Sign 12 - Establishment of the United States of America

Year:1776

Scriptures:

2 Nephi 10:10-12

10 But behold, this land, said God, shall be a land of thine inheritance, and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon the land.

11 And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles.

12 And I will fortify this land against all other nations.

We are told by God that the United States of America was established as a land of inheritance for the Gentiles who would be blessed upon the land. It would be a land of liberty or freedom for its people with no kings to rule. It would be protected by God from all other nations.

2 Nephi 1:8-9

8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.

9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.

God promised that the North and South American continents could be kept from the knowledge of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Otherwise they would overrun the land and there would be no place for an inheritance for Lehi and his descendants. By keeping God’s commands the people who inhabit this land will prosper and be protected from other nations.

Isaiah 66:8

8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Isaiah prophesied that a nation, the United States of America would be born in one day. Sylvanus Conant gave a sermon in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in December 1776 in which he declared the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. “The step that is taken hath the appearance of a literal accomplishment of one of those scripture prophecies which (if it is to be understood in a literal sense) must sooner or later take place. There is a prophetic query in Isa. 66:8 — Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day, or shall a nation be born at once? …Is there any thing that makes … a more literal fulfillment … as when these thirteen United States, by the voice of their deputies in Congress assembled, were led to declare themselves free and independent?” (Stout, New England Soul, 307-8)

Divinity of the Constitution

The Constitution of the United States is a divinely prepared document as testified by Ezra Taft Benson:

“About two hundred years ago some inspired men walked this land. Not perfect men, but men raised up by the Perfect Man to perform a great work. Foreordained were they to lay the foundation of this republic. Blessed by the Almighty in their struggle for liberty and independence, the power of heaven rested on these founders as they drafted that great document for governing men the Constitution of the United States. Like the Ten

Commandments, the truths on which the Constitution were based were timeless; and also as with the Decalogue-the hand of the Lord was in it. They filled their mission well. From them we were endowed with a legacy of liberty-a constitutional republic.” (Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988] 595)

“The Constitution of this land, with which we should all be familiar, is the only constitution in the world bearing the stamp of approval of the Lord Jesus Christ (D&C 101:76-80).” (Be True to God, Country, and Self, Young Adult Fireside, Logan, Utah, 11 February 1979)

“During the Constitutional Convention of 1787-which in four months drew up the basic laws of our land-the Congress at one time was about to adjourn in utter confusion. The attempt to establish a lasting union had apparently failed. At this crucial moment, eighty-one-year-old Benjamin Franklin arose, and is reported to have said, ‘In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were generously answered…. I have lived a long time and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it possible that an empire can rise without His aid?’ Then Franklin proposed that the Congress seek divine aid, and they should begin each session with a petition to the Almighty.” (Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988] 597)

“The Constitution was designed to work only with a moral and righteous people. ‘Our Constitution,’ said John Adams (first vice-president and second president of the United States), ‘was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’

“In recognizing God as the source of their rights, the Founding Fathers declared Him to be the ultimate authority for their basis of law. This led them to the conviction that people do not make law but merely acknowledge preexisting law, giving it specific application. The Constitution was conceived to be such an expression of higher law. And when their work was done, James Madison wrote: ‘It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stage of the revolution’ (The Federalist, no. 37).“ (Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988] 597)

“We must return to a spirit of humility, faith in God, and the basic concepts upon which this great Christian nation has been established under the direction of Divine Providence. We must return to a realization of the source of our strength. Then will we realize the truth of what President George Albert Smith said: ‘The Constitution of the United States of America is just as much from my Heavenly Father as the Ten Commandments’ (CR April 1948, p. 182).” (Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988] 597-598)