The Founding Fathers are mormons.

[creator]

I just got an interesting message from a friend, it goes along with what Ezra Taft Benson mentioned in "The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner"....

Two days ago I had the exciting experience of looking at the microfilm copy of the proxy baptismal record of Gen. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin and others baptized at the same time, including Abraham Lincoln, James Polk, scientist Michael Farraday, Civil War Union Admiral David Farragut, and a lot of wives and women baptized at the same time by Wilford Woodruff and (I forget his first name - it was 2 days ago) McAllister.

Ralph

and here's what was in "The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner":

Shortly after President Kimball became President of the Church, he assigned me to go into the vault of the St. George Temple and check the early records. As I did so, I realized the fulfillment of a dream I had had ever since learning of the visit of the Founding Fathers to the St. George Temple. I saw with my own eyes the records of the work that was done for the Founding Fathers of this great nation, beginning with George Washington. Think of it, the Founding Fathers of this nation, those great men, appeared within those sacred walls and had their vicarious work done for them. President Wilford Woodruff spoke of it in these words:

Before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, "You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God." These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights....

I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon Brother McCallister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men. [Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, sel. G. Homer Durham (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1946), pp. 160-61]

These noble spirits came there with divine permission-evidence that this work of salvation goes forward on both sides of the veil.

At a later conference, in April 1898, after he became President of the Church, President Woodruff declared that "those men who laid the foundation of this American government and signed the Declaration of Independence were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits ... [and] were inspired of the Lord" (CR, April 1898, p. 89). We honor those men today. We are the grateful beneficiaries of their noble work.

Just a reminder at what great people our Founding Fathers were - truly inspired of God - and ready to receive the true gospel of Jesus Christ - (these things are true despite the many lies the socialist teachers of today are telling us).

[John Adams]

If you ever have the chance to attend the St. George temple, this story is on one of the walls in the waiting area. It is a beautiful story.

As a side note, I just finished the book 1776 last night, and yes they were all amazing men (& women--Abigail Adams is still one of my favorites).

[lundbaek]

Wilford Woodruff, in his journal, wrote for Sunday, 19 August 1877: "I spent the evening in preparing a list of the Noted Men of the 17 Centaury and 18th including the signers of the declaration of Independence and the Presidents of the United States for Baptism on Tuesday the 21 Aug 1877."

That seems a rather casual notation about an event that to me would be a spiritual adventure beyond anything I've ever expereienced. Here is what Brother Woodruff stated at a later date, as recorded in the Journal of Discourses: "I will here say, before closing, that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, "You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God." These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights...."

In his journal, Brother Woodruff wrote: "Aug 21, 1877 I Wilford Woodruff went to the Temple of the Lord this morning and was Baptized for 100 persons who were dead including the signers of the Declaration of Independence....." and he listed those 100 men, and stated he in turn baptized Brother McAllister for 21 more, and Lucy Bigelow Young was baptized for Martha Washington and her family and seventy of the Eminent women of the world. He wrote: "I called upon all the Bretheren and Sisters who were present to assist in getting Endowments for those that we had been baptized for to day." Over the next few days endowments were done for those eminent people until Brother Woodruff was called to Salt Lake City upon the death of Brigham Young.

"The thought never entered my heart, from the fact, I suppose, that heretofore our minds were reaching after our more immediate friends and relatives. I straightway went into the baptismal font and called upon brother McCallister to baptize me for the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and fifty other eminent men, making one hundred in all, including John Wesley, Columbus, and others; I then baptized him for every President of the United States, except three; and when their cause is just, somebody will do the work for them."

[lundbaek]

Some years ago a 2 volume book was written about each of the other men and women whose baptisms and endowments were done at that time at the St. George Temple. I think the titles were "Those Other Eminent Men" and "Those Eminent Women", and I think the author's last name was Anderson or Andersen. Does anyone have a copy of the volume "Those Other Eminent Men" and could look up some info on Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson. I have read that he was among "Those Other Eminent Men", and in Wilford Woodruff's journal he is listed on Pg 368 of Vol. 7 as having had is baptism done. Yet I could not find an entry of his name in the microfilms of either the records of baptisms or endowments of temple work done in St. George at that time. However, I did find a baptismal entry for a "Miss (illegible) wife of Horatio Nelson". Any help will be appreciated.

Lundbæk @ [email protected]

[cboyack]

The book is titled The Other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff and is available at Deseret Book. I was considering buying it, but it got a number of poor reviews at Amazon.com, so held off. If you're near a Deseret Book at all, you could just go in and thumb through the pages to find what you need.

[paper]

I find this passage fascinating: "Those men who laid the foundation of this American government and signed the Declaration of Independence were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits ... [and] were inspired of the Lord." This truly testifies that the Lord's hand was in the foundation of the government of the United States, and in the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. For this, the LDS people have a more compelling reason than anyone else on the earth to uphold the Constitution.

[lundbaek]

It is essential that we understand the importance of abiding by the US Constitution in the tradition of our founding fathers, in other words, as the founders meant that it should be understood. The constitution we labour under now no longer supports the principles of fundamental rights of all people.

In the October 1987 General Conference, the Prophet, President Benson said: “Second, we must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers. Have we read the Federalist Papers? Are we reading the Constitution and pondering it? Are we aware of its principles? Are we abiding by these principles and teaching them to others? Could we defend the Constitution? Can we recognize when a law is constitutionally unsound? Do we know what the prophets have said about the Constitution and the threats to it?"

and in the April 1976 General Conference conference session he said: "We should understand the Constitution as the founders meant that it should be understood. We can do this by reading their words about it, such as those contained in the Federalist Papers. Such understanding is essential if we are to preserve what God has given us."

While Prophet and President of the Church, David O. McKay told us in the October 1962 General Conference: "[Above] all else, strive to support good and conscientious candidates of either party who are aware of the great dangers inherent in communism, and who are truly dedicted to the Constitution in the tradition of our founding fathers."

and in a 2 November 1964, Letter from the First Presidency "We have urged you, above all, to try to support candidates....who are truly dedicated to the Constitution in the tradition of our fathers."
(President David O. McKay, November 2, 1964, Deseret News, Letter from the First Presidency)

[lundbaek]

Righto, Paper! The LDS people have a more compelling reason than anyone else on the earth to uphold the Constitution. And for what it's worth, during a commencement address delivered at Brigham Young Unive rsity–Idaho on 16 December 2011, Elder Quentin Cook said: "Do Latter-day Saints believe the U.S. Constitution is a divinely inspired document? The Lord Himself answered that question when He declared, “I established the Constitution … by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose” (D&C 101:80). I think Elder Cook misstated that question. He shudda said "Do Latter-day Saints believe the U.S. Constitution is a divinely inspired document?" It appears to me most do not understand that fact.

[jeanpierre]

Lundbaek, didn't you mean to write "He shudda said "SHOULD Latter-day Saints believe the U.S. Constitution is a divinely inspired document?" Members our age should know the constitution was divinely inspired. But how can members 1/3 our ages be expected to know it was inspired when there is next to 0 mention of it in the last 25 years from recent prophets and barely any mention of it from other general authorities, and no attention called to it in our sundayschool and PH/RS books? New converts to the church are left in ignorance on this topic.