Christian Nation

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the simple fact that the United States was established as a Christian nation.  The Puritans and Pilgrims came to the shores of American in an effort to worship God according to their consciences.  The men who wrote the Constitution of the United States did so using Christian principles.

                This principle is stated beautifully in the words of a prophet of God, even President Joseph Fielding Smith:  “The United States was founded as a Christian nation.  The founders of this nation were men of humble faith.  Many of them saw in vision a glorious destiny for our government, provided we would faithfully continue in the path of justice and right with contrite spirits and humble hearts, accepting the divine truths which are found in the holy scriptures.  The appeal of these men has echoed down the passing years with prophetic warning to the succeeding generations, pleading with them to be true to all these standards which lay at the foundation of our government.

“This country was founded as a Christian nation, with the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of the world.  It was predicted by a prophet of old that this land would be a land of liberty and it would be fortified against all other nations as long as its inhabitants would serve Jesus Christ; but should they stray from the Son of God, it would cease to be a land of liberty and his anger be kindled against them….

                “Now I tell you it is time the people of the United States were waking up with the understanding that if they don’t save the Constitution from the dangers that threaten it, we will have a change of government.

“It is a sad reflection, but one that cannot be successfully refuted, that we have forgotten the admonition which has come down to us, just as Israel forgot the commandments which would have blessed that nation in the land of Canaan forever had they been observed (Deuteronomy 28; 29; 30).  In forsaking these laws we stand in danger of punishment as the people of Israel stood in danger of punishment because they forsook the Lord and failed to repent and accept the warnings of their prophets” (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. III, pp. 325-326).

President Smith gave this counsel in April 1950.  If we had heeded his warning, our nation would not be in the situation we are today.  Our nation was founded as a Christian nation and will continue as a free nation only as long as we worship the God of this land who is Jesus Christ.