To be among the enlightened

[jeanpierre]

In the April 1987 General Conference, President Ezra Taft Benson stated “I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. It will be saved by the righteous citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church—among others—men and women who understand and abide the principles of the Constitution."

I believe we should be preparing our children and grandchildren to be among those "enlightened members of this Church" who will understand and abide the principles of the Constitution and help save it. But for me this is proving to be a serious challenge, even a source of contention, as my wife, our kids and their families consider it an additional time consuming burden to study/learn about the US Constitution, the principles of freedom, and even think about the attacks against these fundamental principles. How are you folks coping with this?

[Henmasher]

I am praying for an additional hour each day. So far not so good

I believe the key here is to apply the constitution as life goes. As with contentions among the children. Like the five minutes we talked of planting a seed in our hearts when we planted the garden. Small things like that imprint in a childs mind better than sit down studying. Each time my kids see a packet of seeds they can remember that lesson. Each time your child has conflict with a sibling they can then begin to think constitution and then oh man does it spread from there. I can bear total testimony that the small moments with kids teach them more than we know. The small things my parents did have saved me in so many ways. I cannot remember too many scripture studies at 6 in the morning but I can remember my dad bearing testimony of things while in the mountains or fishing.

Anyways that is my trick. Give it a try and see

[lundbaek]

I recently stimulated a little bit of thinking on this subject at a birthday dinner for one of our sons when all family members were present. I stated as casually as I could that not only did the Lord Jesus Christ establish His Church on this land in these latter-days by the hands of wise men whom He raised up unto this very purpose, but before that he established the United States of America, and the blueprint for its government, namely the Constitution of the United States. I further mentioned, referencing D&C 98:5, D&C 101:77, and D&C 109:54, that the US Constitution as it was at the time of those revelations is intended to be the governing system of the whole world. And I also threw in that we Latter-day Saints are the only people who have been given this information directly from the Lord, and that we Latter-day Saints are the only people under a divine mandate to defend, uphold and adhere to the Constitution,

[Samuel the Lamanite]

IMO, you'll are honesty trying to do right by your children. I would suggest using Teddy Roosevelt's famous talk about being in the arena. Show your children by both word and example that knowledge without action means little in the battle for liberty. Help them get in the arena alongside of you showing them the way by example.

[lundbaek]

My wife and kids were well aware of my run for US Congress and the basic principles I promoted. They are also well aware of my ongoing activity in the Constitution Party, John birch Society and Tea Party. The grand kids are a bit young to understand, the oldest being 8. But I am also trying to enlighten members of our ward and our stake, and any others when possible. A recent fireside in our home and my promotion of 2 other recent firesides helps awareness. I have a stake callilng that sometimes conflicts with activities I consider important to the restoration of constitutional principles in government. Believe me, my handling of those situations opens some eyes amd ruffles some feathers. I'm not adverse to telling people I gotta make up for what they are not doing to preserve and restore freedom.

[SpeedRacer]

My wife and kids were well aware of my run for US Congress and the basic principles I promoted.

I'm not adverse to telling people I gotta make up for what they are not doing to preserve and restore freedom.

See the connection? Sorry to be so cold. But I just wanted to make sure you saw what you said. You are obviously well intentioned and doing good things, but your attitude and demeanor can destroy your message. This happens to me all the time, and I had to be awoken to it. It was painful.

[lundbaek]

Yuppers, Speedracer, you are correct about my attitude, and thank you for bringing it to my attention. It does need fixing.

[Samuel the Lamanite]

Lundbaek; Your trying to prick members hearts helping them to get out of their current comfort zone of ignaoance. Those who allow the pricking to cause repentence will love you for it. Those with hard hearts and stiff knecks will "hate" you for trying to get them to get out of their comfort zone. Few of us want to change.

[SpeedRacer]

Yuppers, Speedracer, you are correct about my attitude, and thank you for bringing it to my attention. It does need fixing.

Wow. Thanks for not freaking on me.

[lundbaek]

If I were to "freak" on anybody, it would be on those who tell me things like "If the Prophet chooses not to comment, I choose not to worry about it." and "militancy on a particular issue, when the Prophet is not militant on that issue, is basically a difference with the Prophet. Sounds dangerous."

[Samuel the Lamanite]

Lundbaek: Yes dangerous for them but not you. IMO, they either haven't been pricked in their heart or ignored the pricking because stiff necks and hard hearts.