Chapter 31
The Constitution — A Zion Standard
"The Constitution and laws of the United States
resemble a theocracy more closely than
any government now on the earth."
— Brigham Young

The Constitution was established by the Lord to have long-lasting qualities. It was not brought forth for only a short duration. It will sustain the freedoms and eternal rights of man for a thousand years to come.

In 1885, Moses Thatcher, ordained by John Taylor as an early Apostle of these latter days, said that there will be "desolation and bloodshed," and that the rights of the people who flee to Zion will be protected by this instrument:

"When war and desolation and bloodshed, and the ripping up of society come upon the nation, I have said to such, "Come to Utah and we will divide our morsel of food with you, we will divide our clothing with you, and we will offer you protection." I will tell you, my brethren and sisters, the day will come, and it is not far distant, when he who will not take up his sword against his neighbor, will have to flee to Zion for safety; and it is presupposed in this prediction that Zion will have power to give them protection. We are not going to do it outside the government, either; we are going to do it inside the government. There is no power in this land to turn this people against the government of the United States. They will maintain the Constitution of this country inviolate, and although it may have been torn to shreds they will tie it together again, and maintain every principle of it, holding it up to the downtrodden of every nation, kindred, tongue and people, and they will do it, too, under the Stars and Stripes. They will stand with their feet firmly upon the backbone of the American continent and maintain the principles which cost their fathers so much, and those principles cannot be take away by men who violate their oath of office, and betray their trust.
"I tell you that there are boys growing up in these mountains who have the principles of human liberty grounded deep in their hearts, and they will maintain them, not only for themselves, but for others. God speed the day, I say — if the nation pursues its downward course and tears up these fundamental principles of government which have made them strong — when the Constitution may be rescued and all men and women shall be free again." (JD, 26:334-335.)

It will be noticed that Moses Thatcher said that this Constitution will "be rescued." And why should you rescue something that is not in danger? He made this statement in 1885. So it appears that, at that time, the document needed rescuing. Is it in any better shape today?

Let us note what George A. Smith, another early Apostle had to say about this very thing. In a conference address in 1870, he said that the Constitution was not the "supreme law of this land." These are his words:

"It will not be a great while before many of us will take great pleasure in moving; because when the day comes that the Constitution of the United States becomes the supreme law of this land — the land of America, every man will be protected in his religious faith, and then we will go right back to Jackson County, and build a Temple, the most beautiful ever built on this continent or any other." (Ibid., 13:298.)

The words, "when the day comes," and "becomes the supreme law," denotes the fact that the Constitution must not have been the supreme law of the land in 1870 when the address was given. As we learned earlier, the document was intended to be the "supreme law of the land." That was the intent of our founding fathers. If it is not, then what happened to it to make it otherwise? Was something happening in our government? If it was not the supreme law in 1870, then what was? Could it be that by this date we had some amendments, such as the thirteenth and fourteenth, added to the document that took rights from the people? If the Constitution is not the supreme law, then our "Unalienable" rights are not protected.

Even though the principles contained in the Constitution are under attack at this time, Elder Thatcher said that "those principles cannot be" taken "away by men who violate their oath of office, and betray their trust." President Wilford Woodruff made a similar statement when he said that it would be "beyond the power of man to destroy the principles of the Constitution," and that they will be maintained until Jesus comes to reign:

"Now, I say if our rulers and governors become corrupt and attempt to trample those principles under their feet; though the nation itself might go to pieces, yet it is beyond the power of man to destroy the principles of the Constitution. They may destroy one another, yet the principles contained in that instrument will live, and the God of heaven will maintain them until Jesus Christ comes in the Clouds of heaven to set up His throne in Jerusalem, and to reign on the earth a thousand years." (Ibid., 22:346.)

Republic — A Zion Government
As we have observed previously, ancient Israel had the first true representative or republican form of government. King Mosiah, in the Book of Mormon, also established the same form of government. This representative government was man’s form of government to execute God’s laws. Our government has been called a Democratic Republic because it possesses much of the good qualities of both systems, with emphasis on republic. But what of God’s theocratic government? It is a "Republican Democratic Government," said Brigham Young, "and it is the only true form of government on the earth — the only one that possesses all the true principles of republicanism." (Ibid., 7:8.) On another occasion he said of the Kingdom of God and its government system:

"For your satisfaction, I will present some of my views concerning the kingdom of God.
"Erroneous traditions and the powers of darkness have such sway over mankind, that, when we speak of a theocracy on the earth, the people are frightened.
"But few, if any, understand what a theocratic government is. In every sense of the word, it is a republican government, and differs but little in form from our National, State, and Territorial Governments; but its subjects will recognize the will and dictation of the Almighty. The kingdom of God circumscribes and comprehends the municipal laws for the people in their outward government, to which pertain the Gospel covenants, by which the people can be saved; and those covenants pertain to fellowship and faithfulness.
"The Gospel covenants are for those who believe and obey; municipal laws are for both Saint and sinner.
"The Constitution and laws of the United States resemble a theocracy more closely than any government now on the earth. . . ." (Ibid., 6:342.)
"What do I understand by a theocratic government? One in which all laws are enacted and executed in righteousness, and whose officers possess that power which proceedeth from the Almighty. That is the kingdom of government I allude to when I speak of a theocratic government, or the kingdom of God upon the earth. It is, in short, the eternal powers of the Gods." (Ibid., 6:346-347.)
"Jehovah has decreed and plainly foretold the establishment of his kingdom upon this earth. . . . The municipal laws of that kingdom are designed for the protection of all classes of people in their legitimate rights; and were it now in its fullness upon the earth, and the New Jerusalem built upon this continent, which is the land of Zion, the Latter-day Saints would not alone enjoy its blessings, but all denominations and communities would be alike protected in their rights, whether they worshipped the Supreme Author of our existence, or the sun, or the moon, or, as do some of our aborigines, a white dog; and none will be permitted to infringe upon their neighbors, though every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. The Hindus would have the privilege of erecting their temples and of worshipping as they pleased; but they would not be permitted to compel other worshippers to conform to their mode of worship, nor to burn their companions upon the funeral pyre [pile of wood for burning dead bodies]; for that would interfere with individual rights." (Ibid., 6:344-345.)

Not only does Brigham Young say that a theocratic government is republican in nature and similar to our American government system but he also mentions the perfections of a republican form of government. During a discourse on the fourth of July 1854, he posed a question and then offered an answer to that same question: "What is a true Republican government? [This] is easily answered. It is a government or institution that is perfect — perfect in its laws and ordinances, having for its object the perfection of mankind in righteousness." (Ibid., 7:10.) And then he went on to say: "Republican government — a government which, if carried out, will be perfect in itself." (Ibid., 7:11.) On more than one occasion Orson Pratt said much the same thing; for example: "All the great and glorious principles incorporated in this great republic will be incorporated in the kingdom of God and be preserved." (Ibid., 13:125-126.)

Now that we have surveyed the compatibility and unity of a theocracy with a representative form of government what about its ability to protect man’s right of agency, since all will bow to the scepter of the Lord. President John Taylor expressed his feelings on the matter in this way:

"The proper mode of government is this — God first speaks, and then the people have their action. It is for them to say whether they will have his dictation or not. They are free: they are independent under God. The government of God is not a species of priestcraft . . . where one man dictates and everybody obeys without having a voice in it. We have our voice and agency, and act with the most perfect freedom. . . ." (Ibid., 9:10.)

Brigham Young said this freedom, "will be controlled upon the same basis, in part, as that of the Government of the United States; and it will govern and protect in their rights the various classes of men, irrespective of their different modes of worship." (Ibid., 5:329-330.)

"Thy Kingdom Come"
In Matthew 6:9 we are asked to pray, ". . . Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." When we thus pray, we are not asking for the Church to be established; Jesus had already established the Church; but, the Kingdom of God had not been established. There is a difference in the Church of God and the Kingdom of God and He therefore asked that we pray for the establishment of the Kingdom.

To be a Zion people is not just to be "the pure in heart," (D&C 97:21.) but also to know what a Zion government is like. How can we support a Zion government when we may not be able to recognize or understand that government? How can we help establish Zion and be loyal to a Zion government if we do not know its foundation, its principles, its operation, its philosophy, and its authority? To be a Zion people we must have understanding of the type of government that will exist in the political Kingdom of God.

Therefore, as a start and basis, we must have a good understanding of our own system of government, our Constitution and our republican form of government, which will be, in most particulars, like the governmental foundation of the Kingdom of God and His Zion. Without this understanding of a Zion government, how can we be true to it? If we cannot be true to a Zion government because we do not understand it, how can we truly be a Zion people? This Kingdom of God, or Zion, is one of the things for which the Lord has asked us to pray. Should we not try to understand that for which we pray?

Constitutional Principles to Endure
We find, therefore, that the Constitution (meaning the righteous principles enshrined within that document) will still have power during the Millennial reign of Christ, and that it will be the political basis for liberty for all people. It will be a Republican form of government with Christ as the head of that government.

The principles of the Constitution will be preserved by the faithful, for the protection of our eternal rights. And as Orson Hyde states, that document will be restored by "the guardian angel of America:" "When Justice is satisfied, and the blood of martyrs atoned for, the guardian angel of America will return to his station, resume his charge, and restore the Constitution of our country to the respect and veneration of the people; for it was given by the inspiration of our God." (JD, 6:369.)

Constitutional principles, the political standard of Zion, will be upheld by the righteous Saints, but they will not do it alone — Christ will come in power and great glory to assist the faithful. This document was not established as a temporary instrument, it was intended to last a thousand years.