John Adams declared "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and
religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any
other." This is a great statement that reflects wisdom and piety.
Although he was a God fearing man, it was not a declaration intended to
coerce all men to join his church. As the Founding Founders repeatedly
demonstrated, they were a moral and religious people and sought to
allow all men to worship according to the dictates of their own
conscience - let them worship, who, where or what they may.
So it
must be in our time today. As I consider my own willingness to serve
in the Senate, I believe we must be a moral and a religious people.
This belief in God, a divine creator, the giver of natural law and
inalienable rights, must be the foundation of our society. Although I
am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, more
commonly known as the Mormons, my friends encompass a wide range of
religious persuasions: Baptist, Catholic, Lutheran, Evangelical, Jews
and Muslims. I know many that do not know what to believe and that's
okay too. Friendship and civility do not require agreement on tenets of
theology but instead are based on mutual respect and common belief in a
divine creator that gave moral agency and a conscience to every one of
us.
I believe in the principles of moral agency
and personal responsibility; and in granting to every individual the
privilege to succeed or fail according to their own efforts and
intelligence.
It is my duty as a private citizen and the duty of each
Senator to protect these God given rights.