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Intellect

Former congressman on Constitution: "the Founders created it; it's up to us to save it"

The Constitution, said Former Congressman Mickey Edwards during his BYU Forum address this week, created "a nation that was set up to honor the dignity and the rights of every single individual human being."

Edwards, who currently serves as vice president of the Aspen Institute, addressed the question, Does the Constitution still matter today? He spoke of the allowances and limitations of the Constitution on government action, calling it a system that "set free the creative energies of the people."

According to Edwards, the Constitution does still matter today, but the government it established is at risk of straying from the founding document without citizens actively performing their civic duty.

"We cannot save this constitutional republic of ours unless we create a people committed to this form of government, Edwards said. "The founders created it; it's up to us to save it. 

If you missed Edwards' address, it can be streamed on demand at BYUtv.org and will be available on speeches.byu.edu.

Next Week's Devotional

The next BYU Devotional address will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 11:05 a.m., in the Marriott Center. Dan Clark, author and motivational speaker, will speak.

From crippling football injury to flying in a U2 reconnaissance plane, Clark's devotional address promises to be entertaining and compelling. Through unique stories from his personal life experiences and travels, Clark will provide his thoughts on how to live a maximized life through four key steps. 

Writer: Nate Depperman

Edwards.jpg
Photo by Jaren S. Wilkey/BYU Photo

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