The restoration of the gospel and the establishment of the Lord’s Church could not come to pass until the Founding Fathers were raised up and completed their foreordained missions. Those great souls who were responsible for the freedoms we enjoy acknowledged the guiding hand of Providence. For their efforts we are indebted, but we are even more indebted to our Father in Heaven and to His Son, Jesus Christ. How fortunate we are to live when the blessings of liberty and the gospel of Jesus Christ are both available to us.

( Source:

Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson 604; from an address given at the Bicentennial Ball, Salt Lake City, UT, 18 Sep 1987

)