Brigham
Young
2nd President
1847–1877
The
United States
Constitution
The
Bill of Rights
Declaration
of
Independence
Born:
1 June 1801
Ordained
an Apostle: 14 February 1835
President
of the Twelve: 14 April 1840
President
of the Church: 27 December 1847 - 29 August 1877
Died: 29
August 1877
The
General Constitution of our country is good, and a wholesome government
could be framed upon it, for it was dictated by the invisible operations
of the Almighty; he moved upon Columbus to launch forth upon the trackless
deep to discover the American Continent; he moved upon the signers of the
Declaration of Independence; and he moved upon Washington to fight and
conquer, in the same way as he moved upon ancient and modern Prophets,
each being inspired to accomplish the particular work he was called to
perform in the times, seasons, and dispensations of the Almighty. God's
purpose, in raising up these men and inspiring them with daring sufficient
to surmount every opposing power, was to prepare the way for the formation
of a true Republican government. They laid its foundation; but when others
came to build upon it, they reared a superstructure far short of their
privileges, if they had walked uprightly as they should have done. (JD
7:13)
9.
The signers of the Declaration of Independence and the framers of the
Constitution were inspired from on high to do that work. But was that
which was given to them perfect, not admitting of any addition whatever?
No; for if men know anything, they must know that the Almighty has never
yet found a man in mortality that was capable, at the first intimation, at
the first impulse, to receive anything in a state of entire perfection.
They laid the foundation, and it was for after generations to rear the
superstructure upon it. It is a progressive—a gradual work. If the
framers of the Constitution and the inhabitants of the United States had
walked humbly before God, who defended them and fought their battles when
Washington was on the stage of action, the nation would now have been free
from a multitude of place-hunters who live upon its vitals. The country
would not have been overrun with murderers and thieves, and our cities
filled with houses of ill-fame, as now; and men could have walked the
streets of cities, or travelled on conveyances through the country,
without being insulted, plundered, and perhaps murdered; and an honest,
sober, industrious, enterprising, and righteous people would now have been
found from one end of the United States to the other. (JD 7:14)
11.
In this view we consider that the men of the Revolution were inspired by
the Almighty, to throw off the shackles of the mother government, with her
established religion. For this cause were Adams, Jefferson, Franklin,
Washington, and a host of others inspired to deeds of resistance to the
acts of the King of Great Britain, who might also have been led to those
aggressive acts, for aught we know, to bring to pass the purposes of God
in this establishing a new government upon a principle of greater freedom,
a basis of self-government allowing the free exercise of religious
worship.
It
was the voice of the Lord inspiring all those worthy men who bore
influence in those trying times, not only to go forth in battle, but to
exercise wisdom in council, fortitude, courage, and endurance in the
tented field, as well as subsequently to form and adopt those wise and
efficient measures which secured to themselves, and suceeding [sic]
generations, the blessing of a free, and independent government.
This government, so formed, has been blessed by the Almighty until she
spreads her sails in every sea, and her power is felt in every land.
The
American Government is second to none in the world in influence, and
power, and far before all others in liberal, and free institutions. Under
its benign influence the poor, down trodden masses of the old world can
find an asylum where they can enjoy the blessings of peace, and freedom,
no matter to what caste or religious sect they belong, or are disposed to
favor, or whether they are disposed to favor any, or none at all. It was
in this government, formed by men inspired of God, although at the time
they knew it not, after it was firmly established in the seat of power and
influence, where liberty of conscience, and the free exercise of religious
worship were a fundamental principle guaranteed in the Constitution, and
interwoven with all the feelings, traditions, and sympathies of the
people, that the Lord sent forth His angel to reveal the truths of heaven
as in times past, even as in ancient days. This should have been hailed as
the greatest blessing which could have been bestowed upon any nation,
kindred, tongue, or people. It should have been received with hearts of
gratitude and gladness, praise and thanksgiving. . . .
. . . No! Whenever the iron hand of oppression, and persecution has fallen
upon this people, our opposers have broken their own laws, set at
defiance, and trampled under foot every principle of equal rights,
justice, and liberty found written in that rich legacy of our fathers, THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. . . .
12.
To accuse us of being unfriendly to the Government, is to accuse us of
hostility to our religion, for no item of inspiration is held more sacred
with us than the Constitution under which she acts. As a religious
society, we, in common with all other denominations, claim its protection;
whether our people are located in the other states or territories, as
thousands of them are, or in this territory, it is held as a shield to
protect the dearest boon of which man is susceptible—his religious views
and sentiments. Donald Q. Cannon, ed., Latter-day Prophets and the
United States Constitution [Provo: BYU Religious Studies Center,
1991], 22.)
13.
Brethren and sisters, our friends wish to know our feelings towards the
Government. I answer, they are first-rate, and we will prove it too, as
you will see if you only live long enough, for that we shall live to prove
it is certain; and when the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it
were, upon a single thread, they will have to call for the
"Mormon" Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will
step forth and do it.
We
love the Constitution of our country; it is all we could ask; though in
some few instances there might be some amendments made which would better
it. We love the Federal Government, and the laws of Congress. There is
nothing in those laws that in the least militates against us, not even to
our excluding common law from this Territory. I can inform our lawyers who
plead at the bar here, that the congress of the United States [has] passed
laws giving us the privilege of excluding common law at our pleasure, and
that too without any violation of the Constitution, or general statutes.
They have also given us privilege to stop drunkenness, swearing, and
gambling, and to prevent horseracing, and to punish men for hurting and
robbing each other. The Constitution of the United States, and the whole
Federal Government, in their acts, have given us this privilege. . . .
Corrupt
men cannot walk these streets with impunity, and if that is alienism to
the Government, amen to it. The Constitution of the United States we
sustain all the day long, and it will sustain and shield us, while the men
who say we are aliens, and cry out "Mormon disturbance," will go
to hell. . . .
But
to proceed; the principal evil is in the rulers, or those who profess to
be rulers, and in the dispensers of the law, and not the Constitution, it
is pure. (Discourses Delivered by Presidents Joseph Smith and Brigham
Young 12-13; also in JD 2:182-84)
14.
Have I any feelings against the man who has a true heart for
Constitutional rights? I have nothing but love and good feelings for all
such. (Discourses Delivered by Presidents Joseph Smith and Brigham
Young 15; also in JD 2:188)
15.
It was observed this morning that the government of the United States was
the best or most wholesome one on the earth, and the best adapted to our
condition. That is very true. And if the constitution of the United
States, and the laws of the United States, and of the several States, were
honored by the officers, by those who sit in judgment and dispense the
laws to the people, yes, had even the letter of the law been honored, to
say nothing of the spirit of it, of the spirit of right, it would have
hung Governors, Judges, Generals, Magistrates, &c., for they violated
the laws of their own States. . . .
I
say again that the constitution, and laws of the United States, and the
laws of the different States, as a general thing, are just as good as we
want, provided they were honored. But we find Judges who do not honor the
laws, yes, officers of the law dishonor the law. Legislators and law
makers are frequently the first violators of the laws they make.
"When the wicked rule the people mourn" [D&C 98:9], and when
the corruption of a people bears down the scale in favor of wickedness,
that people is nigh unto destruction. (JD 2:310-11)
16.
When the day comes in which the Kingdom of God will bear rule, the flag of
the United States will proudly flutter unsullied on the flag staff of
liberty and equal rights, without a spot to sully its fair surface; the
glorious flag our fathers have bequeathed to us will then be unfurled to
the breeze by those who have power to hoist it aloft and defend its
sanctity. (JD 2:317)
17.
We as a people have more reason to respect, honor, love and cherish the
Government of the United States, and her Constitution and free
institutions than any other people upon the face of the earth.
("Oration by His Excellency Governor Young" 4; also in Vetterli
378)
18.
The Constitution of the United States forbids making an ex postfacto
law. The presenting of the resolution alluded to shows their feelings,
they wish the Constitution out of existence, and there is no question but
that they will get rid of it as quickly as they can, and that would be by ex
post facto law, which the Constitution of the United States strictly
forbids. (JD 4:39)
19.
There is not a Territory in the Union that is looked upon with so
suspicious an eye as is Utah, and yet it is the only part of the nation
that cares anything about the Constitution. (JD 4:40)
20.
It is a pretty bold stand for this people to take, to say that they will
not be controlled by the corrupt administrators of our General Government.
We will be controlled by them, if they will be controlled by the
Constitution and laws; but they will not. Many of them do not care any
more about the constitution and the laws that they make than they do about
the laws of another nation. That class tramples the rights of the people
under their feet, while there are also many who would like to honour them.
All we have ever asked for is our constitutional rights. We wish the laws
of our Government honoured, and we have ever honoured them; but they are
trampled under foot by administrators.
I
do not lift my voice against the great and glorious Government guaranteed
to every citizen by our Constitution, but against those corrupt
administrators who trample the Constitution and just laws under their
feet. They care no more about them than they do about the Government of
France; but they walk them under their feet with impunity. And the most of
the characters they have sent here as officers cared no more about the
laws of our country and of this Territory than they did about the laws of
China, but walked them under their feet with all the recklessness of
despots. (JD 5:231-32)
21.
Every man is allowed by the Constitution to have what religion he pleases
and to profess what religion he pleases. That liberty is guaranteed by the
Constitution. (JD 5:235)
22.
The Constitution and laws of the United States resemble a theocracy more
closely than any government now on the earth, or that ever has been, so
far as we know, except the government of the children of Israel to the
time when they elected a king. (JD 6:342)
23.
It is alleged and reiterated that we do not love the institutions of our
country. I say, and have so said for many years, that the Constitution and
laws of the United States combine the best form of Government in force
upon the earth. But does it follow that each officer of the Government
administers with justice? No; for it is well known throughout our nation
that very many of our public officers are as degraded, debased, corrupt,
and regardless of right as men well can be.
I
repeat that the Constitution, laws, and institutions of our Government are
as good as can be, with the intelligence now possessed by the people. But
they, as also the laws of other nations, are too often administered in
unrighteousness; and we do not and cannot love and respect the acts of the
administrators of our laws, unless they act justly in their offices. (JD
6:344)
24.
The kingdom of God will be extended over the earth; and it is written,
"I will make thine officers peace, and thine exactors
righteousness" [Isa 60:17]. Is that day ever coming? It is; and the
doctrine we preach leads to that point. Even now the form of the
Government of the United States differs but little from that of the
kingdom of God. (JD 6:345)
25.
The administrators of the Government of the United States violated every
principle of the Constitution in the very act of making a war upon their
own subjects; and if the laws of Congress were carried out, they would be
treated as traitors to the Government. I was in Missouri through the
troubles. Did this people transgress the law of that State or of the
United States? Did they do anything to justly bring the wrath of that
State or of the Government upon them? No. This people observed the laws of
Missouri and the law of God more strictly than any other class. (JD
8:224)
26.
Is the form of the Government ruined? Has its form become evil? No; but
the administrators of the Government are evil. As we have said many times,
it is the best form of human government man ever lived under; but it has
as corrupt a set to administer it as God ever permitted to disgrace his
footstool. (JD 8:321)
27.
I can tell all the world that we mean to sustain the Constitution of the
United States and all righteous laws. (JD 9:157)
28.
We will cling to the Constitution of our country, and to the Government
that reveres that sacred charter of freemen's rights; and, if necessary,
pour out our best blood for the defence of every good and righteous
principle.
.
. . The spirit and letter of our Constitution and laws will always give us
our rights. . . .
If
we do not do this [form a state government], we are living beneath those
rights set forth in the Declaration of Independence, and the privileges
granted to us in the Constitution of the United States which our fathers
bought so dearly for us. Let us unfurl the stars and stripes—the flag of
our country; let us sustain the Constitution that our fathers have
bequeathed to us in letters of blood; and those who violate it will have
to meet the crushing and damning penalties that will bury them in the mire
of everlasting disgrace. If we sustain it, it will be sustained; otherwise
it will not. (JD 10:39-41)
29.
If there is a people within the pales of this nation that is worthy of the
constitution, good laws and institutions of the American Government, it is
this people called Latter-day Saints. It is the best earthly Government
that ever was framed by man, and the true and righteous are alone worthy
of it. It cannot long be administered by wicked hands. "When the
wicked rule, the people mourn" [D&C 98:9]. (JD 9:368)
30.
We are in the midst of these mountains, and we have good and
salutary laws to govern us. We have our Constitutional laws and our
Territorial laws; we are subject to these laws; and always expect to be,
for we love to be. If there is any man among us who has violated any
constitutional law, try the law upon him, and let us see whether there is
any virtue in it, before we try the strong arm of despotism and tyranny. I
stand for Constitutional law, and if any transgress, let them be tried by
it, and, if guilty, suffer its penalty. (JD 10:109)
31.
The seeds of sin which are in them are sufficient to accomplish their
destruction. Every government of the world has the seeds of its own
destruction in itself.
I
hope and trust and pray that the government of our country may remain,
because it is so good; but if they cut off this, and cast out that, and
institute another thing, they may destroy all the good it contains. This,
I hope, they will not do; they cannot do it. I expect to see the day when
the Elders of Israel will protect and sustain civil and religious liberty
and every constitutional right bequeathed to us by our fathers, and spread
those rights abroad in connection with the Gospel for the salvation of all
nations. (JD 11:262-63)
32.
Every organization of our government, the best government in the world, is
crumbling to pieces. Those who have it in their hands are the ones who are
destroying it. How long will it be before the words of the prophet Joseph
will be fulfilled? He said if the Constitution of the United States were
saved at all it must be done by this people. It will not be many years
before these words come to pass. (JD 12:204)
33.
The first telegram that was ever sent over the transcontinental wire was
by . . . President Brigham Young, . . . "Utah has not seceded, but is
firm for the constitution and laws of our once happy country." (JH[30
Apr 1889] 10; quoted by Heber J. Grant)
34.
I want to say to every man, the Constitution of the United States, as
formed by our fathers, was dictated, was revealed, was put into their
hearts by the Almighty, who sits enthroned in the midst of the heavens;
although unknown to them, it was dictated by the revelations of Jesus
Christ, and I tell you in the name of Jesus Christ, it is as good as I
could ask for. (Henry 678; also in Roberts, Mormonism 27-28)
35.
That people [the Latter-day Saints], whom the very great majority have
striven to obliterate, will step forward and continue to honor the
Heaven-inspired Constitution bequeathed to us so rich a legacy by our
forefathers. (Hansen 166; from the Brigham Young Papers, Coe Collection,
Yale University Library)
36. Ye elders of Israel, will some of you draw the line of demarcation,
between the spiritual and temporal in the Kingdom of God, so that I may
understand it? Not one of you
can do it. I defy any man on
earth to point out the path a Prophet of God should walk in, or point out
his duty, and just how far he must go, in dictating temporal or spiritual
things. Temporal and
spiritual things are
inseparably connected, and ever will be. Pres.
Brigham Young JD 10:363
Founding
Fathers Jesus
Christ Joseph Smith
Jr.
John Taylor Wilford Woodruff Lorenzo Snow
Joseph F. Smith Heber J. Grant George A. Smith
David O. McKay Joseph F. Smith Harold B. Lee
Spencer Kimball Ezra T. Benson Howard Hunter
Gordon Hinckley First Presidency Elders
Citizens
Rule Book
