This is a review of the slides we used while This is a review of the slides we used while discussing . . .discussing . . .

Government Government Mosiah 1-29Mosiah 1-29

a)a) Mosiah 1-6: Mosiah 1-6: King Benjamin King Benjamin

b)b) Mosiah 7-8: Mosiah 7-8: Ammon (A Seer) Ammon (A Seer)

c)c) Mosiah 9-22: Mosiah 9-22: Kings Zeniff, Noah, & Limhi Kings Zeniff, Noah, & Limhi

(Abinadi & Alma)(Abinadi & Alma)

b)b) Mosiah 23-24: Mosiah 23-24: Alma (He would not be Alma (He would not be KingKing))

a)a) Mosiah 25-29: Mosiah 25-29: King Mosiah King Mosiah

The Book of MosiahThe Book of Mosiah“We believe in being subject to. . .”“We believe in being subject to. . .”

-12th Article of Faith-12th Article of Faith

““Here, then, is eternal life--Here, then, is eternal life--to know the to know the only wise and true Godonly wise and true God; and ; and you have got to you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselveslearn how to be Gods yourselves, and , and to be kings to be kings and priestsand priests to God” ( to God” (Teachings of the Prophet Teachings of the Prophet Joseph SmithJoseph Smith, 346-347)., 346-347).

Hence we say, that the Constitution of the Hence we say, that the Constitution of the United States is United States is a glorious standarda glorious standard; it is founded in ; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly bannera heavenly banner; it is to all ; it is to all those who are privileged with the sweets of liberty, like those who are privileged with the sweets of liberty, like the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a great the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a great rock in a thirsty and weary land. It is like rock in a thirsty and weary land. It is like a great treea great tree under whose branches under whose branches men from every climemen from every clime can be can be shielded from the burning rays of the sunshielded from the burning rays of the sun ( (Teachings Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smithof the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Three 1838–39, , Section Three 1838–39, p.147).p.147).

We are fast approaching that moment prophesied We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: “Even this nation will be by Joseph Smith when he said: “Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieceson the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to and tumbling to the ground, and when the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink the Constitution is upon the brink of ruinof ruin, , this peoplethis people will be the staff upon which the will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destructionaway from the very verge of destruction (19 July 1840, as (19 July 1840, as recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; ms. in recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; ms. in Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City). (Ezra Taft Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City). (Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 5; or Ensign, Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 5; or Ensign, Nov. 1987, 6).Nov. 1987, 6).

D&C 98:4-11D&C 98:4-11

1) 1) Befriend ConstitutionBefriend Constitution

D&C 98:4-11D&C 98:4-11

Government is not reason, it is not eloquence--Government is not reason, it is not eloquence--it is forceit is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a ! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master! (George Washington as quoted by fearful master! (George Washington as quoted by Ezra Taft Benson, The Red Carpet, p. 142).Ezra Taft Benson, The Red Carpet, p. 142).

““We must learn the principles of the Constitution We must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers.in the tradition of the Founding Fathers.

Have we read Have we read The Federalist papersThe Federalist papers? Are we ? Are we reading reading the Constitutionthe Constitution and pondering it? Are we and pondering it? Are we aware of its principles? Are we aware of its principles? Are we abiding by these abiding by these principles and teaching them to othersprinciples and teaching them to others? Could we ? Could we defend defend the Constitutionthe Constitution? Can we ? Can we recognize when a law is recognize when a law is constitutionally unsoundconstitutionally unsound? Do we ? Do we know what the prophets know what the prophets have said about the Constitution and the threats to ithave said about the Constitution and the threats to it? As ? As Jefferson said, Jefferson said, “If a nation expects to be ignorant and “If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, . . . it expects what never was and never will be”free, . . . it expects what never was and never will be” (in (in The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Albert Ellery The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Albert Ellery Bergh, 20 vols. [1903–5], 14:384). (Ezra Taft Benson, in Bergh, 20 vols. [1903–5], 14:384). (Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 6; or Ensign, Nov. 1987, Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 6; or Ensign, Nov. 1987, 7)7)

1) 1) Befriend ConstitutionBefriend Constitution

2) 2) Keep balance with Keep balance with “Law of Man”“Law of Man”

D&C 98:4-11D&C 98:4-11

One of the consequences of shifting from moral One of the consequences of shifting from moral absolutes to moral relativism in public policy is that this absolutes to moral relativism in public policy is that this produces a corresponding shift of emphasis from produces a corresponding shift of emphasis from responsibility to rights.responsibility to rights. Responsibility originates in Responsibility originates in moral absolutes. In contrast, rights find their origin in moral absolutes. In contrast, rights find their origin in legal principles, which are easily manipulated by moral legal principles, which are easily manipulated by moral relativism. Sooner or later the substance of rights must relativism. Sooner or later the substance of rights must depend on either the voluntary fulfillment of depend on either the voluntary fulfillment of responsibility or the legal enforcement of duties . . . responsibility or the legal enforcement of duties . . . When our laws or our public leaders question the When our laws or our public leaders question the existence of absolute moral values, they undercut the basis existence of absolute moral values, they undercut the basis for the voluntary fulfillment of responsibilityfor the voluntary fulfillment of responsibility . . . and . . . and compel our society to rely more and more on the legal compel our society to rely more and more on the legal enforcement of rights (Dallin H. Oaks, enforcement of rights (Dallin H. Oaks, EnsignEnsign, October , October 1992, p. 60-64).1992, p. 60-64).

Democracy will soon degenerate into an Democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyesis right in his own eyes and no man’s life or property and no man’s life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these will soon mould itself into a system of of these will soon mould itself into a system of subordination of all the moral virtues and intellectual subordination of all the moral virtues and intellectual abilities, all the powers of wealth, beauty, wit and abilities, all the powers of wealth, beauty, wit and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and the execrable cruelty of one or a very few (John and the execrable cruelty of one or a very few (John Adams, Adams, [An Essay on Man's Lust for Power, 29 [An Essay on Man's Lust for Power, 29 August 1763]August 1763] Reference: Original Intent, Barton Reference: Original Intent, Barton (338); original The Papers of John Adams, Taylor, (338); original The Papers of John Adams, Taylor, ed., vol. 1:8).ed., vol. 1:8).

1) 1) Befriend ConstitutionBefriend Constitution2) 2) Keep balance with “Law of Man”Keep balance with “Law of Man”3) 3) Seek honest & wise peopleSeek honest & wise people4) Uphold good & wise people4) Uphold good & wise people

What does if mean to be “wise”? What does if mean to be “wise”? (Mosiah 29:11)(Mosiah 29:11)

D&C 98:4-11D&C 98:4-11

Improve your community by active Improve your community by active participation and service. Remember in your civic participation and service. Remember in your civic responsibility that responsibility that “the only thing necessary for the “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” (Edmund Burke, in George Seldes, comp., The Great (Edmund Burke, in George Seldes, comp., The Great Thoughts [New York: Ballantine Books, 1985], p. Thoughts [New York: Ballantine Books, 1985], p. 60). 60). Do something meaningful in defense of your Do something meaningful in defense of your God-given freedom and libertyGod-given freedom and liberty (Ezra Taft Benson, (Ezra Taft Benson, EnsignEnsign, May 1988, 51)., May 1988, 51).

1) 1) Befriend ConstitutionBefriend Constitution

2) 2) Keep balance with “Law of Man”Keep balance with “Law of Man”

3) 3) Seek honest & wise peopleSeek honest & wise people

4) Uphold good & wise people4) Uphold good & wise people

5) 5) Be righteous!Be righteous!

D&C 98:4-11D&C 98:4-11

First and foremost, First and foremost, we must be righteouswe must be righteous..

John Adams said, John Adams said, ‘Our Constitution was made ‘Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’inadequate to the government of any other.’ (The Works (The Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams [Boston: Little and of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams [Boston: Little and Brown, 1851]). If the Constitution is to have Brown, 1851]). If the Constitution is to have continuance, this American nation, and especially the continuance, this American nation, and especially the Latter-day Saints, must be virtuous (Ezra Taft Benson, Latter-day Saints, must be virtuous (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1987, 6).Ensign, Nov. 1987, 6).

The The living of one protective principle living of one protective principle of the gospelof the gospel is better than a thousand is better than a thousand compensatory governmental programs-compensatory governmental programs-which programs are, so often, like which programs are, so often, like sstraightening deck chairs on the Titanictraightening deck chairs on the Titanic (Neal A. Maxwell, (Neal A. Maxwell, EnsignEnsign, November 1974, , November 1974, p. 12).p. 12).

The End. . .The End. . .