In an effort to understand more of what I have been feeling and thinking about our country and our government in todays world, I ran across this article; Adapted from an address delivered by Elder L. Tom Perry on February 24, 1976, at BYU. I strongly urge all to read and ponder what Elder Perry had to say to us 40 years ago as it seems obvious to me that his words are even more appropo in our current society.
For those of you who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons), please don't disregard this wisdom about our country on that basis. This message would be powerful from any source.
Here is a quote from this article which caught my eye.
"The source of America’s greatness is not a new doctrine to us. The Book of Mormon has declared over and over again that the blessings of heaven are contingent upon the righteousness of its people. In fact, this teaching has been proven in almost every age. Remember in 1831 when the famous French historian Alexis de Tocqueville said:
'I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world of commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.' (Jerreld L. Newquist, comp., Prophets, Principles and National Survival, Salt Lake City: Publishers Press, 1967, p. 60.)"
And these words about the Constitution of the United States
"No constitution on earth has endured longer than ours. We seek and usually find the answers to today’s hardest legal questions within this document of yesterday. The Constitution was and is a miracle. Both Washington and Madison referred to it as such. It was an inspired document, written under the divine guidance of the Lord. James Madison, commonly called the Father of the Constitution, recognized this inspiration and gave the credit to 'the guardianship and guidance of the Almighty Being whose power regulates the destiny of nations whose blessings have been so conspicuously displayed to the rising of this republic.' (Prologue, p. 95.)
We believe that the Constitution was brought about by God to insure a nation where liberty could abound, where his gospel could flourish. Joseph Smith said, 'The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner.' (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 147.)"
I know that the United States of America was founded through the Grace and Power of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Our founding fthers were guided by His Hand and the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are Divine documents, designed to provide for all mankind a place of freedom and bounty for all time.
Let us not lose these blessings through a falling away from the principles on which out nation was founded.
No comments:
Post a Comment