Lessons of 2025
Lesson No. Forty-Eight

President Oaks on God’s Gift of the United States Constitution

Introduction. The establishment of the United States Constitution was a necessary prologue to the ongoing Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Restoration of the Gospel is God’s greatest gift to mankind since the birth and atonement of Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. At this Christmas season it seems appropriate to recognize the important role of God’s gift of the United States Constitution which He, Himself, claims to have established. (See D&C 101:80)

Like many others I have been reviewing what President Oaks has taught since becoming an Apostle of Jesus Christ over 40 years ago. Over many years I have been drawn to President Oaks’ teachings about our Constitution because, like President Oaks, I know that it is divinely inspired. I was reminded of this truth when I re-read President Oaks’ sermon entitled Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution given at the April 2021 general conference.

President Oaks began by saying, “In this troubled time, I have felt to speak about the inspired Constitution of the United States.” If President Oaks was concerned about troubled times five years ago he likely has even greater concerns today.

President Oaks then established his credentials to speak authoritatively on the Constitution. He said: “In these remarks I do not speak for any political party or other group. I speak for the United States Constitution, which I have studied for more than 60 years. I speak from my experience as a law clerk to the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. I speak from my 15 years as a professor of law and my 3½ years as a justice on the Utah Supreme Court. Most important, I speak from 37 years as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, responsible to study the meaning of the divinely inspired United States Constitution to the work of His restored Church. (Emphasis added)

The Constitution has an important role in the work of the Lord in the latter days. President Oak’s statement that since becoming a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles he has had the responsibility to study the Constitution with regard to the work of the Lord’s restored Church gives valuable insight on the importance of the Constitution to the work of the Lord’s Church.

Impressions from Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution. As I re-read this sermon I was impressed by what President Oaks taught. I suggest that we each study this sermon and record the impressions we receive about what President Oaks taught. My impressions are italicized.

“The United States Constitution is unique because God revealed that He ‘established’ it ‘for the rights and protection of all flesh’” (D&C 101:77; see also vs 80). That is why the Constitution is of special concern for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world.

“What was God’s purpose in establishing the United States Constitution? We see it in the doctrine of moral agency…God has given His children moral agency—the power to decide and to act. The most desirable condition for the exercise of that agency is maximum freedom for men and women to act according to their individual choices. Then, the revelation explains, ‘every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment” (D&C 101:78). In a prior Lesson, “The Just and Holy Principles of Agency and Accountability” I quoted President Marion G. Romney : “The Lord said laws that are constitutional make us free. (See D&C 98:8). Therefore, the test of constitutionality in the words of the Lord is whether [the law in question] preserves man's agency. The question we should ask ourselves when considering public policy, candidates, or legislation is whether our agency will be preserved.” This is a profound insight.

“Our belief that the United States Constitution was divinely inspired does not mean that divine revelation dictated every word and phrase…The Constitution was not “a fully grown document,” said President J. Reuben Clark. “On the contrary,” he explained, “we believe it must grow and develop to meet the changing needs of an advancing world.” For example inspired amendments abolished slavery and gave women the right to vote. However, we do not see inspiration in every Supreme Court decision interpreting the Constitution.”

“I believe the United States Constitution contains at least five divinely inspired principles.”

- “First is the principle that the source of government power is the people.”

- “A second inspired principle is the division of delegated power between the nation and its subsidiary states…. Significantly, the United States Constitution limits the national government to the exercise of powers granted expressly or by implication, and it reserves all other government powers ‘to the States respectively, or to the people.’” Contrary to this principle, history shows that the national government will take as much power as possible.

- “Another inspired principle is the separation of powers…. The inspiration in the American convention was to delegate independent executive, legislative, and judicial powers so these three branches could exercise checks upon one another.” Historically, and it is no different today, the executive branch is aggressive in taking power, and the legislative branch is often willingly abdicate its constitutional responsibilities.

- “A fourth inspired principle is in the cluster of vital guarantees of individual rights and specific limits on government authority in the Bill of Rights…. Without a Bill of Rights, America could not have served as the host nation for the Restoration of the gospel…”

- “Fifth and finally, I see divine inspiration in the vital purpose of the entire Constitution. We are to be governed by law and not by individuals, and our loyalty is to the Constitution and its principles and processes, not to any office holder. In this way, all persons are to be equal before the law. These principles block the autocratic ambitions that have corrupted democracy in some countries. They also mean that none of the three branches of government should be dominant over the others or prevent the others from performing their proper constitutional functions to check one another.”

President Oaks outlined what we should do to defend the Constitution:

- “We should trust in the Lord and be positive about this nation’s future.”

- “We must pray for the Lord to guide and bless all nations and their leaders.”

- “We should learn and advocate the inspired principles of the Constitution.”

- “We should seek out and support wise and good persons who will support those principles in their public actions.”

- “We should be knowledgeable citizens who are active in making our influence felt in civic affairs.”

President Oaks concluded: “There are many political issues, and no party, platform, or individual candidate can satisfy all personal preferences…. members should seek inspiration on how to exercise their influence according to their individual priorities. This process will not be easy. It may require changing party support or candidate choices, even from election to election.”

Testimony. I believe the Lord has prepared Dallin H. Oaks to preside over His Church at this most remarkable time. For over 40 years, as the apostle responsible to understand the Constitution relative to His Church, the Lord has given President Oaks guidance on what should be done relative to the Church and the Constitution during difficult times.

If individuals and families stay in the main stream of the Church, and follow President Oaks as our living prophet, we will navigate through increasingly troubled times with increasing faith in the Lord and confidence in His work.

Released on December 14th. 2025