Mormons and Government

Some of the most libelous information spread by the critics of the Mormon Church, is in regards to how we view government. Some criticisms accuse the Mormons of trying to overthrow the government and in other versions the Mormons are trying to take possession of government. All of these false stories are meant to taint the LDS church in the eyes of the United States government. These lies continue to be spread by critics of the LDS church to confuse the people who might otherwise want to learn more about the Mormons. Despite the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expressing their views in our own modern day revelations, the Critics still try to regurgitate their version of the truth.

Let us look at how the LDS people view government in general.

I suggest everyone read D&C section 134 in order to better understand how the LDS are taught to view government. Here are some highlights from that section:

 "We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society." (Verse 1)

"We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life." (Verse 2)

"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." (Verse 5)

"We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men owe respect and deference." (Verse 6)

"We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense; that murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment." (Verse 8)

"We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied."(Verse 9)

“We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded." (Verse 11)

These are the views of the LDS people regarding government, taken from our own modern day scriptures! In addition to this we are also the only organization that I know of that has revelations claiming the United States constitution as divinely inspired.

“It is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.” (D&C 101:79-80)

So you can see for yourselves that we Mormon people believe in being law abiding citizens of whatever country they reside in. Pertaining to the government of man, we believe outside of a government ruled by Christ himself, that the US Constitution is the most approved method in place for bringing about the purposes of God.