In D&C 98:4-10 the Lord speaks of befriending the constitutional law of the land. The statements and admonitions in these verses are quite powerful and we should feel some measure of joy that there exists such a law that the Lord Himself established (D&C101:80).
Ezra Taft Benson said, “The Constitution of the United States is a great and treasured part of my religion. . . . The overturning, or the material changing, or the distortion of any fundamental principle of our constitutional government would thus do violence to my religion. . . . My faith teaches me that the Constitution is an inspired document drawn by the hands of men whom God raised up for that very purpose; that God has given His approval of the Government set up under the Constitution “for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles”: that the constitutional “principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before” the Lord. (D&C 101:77, 98:5.) . . .”
So far as my knowledge goes, this is the only government now on the earth to which God has given such an approval. It is His plan for the government of free men. [President J. Reuben Clark, Stand Fast by Our Constitution, pp. 7, 172] https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/ezra-taft-benson_nation-shall-endure/
In D&C 98:10 it says, “Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatever is less than these cometh of evil.”
Honest and Wise Men
Honest means “upright; just; fair in dealing with others; free from trickishness and fraud; acting and having the disposition to act at all times according to justice or correct moral principles.”
Some citizens assume that their representatives in Congress must fit this definition elsewise they would not have made it past the vetting process of our voters and delegates. But I submit that there are many representatives who transgress this definition. I have seen lines in the text of passed bills that are hidden and not discussed. These lines would infringe on our inalienable rights. This is “trickishness and fraud.” Perhaps this is done in order to appease campaign funding organizations. Perhaps it is to appease lobbyists. Regardless of why these lines are not discussed, it is defrauding nonetheless. We must believe that if a representative will mock and cause other representatives to mock the beliefs of his constituents when those beliefs differ from his own, this would be considered unjust or unfair, which violates the definition of honest. (https://le.utah.gov/av/floorArchive.jsp?markerID=107373 29:30 – 37:16) These are just 2 examples of the many we have seen during legislative sessions. This is not, by any means, the end of the list.
Wise means “as properly, having knowledge; hence having the power of discerning and judging correctly, or of discriminating between what is true and what is false; between what is fit and proper, and what is improper.”
It is becoming increasingly apparent that our representatives have not read, or do not understand, or willfully reject our inalienable rights and the Constitution. If a representative does not have the knowledge of that divine document, then they cannot be “wise.” If they infringe on the rights of citizens under that constitutional law, then they are evil (D&C 98:7). If they do not read the full text of a bill that they vote on, they cannot discern or judge correctly whether it is fit and proper, whether it is Constitutional. Those representatives who do not read the full text of the bills cannot be “wise.”
Sought for diligently
Sought means “to go in search or quest of; to look for; to search for by going from place to place.”
Diligently means “as with steady application and care; with industry or assiduity; not carelessly; not negligently, as in Deuteronomy 6:7 “Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God.”
The Lord tells us (in D&C 98:10) we should seek these honest and wise men diligently. As shown in the voting polls, Utah residents and believers in the gospel are not fulfilling this commandment as it is written in D&C, as shown in the voting poles. For example, of the 200+ adult population in my precinct, only 30 people showed up at caucus to elect representatives who would then vote on their future county, state, and federal representatives. This means only 15% of the voting population in my caucus precinct showed up to vote. This is clearly a violation of the Lord’s commandment to seek out and search for men who would represent our votes on election day. Another example is of the 63,586 voting population in Utah’s Senate District 28, only 35,678 (56%) showed up to vote for the Senate seat in 2019. The senator holding the position for this district has an overall rating of 60% over the last 9 years according to Libertas. One year his rating was 29%. This rating measures how consistently this legislator votes in support of individual liberty, private property, and free enterprise. This means that only half of Utah voters in this District showed up to vote. When they do show up to vote, they are largely unconcerned with the constitutional voting record of the person they elect.
For the state of Utah, the adult population is 2,082,530 (http://worldpopulationreview.com/states/utah-population/).
There are 1,645,537 registered voters (all parties combined)
(https://elections.utah.gov/party-and-status)
1,062,845 people voted in the 2019 election cycle.
(https://electionresults.utah.gov/elections/federal)
This means that 79% of Utah adults are registered to vote, and 51% of Utah adults voted in the last election cycle. Utahns are not diligently seeking wise and honest men.
Constituents have the right and responsibility to write, call, or otherwise contact their local representative to express their opinions and research on proposed legislative bills that come across the House and Senate floors during legislative sessions. If we do not take the opportunity to pay attention to the bills and write, call, or visit our representative, then our voice is not heard, and our representative is not actually representing our area. Without our voice, they act more like rulers. With over 1000 bills crossing the desk of our representative in the 45-calendar-day legislative session, it is absolutely imperative that we help our representative. If we see rights being infringed, improper use of government funds, trickishness, injustice, or any other contrary trait expressly admonished against by our Lord and Savior, then it is our duty to express this to our representative.
My party candidate is better than yours
Nowhere in the scriptures, modern-day revelation, or speeches given by any leaders or prophet does it state that we should vote strictly with the political party that we most identify with. This goes expressly against the Lord’s admonition that we should seek diligently after honest and good men. The Lord did not command that we select a party platform and vote only within that party, trusting in strangers and other people’s research or agendas to select a politician for us. It does not say that we should ignore all other possible candidates running with other political parties (there are 7 political parties in Utah).
We should not blindly give our vote to a politician based on someone else’s research or agenda. If we do, we are rejecting our express responsibility as stated by our Lord. Voting strictly along a party line is a distinct rejection of this admonition and responsibility to seek out wise and honest men. We must recognize that there are more than two parties. We must recognize that while a political party platform may be good and moral, not all politicians that run under that party will have the expressed traits as their party platform. We can see absolute proof of this when we study the voting records of our elected representatives. Most have less than 60% Constitutional voting records. (https://libertasutah.org/resources/legislator-indexes/2018-index/ & https://www.thenewamerican.com/freedom-index ) Why then, are they being elected over and over again? Why are these people elected over good and honest men and women who are attempting to run and vote more honorably? Voters generally elect the incumbent incorrectly thinking that they have been taken care of so far. They falsely think they have no reason to vote someone else into office. I urge those voters to research how many times their incumbent representative has voted to take away rights, raise taxes, or otherwise infringe on our rights and liberty. If, after much research and contemplation we find that our representative is not representing our values, we should search out other politicians that do represent our values; even if it means going outside our political party membership.
Two very popular and powerful for-profit clubs
It is important to note that the Republican and Democratic parties are for-profit organizations who financially support anyone who will run under their name, regardless of whether that individual has a record of living or voting with their organization. If you vote strictly partisan, you are essentially an avid member of a private for-profit organization with both open and secret agendas that you may or may not be aware of. You are blindly following and accepting whatever the elite group leader of your private organization would benefit from most. This is in every way anti-agency and anti-liberty. It is slavery. The political parties have won. If this describes you, they have you ball and chain. George Washington said about political parties, “They are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government.” (http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/washing.asp paragraph 18) We see this happing in full fledge today. We see it in both major political parties. We see cunning and ambitious men and women who have effectively subverted the power of the people and now hold the reins of government. We see representatives in both parties pushing agendas that are unrighteous. We see them mocking their constituents who dare to see things differently than themselves. We see representatives refusing to read the bill text in its entirety. We see them submitting votes based on someone else’s summary of that bill. We see the voice of the minority sounding as if it were the majority because the moral people refuse to voice their concerns and opinions through effective channels. We see murder justified and personal property being stolen by our representatives who were elected to protect those rights. We see all manner of wickedness and ignorance alike. We see this because 50% of Utahns are refusing to follow the commandments given by our Lord and Savior to diligently search out men and women who are honest and wise. Fifty percent of Utahns are refusing to research those who would seek to hold such an honorable position.
We have a solemn responsibility
We must contact our representatives who are out of line with our views and the constitutional law. We must consider, research, and elect persons outside our private political club if the person running under the protection of our preferred political corporation has a record of immoral, unwise, or unconstitutional behavior and voting records. How can we know this pertinent information if we do not research? The answer is easy: we cannot. If we have abdicated our responsibility to the elite leaders or our chosen private corporation (political party), then we cannot say we have researched or sought out honest and wise men.
Benjamin Franklin answered the question about what kind of government they had in mind, “A republic, if you can keep it.” We cannot keep our divine Republic if we sit idly by and allow the private corporation leaders known as the GOP & the DNC and the loud minority to run our ballots. We are losing our rights. Our property is being stolen against our will and against the wishes of our founding fathers. Our due process is only exercised when the higher powers see fit to grant it. We see justifiable murder and theft all around us. It is imperative that we take our republic back.
How can we do that?
There are a handful of think tank organizations that spend countless hours researching legislative bills that go against their stated moral code. We can find these organizations that are in line with our own ideology and follow their research. These think tanks track bills, state the bill in a short summary, describe why they are for/against that bill, and in some cases provide the emails for the committee, sponsor, or your representative that is reviewing that bill so you can easily communicate as you see fit.
- Below are a few that I have found along with their mission statement and some helpful insights. It is important to note that as we follow these organizations and their research, we still need to ponder and decide what we think is best, based on the true and righteous principles we have established.
- Defending Utah works to expose those conspiring to take away your freedom and educate citizens on the principles of liberty. They accomplish this through original investigative reports, in order to hold elected officials accountable. They are non-partisan, and they do not endorse candidates.
- Libertas Institute understands the importance of free markets, property rights, personal freedom, justice, due process, and limited government. They support legislation that will reduce taxes, repeal necessary laws, and eliminate regulatory burdens. Libertas is a non-profit that is not associated with any political party.
- Cato Institute is dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.
- With or without the aid of think tank organizations, we need to be communicating with our representatives. Their names, email addresses, and phone numbers are public record. (https://www.utah.gov/government/contactgov.html & https://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp )
- Visit representatives in person during the legislative session. Visit with them at their town halls and other social venues.
- Find their social media pages to join, engage, and learn.
Is your temp-employee being defiant, lazy, unavailable?
If your representative mocks you or talks down to you, if he does not respond, then you can conclude that he does not represent you and should not deserve your vote in the next voting cycle. Remember, your representative works for you. You pay his salary. He was hired to represent your principles. If he consistently votes contrary to your principles or is unavailable when you reach out to communicate with him, then he does not represent you. He is in defiance of your voice. He does not deserve your vote in the next election cycle. There are many candidates that are making an effort to abide by more principled decisions so that there is no need to keep the incumbent in office if, according to your research, he does not represent you.
“No American is worthy of citizenship in this great land who refuses to take an active interest in these matters. All we hold dear as a great Christian nation is at stake.” (An Enemy Hath Done This, p.31). Do not rely on private corporations like the GOP and the DNC to do the research for you. Too many of their endorsed candidates are voting unconstitutionally and actively infringing upon your rights.
Take back our Republic!
Take the admonitions of our Lord seriously. Do not permit these admonitions to fall on deaf ears. Diligently seek out honest and wise men. Dedicate yourself to studying the principles of our God-ordained Constitution. Make your voice known. We can retain and restore our liberties if we all take this seriously. Ezra Taft Benson said, “It is our duty to be faithful, and a man cannot be counted among the fully faithful unless he is an active fighter for freedom. Resistance to tyranny is still obedience to God.” (Stand Up for Freedom, p.195)
All definitions are from the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary as the modern dictionaries are tainted with sexual dysphoria, lower morals, (see https://www.dictionary.com/browse/marriage?s=t & http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/marriage) and in some cases changing the definition altogether (see https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/democracy & http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/democracy).
