Jake's response to the "Declaration of Independence"

At the beginning of the semester, I decided that I wanted a pocket copy of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. When I went into the BYU Bookstore and asked where I could find a copy of these two important documents, i was given the uncertain response that they might be at the end of the current events/politics aisle. After a few minutes of searching, I was heartbroken to find a small booklet containing these two founding documents almost hidden behind other books. It is sad when the documents containing the purpose for the founding of our great country are stashed away to the side of books giving the most "popular" beliefs on current national issues.

Unfortunately, this small event in a single bookstore represents the state of the entire Nation. All to often, the traditional principles that are the foundation of our country are set aside for the rise of new principles of "tolerance" and "common good." I find it Ironic that the Declaration of Independence, which contains many solutions to current issues, is one of the most ignored documents in today's society.

Within the first few paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence we find two truths that many today do not understand. The first is the most basic principle of government - the Social Contract. Originating from John Locke, this idea explains the fundamental relationship between the government and the governed. It begins by stating that people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In order to ensure these rights, however, people need to collectively relinquish their right to complete freedom to the government. This is common sense, for in order for everyone to maintain these three rights, they must not be allowed to infringe on the three unalienable rights of others.

While many people (especially liberals) are familiar with the first part of the Social Contract, few are familiar with the second which states that the role of government is ONLY to protect these rights. That means that the sole purpose of government is to prevent Joe from harming Fred's life, liberty, or ability to pursue happiness. The Declaration of Independence states that once the government exceeds its intended role and becomes destructive to the rights of it's governed, the governed have the right and obligation to intervene. This brings out the problem with our current Health Care debate. On the positive side, it is prudent for the government to regulate the Health Care industry, for many companies are infringing on the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to some Americans. The government is wrong, however, in it's attempt to force every American to get insured. Americans will no longer have the liberty to chose to live without health care, a decision which has no effect on the rights of others. We see there that the government is trying to overstep it's bounds, and it is now the responsibility of the people to step forward and prevent this injustice from being done. I'm sorry if that sound too "conservative," but, well, the Declaration IS a conservative document.

The second truth in the Declaration is that God is very much a part of our country. The declaration states that universal rights are endowed by a "Creator." Many Atheists today are offended by this idea, and try to soften this blow to their ego, so to speak, by citing quotes by the founding fathers which seem in opposition to religion. The truth is, however, that even if some of the founding fathers did not like religion, there still is a God who inspired them to found the most powerful nation on Earth. In the D&C, the lord states that he "established the Constitution of this land by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose."

Furthermore, it should be understood that the lord is our only hope for a bright future. The lord promises us in the Book of Mormon that we will be blessed with freedom only if we (as the United States of America) serve him. This was the premise of the Constitution and our Republic. Both we founded, as the Declaration states, "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence."

To further support this idea, it can be understood that the Book of Mormon did indeed take place upon the continent of North America, specifically what is now the United States. All scientific theories aside, when the lord visited the Nephites, he stated that “This Land” would be free from kings and would be a choice land above all other lands. Notice he did not say “That land up north,” but “This land.”
My friends, “This Land” is now the United States. The promises in the Book of Mormon are ours. We will prosper as a nation only if we adhere to the commandments of Jesus Christ. It doesn’t really matter if that is “politically correct,” or if some people chose not to believe it - it is the truth. If we reject Christ and turn away from his Constitution, we will not only lose our freedoms, we will lose our identity as a nation.

I have much more in response to the Declaration of Independence, but i’m sure one and a half pages typed will translate into a blog post stretching from 0 to infinity. Let me leave you with the famous quote by Plato: “The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men,”

P.S. If I don’t get some liberal response calling me an uninformed, radical, racist, fear mongering, hating, right wing extremist, I am going to be very surprised. You will have let the liberal community down. :)