Who said the government will hang by a thread

Since no particular time was given for fulfilling this prophecy, members of the Church have often wondered about its timing. The prophecy clearly indicates a single, identifiable episode yet to come. However, it is helpful for us to constantly be on guard against threats to the central elements of the Constitution. It is not wise to sit by and think that the protection of the Constitution is the problem of someone else at some other time. President J.

Reuben Clark, Jr. Students of history and the Constitution know that the Constitution has been imperiled a number of times in its history and has been saved a number of times both by vigorous political action and by vocal public opinion.

Thus, rather than simply wait for the one time when the Constitution shall hang by a thread, Latter-day Saints must continually be vigilant. Our commission to save the Constitution is, like salvation, a continuing task, and Church leaders have pointed out the tools available: analysis of constitutional principles, personal study of the history of our nation, reading the Constitution to children at home and in schools, teaching them self-sacrifice—the principle that makes freedom possible—teaching them their obligations as mature citizens, recognizing and resisting ideologies that threaten constitutional principles, and developing loyalty to principle rather than to men or parties.

Politicians and statesmen must grapple with tough questions, painstakingly familiarize themselves with vital issues, and be decisive; but finally, an antidote to abusive government, to corruption, and to constitutional peril lies in private character.

Humble people in prayerful homes will contribute immeasurably to a lasting constitutional government. June The Church and the U. Bicentennial L. Tom Perry. A Promised Land Jeffrey R. And they've often been marginalized. There were a few moments where they felt that the answer would be outside of America.

But in most moments, they believed that the solution was to save America, to redeem the Constitution. And so that's where this idea of the idea of the Constitution hanging by a thread, a thread never breaks, comes from.

LH: Now is an interesting time in politics in America, because there are probably some people who would agree that the Constitution might be hanging by a thread. Depending on how they view the president, some people feel like the Constitution is being challenged right now.

Does that make it an attractive time for that prophecy to come back? BP: Absolutely. I think you'll find most Latter-day Saints, especially in the Utah region, they're going to be pretty strident Republicans. And when push comes to shove, they'll probably continue to vote Republican. But they also have a typical cultural trajectory to where they don't feel comfortable with people like Donald Trump, who does not fit their typical belief of what a politician should be.

So even if they support him at the polls, they're going to speak out. And I think you see this in people like Mitt Romney and Jeff Flake, politicians who are Latter-day Saints, who even if they vote along party lines, they're still going to speak out and present themselves as an alternative.

So, while most Latter-day Saints in Utah will still probably support the Republican ballot and probably vote for Donald Trump in , they're going to see Donald Trump and his activities as a larger bug— that there's much more corruption throughout American politics that still need to be saved, even if they're not going to consider any alternatives to Trump at the voting poll.

BP: I would tell people not to put too much faith into that. I think in general, Romney, like most Latter-day Saints, are going to fall along party line. And I would be very surprised if that doesn't happen.

I will state that it's pretty interesting that the LDS Church never officially came out and discounted the White Horse Prophecy until , when Romney was in the midst of starting his campaign for the election.

And I think you could see the LDS Church realizing that we have a powder keg that could explode if we don't discount it. And so they actually put out a public statement saying that the White Horse Prophecy is is not a credible part of LDS doctrine.

Mormon culture influences nearly every aspect of life in Utah. But these days, many long-held values are being challenged, even by the faithful. Government, however, was not a positive one. Joseph Smith and the Saints he led had serious problems and conflicts with several state governments and with the federal government. These conflicts developed from persecution which arose against the Saints, most heavily in Missouri.

The Saints believed their constitutional rights had been violated because they had been deprived of their right to worship as they believed. The Constitution gave them these rights, but the government failed to enforce the provisions of the Constitution.

In an effort to plead this case, Joseph Smith and others traveled to Washington, D. Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land. And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land.

We think it would be wise in you to try to git [sic] influence by offering to print a paper in favor of the government as you know we are all friends to the Constitution yea true friends to that Country for which our fathers bled. PWJS And again I say unto you, those who have been scattered by their enemies, it is my will that they should continue to importune for redress, and redemption, by the hands of those who are placed as rulers and are in authority over you—.

According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I [the Lord] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles. Have mercy, O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.

Be wise; let prudence dictate all your counsels; preserve peace with all men, if possible; stand by the Constitution of your country; observe its principles; and above all, show yourselves men of God, worthy citizens.

MFP — While other men were peacefully following their vocations and extending their interests they [the Saints in Clay County] have been deprived of the right of citizenship, prevented from enjoying their own, charged with violating the sacred principles of our Constitution and laws. MFP By their complying with your request to leave they [the Saints in Clay County] are surrendering some of the dearest rights guaranteed in the Constitution of our country; and that human nature can be driven to a certain extent when it will yield no further.

The Constitution of our country [was] formed by the Fathers of liberty. Exalt the standard of Democracy! Down with that of priestcraft, and let all the people say Amen! Sacred is the memory of that blood which bought for us our liberty. HC Blessed be the memory of those few brethren who contended so strenuously for their constitutional rights and religious freedom, against such an overwhelming force of desperadoes! Having an opportunity of speaking to General Wilson, I inquired of him why I was thus treated.

I told him I was not aware of having done anything worthy of such treatment; that I had always been a supporter of the Constitution and of democracy. Where has the genius of the pedistal [sic] of the laws and constitution of our boasted country fled?

Hence we say, that the Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner; it is to all those who are privileged with the sweets of liberty, like the cooling shades and refreshing waters of a great rock in a thirsty and weary land.

It is like a great tree under whose branches men from every clime can be shielded from the burning rays of the sun. TPJS — I ask the citizens of this Republic whether such a state of things is to be suffered to pass unnoticed, and the hearts of widows, orphans, and patriots to be broken, and their wrongs left without redress? I invoke the genius of our Constitution.

I appeal to the patriotism of Americans to stop this unlawful and unholy procedure; and pray that God may defend this nation from the dreadful effects of such outrages. Your constitution guarantees to every citizen, even the humblest, the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property. It promises to all, religious freedom, the right to all to worship God beneath their own vine and fig tree, according to the dictates of their conscience. It guarantees to all the citizens of the several states the right to become citizens of any one of the states, and to enjoy all the rights and immunities of the citizens of the state of his adoption.

Even this Nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to peices [sic] 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. WJS This people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction.