Open Letter to the Elders of Israel: Where Are You?

To the Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Greetings.

The events of the past ~six years prompt me to remind you of your God’s statement concerning the U.S. Constitution, as conveyed to former President Joseph Smith:

“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.” (Doctrine and Covenants § 101:80)

While this should be familiar to those who regularly study scripture, perhaps less familiar is Smith’s alleged “hanging thread” prophecy which, while not transcribed at the time it was given, was recollected by President George Q. Cannon, former First Counselor in the First Presidency, as follows:

“The statement has been made that the Prophet said the time would come when this Constitution would hang as by a thread and this is true. There has been some confusion, however, as to just what he said following this. I think that Elder Orson Hyde has given us a correct interpretation wherein he says that the Prophet said the Constitution would be in danger. Said Orson Hyde, ‘I believe he said something like this – that the time would come when the Constitution and the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and said he: ‘If the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the Elders of this Church.’ I believe this is about the language, as nearly as I can recollect it.” (Journal of Discourses § 6:152)

I bring these to your attention because our Constitution is under vicious attack by former President Donald Trump and his supporters – people tacitly supported by most of you, as reflected by the crimson redness radiating from most of the States comprising the “Mormon Belt” over the past several election cycles, despite evidence showing these attacks to be real.

While I could “re-invent the whole” by detailing them (the bipartisan “Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol” has already done so), no further question need be raised on this matter, since Trump has already explicitly called for the Constitution’s termination:

“A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude [aka the ‘Big Lie’] allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” (as reported by Politico on December 3, 2022)

Morality dictates that statements like these should have prompted an unequivocal condemnation, along with the summary expulsion of Trump from the Republican Party. Combined with the findings from the “January 6th Committee”, there should be public calls to prosecute Trump for insurrection and to ban him from holding office under Section 3, Amendment 14 of the Constitution.

 Instead, there has been tepid condemnation (at best) from the “Elders of Israel” and from the GOP. I can suspect that some of this is due to partisanship, as the main alternative, the Democratic Party, is not palatable to conservatives. However, it is this kind of cultish partisanship which was warned against by President Cannon within the context of protecting the Constitution:

“The greatest care should be used by the Latter-day Saints to not allow themselves to be carried away by party zeal in any direction that will impair the soundness of their judgment or that will in any manner interfere with the freedom of action which may be necessary on their party to do their whole duty to themselves and the government. It is not at all probable that the encroachments which we have been led to expect will be made upon the Constitution will be of a very startling character to begin with. They may be of a very insidious character, and will require close scrutiny to discern their danger. But we ought to be like people on the watchtower, scanning the horizon in every direction and watching for dangers that may become threatening at any moment.” (The Juvenile Instructor Magazine, JI-31:524 [1896])

I write this letter as one who used to be an Elder, but still holds the Constitution to be sacred (albeit not in a religious sense). Your inaction in protecting this document from Trump and his followers is providing further proof to me that Joseph Smith was a false prophet and, by logical extension, that the gospel he preached is also false. If the Constitution should fall due either to your sins of commission or omission, please spare yourself the embarrassment of hypocrisy by testifying to me that your gospel brings you so much happiness - you are not even living it.