Sunday, July 17, 2016

The Constitution and the Restoration

                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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