What Does It Mean to Befriend the Constitution?

            The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday is a continuation of the discussion about a prophecy made by the Prophet Joseph Smith about the U.S. Constitution hanging by a thread. This is the final part of a series of three posts on this topic based on articles written by Rodney K. Smith.  It suggests ways that individual Americans and their families can protect and preserve the Constitution. Smith began his third article with the following quote from a talk titled “The Constitution – a Heavenly Banner” by President Ezra Taft Benson.

[He declared that] the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. But it will not be saved in Washington. It will be saved by the citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom…. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church – men and women who will subscribe to and abide by the principles of the Constitution.

            Smith suggests that we begin the “saving of the Constitution” by “teaching of the importance of its principles in our homes. 

Doctrine and Covenants 98:6 declares, “I, the Lord, justify you … inn befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land.” According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “justify” means “to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation.” We will be judged for our willingness to “befriend … the constitutional law of the land.” We will also be blessed for doing so, as is always the case when we obey a commandment.

            If we “befriend” someone or something, we become their friend. If we befriend the Constitution, we become its friend. Smith shared the teaching of Jesus Christ when He told His disciples, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends.” If the Constitution is our friend, we should be willing to lay down our lives for it. If we are willing to die for the Constitution, we should also be willing to live for it. In the words of President Benson, we should “subscribe to and abide by” its principles.


            Most Americans take the Constitution for granted, and most American parents fail to teach their children to “befriend” it. Smith suggests that there are “more tools” for teaching about the Constitution now than ever before in American history. Like most other things in life, Smith said that we can turn to the scriptures and the Brethren for guidance on how to teach because they speak more and more often about the Constitution being “a heavenly banner.”

The scriptures and the words of the prophets tell us why constitutional literacy is important to “all” of His children. We learn in Doctrine and Covenants 101:77 that, “the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established … should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh according to just and holy principles.” In Doctrine and Covenants 98:5, we are taught, “that law of the land which is constitutional supporting the principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.” Verse 8 adds, “I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed and the [constitutional] law also makes you free.”

            Prophets and Apostles from Joseph Smith to Dallin H. Oaks have encouraged us to learn and teach how the Constitution protects our God-given gift of agency that we received in the pre-mortal world. According to the author, Doctrine and Covenants 134 and the words of the men who wrote the Constitution tell us that “equal liberty is an interdependent principle. If we want our constitutional rights to be recognized, we must stand ready to befriend the rights of others.” The words of Section 134 speak so clearly of the “importance of the constitutional rule of law” that President Gordon B. Hinckley asked why they were not “prominently displayed” at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. Smith suggests that Section 134 would be a good foundation for an enlightening discussion in our homes.

Section 134 is the most substantive of all scripture regarding the Constitution and the rights it protects and, like other constitutionally related scriptures in the Doctrine and Covenants, merits close study in our homes. Section 134:5 provides excellent fodder for a family discussion that could easily fill an engaging family home evening. Even young children can be taught the importance of rights first in the home and later in society at large.

            There is not much taught about the Constitution in the schools of today whether they be elementary, secondary, or college. If Americans are to protect and preserve the Constitution, the rising generation must be taught what it is and why its principles are so important. Smith suggests that President Benson’s talk “The Constitution – A Heavenly Banner” “provides means of beginning constitutional instruction in our homes.” 

President Benson said in his talk that we “should understand some basic, eternal principles” that had “their beginning in the premortal councils of heaven” before we can “understand the significance of the Constitution.” The principles that he mentioned “include agency, the proper role of government, that human rights are gifts of God, and that people are sovereign.” He also mentioned that the Constitution was written by “the hands of wise men” raised up by God for that purpose. Divine principles in the Constitution that protect our rights include “enumerated (or limited) governmental powers, the Separation of Powers (checks and balances and the three branches of government), federalism and other limitations….” President Benson reflected the following.

We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said, “Even this Nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the constitution is on the brink of ruin this people will be the Staff up[on] which the Nation shall lean and they shall bear the constitution away from the very verge of destruction [emphasis in original].

            President Benson then listed four ways that we can prepare ourselves and our families for those days: (1) “We must be righteous and moral.” (2) “We must learn the principles of the Constitution and then abide by its precepts.” (3) “We must be involved in civic affairs.” (4) “We must make our influence felt by our vote, our letters, and our advice.”


            This counsel was given on September 16, 1986, at a Brigham Young University devotional - on the day before our nation celebrated the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. I am sad to say that Americans, including members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have not heeded his counsel. This is shown by various interviews showing that Americans do not know the Constitution or much about the government that it created. The Brethren have renewed their clarion calls to know and understand the Constitution. It is time for us to get serious about this study!