On this
Constitution Monday I would like to share a history lesson I recently discovered.
On January 15, 1991, Rex E. Lee, then president of Brigham Young University,
spoke to the students at that school about the connection between the
Constitution and the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He presented
his remarks, titled “The Constitution and the Restoration,” to show the relationship and to emphasize the fact that “the Restoration and
the Constitution trace their beginnings almost to the same point in time, and
over the intervening two centuries have grown and flourished side by side.
“And yet, in another sense, the
subject is not only timely, but also time-driven. Today’s devotional is the
last one that will occur during the fifteen-year period from 1976 through the
summer of 1991 that Congress officially designated as our bicentennial.
Bicentennial! Over the past fifteen years – …. This word has virtually acquired
a secondary meaning. Viewed narrowly, it has been a ceremonial observance of
the most remarkable period in the history of our nation, and perhaps in the
history of the world. From a broader perspective, the bicentennial has
symbolized patriotism and liberty and has served as a valuable reminder that
the unique blessings we enjoy as Americans are largely attributable to a
document that has proven to be, notwithstanding some flaws, probably the most
successful governmental undertaking in the history of civilized life on this
planet.”
President Lee shares some
history about the writing and the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. He
then explains some “genius features” of the Constitution and how the
Constitution limits the federal government. He concludes by discussing why the
Constitution is significant to Latter-day Saints. I believe you will enjoy
reading his remarks. I know that most people will learn something new about the
U.S. Constitution. I encourage you to read his entire remarks for he gives more
understanding to several points.
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