Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in more than 14,600 congregations around the United States discussed the importance of the Constitution and other foundational documents during Sunday services on May 31, 2025.
The Church provided a video and a discussion guide titled “Celebrating the Founding of the United States and the U.S. Constitution” to use during a combined Sunday School lesson that included adults and youth. “This is not a history lesson or a political discussion,” the guide directed. “It’s an opportunity to rejoice in ‘the Lord our God, who has redeemed us and made us free’ (Alma 58:41).”
One small congregation (branch) of the Church in Tampa, Florida, includes members from almost every South American country. On Sunday, branch members discussed what’s happening in their home countries, the freedoms that have been taken away, and how grateful they are for the religious liberties that now allow them to worship as they wish. “A lot of those things are what caused these members to want to come here to the United States of America,” said Dade City Branch President Steven Hatch, who lives in the Tampa Florida Stake.
He said that even though his fellow congregants’ diverse backgrounds mean they don’t agree on everything, just like any congregation, “there’s so much more that brings us together than there is that divides us.”
That feeling of unity was apparent on Sunday, he said. “I’ve seen that the Savior truly unites all of us together, and everything else gets put aside. Whatever is going on in the world or whatever politics are happening, the Savior unites us all together.”
“When we’re doing the work of the Lord, things will be better wherever that is taking place,” he said. “I know the Lord’s work will never be stopped. But it’s up to us members of the Church and all American citizens to continue fighting for religious freedom for all.”
Visit Church Newsroom to learn more about the Church’s discussion material.
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