Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Act to save our constitution
The struggle for the souls of man started when our Heavenly Father
said, "I will send the first." (Abr. 3:27) The war in heaven was
fought over agency, mankind's ability to freely choose his actions,
and throughout the history of the world the struggle has continued.
The Apostle Paul said: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
(Ephesians 6:12)
Just as in the days of the flood it is true of our days: "Satan ha[s]
great dominion among men, and rage[s] in their hearts ... because of
secret works, seeking for power." (Moses 6: 15) All of this is
wrapped up in the conflict over agency, but because of Jesus Christ we
are free to choose. As father Lehi said: "Wherefore, men are free
according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are
expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal
life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity
and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil." (2 Ne.
2: 27) Agency here is made synonymous with liberty and freedom and all
are made possible through Jesus Christ.
What has this got to do with the founding of America and the
Constitution? Everything! The Prophet Mormon taught: "Behold, this
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)
The principle of agency has been taught from the time of Adam, but
governments from that time till the founding of America [with a few
exceptions] have been monarchies that have limited, suppressed and
even confiscated agency from their subjects. The Nephite King
Benjamin was the first to recognize that there was a better form of
government and after his death the Nephites set up the reign of the
judges which was one of two golden ages in Nephite history.
Captain Moroni embodies the Nephite understanding of freedom and
liberty. After defeating Zerahemnah and the Lamanites Moroni's armies
faced a great threat from within the new Nephite nation from
Amalickiah and his kingmen. Moroni made the title of liberty, that
claimed rights "by our faith, by our religion, and by our rites of
worship, and by our church, and by the sacred support which we owe to
our wives and our children, by that liberty which binds us to our
lands and our country; yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred
word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and by all that is
most dear unto us." (Alma 44:5) Then for seventeen years the Nephites
fought both the kingmen and the Lamanites to preserve their right to
life, liberty and property. Their victory was short lived, and the
government only lasted another 45 years because of secret combinations
and the wickedness of the Nephites. 500 years later the Nephites like
the Jaredites before them were swept off the land because they
rejected the Lord Jesus Christ.
In 1 Nephi 13, Nephi is shown in vision the founding of our great
nation nearly 2400 years before it happened. He saw the discovery of
America and the subsequent colonization. He saw that those who came
to colonize this country would come so they could worship freely and
to escape the tyranny of government.
President Joseph F. Smith said: "This great American nation the
Almighty raised up by the power of His omnipotent hand, that it might
be possible in the latter days for the kingdom of God to be
established in the earth. If the Lord had not prepared the way by
laying the foundations of this glorious nation, it would have been
impossible (under the stringent laws and bigotry of the monarchical
governments of the old world) to have laid the foundations for the
coming of His great kingdom. The Lord has done this. His hand has
been over this nation, and it is His purpose and design to enlarge it,
make it glorious above all others, and to give it dominion and power
over the earth, to the end that those who are kept in bondage and
serfdom may be brought to the enjoyment of the fullest freedom and
liberty of conscience possible for intelligent men to exercise in the
earth." (Gospel Doctrine p. 409)
In 1776 a group of colonists began the process of breaking away from
the tyrannical monarchy of England. Their concluding words in the
Declaration of Independence are fervent and inspiring and bring to
mind the words of Moroni in the title of liberty: "And for the support
of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine
Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes,
and our sacred Honor." War ensued and many of these men gave much and
some gave all to support the Declaration they so boldly made, but as
Nephi saw in vision: "And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had
gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the
hands of all other nations." (1 Nephi 13:19)
In 1787 many of these same men met again and created a document that
has changed the world: The Constitution of the United States of
America. George Washington, James Madison and others refer to the
constitution as 'divinely inspired' and 'miraculous'.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said this: "We say that God is true; that the
Constitution of the United States is true; that the Bible is true;
that the Book of Mormon is true; that the Book of Covenants is true;
that Christ is true; that the ministering of angels sent forth from
God are true, and that we know that we have an house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens, whose builder and maker is God." (TPJS
147-48) And the Lord Jesus Christ said: I established the
Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up
unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of
blood." (D&C 101:80)
I have only just outlined the beginnings of this great nation and the
Constitution that we have been given from the Lord. But my focus in
giving this talk is to look forward. What do we do with our heritage
of freedom, liberty, and agency?
The word of the prophets and the commandments of the Lord are very
clear about our present situation, President Eliza R. Snow of the
Relief Society quoted the Prophet Joseph Smith saying: "I heard him
[Joseph Smith] say that the time would come when this nation would so
far depart from its original purity, its glory, and its love for
freedom and its protection of civil rights and religious rights, that
the Constitution of our country would hang as it were by a thread. He
said, also, that this people, the sons of Zion, would rise up and save
the Constitution and bear it off triumphantly. (Snow, Eliza R. p. 556)
President Brigham Young said: "Will the Constitution be destroyed? No:
it will be held inviolate by this people; and, as Joseph Smith said,
"The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a
single thread. At that critical juncture, this people will step forth
and save it from the threatened destruction." It will be so. With
regard to the doings of our fathers and the Constitution of the United
States, I have to say, they present to us a glorious prospect in the
future, but one we cannot attain to until the present abuses in the
Government are corrected." (JD 7:14-15)
President John Taylor said: "The Constitution of the United States has
ever been respected and honored by us. We consider it one of the best
national instruments ever formed. Nay, further, Joseph Smith in his
day said it was given by inspiration of God. We have ever stood by it,
and we expect when the fanaticism of false, blatant friends shall have
torn it shred from shred, to stand by the shattered ruins and uphold
the broken, desecrated remnants of our country's institutions in all
their primitive purity and pristine glory." (JT Papers 1:228)
We are told, however, that "eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty;" and as we possess the best Constitution and the best
government in the world, let us preserve it, and transmit it intact,
pure and unadulterated to our children." (JT Papers 1:285)
He also said: "I have watched with no little anxiety the
encroachments of Government and the manifest desire to trample upon
your rights. It is for you, however, to maintain them; and if those
men that are traitors to the spirit and genius of the Constitution of
the United States have a mind to trample under foot those principles
that ought to guarantee protection to every American citizen, we will
rally around the standard, and bid them defiance in the name of the
Lord God of Israel." (JD 5:156-57)
President Heber J. Grant said: "I pray God to inspire the people that
they will obey His commands, and elect good men to office; that they
will bury their political differences and seek for good men to hold
office, and not men who connive with those who are breaking the laws
of our country." (Gospel Standards, 129)
There are statements by every prophet from Joseph Smith to Thomas
Monson on this topic but perhaps the most poignant is from President
Ezra Taft Benson who said in 1987: "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 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" (Ezra Taft Benson, "Our Divine Constitution," Ensign, Nov
1987).
Twenty-two years ago the prophet warned that we were a constitutionally
apostatizing nation, I submit that the time the constitution is to be
on the brink of ruin has come and that we must raise up as a members
of the church and as Americans to do our part to save the
constitution. How shall we save the constitution? The Lord tells us
in the Doctrine & Conenants:
"Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church,
in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;
And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this,
cometh of evil." (D&C 98:6-7)
1. We must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition
of the Founding Fathers.
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?" (Ezra Taft Benson, "Our Divine Constitution,"
Ensign, Nov 1987, 4) As Jefferson said, "If a nation expects to be
ignorant and free…it expects what never was and never will be" (Letter
to Colonel Charles Yancey, 6 Jan. 1816).
-Learn the rights protected by the constitution, and the limits of government.
-Learn about the founding of our nation and get to know the founders
in greater detail.
-Get a copy of the constitution to keep with you and read.
"Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn. Wherefore,
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 98:9-10)
2. 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). Note the qualities that the Lord demands of those who
are to represent us. They must be good, wise, and honest.
- Get to know your legislators personally. If they are good, wise and
honest work with them but if they are not then work to replace them
with someone who is.
- Run for office.
3. We must make our influence felt by our vote, our communications,
our teaching, our advice, and our service.
- 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).
- We must make time and find a place for public service, there are
always places open on City, County, Township and State boards and many
other opportunities to serve in the community. Contact leaders and
offices and ask how you can get involved.
- Attend City Council meets, political party meetings and activist
meetings and speak up for what is right and true.
- Keep current with, and have a good understanding of, legislation at
the State and Federal levels and make an active and vocal stand for
what is right. Issues are either constitutional or they aren't -- there
is no compromise --"whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of
evil."
- Get to know your legislators personally. Support the good they do
and respectfully and thoughtfully challenge constitutionally unsound
actions and positions.
4. We must live the gospel and keep our covenants.
- "Behold, this 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)
- "For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who
sins against the greater light shall receive the greater
condemnation." (D&C 82:3)
It's time for us as citizens, to become the voice of reason and the
fostering force for conscience in the mind of every congressman and
senator, and in the mind of our president. We must drown out the
chaos of the lobbyists and the special interest groups with a firm and
uninterrupted flow of communication and with united purpose and
resolve. We The People have allowed the creation of the government,
and have through inaction, fostered it's growth to become a blight on
the body of freedom, the constitution and the founding ideals of
America.
We can no longer simply enjoy our freedoms and idly leave the
governance of our nation to others. Nor can we tolerate the ignorance,
disregard and inaction of our elected officials. If they will not
serve honorably, they must be pulled down ignominiously. If they
cannot hold aloft the torch of freedom for fear they cannot hide, then
we must hold it up and bring to light every concealed action and
closed door conversation.
For the last hundred years our federal government has eroded our
constitutional rights and we have allowed it to be because we have
believed the lie that we are giving up something for the greater good.
In the last nine years we have seen a deliberate acceleration of this
erosion.
Now is the time we must act to save our constitution. Indeed, now is
the time "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; 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. (D&C 101:77-78)
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Registering trees
you know of any places that require permits for cutting trees on
personal property? When we get to that point is the next step going
to be registering trees so the government controls when and how many
trees we can cut down? If you know anything about either of these
possibilities, please comment.
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