The Constitution of the United States Will Hang by a Thread

Over this past year we have seen many signs that our country, which was founded by men appointed by God and set up to be a land of promise and a land of freedom, is showing weakness and decay. We see corruption in our government, its agencies and leadership. We see people with evil designs, who are trying to destroy everything which is good and wholesome.

We live in the last days, when "all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people." (D&C 88:91)

What will happen to our precious land of freedom? And who or what will save it from collapse?

Do we need to fear? What does the Lord expect from us, his chosen people?

The answers to these questions I would like to take from a book that I have read: "Understanding the Signs of the Times," by Jay and Donal Parry, which gives some reputable quotes from our prophets.

Joseph Smith said: Even this Nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the constitution is upon the brink of ruin this people will be the Staff[up[on] which the Nation shall lean and they shall bear the constitution away from the very verge of destruction. . . . I know these things by the visions of the Almighty.

One of the conditions of the last days is that the Constitution of the United States will be in jeopardy and will seem to hang as though upon a single thread. Our source of this prophecy is not the scriptures but Joseph Smith. Brigham Young recalled the prophecy in this way: "Will the Constitution be destroyed? No; it will be held inviolate by this people; and, as Joseph Smith said, 'The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread. At this critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction.' It will be so."

Joseph Smith said we would see the time when the nation was on the "verge of crumbling to pieces" and "the constitution is upon the brink of ruin." President Wilford Woodruff said "the time will come when the country will be distracted and general lawlessness prevail. Then the Mormon people will step forward and take an active part in rescuing the nation from ruin."  Speaking of this prophecy, Elder Ezra Taft Benson said: "I have heard our present Prophet leader [President David O. McKay] say we are very near to that time. It is my solemn conviction we are near the time which the Prophet saw. What are we going to do about it? Will we, as Latter-day Saints, favored of the Lord, 'arise and shine forth,' as the Lord has commanded, 'that thy light may be a standard for the nations' (D&C 115:5)?"

How will "this people step forward" to save the Constitution? Elder Benson suggested that "it is entirely possible that that may come about in a rather natural way. Our young people—as they mature and develop and take their positions in industry, in the professions, and in agriculture clear across this land—might represent the balance of power in a time of crisis, when they will stand up and defend those eternal principles upon which this Constitution has been established."  On another occasion he said: "I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. But it will not be saved in Washington. It will be saved by the citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church—men and women who will subscribe to and abide by the principles of the Constitution."  Elder Mark E. Petersen offered another possibility of how this prophecy would come to pass: "You will remember that there have been prophecies made that the Constitution sometime will hang by a thread and that the elders of Israel will save it. I don't believe that that is through some political means particularly. I believe that the way this Church may save our country is by being the leaven in the lump which will be so recognized by the Almighty that he will spare the country for the Church. The country, our nation, was made by act of God to bring about the purposes related to the restoration of the gospel and to the final fulfillment of his work which will lead to the second coming of Jesus Christ."

What I glean from these quotes from our prophets is that we as a church and a people with be an "ensign" to our own nation. They will look to us, because of our sound principles, to help them.

It is therefore important for us to be good and wholesome, living the principles of righteousness.

Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever. (D&C 121:45, 46)

We, you and I, need to be confident and positive about the future, understanding that the Lord is in control and will guide his people. We should not fear. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

The Lord said in D&C 38:15, "Therefore, be ye strong from henceforth; fear not, for the kingdom is yours."

So let's love life. Be an active, positive participant. In the midst of turmoil, do all you can within your power, then draw upon the powers of heaven in your behalf. The Lord will bless you in his own due time.

Love, Dad