Throughout his public life, Joseph Smith spoke frequently, insightfully, and supportively about the Constitution of the United States. He understood the importance of its general principles as well as its specific language. He appealed to it in various ways, on differing occasions, both affirmatively to advance the building of the kingdom of God on earth and also defensively to seek protection and reparation for injuries and deprivations. By looking at this material carefully, it becomes clear that Joseph read the Constitution meticulously and that he thoughtfully invoked many of its sections and phrases regularly and effectively.

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Although early Americans were willing to take on the challenge of forming a new nation, they strongly disagreed among themselves about the proper role of national and local governments. As is well known, Joseph Smith himself challenged the establishment on several occasions, especially as he ran for the United States presidency, but these public debates were conducted within the framework of a strong national commitment to the Constitution of the United States as America’s principal source of hope to maintain law, order, civility, and progress in an otherwise untamed and scarcely even explored new world.

In this context, Joseph Smith, like most of his American contemporaries, strongly believed in the Constitution. Even if others did not always agree with him, he stood resolutely loyal to the principles upon which the Constitution was founded. Joseph Smith made at least a score of statements regarding the Constitution as identified below. They show that Joseph keenly understood the Constitution, that he had a very high level of faith in it, and that he believed it would endure forever.

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Conclusion

Throughout Joseph Smith’s many legal encounters, public statements, and private correspondence, he sustained the law, in spirit, word, and deed. Many of his statements throughout his short life confirm that Joseph Smith believed in the unique and divinely inspired importance of the American Constitution.

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To the end, Joseph upheld the Constitution and its principles, for himself and all others. As he said to Governor Ford, on June 26, 1844, the day before his murder: “If there is trouble in the country, neither I nor my people made it, and all that we have ever done, after much endurance on our part, is to maintain and uphold the Constitution and institutions of our country, and to protect an injured, innocent, and persecuted people against misrule and mob violence.”