Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

LDS Views of the Constitution

 

            Defining the view of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the United States Constitution is a controversial subject. Some highly reverence this document comparing it to scripture, and others believe it just to be semi-inspired. Both of these stances contain truth, but neither are correct. The United States Constitution is a divinely inspired document that contains correct principles but does contain flaws, impurities that compromise its truthfulness. .
             Many Mormons commonly use the phrase "divinely inspired" to mean that the document was written by people who were inspired to set a government that God wanted. Using the word inspired leads people to believe that the whole document is inspired. (Oaks).
             Several passages in the Book of Mormon show us God's hand in founding America and other major events that lead to the establishment of the Church. God hand's has always been involved since the beginning, going from the reformation, the rediscovery of America by Christopher Columbus, and the forming of a government that allowed religious freedoms. Surely, we know that the Lord needed to set up a land that would have religious freedom. "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" (Doctrine and Covenants 101:80; 109:54). .
             In the Book of Mormon, prophets predicted that America would be a nation where no kings would rule (2 Nephi 10:11-14) and that the Gentiles were to be "established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father" (3 Nephi 21:4). This allowed the Book of Mormon to come forth and the Lord's church be established. God established America to be a promised land to be the cradle of His church (Perry), and be a beacon for the world.
             In reverence to the Constitution of the United States, many people feel that every word of the document is on the same standing as scripture.


Essays Related to LDS Views of the Constitution