For Our Day:
Divinely Sanctioned Governments
Joseph Smith Foundation
Quiz
• Was George Washington a prophet and did he
see visions?
• Can government and law be better understood by
studying the Book of Mormon than by studying
the Founding Fathers?
• What did President Heber J. Grant describe in his
journal as “one of the most serious conditions
that has confronted me since I became President
of the Church”?
a. Missionary Work
b. Prohibition
c. Roosevelt’s New Deal
d. the Great Depression
Quiz
• Was George Washington a prophet and did he
see visions? TRUE
• Can government and law be better understood by
studying the Book of Mormon than by studying
the Founding Fathers? TRUE
• What did President Heber J. Grant describe in his
journal as “one of the most serious conditions
that has confronted me since I became President
of the Church”?
a. Missionary Work
b. Prohibition
c. Roosevelt’s New Deal
d. the Great Depression
Quiz pt. 2
• Did the Founding Fathers glean their wisdom
from the Enlightenment?
• Are the United States’ Constitutional documents
akin to scripture and were the principles
contained therein revealed by God?
• Can the Latter-day Signs of the Times be found
in chronological order in the Book of Mormon?
• Did Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of
Independence?
Quiz pt. 2
• Did the Founding Fathers glean their wisdom from
the Enlightenment? FALSE, Bible/Revelation
• Are the United States’ Constitutional documents
akin to scripture and were the principles
contained therein revealed by God? TRUE
• Can the Latter-day Signs of the Times be found in
chronological order in the Book of Mormon?
TRUE
• Did Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of
Independence? FALSE, he compiled
This same angel [Moroni] presides over the
destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in
all our doings. He was in the camp of
Washington; and, by an invisible hand, led on
our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this
to open and prepare the way for the Church and
kingdom of God to be established on the
western hemisphere, for the redemption of
Israel and the salvation of the world.
- Orson Hyde
Washington, the Revolution & Moroni
George Washington
Captain Moroni
"We have taken up Arms in defense of our "…their liberty, their lands, their wives,
Liberty, our Property; our Wives and our and their children…" Alma 48:10
Children." GW
“. . . secure to each individual the free
"…liberties, property, wives and
exercise of conscience, the right and
children…" Ramsey
control of property, and the protection of
life.” D&C 134:2
"standard of liberty" Congress to GW,
Ramsey
"standard of liberty“ Alma 46:36
"spirit of freedom" Ramsey, Samuel
Adams
"…show unto me a true spirit of
freedom…" Alma 60:25
"…that manly spirit of freedom…" Mercy
Otis Warren
"…the determination of the Americans,
carefully to avoid every thing that had the
appearance of beginning hostilities on
their part…" Mercy Otis Warren
"…they were also taught never to give an
offense…" Alma 48:14
Washington, the Revolution & Moroni (2)
George Washington
Captain Moroni
"…the embarrassments which cramped
the operations of Washington…",
"In a letter to congress he expressed his
embarrassment…“ Ramsey
"…the cause of these our
embarrassments…” Alma 58:9
"…the Americans severely felt the scarcity
of provisions. Their murmurs became
audible…“ Ramsey
"…were this all we had suffered we would
not murmur…“ Alma 60:4
"We are determined to preserve them or
die…“ Washington
protect the land unto the laying down of
their lives
"We have therefore to resolve to conquer
or to die.” Ramsey, quoting Washington
they did think more upon the liberty of
their fathers than they did upon their
lives;
"…to conquer in this place or die…“ Alma
56:17
Washington, the Revolution & Moroni
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Same cause
Same words
Same battle strategies
Same inspiration
Same loyalty
Same prophecy
Same covenant
“Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of
Joseph.” Alma 46:24
Washington, the Revolution & Moroni (3)
“Conscience of the American Revolution” Mercy Otis Warren & Captain Moroni
pg. 24 "…the cause of liberty…“ (3)
Alma 51:17 "…the cause of liberty…“
pg. 146 "…the cause of freedom…“ (4)
Alma 46:35 "…the cause of freedom…“
pg. 163 "…the cause of their country…“
Alma 56:11 "…the cause of their country…“
pg. 48 "…their rights and privileges…"
Alma 30:27 "…their rights and privileges…"
pg. 337 "…to maintain their rights…"
" Alma 51:6 "…to maintain their rights…"
pg.648 "…welfare and happiness… "
Helaman 12:2 "…welfare and happiness…"
pg.332 "…deprive them of rights…"
Alma 2:4 "…deprive them of their rights…"
Washington, the Revolution & Moroni (4)
Mercy Otis Warren
Captain Moroni
pg. 90 ". . . to take up arms in defense
of their rights. . ."
Alma 51:20 “. . . to take up arms in
defense of their country . . .”
pg. 208 “. . . supplies of provisions. . .”
(6)
Alma 55:34 “. . . supplies of provisions .
. .”
pg. 300 “. . . a council of war . . .” (6)
Alma 52:19 “. . . a council of war . . .”
pg. 191 “. . . the prisoners who fell into
his hands . . .”
Alma 52:8 “. . . the prisoners who fell
into his hands . . .”
pg. 182 “. . . surrender themselves
prisoners of war . . .”
Alma 57:14 “. . . surrendered
themselves prisoners of war . . .”
pg. 191 “. . . with a part of his army . . .” Alma 56:33 “. . . with a part of his army
...“
pg. 398 “. . . chief commander . . .” (2)
Alma 46:11 “. . . chief commander . . .”
pg. 224 “After two days wandering in
the wilderness. . .”
Mosiah 9:4 “. . . after many days’
wandering in the wilderness . . .”
Washington, the Revolution & Moroni (5)
Mercy Otis Warren
Captain Moroni
pg. 204 “. . . took possession of the
capitol . . .”
Alma 51:23 “. . . took possession of the
city . . .”
pg. 144 “. . . hunger and fatigue”
Alma 60:3 “. . . hunger, thirst, and fatigue
. . .”
pg. 143 “. . . this little band . . .”
Alma 56:19 “. . . my little band. . . “
pg. 144 “. . . supply of provisions . . .”
Alma 57:6 “. . . supply of provisions . . .”
pg. 109 “. . . a consciousness of their own
guilt . . .”
Alma 14:6 “. . . a consciousness of his own
guilt. . .”
pg. 33 “. . . a free people . . .” (8)
Alma 21:21 “. . . a free people . . .”
pg. 65 “. . . a free government . . .” (3)
Alma 46:35 “. . . a free government . . .”
pg. 270 “. . . the art of war . . .” (2)
Ether 13:16 “. . . the arts of war . . .”
Washington’s friend & biographer David Ramsey & Captain Moroni
pg. 90 "…the cause of liberty…" (9)
Alma 51:17 "…the cause of liberty…"
pg. 460 "…in the cause of their country…“
Alma 56:11 "…in the cause of their country…"
pg. 178 "…died in the cause of liberty…"
Alma 56:11 "…died in the cause of their country…"
pg. 401 "…rights and privileges…“ (4)
Mosiah 29:32 "…rights and privileges…"
pg. 232 "…to maintain their rights and privileges…"
Alma 51:6 "…to maintain their rights and the privileges…"
pg. 232 "…their rights and liberties…"
Alma 43:26 "…their rights and their liberties…"
pg. 634 "…in defense of their liberties…"
3 Nephi 3:2 "…in the defense of your liberty…"
pg. 398 "…safety and welfare…”
Alma 48:12 "…welfare and safety…"
President J. Reuben Clark Jr.
“Washington, with a wisdom born of divine
inspiration, must have seen all this in vision. I
shall later quote from his Farewell Address to his
fellowmen countrymen passages showing how
fully he foresaw the future needs of America
and the dangers which would beset her path.”
Did Thomas Jefferson write [compile]
the Declaration of Independence?
National Covenant 1638
Renewed Covenants
Declaration of Independence (1776)
The National Covenant (1638)
“We . . . Do . . . Solemnly . . . Declare”
“We . . . Do . . . Solemnly Declare”
“. . . Usurpations, all having in direct
Object the Establishment of a absolute
tyranny”
“. . . Usurped authority of . . . all his
tyrannous laws”
“That these United Colonies are and of
Right ought to be Free and Independent
States”
“. . . that the aforesaid Confessions are to
be interpreted and ought to be
understood . . .”
“With a firm reliance on the protection of
Divine Providence”
“We call the Living God . . . to witness . . .
and to bless our desires and proceedings
with a happy success . . .”
“We mutually pledge to each other”
“To the mutual defense and assistance
every one of us of another”
“Our lives, our Fortunes”
“With our means and lives”
Read full National Covenant at: http://www.josephsmithforum.org/doc/the-scottish-national-covenant
Renewed Covenants (2)
Preamble to the Constitution of the
United States (1787)
The National Covenant (1638 & 1639)
“We the people of the United States”
“we noblemen, barons, gentlemen,
burgesses, ministers and commons”
“in order to form a more perfect union”
“considering the great happiness which
may flow from a full and perfect union”
“establish justice”
“judicatories be established and
ministration of justice amongst us”
“insure domestic tranquility”
“procure true and perfect peace”
“provide for the common defense”
“stand to the mutual defense”
“promote the general welfare”
“for the common happiness to conduce
for so good ends and promote the same”
“and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity”
“security of said liberties to ourselves and
posterity”
“do ordain and establish this Constitution
of the United States of America”
“do ordain the Covenant and Constitution
of this Kingdom”
Book of Mormon/Arbroath/Declaration of Independence
Book of Mormon
Arbroath Declaration
Declaration of Independence
“. . . all are alike unto God,
both Jew and Gentile.” (2
“nor distinction of Jew or
Greek, Scots or English”
“all men are created
equal”
Nephi 26:33)
“And they entered into a
“we fight for liberty alone
covenant to fight for
which no good man loses
the liberty of the Nephites, but with his life”
. . . they covenanted that
they never would give up
their liberty . . .” (Alma 53:17)
“Certain unalienable rights,
among these are life,
liberty”
“. . . protect the land unto
the laying down of their
lives . . .” (Alma 53:17)
“We mutually pledge . . .
our lives”
“. . . they did think more
upon the liberty of their
fathers than they did upon
their lives;” (Alma 56:47)
“we will maintain even to
the death”
Book of Mormon
Arbroath Declaration
Declaration of Independence
“. . . judges . . . judged
according to the laws . . . this
shall ye observe and make it
your law—to do your
business by the voice of the
people.” (Mosiah 29:25-26)
“our . . . King . . . (protecting)
. . . our laws and customs . . .
(must reign under) . . . The
succession of right and the
due consent of us all”
“that to secure these Rights
governments are instituted
among Men deriving their
just powers from the consent
of the governed”
“. . . we will newly arrange
“But if he (the King of Scots)
the affairs of this people . . . ” were to desist from what he
(Mosiah 29:11)
has begun . . . We would
immediately endeavor to
“It is better that one man
expel him as our enemy and
should perish than that a
the subverter of his own
nation should dwindle and
rights and ours, and make
perish in unbelief.” (1 Nephi 4:13) another our King”
“That whenever any Form of
Government becomes
destructive of these Ends, it
is the Right of the people to
alter or abolish it and to
institute a new government”
“. . . he causeth to be
destroyed; and whosoever
doth rebel against him he will
send his armies against them
to war, and if he can he will
destroy them;” (Mosiah 29:23)
“The history of the present
King of Great Britain is a
history of repeated injuries
death
Desolation”
“The mighty King of the
English . . . Perpetuated . . .
Injuries
slaughters
deeds of violence”
Book of Mormon/Arbroath/Declaration of Independence
Book of Mormon
Arbroath Declaration
Declaration of Independence
“my beloved brother,
Moroni, let us resist evil, . .
. let us resist them with our
swords, that we may retain
our freedom,” (Alma 61:14)
“For so long as a hundred
remain alive, we never will
in any degree be subject to
the dominion of the
English”
“That these United
Colonies are absolved from
all allegiance to the British
Crown”
“that we may rejoice . . . in “to Him, as the Supreme
the cause of our Redeemer King and Judge we commit
and our God. “ (Alma 61:14)
the defense of our cause “
“appealing to the Supreme
Judge of the World for the
Rectitude of our
Intentions”
“we will go . . . in the
strength of our God
according to the faith
which is in us.” (Alma 61:17)
“Surely God shall not suffer
that we, who are despised
because we take upon us
the name of Christ, shall be
trodden down and
destroyed,” (Alma 46:18)
“(by the help of) Divine
Providence firmly trusting
that He will bring our
enemies to nought”
“with a firm reliance on the
Protection of Divine
Providence”
Grievances
Declaration of Independence (1776)
Arbroath/Scottish Declaration of
Independence (1320)
“Merciless Indian savages”
“the most savage tribes”
“In the most barbarous Ages”
“People however barbarous”
“He has plundered our seas . . . burnt our
towns”
“plunderings, burnings”
“an undistinguished Destruction of all
ages, sexes and conditions”
“sparing no age or sex”
“He has . . . sent hither swarms of officers
to harass our people”
“. . . in most unfriendlywise harassed our
Kingdom”
“A prince whose character is marked by
every act which may define a tyrant”
“. . . this prince perpetrated . . . These
evils innumerable”
the Scots . . . journeyed from Greater Scythia by way of the
Tyrrhenian Sea and the Pillars of Hercules, and dwelt for a long
course of time in Spain among the most savage peoples, but
nowhere could it be subdued by any people, however barbarous.
Thence it came, twelve hundred years after the people of Israel
crossed the Red Sea, to its home in the west where it still lives
today.
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