023. The United States Constitution is inspired of God.
022. The Lord prepared and preserved the American continent (the Western Hemisphere) as a land choice above all other lands.
And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands. (The Lord speaks to Nephi in response to his prayer, 600-692 B.C.) 1 Nephi 2:20
J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
This has always been a mighty land in God's plan. It was in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman that Adam, prior to his death, called the great high priests together and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. The Lord appearing there, his posterity proclaimed Adam to be Michael, the Prince, the Archangel. (D&C 107:53, 54) It is to that same spot that Adam, as the Ancient of Days, shall come to visit his people (D&C 116), when judgment shall be set and the books opened. (Daniel 7:9 ff; Revelation 20:4)
It is here on this land that the New Jerusalem shall be built "unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph"—ourselves and those others, the literal descendants of Lehi. (Ether 13:5 ff; 1 Nephi 14:1,2; 2 Nephi 14:18) And finally, it is here on this hemisphere that Zion shall be built. (tenth Article of Faith) It is this fact and purpose, the building of Zion on this hemisphere, which is Zion, which seem to be the dominant elements in all of God's dealings with them who possess this land, for Isaiah, speaking more than 2,500 years ago, declared that "out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3)
Thus America's ultimate God-given destiny, planned by the Creator and testified by ancient and modern prophecy and revelation, is that out of her shall go forth the law. (To M.I.A. Conference, June 9, 1940) MOFP6:97
quoted by his son Nephi
But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. (Lehi to his sons, between 588-570 B.C.) 2 Nephi 1:5
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 fulness of his wrath should come upon them. (Moroni's abridgement of the record of the Jaredites covering the period of time of the Tower of Babel) Ether 2:7-8
Only in this land, under this God-inspired Constitution, under an environment of freedom, could it have been possible to have established the Church and kingdom of God and restored the gospel in its fulness. It is our responsibility, my brethren and sisters, to see that this freedom is maintained, so that the Church can flourish in the future. CR1954Oct:121
Today we live in a choice land, yes, a land choice above all other lands. We live amid unbounded prosperity—this because of the heritage bequeathed to us by our forebears, a heritage of self-reliance, initiative, personal industry, and faith in God, all in an atmosphere of freedom. CR1976Oct; Our Priceless Heritage, Ensign, November 1976, p.33
Related Witnesses:
And when thou hast done this thou shalt go at the head of them down into the valley which is northward. And there will I meet thee, and I will go before thee into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth. (Moroni's abridgement of the record of the Jaredites covering the period of time of the Tower of Babel; the Lord responds to the prayer of the brother of Jared) Ether 1:42
023. The United States Constitution is inspired of God.
receiving the Word of the Lord
And for this purpose have 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. (Revelation at the time of great persecution in Missouri, Dec. 16, 1833, affirming the purpose of the Constitution was to protect the rights and agency of individuals—see D&C 101:77-79D&C 101:80
[T]he Lord in his wisdom saw the necessity of giving us a nation in which we could thrive. In no other nation under heaven could the Church have been organized and gone forward as we have in this nation. The founding of the United States was not an accident. The giving to us of the Constitution of the United States was not an accident. Our Heavenly Father knew what would be needed, and so he paved the way to give us the Constitution. It came under the influence of prayer, and he guided those who framed that wonderful document.
I hope that the membership of this Church will not be deceived into thinking that other plans, other forms of government, other systems of direction whatsoever, are desirable. I want to say to you without any hesitation that no form of government in the world can be compared favorably with the government God gave to us. This is his plan. CR1947Apr:163
Having declared America to be a land of liberty, God undertook to raise up a band of inspired and intelligent leaders who would write a constitution of liberty and establish the first free people in modern times. The hand of God in this undertaking is clearly indicated by the Lord himself in a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith in these words:
". . . 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)
. . . God declared that the United States Constitution was divinely inspired for the specific purpose of eliminating bondage and the violation of the rights and protection which belongs to "all flesh." (Ibid., D&C 101:77-80CR1961Oct:69-71
quoted by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
[T]he Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner; it is to all those who are privileged with the sweets of liberty, like the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a great rock in a thirsty and weary land. It is like a great tree under whose branches men from every clime can be shielded from the burning rays of the sun. (Epistle to the Church from Liberty Jail, March 25, 1839) TPJS:147
The Church unequivocally declares, nothing doubting, that God Himself set up the Constitution of the United States, and that He so declared, saying: "I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose," and the Constitution shall "be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles." (D&C 101:80,77)
The Church further declares that such laws must be 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." (D&C 134:2)
The Church has, for one hundred years, accepted as complying with the divine mandate, the form of government set up under the Constitution. (To Citizens' Conference on Government Management, Estes Park, Colo., 1939) MOFP6:67
As you read in the Doctrine and Covenants, he also gave us our form of government. The Constitution of the United States was revelation from God virtually. I do not say word for word, but I say that God raised up the men who wrote it, and inspired them in its writing so that this type of government—a free government—would be established here for one particular purpose. That was to provide the climate under which God would have such religious freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and all of the other freedoms, that this true Church could develop, later to send these things—the teachings of the gospel—out to all the world and especially to the house of Lehi. ("Our Divine Destiny," Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, Feb. 20, 1968, p. 8) TLDP:21-22
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. CR2001Oct; The Times in Which We Live, Ensign, November 2001, p.72
Related Witnesses:
The United States is a different kind of nation from any other nation. The United States was God-given—raised up by the Almighty to provide the proper conditions under which the Church could be restored in this day and to provide the freedom as well as the armed might to permit us as missionaries to travel the world with the passports of a great country which would protect us wherever we went. ("Our Divine Destiny," Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, Feb. 20, 1968, p. 3) TLDP:20
We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.
2. We 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. (Declaration of belief regarding governments and laws, Aug. 17, 1835) D&C 134:1-2
024. The American continent (North and South America) has been selected by the Lord as a land of inheritance for the descendants of Joseph and all others whom the Lord chooses to lead out of other countries.
It is here on this land that the New Jerusalem shall be built "unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph"—ourselves and those others, the literal descendants of Lehi. (Ether 13:5 ff; 1 Nephi 14:1,2; 2 Nephi 10:18) And finally, it is here on this hemisphere that Zion shall be built. (tenth Article of Faith) It is this fact and purpose, the building of Zion on this hemisphere, which is Zion, which seem to be the dominant elements in all of God's dealings with them who possess this land, for Isaiah, speaking more than 2,500 years ago, declared that "out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3) (To M.I.A. conference, June 9, 1940) MOFP:6:97
quoted by his son Nephi
But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. (Lehi, descendent of Joseph, to his sons, between 588-570 B.C.) 2 Nephi 1:5
Unto Nephi, son of Lehi, was shown the future of his people, including the degeneracy of a branch thereof, afterward known as Lamanites and in modern times as American Indians. The coming of a man from among the Gentiles, across the deep waters, was revealed in such plainness as to positively identify that man with Columbus; and the coming of other Gentiles to this land, out of captivity, is equally explicit. . . . (1 Nephi 13:10-13JTC:757
Related Witnesses:
And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.
13. And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.
14. And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; (An angel shows Nephi, descendent of Joseph, the discovery and colonizing of America, 600-592 B.C.) 1 Nephi 13:12-14
For it sufficeth me to say that we are descendants of Joseph. (The writings of Nephi, 600-592 B.C.) 1 Nephi 6:2
And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.
15. And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.
16. And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records. (The writings of Nephi, 600-592 B.C.) 1 Nephi 5:14-16
God revealed to his ancient American prophets that shortly after the discovery of America there would be peoples in Europe who would desire to escape the persecution and tyranny of the Old World and flee to America. (1 Nephi 13:13-16CR1961Oct:69-71
