"Christ And The Constitution"~

While driving in my car the other day; I was listening to a talk radio show. The narrators brought up the subject of the Constitution of the United States. There was a study  on the subject of how much do you know about the Constitution? The question was; how many of you have actually read the Constitution of the United States? The numbers were few that had.  How about you; have you read it recently? I know that I have read it a few times through the years. I certainly can't boast that I have read it recently. In today's political climate we should know more about what this precious document means to us all. Another question was how many of you can name the Supreme Court Justices? I don't know their names but I am going to learn them. We all need to know more about our Government. Here is a link for information on the Constitution.

Today I want to share with you a few parts from a pamphlet that was written by Ezra Taft Benson in December of 1964. Ezra Taft Benson was a great patriot. He served as Secretary of Agriculture during the eight years of the Eisenhower Administration. He was a scholar of world-wide repute. He was an Apostle and member of the Council of the Twelve of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was also a Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He married my husband and I in 1967 in the Salt Lake Temple. He asked us at that time to come and visit with him within the next year. Two years later we did go to his office for a visit. He at that time talked about the dangers of communism and bore testimony of his great love for this nation.

" Nearly two thousand years ago a Man walked the earth; a perfect man who was Jesus the Christ. He was the son of the Heavenly Father and an earthly mother. He is the God of this world, and more. In His life, all of the virtues were lived and kept in perfect balance. He taught men truth-that they might be free; His example and precepts yet provide the great standard for all mankind. Among us He became the one who had the power to reunite His body with His spirit after death; and by His power all men who have died shall be resurrected. Before Him one day we all must stand to be judged by His laws. He lives today, and in the not too distant future shall return, in triumph, to subdue His enemies, to reward men according to their deeds, and to assume His rightful role to rule and reign in righteousness over the entire earth.
 Nearly two hundred years ago a diversity of inspired men walked this land, Not perfect men-but men raised up by the perfect Man to perform a great work. Foreordained were they, to lay the foundation of this Republic. Blessed by providence in their struggle for liberty and independence, the power of Heaven rested on these Founders as thy drafted the greatest document for governing men -The Constitution of the United States.......The hand of the Lord was in it. They filled their mission well. From them we were endowed with a legacy of liberty - a Constitutional Republic.
But today the Christian Constitutionalist weeps as he walks about His country. He sees the spiritual and political faith of his fathers betrayed by wolves in sheep's garments. He sees the forces of evil increasing in strength and momentum under the leadership of Satan, the archenemy of freedom. He sees the wicked honored and the valiant abused. He senses that his own own generation faces Gethsemane's and Valley Forges that may yet rival the trials of the early Apostles and the Men of '1776'. And this provokes him to pause and to ponder. It provokes a reflection that bears him to the heart of reason, to the most basic of fundamentals - the reason for our existence.Once we understand that fundamental, the purpose of mortality, we may more easily chart a correct course in the perilous seas that tear at the very masts of our ship of state.
........That the Lord is displeased with wickedness is true. That He desires that it not occur is true. That He will help those who oppose, it is true. But that He allows wickedness to occur at all through His children here in mortality is proof of His having given them their freedom to choose, while reserving for Him a basis for their final judgment. And here in lies the hope of all Christian Constitutionalists. Why?
Because the fight for freedom is God's fight. For free agency is an eternal principle. It existed before this world was formed -it will exist forever. Some men may succeed in denying some aspects of this God-given freedom to their fellow men, but their success is temporary. For freedom is a law of God, a permanent law...So when man stands for freedom he stands with God. And were he to stand alone he would still stand with God-the best company and the greatest power in or out of this world. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty; and because truth is eternal, any man will be eternally vindicated and rewarded for his stand for freedom........
Can freedom triumph now? What are we doing to keep freedom alive? ........Men receive blessings by obedience to God's laws. And without obedience there is no blessings. Before the final triumphal return of the Lord, the question as to whether we may save our Constitutional republic is simply based on two factors-the number of patriots and the extent of their obedience.
That the Lord desires to save this Nation which He raised up-there is no doubt. But that He leaves it up to us, with His help, is the awful reality."
.........To His disciples, the Lord said that they should be of good cheer for He had overcome the world-and so He had. And so can we if we are allied with Him. For time is on the side of truth and the wave of the future is freedom. There is no question of the eventual, final, and lasting triumph of righteousness. The major decision for each of us is the selection of that part which we will play in helping to bring it to pass.
This is a glorious hour in which to live. Generations past and future will mark well our response to our awesome duty. There is a reason why we have been born in this day. Ours is the task to try to live and perpetuate the principles of the Christ and the Constitution in the face of tremendous odds. May we, with God's help fill our mission in honor. That is my humble prayer; let us pray it together."
Yes, let us pray for this great nation that we may always be free to choose. May we pray for the leaders that can help the dreams of this nation be realized and fulfilled before the Coming of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Another article by President Ezra Taft Benson can be found here.
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