It is wonderful that BYU is making the effort to give its students a common vocabulary of knowledge of the fundamental law of America, which has influenced similar constitutions around the world. It is a little ironic that this effort to empower citizenship is being done by a church university, rather than one that is funded by a state. Perhaps the University of Utah and our other fine state colleges might consider following suit.

Sad - that Mr Samuelson's political views take over - if only the Constitution was a positive experience to Americans. (It certainly is not to those it has been exported to - or forced upon). If BYU wants to be religious school then let it stay with religion and out of politics!

Interesting considering Ron Paul, "The Champion of the Constitution," is running for President. Perhaps others should research him.

George, as Dr. Paul contends, it is the UnConstitutional foreign policy from Wilson (1913) and onward that has been forced on others that has caused a lot of the mess around the world.

As far as bifurcating religion and politics; The Church's canonical doctrine is that the US Constitution pertaining to freedom was revealed and inspired by God and is akin to scripture (Pres. Benson, The Constitution A Heavenly Banner).

We seem to be moving closer to the day foretold by varous Prophets of the Most High, that the Constitution would hang by a thread. Hopefully, this book will help those who will come forth to save her, be better prepared. With 9-11 apearing to be an "inside job", with the EO allowing the 2nd Amendment to be voided signed, and war with Iran coming soon == we are rapidly approaching that day foretold.

I hope that BYU students will take the challenge and read the Constitution. As the presidential primaries and elections are approaching, they will be able to see which candidate stands by the constitution (hint: there is only one and his name is not Mitt Romney) and which ones do not.

I wonder if George realizes that not only is BYU a religious school, but also an accredited liberal arts university. Should they stop teaching political science and law, simply because they are sponsored by a religious organization? It seems to me that any viable church should encourage its members to be well-educated and engaged citizens. Hats off to BYU for caring enough about its students to encourage them to be well-read and responsible citizens.

This is great. There is every reason to be hopeful that some people will figure things out. Heaven Knows David O. McKay tried to arouse the people to the New World Order events taking control of our government, Gadianton Robbers userping the Judgement seats. LDS Church Pres. McKay had a whole course of study prepared for priesthood study dealing with current and world events, but as Dr. W. Cleon Skousen reported, he never dared introduce it, as the "spirit of disension was too strong."

Perhaps the "War on Freedom" which our corrupt politico's call a "war on terror" will get a bit more real in future days. Right now Ameircan's are about to see NAFTA implementation furthered with thousands upon thousands of Mexican trucks unleashed upon American Freeways. At the US Border will these truck drivers and their cargo be searched? Will their toothpaste be confiscated, their diaper rash medicine for their infants thrown into the trash and their finger nail clippers taken because of their security threat? Of course not, yet this goes on all over the United States today, all as a massive part of an Orwellian training excercise to break down the American People to feeling and knowing they are slaves.

Hopefully, with this phony, sham called the "war on terror" American's will increasingly wake up to realize Osama Bin Laden could not be more delighted at the United States Government for desstroying the Bill of Rights, Habeus Corpus having been trashed last fall with the Millitary Commissions Act of 2006 being passed by Congress and signed by the Traitor-in-Chief. No King of England since the 12th Century with Magna Carta has been so unshackled by the Rule of Law (magna carta) since all of these post 9/11 attrocites have passed Congress.

George, it is sad that you know so little of your country's history--or are you a foreign malcontent enjoying our freedoms without also undertaking the responsibilities of citizenship? No matter, ELDER Samuelson (be polite enough, at least, to use the proper title) is quite correct in empasizing that august instrument. Only by subscribing to the principals proposed on that September 17th, 220 years ago, can we safeguard our rights and freedoms, including freedom of religion, which Latter-day Saints have so-often been denied. BYU is not a religious school, it is a nationally ranked, fully accredited university owned by a church; just like Notre Dame, Southern Methodist, Liberty, Oral Roberts and many others. These institutions of learning have not only the RIGHT but the OBLIGATION to teach good citizenship to their students. Maybe if you spent less time looking for ways to be offended and a little more time protecting the unalienable rights endowed on us by our Creator, you might learn a new word--tolerance. Sad that Elder Samuelson's politial views have taken over BYU? No, sir, it is marvelous to me. The Constitution is the "scripture" of American government. Not long ago, President Hinckley challenged the Saints to reread the Book of Mormon. Every single person who accepted that challenge has spoken positively of it in my presence. I have no doubt that, in decades to come, all the students who take up this new challenge will also speak in unanimously complimentary terms toward Elder Samuelson for giving them this challenge.

This is a kind article. I listened to the actual speech and I was appalled. The Samuelsons never once mentioned Pres. Benson and I do not think they understand the constitution at all. One of their main points had to do with privacy and how nothing is private to God and without authority and laws and rules we would have anarchy. Their arguments and speech made no sense. It was by far the worst talk I have ever heard from a BYU devotional/ forum and I have heard a lot. I think I now understand why Dick Cheney was invited to speak at BYU's commencement, and why Dr. Steven Jones was run out merely for asking questions about the fall of the twin towers. It is because BYU's president doesn't understand the constitution and what being a self-ruled society entails.

..read the Bill of Rights , the Constitution, and the Federalist Papers. It is clear that that we don't have as many wise and well principled leaders now as we did then - even though the nation's population has grown 100-fold