For this reason, the Prophet Joseph Smith declared that “…we uphold its truth, along with that of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, etc.” Even though Dallin H. Oaks clarifies that he does not believe all of the Constitution is scriptural he later states that he feels that “the United States Constitution’s closest approach to scriptural stature is in the phrasing of our Bill of Rights.” The Bill of Rights is just one of these fundamental principles that allow basic freedoms for all men. They are of great importance to the LDS church, especially since they believe that exercising free agency to choose to follow Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 2:27) is essential for one to return to the presence of God. Therefore, having some of the same principles of the scriptures, the LDS church views parts of the Constitution as
For this reason, the Prophet Joseph Smith declared that “…we uphold its truth, along with that of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, etc.” Even though Dallin H. Oaks clarifies that he does not believe all of the Constitution is scriptural he later states that he feels that “the United States Constitution’s closest approach to scriptural stature is in the phrasing of our Bill of Rights.” The Bill of Rights is just one of these fundamental principles that allow basic freedoms for all men. They are of great importance to the LDS church, especially since they believe that exercising free agency to choose to follow Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 2:27) is essential for one to return to the presence of God. Therefore, having some of the same principles of the scriptures, the LDS church views parts of the Constitution as