitution.

I reverence the Constitution of the United States as a sacred document. To me its words are akin to the revelations of God, for God has placed His stamp of approval on the Constitution of this land. I testify that the God of heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government, and He has sent other choice spirits to preserve it.

We, the blessed beneficiaries, face difficult days in this beloved land, “a land which is choice above all other lands.” (Ether 2:10.) It may also cost us blood before we are through. It is my conviction, however, that when the Lord comes, the Stars and Stripes will be floating on the breeze over this people. May it be so, and may God give us the faith and the courage exhibited by those patriots who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor that we might be free, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

In 1831 the Lord said this to his Church:

“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

“Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

“For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

“But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.” (D&C 58:26–29.)

The purposes of the Lord—the great objectives—continue the same: the salvation and exaltation of his children.

Objectives and Guide Lines

Usually the Lord gives us the overall objectives to be accomplished and some guidelines to follow, but he expects us to work out most of the details and methods. The methods and procedures are usually developed through study and prayer and by living so that we can obtain and follow the promptings of the Spirit. Less spiritually advanced people, such as those in the days of Moses, had to be commanded in many things. Today those spiritually alert look at the objectives, check the guidelines laid down by the Lord and his prophets, and then prayerfully act—without having to be commanded “in all things.” This attitude prepares men for godhood.

The overall objective to be accomplished in missionary work, temple work, providing for the needy, and bringing up our children in righteousness has always been the same; only our methods to accomplish these objectives have varied. Any faithful member in this dispensation, no matter when he lived, could have found righteous methods to have carried out these objectives without having to wait for the latest, specific church-wide program.

Children To Act on Their Own Initiative and Responsibility

Sometimes the Lord hopefully waits on his children to act on their own, and when they do not, they lose the greater prize, and the Lord will either drop the entire matter and let them suffer the consequences or else he will have to spell it out in greater detail. Usually, I fear, the more he has to spell it out, the smaller is our reward.

Often, because of circumstances, the Lord, through revelation to his prophets or through inspired programs designed by faithful members which later become adopted on a church-wide basis, will give to all the membership a righteous means to help accomplish the objective; for instance, any member of the Church a century ago who studied church doctrine would have known that he had the prime responsibility to see that his children had spiritualized family recreation and were taught in the home lessons in character building and gospel principles. But some did not do it.

The Home Evening

Then, in 1915 President Joseph F. Smith introduced, church-wide, the “weekly home evening program” with promised blessings to all who faithfully adopted it. Many refused and lost the promised blessings. (At the October conference, 1947, I referred to that promise in a talk on the Family Home Evening.) Today we have the home evening manual and other helps. Yet some still refuse to bring up their children in righteousness.

But there are some today who complain that the home evening manual should have been issued years ago. If this is true then the Lord will hold his servants accountable, but no one can say that from the inception of the Church up to the present day the Lord through his Spirit to the individual members and through his spokesmen the prophets, has not given us the objectives and plenty of guidelines and counsel. The fact that some of us have not done much about it even when it is spelled out in detail is not the Lord’s fault.

For years we have been counseled to have on hand a year’s supply of food. Yet there are some today who will not start storing until the Church comes out with a detailed monthly home storage program. Now suppose that never happens. We still cannot say we have not been told.

Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church—and the need for that cleansing seems to be increasing—a famine in this land of one year’s duration could wipe out a large percentage of slothful members, including some ward and stake officers. Yet we cannot say we have not been warned.

Another warning: You and I sustain one man on this earth as God’s mouthpiece—President David O. McKay—one of the greatest seers who has ever walked this earth. We do not need a prophet—we have one—what we desperately need is a listening ear.

Warnings of Threats to Freedom

Should it be of concern to us when the mouthpiece of the Lord keeps constantly and consistently raising his voice of warning about the loss of our freedom as he has over the years? There are two unrighteous ways to deal with his prophetic words of warning: you can fight them or you can ignore them. Either course will bring you disaster in the long run.

Hear his words: “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.” (Cited in Jerreld L. Newquist, Prophets, Principles and National Survival [SLC: Publishers Press, 1964], p. 157.) As important as are all other principles of the gospel, it was the freedom issue which determined whether you received a body. To have been on the wrong side of the freedom issue during the war in heaven meant eternal damnation. How then can Latter-day Saints expect to be on the wrong side in this life and escape the eternal consequences? The war in heaven is raging on earth today. The issues are the same: “Shall men be compelled to do what others claim is for their best welfare” or will they heed the counsel of the prophet and preserve their freedom?

Satan argued that men given their freedom would not choose correctly therefore he would compel them to do right and save us all. Today Satan argues that men given their freedom do not choose wisely; therefore a so-called brilliant, benevolent few must establish the welfare government and force us into a greater socialistic society. We are assured of being led into the promised land as long as we let them put a golden ring in our nose. In the end we lose our freedom and the promised land also. No matter what you call it—communism, socialism, or the welfare state—our freedom is sacrificed. We believe the gospel is the greatest thing in the world; why then do we not force people to join the Church if they are not smart enough to see it on their own? Because this is Satan’s way not the Lord’s plan. The Lord uses persuasion and love.

Hear again the words of God’s mouthpiece:

“Today two mighty forces are battling for the supremacy of the world. The destiny of mankind is in the balance. It is a question of God and liberty, or atheism and slavery. . . .

“Those forces are known and have been designated by Satan on the one hand, and Christ on the other.

“In Joshua’s time they were called ‘gods of the Amorites,’ for one, and ‘the Lord’ on the other. . . . In these days, they are called ‘domination by the state,’ on one hand, ‘personal liberty,’ on the other; communism on one, free agency on the other.” (Ibid., pp. 215-216.)

Now, the Lord knew that before the gospel could flourish there must first be an atmosphere of freedom. This is why he first established the Constitution of this land through gentiles whom he raised up before he restored the gospel. In how many communist countries today are we doing missionary work, building chapels, etc.? And yet practically every one of those countries have been pushed into communism and kept under communism with the great assistance of evil forces which have and are operating within our own country and neighboring lands.

Yes, were it not for the tragic policies of governments—including our own—tens of millions of people murdered and hundreds of millions enslaved since World War II would be alive and free today to receive the restored gospel.

President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., put it clearly and courageously when he said:

“Reduced to its lowest terms, the great struggle which now rocks the whole earth more and more takes on the character of a struggle of the individual versus the state. . . .

“This gigantic world-wide struggle, more and more takes on the form of a war to the death. We shall do well and wisely so to face and so to enter it. And we must all take part. Indeed, we all are taking part in that struggle. whether we will or not. Upon its final issue, liberty lives or dies. . . . The plain and simple issue now facing us in America is freedom or slavery. . . . We have largely lost the conflict so far waged. But there is time to win the final victory, if we sense our danger and fight.” (Ibid., pp. 318, 327-328.)

Now where do we stand in this struggle, and what are we doing about it?

The devil knows that if the elders of Israel should ever wake up, they could step forth and help preserve freedom and extend the gospel. Therefore the devil has concentrated, and to a large extent successfully, in neutralizing much of the priesthood. He has reduced them to sleeping giants. His arguments are clever.

Here are a few samples:

First: “We really haven’t received much instruction about freedom,” the devil says. This is a lie, for we have been warned time and again. No prophet of the Lord has ever issued more solemn warning than President David O. McKay. Last conference I spoke of a book embodying much of the prophets’ warnings on freedom from Joseph Smith to David O. McKay which I commend to you. It is entitled Prophets, Principles, and National Survival.

Second: “You’re too involved in other church work,” says the devil. But freedom is a weighty matter of the law; the lesser principles of the gospel you should keep but not leave this one undone. We may have to balance and manage our time better. Your other church work will be limited once you lose your freedom as our Saints have found out in Czechoslovakia, Poland, and many other nations.

Third: “You want to be loved by everyone,” says the devil, “and this freedom battle is so controversial you might be accused of engaging in politics.” Of course the government has penetrated so much of our lives that one can hardly speak for freedom without being accused of being political. Some might even call the war in heaven a political struggle—certainly it was controversial. Yet the valiant entered it with Michael. Those who support only the popular principles of the gospel have their reward. And those who want to lead the quiet, retiring life but still expect to do their full duty can’t have it both ways.

Said Elder John A. Widtsoe:

“The troubles of the world may largely be laid at the doors of those who are neither hot nor cold; who always follow the line of least resistance; whose timid hearts flutter at taking sides for truth. As in the great Council in the heavens, so in the Church of Christ on earth, there can be no neutrality.” (Ibid, p. 440.)

Fourth: “Wait until it becomes popular to do,” says the devil, “or, at least until everybody in the Church agrees on what should be done.” But this fight for freedom might never become popular in our day. And if you wait until everybody agrees in this Church, you will be waiting through the second coming of the Lord. Would you have hesitated to follow the inspired counsel of the Prophet Joseph Smith simply because some weak men disagreed with him? God’s living mouthpiece has spoken to us—are we for him or against him? In spite of the Prophet’s opposition to increased federal aid and compulsory unionism, some church members still champion these freedom destroying programs. Where do you stand?

Fifth: “It might hurt your business or your family,” says the devil, “and besides why not let the gentiles save the country? They aren’t as busy as you are.” Well, there were many businessmen who went along with Hitler because it supposedly helped their business. They lost everything. Many of us are here today because our forefathers loved truth enough that they fought at Valley Forge or crossed the plains in spite of the price it cost them or their families. We had better take our small pain now than our greater loss later. There were souls who wished afterwards that they had stood and fought with Washington and the founding fathers, but they waited too long—they passed up eternal glory. There has never been a greater time than now to stand up against entrenched evil. And while the gentiles established the Constitution, we have a divine mandate to preserve it. But unfortunately today in this freedom struggle, many gentiles are showing greater wisdom in their generation than the children of light.

Sixth: “Don’t worry,” says the devil “the Lord will protect you, and besides the world is so corrupt and heading toward destruction at such a pace that you can’t stop it, so why try.” Well to begin with, the Lord will not protect us unless we do our part. This devilish tactic of persuading people not to get concerned because the Lord will protect them no matter what they do is exposed by the Book of Mormon. Referring to the devil, it says, “And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, and they will say: All is well in Zion, yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.” (2 Nephi 28:21.)

I like that word “carefully.” In other words, don’t shake them, you might awake them. But the Book of Mormon warns us that when we should see these murderous conspiracies in our midst that we should awake to our awful situation. Now why should we awake if the Lord is going to take care of us anyway? Now let us suppose that it is too late to save freedom. It is still accounted unto us for righteousness’ sake to stand up and fight. Some Book of Mormon prophets knew of the final desolate end of their nations, but they still fought on, and they saved some souls including their own by so doing. For, after all, the purpose of life is to prove ourselves, and the final victory will be for freedom.

But many of the prophecies referring to America’s preservation are conditional. That is, if we do our duty we can be preserved, and if not then we shall be destroyed. This means that a good deal of the responsibility lies with the priesthood of this Church as to what happens to America and as to how much tragedy can be avoided if we do act now.

And now as to the last neutralizer that the devil uses most effectively—it is simply this: “Don’t do anything in the fight for freedom until the Church sets up its own specific program to save the Constitution.” This brings us right back to the scripture I opened with today—to those slothful servants who will not do anything until they are “compelled in all things.” Maybe the Lord will never set up a specific church program for the purpose of saving the Constitution. Perhaps if he set one up 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. And have we elders been warned? Yes, we have. And have we elders been given the guide lines? Yes indeed, we have. And besides, if the Church should ever inaugurate a program, who do you think would be in the forefront to get it moving? It would not be those who were sitting on the sidelines prior to that time or those who were appeasing the enemy. It would be those choice spirits who, not waiting to be “commanded in all things,” used their own free will, the counsel of the prophets and the Spirit of the Lord as guidelines and who entered the battle “in a good cause” and brought to pass much righteousness in freedom’s cause.

Years ago Elder Joseph F. Merrill of the Council of the Twelve encouraged the members of the Church to join right-to-work leagues and President Heber J. Grant concurred. For our day President David O. McKay has called communism the greatest threat to the Church, and it is certainly the greatest mortal threat this country has ever faced. What are you doing to fight it?

“The War in Heaven” Is Raging on Earth Today

Brethren, if we had done our homework and were faithful, we could step forward at this time and help save this country. The fact that most of us are unprepared to do it is an indictment we will have to bear. The longer we wait, the heavier the chains, the deeper the blood, the more the persecution and the less we can carry out our God-given mandate and world-wide mission. The war in heaven is raging on earth today. Are you being neutralized in the battle?

“Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

“For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. . . .” (D&C 58:27–28.)

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.