I really appreciate us going through the Declaration of Independence in class. My professor, Dr. Holzapfel, or Bro. H as the TAs affectionately call him, was very genuine and powerful when he took us through a discussion and reading of the Declaration of Independence.
We read a draft of the Declaration of Independence and we learned that Jefferson initially wrote it condemning slavery, and blaming Britain for it. Now this is a very interesting thing to me, because Jefferson himself owned slaves and believed in the inferiority of the black race. However, he was always very much concerned with the stability of the nation, and in his mind slavery would not contribute. Although his other thoughts on slavery were flawed, this one was certainly correct. It's another testimony to me that although the Founding Fathers were not perfect, they were inspired to do what they did.
In the final version of Declaration of Independence it is written that all are created equal and all have certain rights. Although individuals having certain rights was not a new concept, the idea that governments should be organized to protect those rights was a new concept. The Declaration says that any government that doesn't protect those rights is wrong. Notice, it does not specify what kind of government, whether democracy, republic, theocracy, whatever. It just states in this document deemed inspired by the apostles and prophets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that any government that doesn't protect those rights is wrong. The Founding Fathers were inspired to identify principles that could be used in other governments.
The Declaration also states that if the government does not protect those rights, the people have the right, nay, the duty, to rebel. This is interesting to me from a Gospel perspective because even though one of our Articles of Faith says that we believe in being subject to kings, rulers, and magistrates in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law, the Declaration and the Church, by supporting the Declaration and through other mediums, support rebellion when it comes to standing up for one’s rights. For example, those in Nazi Germany who hid Jews and ran underground newspapers and such, although not obeying the laws of Germany at the time, were certainly obeying a higher law. It should be duly noted that it’s not like I needed this knowledge of the Declaration of Independence to legitimize the Resistance for me, but it does reinforce and strength my support and love for those who gave their lives and saved lives throughout the inhumanity of that time.