M E R I D I A N     M A G A Z I N E

Honor a Veteran — Read the Constitution
By Ken Cromar

Last week was Patriots’ Week all across America.  It seems appropriate that we cap it off with Veterans Day — a day set aside to honor all those who have ever put on the uniform, those who were willing to step in between us and dangerous threats to our lives and freedom.

One of nation’s earliest patriots reminds us.

Posterity!  You will never know how much it cost the present generation to  preserve your freedom.  I hope you will make good use of it.   (John Q. Adams)

Is there really anything that can be said to properly thank those who have been wounded, or sacrificed their lives in our behalf — never to come home again, never again to enjoy the loving embrace of their family and loved ones?

Is there anything we can do?  Yes!  We can demonstrate our appreciation by doing our part to protect and nurture the gift of freedom they so selflessly gave to us.  At Brigham Young University, they have had some great ideas on how to do that very thing.

Patriots’ Week took on special meaning at BYU.  The faculty and students decided to honor the cause of freedom, and those who have sacrificed for it, by recommitting to support the Constitution as well as by unveiling a new Freedom Shrine in the Wilkinson Center.

This was in keeping with a special theme for the new year.  At the opening devotional given on September 11^th to launch the new school year, President Cecil O. Samuelson and his wife Sharon, announced to the student and faculty that at BYU, that this was to be “The Year of the Constitution.”  

This painting of George Washington invites us to defend the Constitution as if we had personally signed the original document.

He invited everyone to, "Please take advantage of the unique opportunity we will all have this year to learn, understand and appreciate (the Constitution) more.”

President Samuelson also quoted Joseph Smith, who said, “I am the greatest advocate of the Constitution of the United States there is on the earth.”

The Constitution really is the “standard of liberty” — very much like Captain Moroni’s Title of Liberty behind which he rallied a confused, apathetic and wayward nation.  Has too much time gone by since 9-11 that we have forgotten just how fragile our freedom and safety can be? 

The Constitution is really just an idea, written on a single piece of paper. But, unless it is applied in the hearts of the people, it is meaningless.  

However, that one simple piece of paper embodies the concept of freedom and agency like no other that has ever been written. It has changed the world. It has been imitated by many nations. Because of its goodness, it is one of Satan’s favorite targets, which he would destroy if he could. It is the only government document that I’m aware of that the Lord himself has put his stamp of approval on. In fact, He says,

Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you … in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land; And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.  I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.  (D&C 98:6-8)

And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood. (D&C 101:77-80).

Many brave human beings have fought and died to preserve the God-given freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.   And so on this Veterans Day we must honor those humble and courageous men and women, who paid that heavy price — for us.  But how?

As part of BYU’s Year of the Constitution, many distinguished guests have been invited to speak including Chief Justice John Roberts.  No small thing to have the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court speak at BYU.  His message was one of respect for the U.S. Constitution. 

“As President Samuelson pointed out, the Constitution contains words we live by. He's quite right that for persons of faith, they are not the only words,” Roberts said. “But for all Americans, the actual words of the Constitution are vitally important.

"I would therefore like to suggest you not only read about the Constitution, but that you read the Constitution itself.  It is a short, but powerful document.  It is the most enduring written constitution in history.

"In studying the history of the Constitution, I think you will come away with a profound respect for those who created our nation. With a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, in the words of the Declaration of Independence, they had mutually pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in the cause of independence. They then crafted the Constitution as the culmination of that pledge." ¹

Great advice!  How can we possibly hope to protect and defend the Constitution, as is a prophetic call of the Elders of Israel, if we’ve never read or understood it?

We can’t. So BYU students were invited to pick up their own free copies of the U.S. Constitution, plus a DVD of A More Perfect Union. Last week — Patriots’ Week — a booth was set up at the BYU Cougar Eat, where students could pick up their free pocket-sized copies of the Constitution and the DVD.

Copies of the Constitution were distributed under the watchful gaze of George Washington, the first president of the United States.

When BYU students came by to pick up their copies at the booth, they were invited to sign the back of their pocket-Constitution, under the gaze of a large poster of George Washington.  They also signed a pledge sheet to be given later by the students to President Samuelson, which read:

Constitution Pledge   

We, the People of the United States, affirm that we have read (or will read) our U.S. Constitution and pledge to maintain and promote its standard of liberty for ourselves and our posterity and do hereby attest to that by our signatures...

Coincidentally, this young girl’s name is Liberty or “Libby”, -- she signed the pledge, indicating that she will read the Constitution — at least when she is old enough to read.

The students also noticed that President Hinckley, President Monson, President Faust, and the Apostles, and other various men and women leaders of the Church at the time, had joined then-President Ezra T. Benson, in signing that pledge in 1987, as part of the 200^th birthday celebration of the Constitution.

As they put their own “John Hancock” down beside those of Prophets and Apostles, we often heard students say, “I’m in pretty good company, aren’t I?”   Yes, they were. 

By week’s end, more than 7,200 copies of the Constitution and 6,900 DVD copies of “A More Perfect Union” had been given free of charge. So, though freedom wasn’t free, at least the path to a better understanding of it was.

A free copy of the DVD A More Perfect Union was distributed, along with the pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution.

The most common comment was a genuine, “This is really great!  Thank you!”

Others said, “President Samuelson has talked about this.  I’ve been wanting to get a copy.”

A surprising number of students said, “Oh, this is great!  I’m our Family Home Evening group leader.  This will be perfect for Monday night.  Thanks!” 

To get your own pocket-sized copy of the U.S. Constitution, click here.

Some non-students came by the booth also.  One older gentleman said, “I really appreciate that you are doing this.” 

I asked if he would happen to be a veteran.  He said that he was a Marine. 

I asked, “Sir, may I thank you for your service, to our country?” 

He humbly said, “No, no, no.  Thank you for promoting the Constitution.”

“But, how can you say that, sir?,” I asked, “You were the one who put your life on the line for us.  Please — I insist — it is we who must thank you.”  

He then pointed at his belt buckle.  It had the Marine insignia in the middle, with “Constitution Bicentennial 1787 to 1987” emblazoned across the top of it.   His eyes misted up as he said, “You have no idea how important this Constitution is to me.  Thank you.” 

I said, “There is really nothing we could ever do or say that would properly thank you,” and handed him a beautiful poster of George Washington that was hanging in the booth, “But, I hope that you will accept this with our thanks!” 

He was not able to respond.  And it was in that moment, as he walked away, I again learned why it is so easy to love our veterans — they have been willing to step into danger and give their lives for us, if necessary. 

Of the thousands of students who came by the booth, a few of them were a little bit cynical.  They said, “I haven’t got time to read this.  Why do you bother?”  Or, “Our country is in such a mess now — these students won’t change a thing.”  One said, “You’re not even being paid to distribute these?”

The response to those comments was very simple. “See those ROTC cadets there passing out copies of the Constitution? Some of them may very well die in defense of this document and what it stands for. And, they are willing to do that for you and me.” And, “If we can inspire a few students to embrace the cause of freedom, or maybe even help light the flame in the heart of some future George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or John Adams right here on BYU campus, wouldn’t that be worth it?”

Some of these BYU cadets may well lay down their lives for the cause of freedom.

After all, prophecy warns us that things will only get more difficult inside and outside our country, with “wars and rumors of wars” before the Lord’s second coming.  Brigham Young himself said:

Will the Constitution be destroyed?  No: it will be held inviolate by this people; and, as Joseph Smith said, “The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread.  At that critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction.”  It will be so.  (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 15, July 4, 1854.)

Just as the Lord raised up those who gave us the Constitution, certainly he has now raised up those who are prepared to preserve it.  The youth throughout today’s Church may very well play a key role in that noble cause.

Thomas Jefferson reminds us, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”  And, James Madison said, “Every word of [the Constitution] decides a question between power and liberty.”  ²

Our veterans have blessed us in other ways too. Of all the gospel principles, the hardest one to understand and appreciate for most of us is the Atonement. As “the ultimate sacrifice”, most of us can’t relate to atonement and hence can’t fully absorb or comprehend it.

But I have to think that the mortals who might best be positioned to understand the Atonement are veterans who have similarly been willing or have actually given their lives — for us. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). The closer we can come to understanding and appreciating our veterans and their sacrifices, the closer we are likely to come to understanding our Lord and His atoning sacrifice for us. 3

Can you imagine being a veteran and having survived the terrors of war, only to come back home and walk amongst so many of us who do not understand or appreciate what they’ve done or been through.  While doing interviews for our new documentary Saints at War — Faithful Heroes, I turned the camera on one man, whose first words were, “What I’m about to tell you, I haven’t told to anyone in over 50 years.”

Imagine, not having anyone you can really talk to about things like that.  I wonder if veterans, because of their uniquely painful experiences, are not closer to the Lord’s realm and can better relate to him, than they are to the rest of us mere mortals? 

Prophecy warns us that things will get worse before His Second Coming.  I believe that we can make a difference, if we will simply embrace our past, learn from our forefathers, confidently prepare for the future, and warmly shake the hands of veterans with gratitude.   This is how we might properly thank our veterans on Veterans Day.

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Notes:

1         “Tech cases critical, Roberts says at Y.”, Deseret Morning News, October 24, 2007

2         National Gazette, January 19, 1792

3         For additional information, see http://www.meridianmagazine.com/articles/061110veterans.html

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