The prophet Nephi in the Book of Mormon foresaw the founding of the United States on the American continent (2 Nephi 13). He describes the Gentiles, or colonists, humbling themselves before the Lord and delivering them from all other nations. Nephi’s understanding of the Revolution and the American view of their gaining freedom and liberty vary in both principle and means. The Book of Mormon provides an ancient perspective and culture, very different from the colonists.
The people in Nephi’s time desired to have king rule over them. Nephi, as a prophet of God, led them to the promised land, taught them to keep the commandments and law of Moses, raise flocks and herds of animals, make weapons based on the sword of Laban, defend them against the Lamanites, build buildings, work with wood and precious metals and ores, build a temple, and be industrious. His experience has a leader was numerous and the people saw him as an obvious choice for their king. By choosing their prophet as the head of their government they chose a system that intertwined church and state. The only one with reservations to the proposal was Nephi, who felt that if there was one wicked king he would lead all the people to iniquity. The colonists on the other hand desired to overthrow their king under the principle of human rights. They had become self-sufficient and created a society where men could improve their own life with hard work. They wrote the Declaration of Independence with the grievances they suffered from their king, and believed that they deserved freedom and liberty to choose for themselves how to lead their personal life and country separate from a monarchy.
The system of government between ancient and modern America also varied greatly. The Nephite’s government had no system of checks and balances, no legislator, no taxation by popular assembly, and no representation of the common people. The system established by the founding fathers had frequent elections by the people, separation of powers, a bicameral legislature, and popularly elected office assemblies to control the power. Where one group of people fell toward the side of a single ruler, even with the attempt to establish a system of judges, the other group fell to the side of the power spread out among many people.
Multiple times in the history of the Nephites, they were led out of captivity and protected by God, all according to their faithfulness and humility. In response, they gave thanks to Him and retold of his deliverance to their posterity. Those who were righteous knew to look to God as the source of strength and power for their civilization. In contrast, the present American society looks to leaders and heroes as their source of success. The Founding Fathers receive all the credit and criticism for the foundation of the United States Government. Starting with George Washington who was a military hero as well as a political leader to now Barak Obama who is a political and social leader, these men, not God, are praised for the progress of the country.
The Book of Mormon shows of an American Revolution where a group of people were fleeing from their captors, delivered by God, not military geniuses who overthrew a tyrant
American Government 