The very first talk given in the October 1987 General Conference was given by President Ezra Taft Benson and was called, “Our Divine Constitution.” Many of you will recognize this talk as one of those hallmark talks of the century. In this talk, Pres. Benson reminds us that the Constitution was written in righteousness and guided by the Lord, Himself. I can still hear the timber of that prophet’s pleading voice. I urge you to read this talk as a reminder of the gift the United States Constitution is to us.

In his talk, Pres. Benson quotes our Founding Fathers who admitted openly that God directed their actions. He quotes the Doctrine and Covenants multiple times, when Jesus Christ testifies that He is the one who preserved this nation. He is the one who designated this land as a land of liberty.

Wilford Woodruff was in the St. George temple when our Founding Fathers appeared to him asking why their temple work hadn’t been done yet. Quoting from Pres. Woodruff’s journal, Pres. Benson says,

You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God.

Pres. Benson continues with his own words,

Unfortunately, we as a nation have apostatized in various degrees from different Constitutional principles as proclaimed by the inspired founders.

According to Pres. Benson, in order to uphold the Constitution the first and foremost action on our part is righteousness.

Two great American Christian civilizations—the Jaredites and the Nephites—were swept off this land because they did not “serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ” (Ether 2:12). What will become of our civilization?

This reminds me of what Elder D. Todd Christofferson said in the April 2019 General Conference. He spoke of Enoch and the city of Zion. Enoch was called to the worst mission on the earth, at the time. The entire city was wicked, and he was called to preach to them repentance. (Moses 6)

32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee.

37 And it came to pass that Enoch went forth in the land, among the people, standing upon the hills and the high places, and cried with a loud voice, testifying against their works; and all men were offended because of him.

39 And it came to pass when they heard him, no man laid hands on him, for fear came on all them that heard him; for he walked with God.

43 And Enoch continued his speech, saying: The Lord which spake with me, the same is the God of heaven, and he is my God, and your God, and ye are my brethren, and why counsel ye yourselves, and deny the God of heaven?

47 And as Enoch spake forth the words of God, the people trembled, and could not stand in his presence.

Moses 7: 19 And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. (These are the same people who, at first, were offended.) And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.

After giving us this example from the scriptures, Elder Christofferson says,

President Nelson has repeatedly emphasized that the “gathering [of Israel] is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, … you can be a big part of it.

When we gather Israel, we become modern-day Enochs. We prepare a people to greet our Savior and King.

I grew up with the idea that the world had to be wicked enough for Christ to come. Elder Christofferson, Pres. Benson, and Pres. Nelson have caused me to think differently. Is the world wicked enough for the Lord to come? Yes. But that isn’t the right question. The right question is are we righteous enough to accept His coming?

Pres. Benson says,

I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. It will be saved by the righteous citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church—among others—men and women who understand and abide the principles of the Constitution.

In other words, it is righteousness, and righteous people, prepared to greet the Father of Nations and the King of Israel, that will bring about His Second Coming.

Painting: Founding Fathers by Harold I. Hopkinson