How Do Americans Defend and Protect the US Constitution?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns how to defend and protect the US Constitution. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that God was the inspiration behind the writing of the US Constitution. Therefore, we believe that we have a responsibility to uphold and defend it. 

In the April 2021 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Dallin H. Oaks, then-First Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke on the topic “Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution.” President Oaks is professionally qualified to speak on this topic because he studied the Constitution for 60 years. He was a law clerk to the chief justice of the US Supreme Court, he was a professor of law for 15 years, and he served as a justice on the Utah Supreme Court for 3.5 years. Most important, he had served at that time as an apostle of Jesus Christ for 37 years, charged with determining the meaning of the divinely inspired Constitution to the work of the God’s restored Church.

Our belief in divine inspiration gives Latter-day Saints a unique responsibility to uphold and defend the United States Constitution and principles of constitutionalism.

In this troubled time, I have felt to speak about the inspired Constitution of the United States. This Constitution is of special importance to our members in the United States, but it is also a common heritage of constitutions around the world.

I. A constitution is the foundation of government. It provides structure and limits for the exercise of government powers. The United States Constitution is the oldest written constitution still in force today. Though originally adopted by only a small number of colonies, it soon became a model worldwide. Today, every nation except three have adopted written constitutions….

What was God’s purpose in establishing the United States Constitution? We see it in the doctrine of moral agency….

God had given His children moral agency—the power to decide and to act. The most desirable condition for the exercise of that agency is maximum freedom for men and women to act according to their individual choices…it is wrong for citizens to have no voice in the selection of their rulers or the making of their laws.

II. Our belief that the United States Constitution was divinely inspired does not mean that divine revelation dictated every word and phrase, such as the provisions allocating the number of representatives from each state or the minimum age of each. The Constitution was not “a fully grown document,” said President J. Reuben Clark. “On the contrary,” he explained, “we believe it must grow and develop to meet the changing needs of an advancing world.” For example, inspired amendments abolished slavery and gave women the right to vote. However, we do not see inspiration in every Supreme Court decision interpreting the Constitution.

I believe the United States Constitution contains at least five divinely inspired principles.

First is the principle that the source of government power is the people. In a time when sovereign power was universally assumed to come from the divine right of kings or from military power, attributing sovereign power to the people was revolutionary. Philosophers had advocated this, but the United States Constitution was the first to apply it…. The Constitution established a constitutional democratic republic, where the people exercise their power through their elected representatives.

A second inspired principle is the division of delegated power between the nation and its subsidiary states. In our federal system, this unprecedented principle has sometimes been altered by inspired amendments, such as those abolishing slavery and extending voting rights to women, mentioned earlier. Significantly, the United States Constitution limits the national government to the exercise of powers granted expressly or by implication, and it reserves all other government powers “to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Another inspired principle is the separation of powers. Well over a century before our 1787 Constitutional Convention, the English Parliament pioneered the separation of legislative and executive authority when they wrested certain powers from the king. The inspiration in the American convention was to delegate independent executive, legislative, and judicial powers so these three branches could exercise checks upon one another.

A fourth inspired principle is in the cluster of vital guarantees of individual rights and specific limits on government authority in the Bill of Rights, adopted by amendment just three years after the Constitution went into force. A Bill of Rights was not new. Here the inspiration was in the practical implementation of principles pioneered in England, beginning with the Magna Carta….

Without a Bill of Rights, America could not have served as the host nation for the Restoration of the gospel, which began just three decades later. There was divine inspiration in the original provision that there should be no religious test for public office, but the addition of the religious freedom and antiestablishment guarantees in the First Amendment was vital. We also see divine inspiration in the First Amendment’s freedoms of speech and press and in the personal protections in other amendments, such as for criminal prosecutions.

Fifth and finally, I see divine inspiration in the vital purpose of the entire Constitution. We are to be governed by law and not by individuals, and our loyalty is to the Constitution and its principles and processes, not to any office holder. In this way, all persons are to be equal before the law….

III. Despite the divinely inspired principles of the United States Constitution, when exercised by imperfect mortals their intended effects have not always been achieved.

Important subjects of lawmaking, such as some laws governing family relationships, have been taken from the states by the federal government. The First Amendment guarantee of free speech has sometimes been diluted by suppression of unpopular speech. The principle of separation of powers has always been under pressure with the ebb and flow of one branch of government exercising or inhibiting the powers delegated to another.

There are other threats that undermine the inspired principles of the United States Constitution. The stature of the Constitution is diminished by efforts to substitute current societal trends as the reason for its founding, instead of liberty and self-government. The authority of the Constitution is trivialized when Candidates or officials ignore its principles. The dignity and force of the Constitution is reduced by those who refer to it like a loyalty test or a political slogan, instead of its lofty status as a source of authorization for and limits on government authority.

IV. Our belief in divine inspiration gives Latter-day Saints a unique responsibility to uphold and defend the United States Constitution and principles of constitutionalism wherever we live. We should trust the Lord and be positive about this nation’s future.

What else are faithful Latter-day Saints to do? We must pray for the Lord to guide and bless all nations and their leaders. This is part of our article of faith. Being subject to presidents or rulers of course poses no obstacle to our opposing individual laws or policies. It does require that we exercise our influence civilly and peacefully within the framework of our constitutions and applicable laws. On contested issues, we should seek to moderate and unify.

There are other duties that are part of upholding the inspired Constitution. We should learn and advocate the inspired principles of the Constitution. We should seek out and support wise and good persons who will support those principles in their public actions. We should be knowledgeable citizens who are active in making our influence felt in civic affairs…. [Emphasis added in most paragraphs.]

How Will Faith in Christ Make a Difference in My Life?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to 1 Samuel 17-18; 24-26; 2 Samuel 5-7 in a lesson titled “The Battle Is the Lord’s.” The lesson following information introduced the lesson. 

Ever since the tribes of Israel had settled in the promised land, the Philistines had been an ongoing threat to their safety. The Lord had delivered them many times in the past, but now the elders of Israel demanded, “We will have a king … [to] go out before us, and fight our battles” (1 Samuel 8:19-20)). So, Saul was anointed king. And yet when the menacing giant Goliath hurled his challenge to the armies of Israel, Saul—like the rest of his army—was “greatly afraid” (1 Samuel 17:11). On that day, it wasn’t King Saul who saved Israel, but a humble shepherd boy named David, who was wearing no armor but was clothed with impenetrable faith in the Lord. This battle proved to Israel, and to anyone who has spiritual battles to fight, that “the Lord saveth not with sword and spear” and that “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47).

The scripture block contains numerous principles, including (1) With the help of the Lord, I can overcome any challenge (1 Samuel 17); (2) One person with faith in Christ can make a difference (1 Samuel 17:26-50); (3) “Jonathan loved [David] as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18);

(4) Forgiveness is the sure path to peace and healing (1 Samuel 24-26); (5) The Lord can give me direction (2 Samuel 5:17-25), and (6) What is the “house” the Lord promised to David?

(2 Samuel 7.

This post will discuss principle # 2 about one person with faith in Christ can make a difference. In addition to personal challenges, we also face large, complex problems that affect the whole world. When forces of evil are “gathered together … to battle” against the forces of good

(1 Samuel 17:1), we might wonder how our individual efforts could possibly make a difference.

This scripture reference (1 Samuel 17:26-50) tells the story of David and Goliath. David’s father sent him to take food for his brothers who were serving in the army. When he arrived, there was a giant named Goliath threatening the Israelites, and no man in the Israelite army wanted to fight the giant. David volunteered to fight him, and King Saul offered to loan him his personal armor. David declined and went to fight Goliath with a sling shot and five stones. The applicable verses are as follows:

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

David took five smooth stones in his pouch to fight Goliath. What do we carry with us to fight the giants in our lives? Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, referred to the story of David and Goliath in her talk in the April 2024 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

While David used only one stone to kill Goliath, he was prepared with five. With five! This makes me think about how I can prepare myself to face the world.

What if each of David’s stones represented a strength we need to be triumphant in our lives? What could those five stones be? I thought of these possibilities: …

First, the stone of my love for God. Loving God is the first great commandment. The For the Strength of Youth guide teaches us: “God loves you. He is your Father. His perfect love can inspire you to love Him. When your love for Heavenly Father is the most important influence in your life, many decisions become easier.”

Our love for God and our close relationship with Him give us the strength we need to transform our hearts and more easily overcome our challenges.

Second, the stone of my faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ came to earth, He suffered for our sins, and He took upon Himself our sorrows, our pains, our weaknesses, and our physical and mental illnesses. That’s why He knows how to help us. Having faith in Jesus Christ means to fully trust His wisdom, His timing, His love, and His power to atone for our sins. The stone of faith in Jesus Christ will defeat any “giant” in our lives. We can overcome this fallen world because He overcame it first.

Number three, the stone of the knowledge of my true identity. Our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, taught us that our most important identities are as children of God, children of the covenant, and disciples of Jesus Christ.

Everything changes when I know who I really am. When I doubt my abilities, I often repeat to myself in my mind or out loud, “I am a daughter of God, I am a daughter of God,” as many times as I need until I again feel confident to keep going.

Fourth, the stone of my daily repentance. In the For the Strength of Youth guide, we read: “Repentance isn’t punishment for sin; it is the way the Savior frees us from sin. To repent means to change―to turn away from sin and toward God. It means to improve and receive forgiveness. This kind of change is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process.”

Nothing is more liberating than feeling God’s forgiveness and knowing that we are clean and reconciled with Him. Forgiveness is possible for everyone.

The fifth stone is the stone of my access to God’s power. The covenants we make with God, such as those we make in the ordinance of baptism, give us access to the power of godliness. God’s power is a real power that helps us face challenges, make good decisions, and increase our capacity to endure difficult situations. It is a power with which we can grow in the specific abilities that we need.

The For the Strength of Youth guide explains: “Covenants connect you to Heavenly Father and the Savior. They increase God’s power in your life” (“Faithful to the End,” emphasis added.). 

How Can We Teach Patriotism to the Rising Generation?

Families, communities, states, and nations are stronger when individuals know the value of historical documents and events. Jordin Bradshaw is a lifelong resident of Utah, a social studies teacher for twelve years, and currently a graduate student at UVU working toward a master’s degree in Constitutional Government, Civics, and Law. In his studies, he has gained greater knowledge and respect for the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. He shares his thoughts in an article published in the Deseret News. 

With the upcoming celebrations for 250 years since the publication of the Declaration of Independence I find myself contemplating what and how I should treat this occasion with my students.

For years, I had stood in front of my students and leaned into a common teaching strategy: comparing the Declaration of Independence to a breakup letter. I’d use the familiar slang of my students with words like “ghosting” and “toxic relationships” to explain why the colonies were moving on from King George III. The students laughed and told me I was cringe, but they engaged, and they got the idea of why the declaration was written.

However, as I’ve progressed through my graduate studies in constitutional government, I’ve come to realize that by oversimplifying the declaration to fit a trendy analogy of a breakup, I was actually not getting into the soul of the declaration at all. The Declaration of Independence is not just a notice of separation; it is a document that demands more from us than a clever and memorable metaphor. To treat it as an ending misses the important fact that it was actually a wonderful new beginning.

Teaching the declaration is much more than memorizing 1776; it is about providing the next generation with the tools to maintain our self-governing republic. Students should be taught that the declaration is a document about rights, specifically that rights existed before governments and continue to exist regardless of any governments.

They should be digging deep into the sources and philosophies related to rights and building connections that when rights become just a list of suggestions from a government it is time for those ruled to withdraw their consent and that government to be changed. By connecting the specific grievances of that breakup letter of 1776 to the broader arguments of rights and limited government they see that authority is earned through trust, not granted as a birthright nor through physical power.

Yet, these written liberties cannot survive on parchment alone. As the document’s closing paragraph reminds us, the founders did not just demand rights; they made a pledge of their lives, fortunes and honor to its defense and continuation. We likewise need to instill this same level of civic virtue among our youth today. We all – adults and children – must understand that a free society is only sustainable when its members are willing to sacrifice, compromise and work together to ensure the common good for all of the citizenry.

To truly understand the greatness of the rights contained in the Declaration of Independence, sometimes we must grapple with the times that are not shiny nor exemplary in our own political history. We must trace the events and how those declaration-based rights were later extended, often through hard work and civil disobedience – may even a terrible war. Students need to continue to recognize the hard processes that led to what we enjoy today.

When students understand that their rights are inherent and that their government exists only by their consent, they cease to be passive observers of history and become active participants in our self-governing republic.

In this modern era we can no longer afford to treat our founding documents as clever metaphors. My journey from teaching the “breakup letter” to exploring the profound depths of our “mutual pledge” has shown me that civic literacy is the only true safeguard of our liberty. When students understand that their rights are inherent and that their government exists only by their consent, they cease to be passive observers of history and become active participants in our self-governing republic.

The Declaration of Independence was never intended to be a final word, but instead a North Star to steer by as we navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing and modern world. By restoring the declaration to its rightful place as a focal point in our curriculum, we do more than teach history; we honor those who came before us and fought for – sometimes with their own lives – the divine rights enjoyed by this generation. When they understand the civic virtues of sacrifice and compromise they are also equipped to lead the next generation in fulfilling the promise of a more perfect union in perpetuity.

Bradshaw wrote from the position of a schoolteacher. However, his words can be applied to parents because parents are the ultimate teachers in the lives of their children. Parents cannot leave the teaching of honor and respect for our founding documents to schoolteachers. We should be teaching them also.

One of the best ways is to take your children to historical sites. Travel to Philadelphia so they can see for themselves the liberty bell and building where the Constitution was written. Take them to Washington, D.C., to see the buildings and monuments there. Use a family home evening to study the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Another way to teach them that is equally or more important than personal experience is to give them an example. Purchase a U.S. flag and fly it daily or at least on important days, such as Flag Day or Independence Day. Make sure that you participate in local, state, and federal elections because this is the way that we give our consent to the government. Become a true patriot and love your nation.

Why Is Religious Freedom Essential for Peace?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday has to do with religious freedom and peace. According to President D. Todd Christofferson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, religious freedom is “the cornerstone of peace in a world with many competing philosophies.”

President Christofferson and his wife, Kathy Christofferson, along with Elder Matthew S. Holland, General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Paige Holland, visited Philadelphia – the foundational hub of U.S. democracy. They toured historic sites in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, on Friday, June 12, 2026.

According to Sarah Jane Weaver, editor of the Deseret News, the Christoffersons and Hollands were joined by Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Alexander Dushku of the Seventy as well as other leaders of faith at the Canterbury Medal Gala

on Thursday evening. The event is an annual gathering sponsored by Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a non-profit, public-interest legal and educational institute. 

President Christofferson offered the invocation at the Becket event, held as the United States celebrates the nation’s 250^th anniversary. Weaver reported as follows.

“Moral agency, the ability to choose right from wrong and to act for ourselves, is essential to God’s plan of salvation,” President Christofferson wrote on social media after the event.

“Religious freedom ensures that people can exercise their agency in matters of faith.

“We are grateful to be associated with so many wonderful people of faith who we stand with to advocate for religious freedom….

Reflecting on his time in Philadelphia, President Christofferson noted a key verse found in Latter-day Saint scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 101. It teaches that the Constitution was “established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh.”

“[That means] all mankind, not just in this nation but everywhere in the world,” President Christofferson said. “I think it’s proven to be that wherever those principles have been adopted, the people have flourished and the blessings that we enjoy have been enjoyed by them.” …

Both President Christofferson and Elder Holland (who leads Latter-day Saint global communication efforts) praised Becket for defending and promoting religious liberty for all, according to the news release.

“I think about that Joseph Smith statement, that [he would] be willing to die for the rights of all different faiths – Catholic, Jews, Muslims. Not just our own,” Elder Holland said. “We see that with Becket. We’re willing to stand with others to defend their rights. And they’re willing to stand with us. There’s a power and a principle of equality and inclusiveness that we’re doing this in a multifaith way.”

President Christofferson said Becket is very effective. “They do a superb work. The key to their success is that they’re focused on religious liberty for everyone. Not just certain faiths, but all faiths and even those who have no faith. They are intent on ensuring that everyone has what the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights provides, and that is freedom of belief and religion and practice.”

Articles of Faith: What Do Latter-day Saints Believe About the Godhead?

Article of Faith 1

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ,

                                and in the Holy Ghost.

 

Faith in God is “the foundation of religious belief and practice, according to Elder James E. Talmage. He also said that “a knowledge of the attributes and character of Deity is essential to an intelligent exercise of faith in Him.” This is the reason this topic is the first doctrine mentioned in the Articles of Faith for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Articles of Faith [1890], 29).

The Prophet Joseph Smith gave a series of lectures on faith. His third lecture was titled “The Character of God.” Early in the lecture, he said the following. 

Let us here observe, that three things are necessary, in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation.

First, The idea that he actually exists.

Secondly, A correct idea of his character, perfections and attributes.

Thirdly, An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his will.—For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive; but with this understanding, it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Section 130 in the Doctrine and Covenants contains instructions given by the Prophet Joseph Smith in Ramus, Illinois, on April 2, 1843. Verse 22 of that section describes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

In his book, The Articles of Faith, Elder Talmage provided information about the Godhead, also known as the Trinity.

Three personages composing the great presiding council of the universe have revealed themselves to man: (1) God the Eternal Father; (2) His Son, Jesus Christ; and (3) the Holy Ghost. That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man. On the occasion of the Savior’s baptism, John recognized the sign of the Holy Ghost; he saw before him in a tabernacle of flesh the Christ, unto whom he had administered the holy ordinance; and he heard the voice of the Father. The three personages of the Godhead were present, manifesting themselves each in a different way, and each distinct from the others. Later the Savior promised His disciples that the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, should be sent unto them by His Father; here again are the three members of the Godhead separately defined. Stephen, at the time of his martyrdom, was blessed with the power of heavenly vision, and he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Joseph Smith, while calling upon the Lord in fervent prayer, saw the Father and the Son, standing in the midst of light that shamed the brightness of the sun; and one of these declared of the other, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” Each of the members of the Trinity us called God, together they constitute the Godhead (pp. 39-40).

Elder Talmage discussed the unity of the Godhead. Although the Godhead consists of three separate members, they are unified in their purpose.

The Godhead is a type of unity in the attributes, powers, and purposes of its members. Jesus, while on earth and in manifesting Himself to His Nephite servants, repeatedly testified of the unity existing between Himself and the Father, and between them both and the Holy Ghost. This cannot rationally be construed to mean that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one in substance and in person, nor that the names represent the same individual under different aspects. A single reference to prove the error of any such view may suffice: Immediately before His betrayal, Christ prayed for His disciples, the Twelve, and other converts, that they should be preserved in unit, “that they all may be one” as the Father and the Son are one. We cannot assume that Christ prayed that His followers lose their individuality and become one person, even if a change so directly opposed to nature were possible. Christ desired that all should be united in heart, spirit, and purpose; for such is the unity between His Father and Himself, and between them and the Holy Ghost.

This unity is a type of completeness; the mind of any one member of the Trinity is the mind of the others; seeing as each of them does with the eye of perfection, they see and understand alike. Under any given conditions each would act in the same way, guided by the same principles of unerring justice and equity. The one-ness of the Godhead, to which the scriptures so abundantly testify, implies no mystical union of substance, nor any unnatural and therefore impossible blending of personality. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are as distinct in their persons and individualities as are any three personages in mortality. Yet their unity of purpose and operation is such as to make their edicts one, and their will the will of God. Even in bodily appearance the Father and the Son are alike; therefore said Christ when importuned by Philip to show to him and others the Father: “have I been so long with you, and yet has thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me” (John 14:9-11) (pp. 40-41).

There is much more information to learn about the Godhead, so I plan to write several posts about it before moving on to Article of Faith 2.

How Has California Legalized Cheating in Elections?

The Primary elections for governor of California and mayor of Los Angeles showed plainly how California runs elections. Now the Justice Department has “launched multiple election fraud investigations coupled with litigation over voter registration,” according to Fred Lucas at Daily Signal. California is liberal in its election practices, using such practices as ballot harvesting, universal mail-in voting, allowing ballots to be counted if they arrive within a week after election day, and no voter ID requirements. 

The Justice Department claims “statutory authority to enforce our nation’s election laws” that includes “requesting state voter rolls and monitoring returns when candidates for federal office are on the ballot,” according to Justice Department spokeswoman Natalie Baldassarre.

“The department’s investigations into voter fraud in California are in line with this authority and will continue despite the state’s unwillingness to comply and reassure voters that their elections are, in fact, free, fair, and transparent,” Baldassarre continued. “Protecting election integrity is a top priority for the Trump administration.”

Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, posted on X just days after the recent contentious primary elections that his office launched fraud investigations and would “follow the evidence.”

“Without commenting on any specific investigation, my office has multiple election fraud investigations underway in coordination with @FBILosAngeles,” Essayli posted June 5 on X. “We will follow the evidence wherever it leads and prosecute any violations of federal election law to the fullest extent.”

California, which takes a long time to count ballots in most years, garnered significant attention this year over the Los Angeles mayor’s race. On election night, it appeared Republican Spencer Pratt would be among the top two finishers to advance to the November general election before he was overtaken days later, with two Democrats – incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman – advancing.

“California may not be cheating because cheating is legal in the state,” Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, told the Daily Signal. “Mass harvesting of votes, and stuffing mailboxes full of votes are all legal in California.

Well before the California primary season, the Justice Department Civil Rights Division sought access to the state’s voter registration information to ensure compliance with the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.

In January, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter of the Central District of California ruled the state did not have to provide the data to the Justice Department. The federal government appealed to the 9^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where a three-judge panel heard arguments in May.

In late May, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to create legal barriers to prevent the federal government from accessing voter rolls, voter lists, or certified voting technology without a specific court order.

“California will not allow our elections to be commandeered by political intimidation, abuse of power, or chaotic interference from extremists chasing conspiracy theories,” Newsom said in a public statement. “This law protects voters, election workers, and the integrity of the democratic process from election-deniers who want to undermine democracy.”

California has automatic voter registration for residents completing driver license, identification card, or change of address transactions. It allows universal mail-in voting where ballots are automatically mails to every registered voter. Other states require voters to request a ballot for mail-in voting.

A ballot postmarked by Election Day may arrive for counting up to seven days after Election Day. Further, the state has a 22-day grace period after Election Day for people to “cure” defective mail ballots.

Further, the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a watchdog group that reviews voter registration data nationally, found more than 23,000 deceased registrants on the voter rolls as of 2018. It also found 7,244 registered voters with non-residential addresses….

Although the primary contests for the California governor and Los Angeles may drew national attention, federal candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives are also on the ballot this year in California. The Justice Department would have oversight of federal elections…..

Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in the Los Angeles area, posted in a separate message on X, “We also have serious concerns about how California maintains its voter rolls. There are open questions about whether the state is promptly removing deceased voters, people who have moved, and individuals convicted of disqualifying felonies.

“On top of that, California allows third parties to collect and turn in ballots on voters’ behalf (a practice known as ballot harvesting) with few restrictions,” he continued in the post. “This makes it difficult to track who actually received, completed, and submitted each ballot.”

  

Who Are Independent Journalists?

My VIPs for this week are independent journalists who tell the stories that go unreported by mainstream news teams. I will discuss two independent journalists in this post, and I will use an article by Eva Terry titled “The rise of independent journalism – the risks and rewards” and published in the Deseret News. 

The day after Christmas last year, 24-year-old Nick Shirley posted a video about suspected fraud in Minnesota. In it, he and a man named Dave Hoch knocked the doors of tax-funded daycare centers, then attended a meeting about fraud at Minnesota’s State Capitol. At the conclusion of its 42 minutes, Shirley reported they’d uncovered more than $110 million in fraud.

The video lit a fire on social media. Within a week, it had been viewed 4 billion times across all platforms, Shirley said, including X, YouTube, Facebook and others.

Responding to the outrage, the Department of Homeland Security launched an investigation. On Jan. 5, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he would not seek reelection. On Jan. 6, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services froze billions of dollars in federal funding to five states, including Minnesota.

In late May, the Justice Department leveled fraud charges against 15 people in Minnesota, alleging $90 million of fraud in Medicaid programs.

Shirley is not the only independent journalist to be discussed in this post. The next one is Andy Ngo who began while a student at Portland State University.

Andy Ngo didn’t set out to pioneer the field of independent journalism. In 201, he was an editor for Portland State University’s student newspaper, where he was studying as a graduate student. That April, he attended an interfaith panel titled “Unpacking Misconceptions,” and one attendee asked whether the Quran permitted the killing of non-Muslims.

Ngo recorded the student panelist’s response: he said non-Muslims could be killed or banished in a state governed by Quranic law. Ngo posted the video to Twitter without commentary. Then his editors called him into their office.

“I was accused by a student activist on campus of Islamophobia, and it escalated up to the editor in chief and the administration,” Ngo said in an interview with the Deseret News. “So I was fired.”

The student newspaper, PSU Vanguard, published a front-page story that Ngo had separated from the newspaper. In 2017 if someone searched Ngo’s name on Google, Vanguard’s article would popup, as would Ngo’s response piece published in the National Review, titled “Fired for Reporting the Truth.”

“So I felt at that time, very early on – this was before I any social media following – that my prospect of going into a mainstream journalism career were destroyed,” he said.

Around the same time, violent protests erupted in Portland in response to President Donald Turmp’s first inauguration, “So I started going out with my iPhone seven,” Ngo said.

“This was years before there was monetization, so it wasn’t like a business decision. I saw that there were certain gaps in what I was reading in print from legacy media, which I at that time had a lot of respect for, in regard to violence and political violence from Antifa and other militant left-wing groups. That truth was not being reflected in broadcast, local broadcast media or the legacy print media,” he said.

The absence of mainstream coverage “motivated me to continue to go out and record these videos,” he said.

How Does Religious Freedom Bless All God’s Children?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns the ways that religious freedom blesses all of God’s children. The Savior wants us to defend the religious rights of all people – including those who believe differently. He declared to Joseph Smith that the freedoms preserved in “the laws and constitution of the people … should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:77. Here are the words of several prophets, apostles, and others about religious freedom in America blessing all God’s children. 

Prophet Joseph Smith

I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves.

It is a love of liberty which inspires my soul – civil and religious liberty to the whole of the human race. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2011], 345)

President Dallin H. Oaks

Religious teachings and the religiously, motivated actions of believers benefit society and deserve legal protection.

For example, there are many needs for humanitarian assistance – hunger, disease, and lack of education to mention only a few. Religious liberty enables believers and faith communities to provide this aid to society’s neediest members. Most religions exhort their believers to give to the poor. Most also teach their believers that they are accountable to God for this duty.

Religions also play a vital role in contributing to social stability. Societies are not held together primarily by law and its enforcement, but by those who voluntar8ly obey the unenforceable because of their sense of accountability to God….

When citizens learn to live together with respect – despite important religious differences – they are also more likely to live peacefully with others with whom they have important secular differences.” (“Pursuing Religious Liberty Worldwide [address given at the Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit, July 20, 2022], newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

President D. Todd Christofferson of the First Presidency

For centuries, people fought over religious differences, often with government suppressing one religion in the name of another. Religious liberty has allowed people of diverse religious traditions to live together in peace and friendship despite profound disagreements…. Governments that protect religious freedom have fewer social conflicts and greater levels of social cohesion. (“Religious Liberty: The Basis of a Free and Just Society” [address given at the First Forum on Religious Freedom in the Southern Cone, Oct. 29, 2021], religiousfreedomlibrary.org)

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

If religion is not there to help with shaping character and mediating hard times, who will be? Who will teach honesty, gratitude, forgiveness, and patience? Who will exhibit charity, compassion, and kindness for the forgotten and the downtrodden? Who will embrace those who are different yet deserving, as are all of God’s children? Who will open their arms to those in need and seek no recompense? Who will reverence peace and obedience to laws greater than the trends of the day? (“To Heal the World,” Liahona, May 2022, 93)

President Camille N. Johnson of the Relief Society

I believe that the most important and impactful work of women continues to be done when we are for our own children, teach a friend to read, patiently address the needs of an elderly neighbor, prepare a meal for the sick, or cry with a sister who is grieving. The universality in the way we bear and nurture humanity connects women across cultural divides and language barriers, laying a foundation for peace.

I strive to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I believe He came to earth to save humanity from sin and death and to lift us in our sorrow and distress….

The work of defending the United States Constitution, religious freedom, and the family is not just for legal scholars and academics. It is for … Relief Society presidents and non-lawyers and people of every religious persuasion….

Let us follow the Prince of Peace and practice, in our personal and professional lives, His perfect example…. He wants to engage with us – and will as we joyfully engage in His great work. (J. Reuben Clark Law Society, “2026 JRCLS Annual Fireside,” YouTube, Jan. 16, 2026, youtube.com/@JReubenClarkLawSociety)

Why Should We Look Upon the Heart?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to 1 Samuel 8-10; 13; 15-16 in a lesson titled “The Lord Looketh on the Heart.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Saul was a keeper of donkeys. Though tall and handsome, he was “little in [his] own sight” and self-conscious about his family heritage (see 1 Samuel 9:2-3, 21; 15:17). On the day he was to be presented before Israel as their king, he didn’t show up; he was so nervous he “hid himself” (1 Samuel 10:21-22). Looking at Saul, you might not have guessed that he would lead the Israelites to victory over their enemies – or that he would later become prideful and rebel against the Lord.

David was a keeper of sheep. He wasn’t as physically impressive as his seven older brothers. On the day Samuel came to choose a new king for Israel, it didn’t seem worthwhile to include David among the possible candidates, so he was left out in the fields with the sheep. Looking at David, you might not have guessed that he would have the faith and courage to defeat a giant and become Israel’s most successful king.

But the Lord sees past our labels, our physical appearance, our insecurities. He looks, instead, “on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). And even when our heart isn’t quite right, if we’re willing, He will give us “another hear” (1 Samuel 10:9).

The weekly scripture block contains numerous principles, including: (1) Jesus Christ is my King (1 Samuel 8), (2) God calls people by prophecy to serve in His kingdom (Samuel 9-10; 16:1-13),

(3) “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 13:5-14; 15), and (4) “The Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:6-12).

This essay will discuss principle #4 about God looking upon the heart. Have you ever made a decision based on “the outward appearance” of something or someone, only to find out that you were wrong? Maybe you ate something that looked delicious but was not as good as it looked. Or maybe you judged someone unfairly.

When Samuel was looking for a new king of Israel, the Lord taught him a better way. We will look at the applicable verses – 1 Samuel 16:6-12 – to learn the Lord’s way of selection.

6 ¶ And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

A good activity would be to make a list of ways that people judge others “on the outward appearance.”  Besides the example of Samuel thinking that Eliab looked like a king, there are other examples in the scriptures:

·       When the Lord sent his disciple Ananias to bless Saul, Ananias hesitated because of Saul’s reputation of being cruel and relentlessly persecuting the Saints. The Lord taught Ananias, “He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

·       When the scribes and the Pharisees saw the woman taken in adultery, what did they see? A depraved woman, a sinner worthy of death. When Jesus saw her, what did He see? A woman who had temporarily succumbed to the weakness of the flesh but could be reclaimed through repentance and His Atonement.

·       When people saw the centurion whose servant was sick with palsy, what did they see? Perhaps they saw an intruder, a foreigner, one to be despised. When Jesus saw him, what did He see? A man concerned for the welfare of a member of his household, who sought the Lord in candor and faith.

·       When people saw the woman with an issue of blood, what did they see? Perhaps an unclean woman, an outcast to be shunned. When Jesus saw her, what did He see? A sickly woman, lonely and alienated due to circumstances she did not control, who hoped to be healed and to belong again.

Elder Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier of the Seventy spoke on this topic at the October 2023 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After sharing the above examples, he stated:

In every case, the Lord saw these individuals for who they were and accordingly ministered to each one. As Nephi and his brother Jacob declared:

“He inviteth them all to come unto him …, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33).

“The one being is as precious in his sight as the other” (Jacob 2:21). (“We Are All His Children) 

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught the following about judging and labeling other people: 

The adversary rejoices in labels because they divide us and restrict the way we think about ourselves and each other. How sad it is when we honor labels more than we honor each other.

Labels can lead to judging and animosity. Any abuse or prejudice toward another because of nationality, race, sexual orientation, gender, educational degrees, culture, or other significant identifiers is offensive to our Maker! Such mistreatment causes us to live beneath our stature as His covenant sons and daughters! (“Choices for Eternity,” Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults with President Nelson, May 15, 2022) 

This lesson and this post are meant to help us to stop judging other people by their outward appearance. The color of the sin, the gender, the nationality, the religion, or the culture do not matter. We are all children of God, and He loves each one of us. He wants us to love each other and to look upon the heart before judging.

How Can Parents Foster Trust and Emotional Support in Their Children?

Strong families provide “positive childhood experiences [to] foster trust and emotional support as children grow older.” Strong families strengthen communities, states, and nations.

In her article published in the Deseret News, Lois M. Collins discussed why so many teens do not speak to their parents. 

Research suggests … Positive experiences [that] kids have in childhood build a strong foundation for trust and emotional support when the bigger challenges come in adolescent and teen years. Those positives carry forward into a better life.

That’s important. A statewide SHARP survey for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services shows that there’s a big disconnect when it comes to how willing older children are to share their emotions with their parents. While the vast majority of parents (93%) believe their kid would tell them what they’re feeling, a robust 4 in 10 teens say they don’t talk to anyone when they’re struggling.

That’s not just a disconnect, but a major challenge, because bad things can happen when kids don’t feel seen, heard, supported or safe to express themselves and having that confidence starts early….

It’s not just a lack of adverse childhood events that bring families together. Actively ensuring children grow up with positive experiences is key.

According to Collins, the State of Utah is taking this problem seriously. “Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, his Office of Families and the Department of Health and Human Services have launched the CHAT: Family Connection for Healthy Futures campaign to encourage parents to spend time with their kids, have meaningful conversations and do things together that build and strengthen bonds. You can find more about the Utah initiative at this site. 

How Do We Protect Religious Freedom?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns protection of religion. The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urged every ward or branch in the United States to teach a special lesson on May 31, 2026, about the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and moral agency. They are inviting members of the Church of Jesus Christ – members of other religions are welcome to join – to fast and pray for religious freedom on July 5, 2026. These actions show their concern about the dangers surrounding religious freedom.

Prophets and Apostles are not the only people concerned about religious freedom. In an article titled “Protecting Religion: The Battlefield of the Future” and published at The Daily Signal, Christoper Motz, Senior Counsel in the military affairs practice group at First Liberty Institute, showed similar concern about freedom of religion. 

On June 6, 1876, as the United States approached its centennial anniversary, President Ulysses S. Grant addressed the youth of America. “My advice … no matter their denomination,” is to hold fast to faith, to not merely know one’s religious precepts, but to live them.

By Grant’s counsel, in this would be the flourishing of the American nation. He concluded with a proverb – “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” – a verse also inscribed in Robert Muir’s painting “Peace and War” in the West Point chapel, which Grant no doubt contemplated as a student.

These words were more than a ceremonial message from a sitting president and former Civil War general. They were a warning, a lesson, and a charge to the next generation: What we inherit can be lost – unless we have the character to keep it.

Grant’s letter was first published in Sunday School Times, but due to its relevance and impact for all Americans, it also appeared in The New York Times a few days later – and again nine years later on the front page.

At the heart of the eighteenth president’s 1876 lesson is this: a nation’s strength is not ultimately measured by its wealth, weapons, or political victories, but by the values its citizens are willing to preserve, even when doing so becomes unpopular. Values are the measure of a nation’s enduring worth. That is why President Grant’s message matters today – especially as religious liberty becomes increasingly contested in public life.

When Grant wrote to America’s youth, he was speaking to citizens who would shape the next century. The Civil War had ended, but the nation still bore deep scars. Americans were trying to rebuild not only cities and economies, but unity itself – the very idea of America. The question was whether the country would be held together by more than lines on a map, but whether it could be held together by principle.

Grant’s letter recognized that the survival of American freedom would depend on whether young Americans embraced responsibility and character, not just rights.

That same reality confronts us today, and Grant’s challenge still rings true for all citizens as the U.S. nears its 250^th Anniversary in July 2026.

The freedoms secured by the Constitution – including the free exercise of religion – do not survive by accident. They survive only when citizens mutually recognize that liberty is not guaranteed, but that it must be understood, cherished, and protected. This is how we maintain the America we know and love.

However, the first freedom mentioned in the First Amendment – religious liberty – is often treated today as a niche political cause, relevant only to certain voters or certain faith traditions. But this is wrong. Religious liberty is a foundational American promise: No government has the authority to dictate what a person must believe, how he or she must worship, or what convictions he or she must abandon in order to participate in public life. Quite the contrary. Each citizen has the individual right to embrace the faith – or no faith at all – by his or her own choosing, without fear of being silenced or punished.

At least, that is what the Founders intended. Sadly, true freedom of religion (an important foundation of principle that Grant spoke of) has not been the reality for many American citizens shunned, bullied, and punished for their faith by government officials or employers who seem to have forgotten what freedom really means.

The First Amendment did not invent religious liberty. Rather, it recognizes a foundational truth that the Founders already knew: Conscience is not the property of the state, and it must be tenaciously protected. Otherwise, America is doomed to repeat the folly of other nations in history.

Freedom of religion matters. Principle matters. It has mattered for 250 years, and it will matter for another 250 years if we want to see an America that we recognize and are proud of for generations to come.

The Founders’ recognition of religious liberty was a declaration that the state is limited, that the government, military, schools, or city councils cannot reach into the human soul and command a specific allegiance. That limit is one of the greatest protections a people can ever possess.

The wisdom of the Founding Fathers was anchored in a sober view of human nature and a profound trust that true liberty requires something beyond mankind’s own power. Their understanding of rights was inseparable from the conviction that rights come from God, not government, meaning the government’s role is not to grant liberty, but to protect it.

So, as America nears its 250^th anniversary this July, Grant’s challenge of faith and freedom still remains just as strong as it did at the centennial: What we inherit can be lost, unless we have the character to keep it.

May we have the character to stand on principle and protect the First Freedom, freedom of religion, for that will determine where America stands at the next centennial.

Faith, Family, and Freedom are three qualities that are essential for surviving and thriving in our world. Freedom is vital for Faith to grow and develop. Both Faith and Freedom strengthen and bless families. May God bless America. May God bless Americans to stand up and protect freedom and liberty, particularly freedom of religion.

Articles of Faith: What Does It Mean to Believe?

Twelve of the thirteen Articles of Faith begin with the words “We believe.” What does it mean to believe? Elder Bruce R. McConkie defined belief this way.

Belief, humble belief, is the foundation of all righteousness and the beginning of spiritual progression….

Belief is the brilliant beacon that marks the course through the waves and woes of the world to that celestial harbor where rest and safety are found….

Belief in its full glory and beauty comes from God and is a divine gift bestowed upon all mankind. It is a heaven-sent boon of infinite worth that, in the full and true sense, is nothing more nor less than faith itself….

Belief, in the sense of intellectual assent to the existence of various truths, is the common inheritance of all mankind. Every normal and accountable person believes something. Such is a part of the natural heritage that goes with existence itself. Each human being has a mind, given of God, that believes and knows certain things without reference to revelation. The thought process is inherent in life itself, and we cannot exist without believing something. Belief in this sense has no relationship to gaining salvation.

Belief, in the sense of accepting or adhering to certain standards or principles of goodness, is also the common inheritance of all mankind. All are in a position to know the difference between good and evil. This knowledge comes to each person from his conscience. It is a divine endowment. It is the light of Christ, the light that enlightens every soul born into mortality….

Belief, in the true gospel sense and as commonly used in the scriptures, means faith. And faith is a gift of God reserved for those who abide the law entitling them to receive a boon so beneficent and a gift so great. Thus, to gain salvation, mankind must believe in Christ, or in other words, have faith in him….

Belief brings salvation and belief brings damnation. Men [and women] are saved or damned, depending upon what they believe. If they believe in Christ and his saving truths, they are heirs of salvation…

Salvation comes to those who believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejection of his gospel closes the door to salvation….

All persons will be judged according to the deeds done in the flesh; as their works have been here in mortality, so shall their rewards be in immortality. This means they will be judged for their beliefs, or in other words for their thoughts, their words, and their acts. Beliefs are born of thoughts; they are then expressed in words; and, finally, they are manifest before mankind in works….

We conclude, therefore, that salvation depends upon belief. If we believe in God and feel in our hearts that he is a Holy Man; if we believe we are his children, endowed with power to become like him; if we believe that by godly conduct we can so obtain – then we will do the things whereby salvation comes…. (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 21-23, 250).

Are Latter-day Saints Christian?

A new Pentagon policy is causing turmoil in Latter-day Saint circles, particularly Utah’s two U.S. Senators. “The Department of War recently announced the reduction in the number of religious affiliation categories for service members from over 200 down to 31. Categories removed from the list include ‘atheist’ and ‘humanist,’ and ‘Wicca.’”

According to Suzanne Bates at the Deseret News, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was listed as a religious category but not labeled “Christian.” 

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, put up a screenshot of the list on X and asked, “Can anyone tell me why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was left out of the list of “Christian churches”? Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, called the characterization “unacceptable.

“Latter-day Saints are among the most patriotic, service-oriented individuals in our country. They are also unequivocally Christian – just look at who is in the name of the church,” he said in a statement.

“It is unacceptable for a government entity to characterize a faith in a manner that contradicts the religion’s own foundational tenets. I am working now to ensure a correction is made.”

On the Church of Jesus Christ’s website, under “frequently asked questions,” the church says it is Christian.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Christian church but is neither Catholic nor Protestant,” the website says. “Rather, it is a restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ as originally established by the Savior in the New Testament of the Bible.”

The entry continues: “Latter-day Saints believe God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save all mankind from death and their individual sins. Jesus Christ is central to the lives of Church members. They seek to follow His example by being baptized (see Matthew 3:13-17); praying in His holy name (see Matthew 6:9-13), partaking of the sacrament (see Luke 22:19-20), doing good to others (see Acts 10:38) and bearing witness of Him through both word and deed (see James 2:26). The only way to salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ.”

Why did the Pentagon reduce the number of religious categories?

When asked for comment, a Pentagon spokesperson referred the Deseret News to a statement made by chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who explained the reason behind the policy change but did not refer specifically to concerns raised by Utah’s senators.

Parnell said the reduction in the number of religious categories was made in order to “to allow our chaplains and religious support personnel to provide the best spiritual care to our warfighters.”

He said it was not meant to “make any claims on the legitimacy of any faith or religious belief,” or provide an “officially approve” list of religions but is meant to simplify the work of chaplains who serve in the armed forces.

“The Department of War places a high value on the First Amendment and the free exercise of religion,” Parnell said. “Chaplains play an instrumental role in providing spiritual care and facilitating the Warfighters’ ability to freely exercise their religion of choice, or no religion at all. With this new change, we believe we can provide the best data to support our chaplains in that effort.”

Who Is Spencer Pratt?

My VIP for this week is Spencer Pratt, Republican candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, California. While left-wing media call Pratt “a one-time reality star villain with no experience,” BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler found that he has “much more” to him than they think. 

“What is Spencer Pratt’s experience?” Wheeler asks. “Well, most people say none. He just kind of has a good idea of what he might do. He has some connections. Or they might say a reality TV star, a villain on television.”

However, Wheeler explains that his experience is actually “a track record of being majorly successful based on his own ingenuity and hustling.”

“Spencer Pratt graduated from USC with a degree in political science, so politics is not totally foreign to this man. He, yes, he starred on a reality TV show, ‘The Hills,’ but he also created and executive produced another reality TV show called ‘The Princes of Malibu’ on Fox,” she explains.

As of this writing, Pratt holds second place behind current Mayor Karen Bass. If he continues in second place or moves ahead of Bass, his name will be on the ballot for the general election this fall.

What Is the Connection Between Founding of US and Restoration of Gospel?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns the connection between the founding of the United States and the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth. The Restoration began when Heavenly Father and Joseph Smith appeared to the boy Joseph Smith in what is known as the First Vision. However, “the Lord had been preparing for His latter-day work of restoration many years in advance.”

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught that the “meticulous preparation and precise timing” of the Lord took place over several centuries as He created the exact conditions of freedom that were essential for the coming forth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“A Promised Land,” Ensign, June 1976, 25). 

Holy scripture records that “after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof.” (Ether 13:2).) Such a special place needed now to be kept apart from other regions, free from the indiscriminate traveler as well as the soldier of fortune. To guarantee such sanctity the very surface of the earth was rent. In response to God’s decree, the great continents separated and the ocean rushed in to surround them. The promised place was set apart. Without habitation it waited for the fulfillment of God’s special purposes.

With care and selectivity, the Lord began almost at once to repeople the promised land. The Jaredites came first, with stories of the great flood fresh in their memories and the Lord’s solemn declaration ringing in their ears: “Whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever, should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them.” (Ether 2:8.)

Despite such counsel, however, the Jaredite civilization steadily degenerated into a violent society which forced a man to keep “the hilt of his sword in his right hand” (Ether 14:2)—until finally he “ate and slept, and prepared for death on the morrow.” (Ether 15:26.)

But even as the last light flickered on Jaredite civilization, a bold new sun rose to illuminate a thousand years of Nephite-Lamanite experience on the same soil. Despite periods of war and rebellion, these people nevertheless had great moments of power and purity, including the personal ministry of the resurrected Christ, who walked and talked and prayed with these New World inhabitants for three indescribable days. There in the meridian of time the land enjoyed three generations of peace and perfection, which it would not know again until the Master’s millennial reign.

But the lessons of history, if not learned well, are certain to be taught again, and a lone father with his son lived to see the self-destruction of these people of promise….

So, after a thousand years of preparation, the Spirit of God rested upon a young Italian sailing under the flag of Spain, and, as Nephi had seen in vision, “he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.” (1Ne. 13:12.) This “Christian of almost maniacal devoutness” as Alistair Cooke calls him, this man with the zeal of Galileo, Don Quixote, and John the Baptist combined, was not to be denied. (Alistair Cooke, America, New York: Alfred Knopf, 1973, p. 30.) “Our Lord with provident hand unlocked my mind,” said Columbus, “sent me upon the seas, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my enterprise called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed. But who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me?” (Jacob Wasserman, Columbus, Don Quixote of the Seas, New Brunswick: Rutgers Univ. Press, 1959, p. 20.) Columbus stood on the captain’s deck, but the all-seeing eye of the Lord was on the compass, and the hopes of every dispensation filled the sails. The prophet Nephi had also seen in vision what followed: colonization, war, and the birth of a new nation.

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.

“And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.

“And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.” (1 Ne. 13:16–19.)

Once again, after meticulous preparation and precise timing, the Lord had begun to build on his promised land a congregation that had compacted to pursue “the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.” The cultural freedom of the Renaissance and religious freedom of the Reformation underscored the strong sense of personal freedom espoused in the Enlightenment to provide the ideal attitudes and environments for the beginning of this “first new nation.” …

Neither Washington nor Paine knew, however, the full import of their work or their time. Indeed it was a beginning, but it was a beginning of the end. The work of pilgrims and Puritans, patriots and politicians had been to prepare the way for prophets of the living God. With what Washington called “the singular interpositions of Providence” a political path had been prepared that would allow the “restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:21.) Less than a score of years after the Constitutional Convention had concluded its work and freedoms of conscience, speech, press, and worship had been guaranteed in a historic Bill of Rights, the Prophet Joseph Smith was born in clear, graceful Vermont, home of Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys. As Elder Paul H. Dunn recently declared to a Church-wide audience:

“[Joseph] grew up toward adolescence just like the new land. He fitted it. He was young, clean, unspoiled—a lad without a past, kneeling in a grove. This pristine land—this innocent young man—and thus the Lord reached out and kept his promise. He established his conditions over centuries; you see, God has time. His plan made it possible for the holy priesthood and the Church to be restored upon the earth—the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ—but only in America. …

“The purpose of America was to provide a setting wherein that was possible. All else takes its power from that one great, central purpose.” (Ensign, Nov. 1975, p. 54.)

It is good that the historical celebration of the United States bicentennial allows us to focus on a land in which God has done so much of his work. It has not always looked the same geographically nor has it always been governed the same politically. But that all seems appropriate since the meaning of America, in its most theological sense, is something more than borders and boundaries, something above nativism and nationalism. It is an ideal, a thing of the spirit. Benjamin Franklin told his colleagues, “Our cause is the cause of all mankind,” and Patrick Henry spoke much more than he knew when he said America had “lighted a candle to all the world.” (Henry Steele Commager, “The Revolution as World Ideal,” Saturday Review, Dec. 13, 1975, pp. 13–18, 110.) …

A Frenchman, a contemporary of the colonial Founding Fathers, sketched the clearest meaning of America for those of other nations. Although the twenty-year-old Marquis de Lafayette had been ordered by Louis XVI of France to give up his expedition to aid the rebellious Americans, he defied the command and embarked for the New World. On board his ship The Victory Lafayette wrote back to his beautiful and concerned wife, Adrienne: “Out of love for me, become ‘a good American’. … The welfare of America is closely bound up with the welfare of all mankind.” (Maurice de la Fuye and Emile Baubeau, The Apostle of Liberty: A Life of LaFayette, New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1956, p. 30.) So it has been and so it yet will be. And so it is—but in ways which only those who embrace the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ can fully understand or appreciate.