Current Lessons
Lesson No. Thirty-Eight

The Founding of the United States was Prologue to the Restoration Independence Day 2024

Prologue is “an introductory scene, preceding the first act of a play, opera, etc.” (Dictionary.com).

The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ could be considered a “play” orchestrated by the Father long in advance; the prologue for this “play” is in the establishment of the United States; the first act of this “play” is the First Vision – Jesus taught the Nephites the “how” and the “why” of this play: “For it is wisdom in the Father that they (latter-day gentiles) should be established in this land (the United States), and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things (the Book of Mormon as an important part of the latter day Restoration) might come forth from them (latter-day gentiles) unto a remnant of your seed (latter-day Lamanites), that the covenant of the Father (made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their worthy descendants) may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel” (3 Nephi 21:4, parentheses mine). The “how” is through the latter-day Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which began in the United States. The “why” is so the Father can fulfill His covenants to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their worthy descendants.

The establishment of the United States was also orchestrated by God long in advance – The Book of Mormon makes it clear that Columbus, the pilgrims, and multitudes of immigrants were brought to America by the Spirit of God; that they prospered and “humbled themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them”; that the Lord was also with the colonists in the Revolutionary War, and they “were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations” (I Nephi 13:12-19). Latter day revelation also makes it clear that the Lord “established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose” (D&C 101:80).

The founding of the United States took place on July 4, 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed – Forty-eight years ago, in 1976, we celebrated the Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence. As part of a nationwide celebration, the Church produced seven powerful illustrations which present our belief that the Lord established the United States and its Constitution to provide the freedom necessary for the gospel to be restored. These illustrations can be found at lessonsonlife.net; Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Commentary; Lesson 4 – Nephi’s Vision of the Latter-Days (link). We, and our children and grandchildren, need to understand the principals taught in these illustration even more now than we did 48 years ago.

It is important to understand the reasons why the Lord prepared the United States as prologue to the Restoration, and to teach this, and the associated doctrines and history, to our children and grandchildren – President Joseph F. Smith explained: “This great American nation the Almighty raised up by the power of his omnipotent hand, that it might be possible in the latter days for the kingdom of God to be established in the earth. If the Lord had not prepared the way by laying the foundations of this glorious nation, it would have been impossible (under the stringent laws and bigotry of the monarchical governments of the world ) to have laid the foundations for the coming of his great kingdom. The Lord has done this” (Gospel Doctrine, p. 409).

The role of the United States in the ongoing Restoration – The Church does not consider it important whether the Book of Mormon lands were in North, or Central, or South America, but it is important to understand that the Lord raised up the United States to be prologue and cradle of the Restoration, the headquarters of the latter-day Kingdom of God on the earth, and the place where the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ will be administered and taken to the world. “This land” the Lord spoke of in 3 Nephi 21:4 and in D&C 101:80 clearly refers to the United States.

My Testimony – Both the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and establishment of the United States is the Lord’s work, and therefore, neither work will fail and both will succeed. (See D&C 3:1-3). I add my testimony to that of President Harold B. Lee who said it so well when he testified that we could have confidence in the future of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the future of the of the United States: “Men may fail in this country, earth quakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation founded on principles laid down by men who God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of her New Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won’t fail! I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges. I plead with you not to preach pessimism! Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through” (Ye Are the Light of the World, pp. 350). We also need to teach and testify of this to our children and grandchildren.

Released on June 30th. 2024.