Latter-day Liberty: A Gospel Approach to Government and Politics

Latter-day Liberty: A Gospel Approach to Government and Politics Review

Individual liberty is a fundamental aspect of the good news of the gospel. But what is liberty exactly, and what role does it play in our lives? Connor Boyack explores these questions and much more in this detailed analysis of historical developments, secular information, and scriptural insights. The war in heaven continues on earth today, and our agency and liberty are under attack. Arm yourself with the truth by reading this timely book.

Advance praise for Latter-day Liberty:

Representative Ron Paul (R-TX), Author, Liberty Defined:

"Connor Boyack has written a fascinating book that applies Mormon theology to the central question of statism vs. liberty that dominates our age.  Latter-day Liberty provides an insightful analysis of both historical and modern political issues,  and challenges the reader to reconcile religious beliefs with state actions.  Not surprisingly, he finds that our federal government routinely violates the religious principles that many Mormons hold dear.

"Those who advocate limited government necessarily must advocate strong religious, civic, and social institutions.  These institutions, rather than the state, should act as the central organizing mechanisms in American society.  For this reason Latter-day Liberty can appeal to readers who are not Mormon, but simply recognize that their relationship with God compels them to question their relationship with the state."

Thomas E. Woods, Jr., Ph.D., Author, Nullification: How to Resist Federal Tyranny in the 21st Century:

"Only someone knowledgeable in theology, U.S. history, constitutional law, and political philosophy could have taken on a task like Latter-day Liberty.  Connor Boyack has proven that he more than fits that bill. The sheer weight of his evidence and the unfailing rigor of his arguments -- even when dealing with the hard cases, which Boyack courageously and persuasively confronts -- practically compel the reader to embrace liberty (the real thing, not the watered-down version peddled by most politicians) as the highest political good. A stellar achievement."

Greg Wright, Author, Satan's War on Free Agency:

"I will never view political issues the same after reading this book. Latter-day Liberty makes a convincing argument for applying gospel principles to politics. If it is read with an open mind, anybody will be well educated!"

Doug French, President, Ludwig von Mises Institute:

"Latter-day Liberty couldn't be more timely.  This poignant book serves as a wake-up call for Latter-day Saints, with Boyack and leaders of the LDS Church eloquently making the case for individual liberty."

Jack Monnett, Ph.D., Author, Awakening to Our Awful Situation:

In Latter-day Liberty, Connor Boyack has presented a most articulate and historically accurate presentation of the foundational views of Joseph Smith, other leaders of the LDS Church, and our Founding Fathers. In a world of politically charged confusion, Latter-day Saints would do well to read and understand the roots of agency, government responsibility, and individual liberty that Boyack so clearly outlines. 

Sheriff Richard Mack, Author, The Proper Role of Law Enforcement:

This book provides a thorough and compelling analysis of liberty, which is a subject too often ignored in government today. Well sourced and engaging, Latter-day Liberty is a must-read for every Latter-day Saint.

Jonathan E. Johnson III, President, Overstock.com:

In Latter-day Liberty, Connor Boyack has done a great service by researching and compiling teachings on the principles of liberty from the Founding Fathers and the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a concise, well-written, and informative way. His application of these teachings to current political issues is both thought provoking and enlightening - even for those who may disagree with his applications. Those who value agency and love liberty will find Latter-day Liberty a book well worth reading.

Liberty's Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750-1800

Liberty's Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750-1800 Review

First published in 1980 and recently out of print, Liberty's Daughters is widely considered a landmark book on the history of American women and on the Revolution itself.

Key-Notes of American Liberty Comprising the most important speeches, proclamations, andacts of Congress, from the foundation of the government to the present time

Key-Notes of American Liberty Comprising the most important speeches, proclamations, andacts of Congress, from the foundation of the government to the present time Review

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815 (Oxford History of the United States)

Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815 (Oxford History of the United States) Review

The Oxford History of the United States is by far the most respected multi-volume history of our nation. The series includes three Pulitzer Prize winners, two New York Times bestsellers, and winners of the Bancroft and Parkman Prizes. Now, in the newest volume in the series, one of America's most esteemed historians, Gordon S. Wood, offers a brilliant account of the early American Republic, ranging from 1789 and the beginning of the national government to the end of the War of 1812.
As Wood reveals, the period was marked by tumultuous change in all aspects of American life--in politics, society, economy, and culture. The men who founded the new government had high hopes for the future, but few of their hopes and dreams worked out quite as they expected. They hated political parties but parties nonetheless emerged. Some wanted the United States to become a great fiscal-military state like those of Britain and France; others wanted the country to remain a rural agricultural state very different from the European states. Instead, by 1815 the United States became something neither group anticipated. Many leaders expected American culture to flourish and surpass that of Europe; instead it became popularized and vulgarized. The leaders also hope to see the end of slavery; instead, despite the release of many slaves and the end of slavery in the North, slavery was stronger in 1815 than it had been in 1789. Many wanted to avoid entanglements with Europe, but instead the country became involved in Europe's wars and ended up waging another war with the former mother country. Still, with a new generation emerging by 1815, most Americans were confident and optimistic about the future of their country.
Integrating all aspects of life, from politics and law to the economy and culture, Empire of Liberty offers a marvelous account of this pivotal era when America took its first unsteady steps as a new and rapidly expanding nation.

A Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History

Winner of the New-York Historical Society American History Book Prize

A New York Times Bestseller

Selected as one of the Top 25 Books of 2009 by The Atlantic

"On every page of this book, Wood's subtlety and erudition show. Grand in scope and a landmark achievement of scholarship, Empire of Liberty is a tour de force, the culmination of a lifetime of brilliant thinking and writing."
--The New York Times Book Review

"Empire of Liberty will rightly take its place among the authoritative volumes in this important and influential series."
--The Washington Post

Design for Liberty: Private Property, Public Administration, and the Rule of Law

Design for Liberty: Private Property, Public Administration, and the Rule of Law Review

Following a vast expansion in the twentieth century, government is beginning to creak at the joints under its enormous weight. The signs are clear: a bloated civil service, low approval ratings for Congress and the President, increasing federal-state conflict, rampant distrust of politicians and government officials, record state deficits, and major unrest among public employees.

In this compact, clearly written book, the noted legal scholar Richard Epstein advocates a much smaller federal government, arguing that our over-regulated state allows too much discretion on the part of regulators, which results in arbitrary, unfair decisions, rent-seeking, and other abuses. Epstein bases his classical liberalism on the twin pillars of the rule of law and of private contracts and property rights—an overarching structure that allows private property to keep its form regardless of changes in population, tastes, technology, and wealth. This structure also makes possible a restrained public administration to implement limited objectives. Government continues to play a key role as night-watchman, but with the added flexibility in revenues and expenditures to attend to national defense and infrastructure formation.

Although no legal system can eliminate the need for discretion in the management of both private and public affairs, predictable laws can cabin the zone of discretion and permit arbitrary decisions to be challenged. Joining a set of strong property rights with sound but limited public administration could strengthen the rule of law, with its virtues of neutrality, generality, clarity, consistency, and forward-lookingness, and reverse the contempt and cynicism that have overcome us.

(20120101)

Give Me Liberty

Give Me Liberty Review

The American Revolution is about to ignite!

Life is tough for thirteen-year-old Nathaniel Dunn, an indentured servant in colonial Virginia. Yet in a twist of luck, he meets Basil, a kind schoolmaster, and an arrangement is struck lending Nathaniel's labor to a Williamsburg carriage maker. Basil introduces Nathaniel to music, books, and philosophies that open his mind to new attitudes about equality. The year is 1775, and as colonists voice their rage over England's taxation, Patrick Henry's words "give me liberty, or give me death" become the sounding call for action. Should Nathaniel and Basil join the fight? What is the meaning of "liberty" in a country reliant on indentured servants and slaves? Nathaniel must face the puzzling choices a dawning nation lays before him.

Give Me Liberty!: The Story of the Declaration of Independence

Give Me Liberty!: The Story of the Declaration of Independence Review

Describes the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence as well as the personalities and politics behind its framing.