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Just and Holy Principles: Latter-Day Saint Readings on America and the Constitution
Latter-Day Saint leaders past and present share their views regarding the founding of the United States of America. Text often used in Brigham Young University's American Heritage class.
202 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 12, 2014
After reading Hancock's introductory essay I knew that I was in for something more than a generic collection of talks. In the introductory essay Hancock defines and draws together the whole book to lay the framework for a comprehensive LDS interpretation of not only the constitution but of principles of government in general. The talks are on a variety of topics from secularism and virtue, to institutional constraints and the 14th amendment and many different points are made, but Hancock helps the reader to see the consistency stretching across two hundred years of LDS thought on the Constitution and America. Obviously the government has changed and morphed (I won't say evolved) as well as interacted a lot with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Consequently the critiques and thoughts change over the years. In the 19th century there was a lot said about religious freedom, rights to the free exercise of religion, and the imperfect progressive nature of the constitution. In the early and mid 20th century many church leaders were worried about the growing government, the disregard of the constitutional heritage, and the threat of Communism. In the late 20th century church leaders were deeply concerned about the virtue of the American people and the growing secularization of American society.
Though these topics differ substantially the reader gets an idea of the underlying principles that are unchanging and are applied in different ways in a changing world. From the book, we understand that the principle that freedom and virtue are indelibly linked. A society cannot enjoy freedom long without a virtuous people to maintain it by restraining themselves and taking responsibility. We understand that America has had and will continue to have an important role in the Church, not only as the cradle of the restoration, but as a land of religious freedom. The fundamental right to practice and live our religion is THE central concern that the church has with the American government and any government for that matter. That includes the right to participate in the government, have an impact on its actions and help determine the fate of the nation. The words of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon about everyone being responsible for their own sins form a backbone of this belief as well as the words of Ether about America being a land of liberty without kings except in the case of unrighteousness. Regardless of the corrupt actions taken by officers in the government, the American founding, where wise and inspired men carefully limited the government and protected fundamental God-given rights, was an important moment in God's plan for all of mankind. It made possible the restoration of the gospel and the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, not to mention the spread of missionary work and the spread of religious freedom to nations throughout the world. As Orson Pratt says in the collection, when Christ returns, the government will be different, the Savior will reign personally upon the earth. But, in a fallen and corrupt world the founders were great men who did a great work erecting a system which was the best that the world has seen in protecting rights and freedoms.
This is a book worth buying and reading repeatedly. Apparently it used to be a required text in the BYU American Heritage which is exactly what it should be. I would recommend this to any member of the church but especially to American members. People who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints could learn a lot by reading this book as well.
Though these topics differ substantially the reader gets an idea of the underlying principles that are unchanging and are applied in different ways in a changing world. From the book, we understand that the principle that freedom and virtue are indelibly linked. A society cannot enjoy freedom long without a virtuous people to maintain it by restraining themselves and taking responsibility. We understand that America has had and will continue to have an important role in the Church, not only as the cradle of the restoration, but as a land of religious freedom. The fundamental right to practice and live our religion is THE central concern that the church has with the American government and any government for that matter. That includes the right to participate in the government, have an impact on its actions and help determine the fate of the nation. The words of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon about everyone being responsible for their own sins form a backbone of this belief as well as the words of Ether about America being a land of liberty without kings except in the case of unrighteousness. Regardless of the corrupt actions taken by officers in the government, the American founding, where wise and inspired men carefully limited the government and protected fundamental God-given rights, was an important moment in God's plan for all of mankind. It made possible the restoration of the gospel and the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, not to mention the spread of missionary work and the spread of religious freedom to nations throughout the world. As Orson Pratt says in the collection, when Christ returns, the government will be different, the Savior will reign personally upon the earth. But, in a fallen and corrupt world the founders were great men who did a great work erecting a system which was the best that the world has seen in protecting rights and freedoms.
This is a book worth buying and reading repeatedly. Apparently it used to be a required text in the BYU American Heritage which is exactly what it should be. I would recommend this to any member of the church but especially to American members. People who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints could learn a lot by reading this book as well.
August 26, 2018
This book, IMHO, is an absolute must-read for all Latter-Day Saints. It is a compilation of speeches on America and the Constitution given from LDS general authorities beginning from Joseph Smith's time to the end of the 1990s. My understanding and appreciation of the Founding Fathers and the birth of this great nation has been increased immensely. These readings have helped me understand so much more about the principles and freedom and the role of citizens and government in relation to these freedoms. I feel inspired to instill in my children a love for this great nation and the Constitution. So many great speeches. So many great quotes included from the Founding Fathers. I highly, highly recommend!
October 21, 2022
Inspiring and informational. I read this in college and re-read it again this year. I loved delving into time-capsules these men share regarding the state of liberty and our Constitution over the last two centuries. I often went down rabbit holes to study more about the politics of their days in order to get a better grasp on where they were speaking from. I was shocked to see the foresight of these church leaders, and butterfly effects taking place of which they prophesied, if we did not stand and defend our liberties that are vouchsafed in The Constitution.
December 16, 2015
This collection of talks from LDS leaders contains:
"In my feelings I am always ready to die for the protection of the weak and oppressed in their just rights. The only fault I find with the Constitution is, it is not broad enough to cover the whole ground." - Joseph Smith
"My cogitations, like Daniel's, have for a long time troubled me, when I viewed the condition of men throughout the world, and more especially in this boasted realm, where the Declaration of Independence holds these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . . but at the same time some two or three millions of people are held as slaves for life, because the spirit in them is covered with a darker skin than ours." - Joseph Smith
“I attended a second lecture on Socialism, by Mr. Finch; and after he got through, I made a few remarks … I said I did not believe the doctrine.” - Joseph Smith
"The political organization upon the land was designed by heaven to be a protection to the righteous. 'But,' says one, 'is it not designed to protect the wicked?' No, not in wicked acts, but in their freedom and liberty, to think and to speak and to act, and to choose for themselves." - Erastus Snow
"If men could prove to us that we are wrong, then they might have some chance of converting us. But when they trample upon our inalienable rights, upon our constitutional privileges, upon religious liberty, why, then, we feel like resisting. But we are not going to fight." Charles Penrose
"Even in our own land there are some who seem to think that our Constitution is unfriendly to religion. On the contrary, it is intended to encourage and protect all religions. It simply means 'equal rights to all, but special privileges to none,'—no state religion, but no interference with any. This is holy ground. To Congress it says, 'hands off.'" - Rulon Wells
"Inequality is a law of all social life, and to try to do away with inequality among men is to substitute tyranny for liberty." - Levi Edgar Young
"Education is the only way to reach the ideal in our souls of what our government really means." Levi Edgar Young
"[The founders] had a surprisingly accurate knowledge of the course of all governments within the period of recorded history and had learned that power once bestowed tends ever towards its own expansion." - Albert Bowen
"To hold that the founders were heaven-guided does not signify, neither do I believe, that the Constitution was written by the finger of God, nor that it sprang full grown either from the forehead of Jove or Jehovah." -Albert Bowen
"[The Constitution's] highest sanctions are free speech, free press, free election, a free legislature, a free judiciary, and a definite limitation upon the powers of government over the lives of men." - Albert Bowen
"The powers of the Federal Government are to be found in the explicit grants made in [the Constitution] and in them only." - J. Reuben Clark
"[The founders] saw clearly that the power to tax the individual gave the power to control him, so they left this power in the sates to be handled under local self-government." -J. Reuben Clark
***
I see three movements:
1830-1860 - LDS leaders feel the federal government didn't do enough to protect them.
1860-1960 - LDS leaders feel strong skepticism toward concentrated power at the federal level (evidenced in the quotes above)
1960-present - LDS leaders worry about the rise of secularism and the decline of religious freedom.
"In my feelings I am always ready to die for the protection of the weak and oppressed in their just rights. The only fault I find with the Constitution is, it is not broad enough to cover the whole ground." - Joseph Smith
"My cogitations, like Daniel's, have for a long time troubled me, when I viewed the condition of men throughout the world, and more especially in this boasted realm, where the Declaration of Independence holds these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . . but at the same time some two or three millions of people are held as slaves for life, because the spirit in them is covered with a darker skin than ours." - Joseph Smith
“I attended a second lecture on Socialism, by Mr. Finch; and after he got through, I made a few remarks … I said I did not believe the doctrine.” - Joseph Smith
"The political organization upon the land was designed by heaven to be a protection to the righteous. 'But,' says one, 'is it not designed to protect the wicked?' No, not in wicked acts, but in their freedom and liberty, to think and to speak and to act, and to choose for themselves." - Erastus Snow
"If men could prove to us that we are wrong, then they might have some chance of converting us. But when they trample upon our inalienable rights, upon our constitutional privileges, upon religious liberty, why, then, we feel like resisting. But we are not going to fight." Charles Penrose
"Even in our own land there are some who seem to think that our Constitution is unfriendly to religion. On the contrary, it is intended to encourage and protect all religions. It simply means 'equal rights to all, but special privileges to none,'—no state religion, but no interference with any. This is holy ground. To Congress it says, 'hands off.'" - Rulon Wells
"Inequality is a law of all social life, and to try to do away with inequality among men is to substitute tyranny for liberty." - Levi Edgar Young
"Education is the only way to reach the ideal in our souls of what our government really means." Levi Edgar Young
"[The founders] had a surprisingly accurate knowledge of the course of all governments within the period of recorded history and had learned that power once bestowed tends ever towards its own expansion." - Albert Bowen
"To hold that the founders were heaven-guided does not signify, neither do I believe, that the Constitution was written by the finger of God, nor that it sprang full grown either from the forehead of Jove or Jehovah." -Albert Bowen
"[The Constitution's] highest sanctions are free speech, free press, free election, a free legislature, a free judiciary, and a definite limitation upon the powers of government over the lives of men." - Albert Bowen
"The powers of the Federal Government are to be found in the explicit grants made in [the Constitution] and in them only." - J. Reuben Clark
"[The founders] saw clearly that the power to tax the individual gave the power to control him, so they left this power in the sates to be handled under local self-government." -J. Reuben Clark
***
I see three movements:
1830-1860 - LDS leaders feel the federal government didn't do enough to protect them.
1860-1960 - LDS leaders feel strong skepticism toward concentrated power at the federal level (evidenced in the quotes above)
1960-present - LDS leaders worry about the rise of secularism and the decline of religious freedom.
September 12, 2016
This book is good for reference, as it does not give any context to the speeches. It is a good sampling of writings about America from latter-day prophets and apostles. Not having context makes this collection more dry than it should be. Granted, this is a textbook reader, so I assume students would have the context from lectures.
It is interesting to note that as the Church has become more international the General Conference talks on these subjects have become fewer. The more recent speeches in this book come from other venues. It is also interesting to note the political leanings of these individuals are not in sync with each other. This goes to show that certain constitutional principles are true, but each person can still have his own ideas about how to achieve those principles and goals.
It is interesting to note that as the Church has become more international the General Conference talks on these subjects have become fewer. The more recent speeches in this book come from other venues. It is also interesting to note the political leanings of these individuals are not in sync with each other. This goes to show that certain constitutional principles are true, but each person can still have his own ideas about how to achieve those principles and goals.
October 22, 2007
This was required reading for American Heritage at BYU. I really liked this book. It gave interesting church perspectives on the constitution.
February 29, 2008
A good overview arranged by a good scholar.
April 17, 2008
Probably caused Latter-day Saint conservative extremists to jump for joy. It's just a collection of talks.
August 13, 2013
Very good overview of the relationship between the doctrines of Christ and establishment of the United States of American under the constitution
September 25, 2014
A beautiful and inspiring collection of quotes from LDS church leaders about the enormous role of Providence in the creation and shaping of our nation.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews