Lessons of 2026
Lesson No. Eleven 

How is the Declaration of Independence Doing After 250 Years?

Thomas Jefferson expressed the doctrine of the Declaration of Independence in 56 words: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." President Ezra Taft Benson called these words the doctrine of the Declaration of Independence. He said: "The doctrine of that crowning document, the Declaration of Independence, is this: That the Creator, God, endowed all men with basic rights, and that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed....The formers of our republic simply declared the truth - that God gave all men the right to life, liberty, and property" (Provo Freedom Festival, 29 June 1986).

The power of God was required to establish the doctrine of the Declaration of Independence. The history of the world has been a history of repressive and tyrannical governments willing to do whatever is necessary to maintain power. To change this required the power of God.

As recorded in 1 Nephi 13, Nephi was shown in vision some of the most important events in the last two thousand years of the world’s history. Included in these events was the founding of the United States. Nephi saw that our forefathers “who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of Lord was with them" (Vs 16). After describing the War of Independence Nephi again emphasized that "the power of God was with them" and that they "were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations" (Vs 18-19).

The signers of the Declaration of Independence “did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them” (Vs 16), The Founders recognized the reason they were successful against the greatest military power on the earth was because they were delivered by the power of God. Jefferson's Second Inaugural Address was typical. There he acknowledged "that Being in whose hands we are, who lead our forefathers as Israel of old, from their native land and planted them in a country flowing with all the necessaries and comforts of life, who has covered our infancy with his Providence and our ripe years with his wisdom and power."

“With a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence” the signers of the Declaration of Independence stood up, spoke out, and put everything that mattered to them on the line. The Declaration they signed concluded with these powerful words: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor”.

The signers of the Declaration of Independence knew they were in a very real sense putting “our Lives, our fortunes and our sacred Honor” on the line. If England would have put down what it considered to be treason, Benjamin Franklin described the consequences to the other signers when he said “Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and it general officers do what the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves.” The Church generally does not get involved in politics nor does it tell its members how to vote. However, we are expected to be informed and to vote. We should not, according to the scriptures, need to be “commanded in all things”, but we should “be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness" (D&C 58:26, 27). The deciding in political matters is left to the members of the Church to act in harmony with the correct principles taught in the scriptures and by modern prophets.

Like the signers of the Declaration of Independence we should be willing to stand up, speak out, and advocate for correct principles. President Dallin H. Oaks has spoken of this: "The founders who established this nation believed in God and in the existence of moral absolutes - right and wrong - established by this Ultimate Law-giver. The Constitution they established assumed and relied on morality in the actions of its citizens…

"What has caused the current public and legal climate of mounting threats to religious freedom? I believe the cause is not legal but cultural and religious. I believe the diminished value being attached to religious freedom stems from the ascendency of moral relativism…

"More and more of our citizens support the idea that all authority and all rules of behavior are man-made and can be accepted or rejected as one chooses. Each person is free to decide for himself or herself what is right and wrong. Our children face the challenge of living in an increasingly godless and amoral society" (Dallin H. Oaks, Preserving Religious Freedom, February 4, 2011, Chapman University School of Law).

The best place to teach correct principles is in our families, and the best way to advocate for correct principles is to live and to stand up for the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“The greatest challenge to the Church in fulfilling its mission to take the gospel to the world is the increasing effort in many nations to limit religious freedom.” President Oaks told me this in a conversation after a Devotional for workers in the Salt Lake Temple. He also told me “there is a great need for Church members to work hard to maintain religious freedom. Our heritage is built on the foundation of political, economic, and particularly religious freedom. Religious freedom is a necessary part of the plan of salvation.”

Testimony. The doctrine of the Declaration of Independence is an essential part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we humble ourselves before the Lord by keeping his commandments, and acknowledging His hand in preserving our religious freedom, then our contribution in maintaining our freedom will be as acceptable to God as was the Founder’s contribution in obtaining it in the first place.

Released on March 22nd. 2026.