As much as what is actually presented in the lesson, I’m fascinated at the meta level: What would it be like to teach or participate in a lesson like this? This isn’t something any of us could respond to with canned answers (“pray, read your scriptures, go to church”) and calls for some real thought, either to support or to constructively disagree with any given statement. I can’t help wondering how that worked in 1949. I think it would be next to impossible to pull off today — we’re entirely out of the habit of doing this kind of mental work in a Church class, I hate to say.

(there goes Reagan’s famous statement of what he thought the problem was)

8. Separation of Church and State as a principle essential to religious liberty, freedom of organization, and good society.

(Hallelujah!)

12. The right of self-defense is justifiably used when civil government breaks down; but it is the task of all citizens to maintain sound civil government and to prevent the breakdown of orderly processes.

(Wow. Take that, gun fans.)

Now, I know there are several other interpretations there of Elder Durham’s just as supportive of some conservative positions. And that is exactly the point, that there are good principles to be found in various political parties and philosophies – and the Lord holds us accountable for our choices and how we make those choices. D&C 134:1