"The men [and women] in the [American] Revolution were inspired by the Almighty to throw off the shackles of the mother government, with her established religion. For this cause were Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, and a host of others inspired to deeds of resistance to the acts of the king of Great Britain . . . to bring to pass the purposes of greater freedom, a basis of self-government allowing the free exercise of religious worship” (Journal of Discourses, 2:170).