Constitution is topic of religious speaker
Keynote speaker James E. Faust, 2nd counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, spoke Sunday evening at the 10th annual Cache Valley Commemoration of the signing of the United States Constitution.
“I’m proud to say that this week I’ve seen a resurgence of patriotism,” Faust said.
Speaking in-depth on the the twin clauses concerning religion in the First Amendment of the Constitution, Faust identified that religion in America needs to take on a more prominent role.
“There seems to be developing a new secular creed. It is politically focused and quite antagonistic to religion. It is in fact hostile to traditional religion. It feels strange. If this trend is allowed to continue, non-belief will be more sponsored than belief,” Faust said.
If this secular creed persists to evolve, Faust said, it is his opinion that “the people of this nation are in great moral jeopardy” for the creed ignores the historical founding beliefs the nation was built upon – a trust in God. “[The creed] continually eliminates public religious expression and fosters political [views].”
This is contrary to the religious and historical origins of the First Amendment to the Constitution which states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
This God-given right helped set the great nation of America apart as unique, Faust said.
These twin religious clauses, Faust said, “are the golden threads which, in the past, publicly affirmed that there is a higher power that rules the affairs of man.”
Faust suggested a more religiously minded view be taken up once more in our communities, homes, schools and society. With God once again as the focus of the nation, he said, the nation’s ills will be improved.
“A society that will permit anything will eventually lose everything,” Faust quoted Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the quorum of the twelve apostles, for the Latter-day Saint Church.
The Year 2001 Speech Contest Winner, Ruth Belliston, also spoke at the commemoration.
“Are we truly free when there are others who don’t have their liberty?” she asked. “The price has been paid. We must be willing to defend our liberty at all costs.”
Scott N. Bradley, chairman of the Constitution Commemoration Foundation, presented Faust with Arnold Freeburg’s painting of George Washington praying at Valley Forge. It seemed fitting to be presenting Faust with the painting at this time, Bradley said, for “Valley Forge was considered by many to be among the darkest hours of the constitution.”
Ironically enough, he said, last week’s tragedy also bore a few of the blackest hours America has seen.
“Particularly at this time, our nation, families and this people need the guidance of God,” Bradley said.