In God We Trust

Joy Bischoff Says:

31 May 2008 at 11:07 am.

When I was taking an English class at BYU ten years ago, we were given an assignment to write about the Constitution. It was a persuasion paper and we could choose either to persuade that the Constitution was out of date in a modern world and needed a very broad interpretation, or we could choose to persuade that it was not out of date. Roy was in law school at the time and he gave me some pointers and I worked hard to show that the principles behind the Constitution were timeless. The Founders sifted through time to pinpoint the undergirding truths that would cradle and sustain a society who loved freedom and tried to live a principled life. In this book by Cleon Skousen, he does a great job explaining that the structure of the Constitution is sound for any political situation if the citizens care about justice. Everyone who goes to college should read this book for they would gain far more from their education this way and be a positive force for good in the world.

Jesse Says:

31 May 2008 at 11:44 am.

What I liked most was that the author shows we have to understand that there is a creator in order to understand the ideas behind the Constitution. The idea that we are created equal depends on knowing that we were all created by God. All the self-evident truths are based on knowing they came from God. Skousen pointed out that the founders seriously believed the motto, “In God We Trust”. Without that kind of faith, it is no wonder that politicians and judges now a days aren’t upholding the Constitution.

Benjamin Says:

31 May 2008 at 4:53 pm.

I like Skousen’s explanation for why people prosper in a free society. When we are free to seek prosperity then some prosper more than others but the whole country prospers more in that kind of a climate that allows people to work hard and progress. That is totally different from socialists who instead of thinking how they can progress and get ahead, they spend their time thinking how they can take away what other people have earned and there goes incentive. Eventually mankind in a non free society reverts to a subsistent living because they assume if they accumulate wealth it will be taken away from them. Simple logic and history proves it. When I read the book it was so easy to see why socialism doesn’t work. Why can’t this stuff be taught in school?

Joy Bischoff Says:

31 May 2008 at 5:15 pm.

Concerned American, I have always thought that people should have freedom of their own political beliefs but that if someone wanted to act in a way that weakened the Constitution or replaced it, as socialists and communists want, then they should not be allowed to do it. Washington and Jefferson felt the same. Being a traitor should not be supported.

Benjamin, I liked what you wrote too. It goes a long with Jefferson quote in the book:

If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy.

Matt Says:

1 June 2008 at 11:57 am.

I got the book but haven’t gotten to it yet. Sounds like I’d better get cracking. Thanks for the feedback guys.

Ghost Says:

1 June 2008 at 3:21 pm.

This book shows why we have advanced more in two hundred years than in the previous 5000 years put together. It is because of our political system and because the people were educated about it. Now that we are no longer educated about these principles we will slip backwards. I think it is happening first socially and then it will happen financially and in other ways. America has blessed the whole world, like salt leavening the bread. If we slip too much then the world will suffer. Skousen has done an amazing job. I’m very glad I read this.

E.E. Says:

1 June 2008 at 3:44 pm.

I’ve always loved Thomas Jefferson but the 5000 year leap made me appreciate his wisdom more than I ever have before and also how important Washington’s quiet stability was to holding things together.

Terrie Soberg Says:

1 June 2008 at 8:23 pm.

One of the things I liked best was on pages 134 and 135 of the 1981 version. Skousen lists “some of the more important responsibilities that the Creator has imposed on every human being of normal mental capacity.

1. The duty to honor the supremacy of the Creator and his laws. (He then quotes Blackstone.)
2. The duty not to take the life of another except in self-defense.
3. The duty not to steal of destroy the property of another.
4. The duty to be honest in all transactions with others.
5. The duty of children to honor and obey their parents and elders.
6. The duty of parents and elders to protect, teach, feed, clothe, and provide shelter for children.
7. The duty to support law and order and keep the peace.
8. The duty not to contrive through a covetous heart to despoil another.
9. The duty to provide insofar as possible for the needs of the helpless–the sick, the crippled, the injured, the poverty-stricken.
10. The duty to honorable perform contracts and covenants both with God and man.
11. The duty to be temperate.
12. The duty to become economically self-sufficient.
13. The duty not to trespass on the property or privacy of another.
14. The duty to maintain the integrity of the family structure.
15. The duty to perpetuate the race.
16. The duty not to promote or participate in the vices which destroy personal and community life.
17. The duty to perform civic responsibilities–vote, assist public officials, serve in official capacities when called upon, stay informed on public issues, volunteer where needed.
18. The duty not to aid or abet those involved in criminal or anti-social activities.
19. The duty to support personal and public standards of common decency.
20. The duty to follow the rules of moral rectitude.

I am going to print these out and put them on my refrigerator so that I can work on teaching my children these ideas. They are not taught these duties in the public schools, and in some cases are even taught to disobey them. Imagine how much better our country would be if even just the politicians did these things.