“Citizenship in God’s Kingdom is ‘Highest Hope for Humanity’ “- Righteous Rulers and Wicked Kings

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Sunday, July 3, 2022 Church Newsroom Article on address made at Patriotic Service of America’s Freedom Festival in the Marriott Center in Provo.

“In this country, we are blessed to have an inspired Constitution that lays out an exemplary form of government. But without personal virtue, it isn’t enough.” …King Mosiah in Mosiah 29 outlined the differences between righteous rulers and wicked kings. Benjamin Franklin said: “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” Elder Uchtdorf asked, “So what will our future look like? Will we become a nation in need of more masters? Or will we rise as sons and daughters of a loving God and strive for goodness? Compassion for others? Justice, humility, civic courage, kindness and charity toward all?”

Elder Uchtdorf said that while there is hatred and suffering and division all around, and while humankind has made terrible mistakes in the past, “we are not doomed to repeat them. There is a way out. God has placed within each of us the power to choose something better.” As people strive for goodness and seek to fill their hearts with love for God and for others, hatred and cruel intentions dissolve — they become transformed from the inside out. “And while we cannot control what others may do, we can choose for ourselves. We can reject selfishness, greed and pride. We can set aside hatred and turn our hearts toward our brothers and sisters. We can accept our higher purpose — to bear each other’s burdens. By doing so, we truly fulfill the law of Christ.

“This is the highest hope for humanity.”