From time to time, in response to an article about what the prophets have said about 
government, liberty and the Constitution, people will say (as if to debunk the article in one fell swoop), “God doesn’t judge on ones politics!”.
If by politics you mean what party you belong to, you’re right, there is no revelation in our scriptures on what party to join. However, the Lord is quite clear that we ARE held accountable for what policies we support and how we support their implementation.
D&C 98:4-7, 11 the Lord explains that we are to support Constitutional laws, explains what Constitutional laws are, and tells us that anything other than those principles are evil and tells us to “shun” evil.
D&C 101:77-78 explains that the Lord gave us the Constitution for the express purpose of giving us a government that will allow us to be accountable for our own sins because it doesn’t interfere with our day to day activities, but merely tells the government what they are and are not allowed to do.
and finally D&C 134:1 clearly states that God “holds men accountable for their acts in relation to government”
The scriptures tell us what laws to support, what candidates to support and tells us God will hold us accountable for our choices in these matters, no matter how much we wish otherwise.
It might be a good idea to find out what the Lord has said, and take care of any repenting we may need to do.
It amazes me how many members ether think that we should vote for Mormons only, or don’t pay attention to who their voting for and then say the gospel does not cover these thing and then will go after people like you and me ezra for proclaiming gods doctrine.
Great article. Correct in every way.
The scriptures are clear that government is supposed to maximize individual freedom and liberty. Doing this maximizes individuals’ agency. Therefore the gospel is libertarian. Satan wanted to limit agency and uses governments to do so. We LDS are often tempted to join in when we support laws that limit freedom and liberty. We often support laws that outlaw sin – laws against prostitution, gambling, pot, etc… Regarding sinful acts, God said, “Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee, but remember that I forbid it…”. The scriptures likewise condemn us promoting laws, due to our moral beliefs, that infringe upon the rights and liberties of others (1 Cor. 10:29, D&C 134:4). God will judge those who use govs to infringe upon agency/freedom.
Oh, that more would see it the way you have described. The war that was begun in heaven is alive and well on earth. Government, similar to Satan’s plan, is trying to save us all at the expense of our agency, which is the opposite of the Father’s plan. Of course, the real plan is not to save us, but to enslave us.
We as LDS are U.S. CITIZENS and have responsibility to defend our Constitution. Which we have not been doing. Equality under all laws is required by our constitution, that is the highest principle of any democracy, any law that violates that principle is not a real law. Corporate bribery as elite citizenship-drug monopoly violates our equality; both are unlawful and easy to prove. What happens when u prove corporations are using bribery?
Conclusion: Human Instinct Program has been protecting status quo by making every Attorney stupid as to the fact that Corporations can only contribute to political office through bribery. Those are the rules of corporate mission law: profit driven entity with a side order of humanitarian expenditures only.
Satan is revealed=A.I
What you said is correct.
Of course, we are not supposed to be a democracy. We are supposed to be a federal republic; but we have turned into a national-security police state.
Great Article.
We need more articles like this, as it seems to be in our nature to avoid thinking.
Thanks.
Before we try to participate in government we should be sure that we are promoting government that God approves of. The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the words of prophets reveal His will concerning civil government. We LDS people have a doctrinal imperative to understand God’s will and comply with it. I believe we should support only legislation and programs that square with the US Constitution and which totally support the God-given rights to life, liberty, and control of property.
I so agree, been saying this for a very long time. Maybe I choose the wrong words, when I spoke but I always mentioned, that we had to abide by what God laid out for us first, and ask his assistance and guidance in choices, for government.
There are some great quotes in the Journal of Discourses on this topic.
“The Church of Jesus Christ could not exist, and be divided up into parties. Where such disunion exists in any government, it ultimately becomes the means of the utter overthrow of that government or people, unless a timely remedy is applied. Party spirit once made its appearance in heaven, but was promptly checked.” – President Brigham Young (JD 9:332)
“When we see a religion, and one which is claimed to be the religion of Christ, and it will not govern men in their politics, it is a very poor religion, it is very feeble, very taint in its effects, hardly perceptible in the life of a person.” – Brigham Young (JD 14:159)
What this means is that we need to understand the Lord’s way and study it
Forgive me for making what in context here may be thought to be too fine a point. Section 134 was written by Oliver Cowdery. Joseph Smith and Fredrick Williams were on a mission in Michigan at the time the revelations were to be read by Brother Cowdery to a conference of the Church. After presenting the revelations to the Church received by Joseph Smith, Brother Cowdery then acting on his own initiative read two monographs which he wrote himself. The first on marriage. The second we now call Section 134. Brother Cowdery asked that the congregation approve the inclusion of each monograph with the revelations accepted earlier by the congregation. It is my understanding that only the living prophet as head of the Church may receive revelation for the Church.
No one claims that D&C 134 is/was a revelation. Neither was D&C 135 which is an announcement of Joseph Smith’s death. Both however were sustained via Common Consent by the membership of the Church thereby making them official doctrine/scripture. D&C 137 and 138 WERE revelations, but were neither official doctrine/scripture until they were sustained via Common Consent by the membership of the Church thereby making them official doctrine/scripture on 4/3/76.
Common Consent makes a document official doctrine/scripture. Some claim that the proclamation on the family is scripture. it isn’t and won’t be unless sustained by Common Consent.
While a vote of common consent is needed to make a document a part of the standard scriptures. This does not mean that documents from the prophets that are not apart of the standard work are not doctrinal. So while the family proclamation may not be in the standard works it is a document of doctrine and should be treated as such.
This is a nonsensical argument. Why would it be in the standard works if it was not considered to be scripture and doctrine. Should we not include the words of Amulek in the BOM because he was not the prophet? “He was simply a companion so there is no way we should take hs words seriously.” That is pretty much the same question you just asked. Please stop trying to find ways around the scriptures, they are the words of the Lord. Should we not consider the twelve’s General Conference talks because they are not the prophet. As you can tell, these kind of nonsensical arguments really frustrate me.
There are PLENTY of quotes from the Brethren that have stated that until and document is sustained via Common Consent, that it is strictly opinion. D&C 137 & 138 were revelations, but they did not become OFFICIAL doctrine until they were sustained. The Brethren have stated that we only have to defend scripture.
The Proc DOES reiterate some doctrinal points, but it was not a revelation. It was written and revised by a committee. It was written in response to the Same-Sex Marriage voter initiatives that were taking place in Hawaii and Alaska in 1995. It was partially written from a number of Elder Oaks’ talks. It was written as a political position paper and a call to arms for LDS to fight those initiatives.
Until something is sustained, it’s only opinion.
Doth a fountain (political party) send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (James 3)
a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil (Republican or Democrat Party) cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil. (Moroni 7)
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (3 Nephi)
A representative Republic is set up to hold it’s citizens accountable for each persons choice and will suffer collectively it’s fate. We are in a place of awakening and a reconciliation will happen at the right time. I am thankful for God’s complete love and fairness for us and I pray that I can learn and be more righteous spiritually and politically.
“By their fruits”…….that’s how we are to judge. The fruits of socialistic votes and government will take away rights, agency, and freedoms. We were warned way long ago by Ezra Taft Benson, and how many listened to him then????
I whole heartily agree that God will judge us for the policies and candidates we support based on our understanding. I think it is important however that none of us is authorized to make such a judgment. Our political choices and positions are between us and our God, not between us and anybody else – including semi-anonymous self-righteous responses to internet blog posts.
But this presupposes that people cannot be deceived and that choices in regards to politics are completely relative. An interesting story that not many people know about is that Elder Marion G. Romney was a huge FDR supporter and didn’t agree with what President Heber J. Grant was saying in first presidency statements about the programs of the new deal. But Elder Romney was humble enough to ask the Lord whether or not his political stance was right or was he being deceived. Elder Romney received the answer the FDR and his New Deal were not of God and that President Grant’s church welfare program was in response to the secular institutions trying to deceive people.
I’m not sure what you’re assuming I’m presupposing, but I’m not presupposing anything. All of our choices are between us and the Lord. There is no-one who is authorized to hold me accountable for my political view points and choices other than the Lord.
Exactly right. What you presupposing though is that we were being self-righteous. The establishment of Zion and the establishing of the Lord’s political order will take individuals who have come to understand its principles independently by the channel of revelation. It is not self-righteous to try and correct a person because their beliefs are contrary to the Lord’s established program (this goes for members of both political parties). The very idea that the Lord will judge us for our politics means it is incumbent upon us to understand the way the Lord would vote on every issue.
Great article!
So will the lord hold accountable “The Prophets” who told German members to support Adolf Hitler?
Why didn’t these ‘prophets, seers and revelators’ warn the world, or at least their own members of the evil that this man was? Could it be because they don’t really know their butts from a billiard ball? Because they are a sham, a con game and are lying about it all?
Yet the most direct scripture pertaining to the role of government and the conditions under which we honor our government were not addressed, D&C 134:5 “We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.”
I recommend the book ‘The Majesty of God’s Law’ by Skousen. It is a must read for all members. Just reading the comments by BJ and Ammon and I have to say something. As members of the church we should never be deceived, church doctrine is very clear and understand that your vote does impact everyone’s life. People ought to be held accountable by other people who are impacted by our incorrect votes. It is not just a matter between you and the Lord when you vote impacts my natural rights.