George Albert Smith, the Old Testament, and the United States Constitution

The story was once told told in a blog comment of a Church leader being asked, "When are you going to do something about the Constitution?" to which came the reply, "Of which country?"

This story has at least two problems. First, the Elders of Israel are supposed to help save the Constitution, not the Church (click here). Second, the reply belittles the U.S. Constitution.

According to modern scripture, God himself "established the Constitution of [the United States], by the hands of wise men whom [He, God,] raised up unto this very purpose.” (D&C 101:80.) Scripture further emphasizes that the U.S. Constitution “belongs to all mankind,... should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh [and should] be established forever." (D&C 98:5, 101:77, 109:54; italics added.)

First witness

At the dedication of the Idaho Falls Temple, George Albert Smith said the coming forth of the United States Constitution fulfilled the ancient prophecy of Isaiah that "out of Zion shall go forth the law." (Era, Oct. 1945, 564.)

Second witness

Harold B. Lee is a second witness to George Albert Smith's interpretation of Isaiah. When Harold B. Lee spoke during the first Area Conference of the Church in Manchester, England, in August 1971, he said:

“I have often wondered what the expression meant, that out of Zion shall go forth the law. Years ago I went with the brethren to the Idaho Falls Temple, and I heard in that inspired prayer of the First Presidency a definition of the meaning of the term ‘out of Zion shall go forth the law.’ Note what they said: ‘We thank thee that thou has revealed to us that those who gave us our constitutional form of government were men wise in thy sight and that thou didst raise them up for the very purpose of putting forth that sacred document [the Constitution of the United States—see D&C 101:80] …

“‘We pray that kings and rulers and the peoples of all nations under heaven may be persuaded of the blessings enjoyed by the people of this land by reason of their freedom under thy guidance and be constrained to adopt similar governmental systems, thus to fulfil the ancient prophecy of Isaiah that “out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”’” (Ensign, Nov. 1971, 15; First Presidency quotation from Era, Oct. 1945, 564; as quoted in Ensign, Sept. 1987, 12.)

Third witness

Ezra Taft Benson is a third witness to George Albert Smith's interpretation of Isaiah. When Ezra Taft Benson spoke to the students at BYU in September 1987, he was President of the Church and he quoted George Albert Smith:

“The coming forth of the Constitution is of such transcendent importance in the Lord's plan that ancient prophets foresaw this event and prophesied of it. In the dedicatory prayer for the Idaho Falls Temple, President George Albert Smith indicated that the Constitution fulfilled the ancient prophecy of Isaiah that ‘out of Zion shall go forth the law’ (Isaiah 2:3). He said:

“‘We thank thee that thou hast revealed to us that those who gave us our constitutional form of government were wise men in thy sight and that thou didst raise them up for the very purpose of putting forth that sacred document [the Constitution of the United States]….’” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 595.)

The President of the Church gives authoritative interpretations of scripture. George Albert Smith was President of the Church when he dedicated the Idaho Falls Temple. In that dedicatory prayer, he gave an authoritative interpretation of the Old Testament expression that "out of Zion shall go forth the law." Two subsequent Church Presidents have indicated their agreement with George Albert Smith's interpretation of Isaiah 2:3.

The Constitution of which country? The scriptures and the living prophets are very clear: The Constitution of the United States of America.