The Declaration of Independence
From a Latter-Day Saint Point of View.
"The Declaration of Independence. . Is much more than a political document. It constitutes a spiritual manifesto--revelation, if you will--declaring not for this nation only, but for all nations, the source of man's rights. Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet, foresaw over 2,300 years ago that this event would transpire. The colonies he saw would break with Great Britain and that 'the power of the Lord was with [the colonists],' that they 'were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations' (1 Nephi 13:16, 19).
"The Declaration of Independence was to set forth the moral justification of a rebellion against a long-recognized political tradition--the divine right of kings. At issue was the fundamental question of whether men's rights were God-given or whether these rights were to be dispensed by governments to their subjects. This document proclaimed that all men have certain inalienable rights. In other words, these rights came from God."
(Ezra Taft Benson, "Our Priceless Heritage," Ensign, Nov. 1976, 33)
I believe it is divinely inspired.
Though the United States is not perfect, as we have seen in many posts, this is a country where the restored Gospel was able to take root. It is a place where righteous but flawed men, were inspired to set up a nation where Freedom of religion and expression are paramount. I believe that The Declaration of Independence is an expression of Man's desire to be free from Earthly Tyranny, and live to pursue a course that their conscience dictates. Man's purpose is to be free, at least that is what God has desired for us.
QUOTE |
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. |
The second sentence of the Declaration of Independence says:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp (marijuana) paper.