"Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution" : Discussion of President Oaks' Talk

Welcome to the 2021 Religious Freedom Annual Review, hosted annually by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University.
This session, Discussion of President Oaks' Talk, "Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution," is the fourth of five sessions in this year's event.
00:00 - Opening Slides
00:33 - Welcome and Introduction
04:22 - Justice Christine M. Durham
08:08 - Judge Thomas B. Griffith
13:25 - Paul Kerry
20:15 - Jane Wise
22:46 - Group Questions
1:06:58 - Close
This session is moderated by W. Cole Durham, Jr., Founding Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, BYU Law School, Brigham Young University.
The panelists include:
Justice Christine M. Durham, Justice, Retired, Utah Supreme Court; Appellate attorney, mediator, arbitrator, Zimmerman Booher.
Judge Thomas B. Griffith, Former Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Paul Kerry, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University.
Jane Wise, Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University.
View the speakers' full bios here: religiousfreedom.byu.edu/

[@enriquepinto8000]

I am from Chile, I lived 8 years in the United States, there I knew the US Constitution and I fell in love with it. Now Im living in Chile, Im getting my law degree and let me tell you something, Elder Oaks speech was directed to every nation in the world, in fact Chile is now going through a contitutional process and those divinely inspired principles are nowhere to be seen so far. Pray for Chile!

[@patricepederson9211]

Excellent panel! Nuanced, thoughtful, and thought-provoking. Thank you Cole.

[@quercus4730]

Divinely inspired by that thing that can't materialize.

[@valeriebrogan1953]

Thank you SO much for this. My ears really pricked up when (please excuse me for not catching your full name) Christine postulated that the talk was aimed mainly at United States members. As an English Latter-day Saint, I am often discouraged when I hear talks extolling and sanctifying the Constitution. For many of us looking from the outside in, the Constitution seems to be like a millstone about the neck of progressive, relevant and contextually appropriate governance. The Constitution was (and is to an extent) required at the time it was drafted but the fervid rigidity with which it has been adhered to (even in spite of the Amendments) seems often to have stifled progress. As with many other prophecies, revelations and inspirations the Lord has spoken in terms relevant to the time in which He spoke. Obsolescence is and must be a part of growth and progress. I understand that the members of the panel are aware of these nuances but, having lived in both the USA and England (as well as other countries throughout the world), I am offended by the apparent privileged and arrogant attitude, found among many American saints, that democracy and freedom were neither practised nor even thought of in the rest of the world before they discovered them, perhaps it is a 'genetic memory' handed down by the Plymouth Brethren or those who fought in the war of independence! This assumption that 'every good thing EVER' was founded, formed and disseminated in and from the United States, is a damaging concept. Not to the rest of the world (we are quite happy and confident in our own capacities, thank you) but certainly to the thinking, intelligence and attitudes of the people who allow this perception to narrow and shackle their own minds. Thank you to all of you for your thoughtful, wise and open-minded views.

[@madlads5017]

It's about unification under the principles that the constitution implies. Not division, we are all eating the same pie ya know? It is about standing up for our freedoms in our nations so that we may continue to stand up for some other nations, that may not be as fortunate.. we love all and respect all. We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We are Sisters, and brothers. It is up to us to restablish zion in our homes, and across the globe. Spread light and love and defend your godgiven rights.