THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
SECTION 134
A declaration of belief regarding governments and laws in general, adopted by unanimous vote at a general assembly of the Church held at Kirtland, Ohio, August 17, 1835. HC 2: 247—249. The occasion was a meeting of Church leaders, brought together to consider the proposed contents of the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. At that time this declaration was given the following preamble: “That our belief with regard to earthly governments and laws in general may not be misinterpreted nor misunderstood, we have thought proper to present at the close of this volume our opinion concerning the same.”
[ Excerpt from History of the Church
A general assembly of the Church of Latter-day Saints was held at Kirtland on the 17th of August, 1835, to take into consideration the labors of a committee appointed by a general assembly of the Church on the 24th of September, 1834, for the purpose of arranging the items of the doctrine of Jesus Christ for the government of the Church. The names of the committee were: Joseph Smith, Jun., Sidney Rigdon, Oliver Cowdery, and Frederick G. Williams, who, having finished said book according to the instructions given them, deem it necessary to call a general assembly of the Church to see whether the book be approved or not by the authorities of the Church: that it may, if approved, become a law and a rule of faith and practice to the Church....
“President Oliver Cowdery then read the following article on ‘Governments and Laws in General,’ which was accepted and adopted and ordered to be printed in said book, by a unanimous vote: [Beginning of article.] ‘That our belief with regard to earthly governments and laws in general may not be misinterpreted nor misunderstood, we have thought proper to present, at the close of this volume, our opinion concerning the same.’
[text of D&C 134 quoted]
(Joseph Smith, History of the Church, volume 2, pages 243-247) Excerpt from Doctrine and Covenants Commentary It should be noted that in the minutes, and also in the introduction to this article on government, the brethren were careful to state that this declaration was accepted as the belief, or “opinion” of the officers of the Church, and not as a revelation, and therefore does not hold the same place in the doctrines of the Church as do the revelations. In fact the first sentence could be improved by a slight change. The Lord in the very beginning revealed to Adam a perfect form of government, and this was “instituted of God for the benefit of man;” but we do not hold that all governments, or any man-made government, was instituted of God although the Lord holds a controlling hand over them. It was not long after the Lord established His government with Adam, and had commanded him to teach correct principles to his children, that men began to rebel and turn away. (Hyrum M. Smith and Janne M. Sjodahl,
]
1—4, Governments should preserve freedom of conscience and worship; 5—8, All men should uphold their governments, and owe respect and deference to the law; 9—10, Religious societies should not exercise civil powers; 11—12, Men are justified in defending themselves and their property.
1
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,
[ Why does God want his children on earth to be subject to earthly governments? What is the purpose of governments? Who established the first government under the direction of God? Adam What kind of government was it? Patriarichal What is semblemce between verse 1 and verse 6? God instituted governments and men are accountable to the laws of such governments. Compare to verse 6 where God also instituted his laws to which man are also subject. How does the Lord allow the governments of men to bring about his purpose? He has the king of Assyria sack the
Northern Ten Tribes, He has the king of Babylon exile Judah, He has Cyrus free Judah from Babylon, He pits the Lamanites against the Nephites and so on. He creates these nations and holds their rulers responsible for their actions, even if they are not directly covenanting with Him or even aware of their role in history.] both in making laws and administering them,
for the good and safety of society.
[ How do laws provide safety for society? with them uncivilized, lawless un ruled society do what you want without limit. ]
2 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,
[protect the agency of man Why is agency so important to the Lord? SEE 101:77-78. ] the right and control of property,
[ Why is it important to have right and control of property? We cannot be stewards unless we have power and control over property. ] and the protection of life.
3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by
the voice of the people [ Why the voice of the people? see Mosiah 29:25 - 26 "Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people." What happens when the voice of the people choose iniquity? see Mosiah 29:27 ] if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.
4
We believe that religion is instituted of God;
[ Note that this verse starts the same as verse 1 - both government and religion are instituted of God. ] and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it,
unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others;
[ Religious rights end when they infringe on the rights of others.] but we do not believe that
human law [ The governments of men. ] has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.
5
We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside,
[ How has this been a blessing to Latter Day Saints throught out the world? Opens doors to missionary efforts because they know we are good citizens, ] 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,
[ What happens when this sort attitude prevails among the people? Aniarchy - secret societies - law unto themselves. Why is this an important principle for Latter Day Saints to understand? Just a men in Missouri formed mobs and instituted their own form of governement it did not give the saints the right to do the same or it would evolve in to constant civil war How was this point brought home in Missouri? The mobs took to themselves their own version of the law not constitutional - and used that justification to kick the saints from their homes. ] 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.
6 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 show respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man; and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker.
[verse 7-10 establish division between church and state]
7 We believe that rulers, states, and governments have a right, and are bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their religious belief; but we do not believe that they have a right in justice to deprive citizens of this privilege, or proscribe them in their opinions, so long as a regard and reverence are shown to the laws and such religious opinions do not justify sedition nor conspiracy.
8 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.
[ Why is associated punishment important in good government? The founder knew that there was really no social contract unless there is accountability for individual or private action.]
9 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. [ Spiritual rights are God given not legislated. All groups should have equal access to their respective spiritual relationship with their God. No groups spirituality foster over anothers through laws. How does the churchs influence with Prop 8 in California? ]
10
We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with their members for disorderly conduct, according to the rules and regulations of such societies; [ Religious matters should be dealt with by religious leaders and no one else. CP Matt 18:15-17; D&C 42:28, 74-93] provided that such dealings be for fellowship and good standing; but
we do not believe that any religious society has authority to try men on the right of property or life,
[ Examples of how and where this happened? Salem witch trials etc these are left to the laws of the land. ] to take from them this world’s goods, or to put them in jeopardy of either life or limb, or to inflict any physical punishment upon them. They can only excommunicate them from their society, and withdraw from them their fellowship.
11 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,
[ When are men justified in defending themselves? ] [1] their friends, and
[2] property, and
[3] the government,
[4] from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons
[5 with this cavaet ] in times of exigency,
[ a state of affairs that makes urgent demands; a case or situation that demands prompt action or remedy; emergency: ] where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.
12
We believe it just to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth,
[ We will preach the gospel to the nations of the world - and will not preach the gospel in those country's where it is against the law. How has that been beneficial to the church in the long run? Temple in Germany...] and warn the righteous to save themselves from the corruption of the world; but we do not believe it right to interfere
with bond-servants,
[ slaves. At this point in time MIssouri was a slave state. If the Mormons would have made a bold declaration otherwise it would have added additional fuel to the fire and made matters worse than they already were. ] neither preach the gospel to, nor baptize them contrary to the will and wish of their masters, nor to meddle with or influence them in the least to cause them to be dissatisfied with their situations in this life, thereby jeopardizing the lives of men; such interference
we believe to be unlawful and unjust, and dangerous to the peace of every government allowing human beings to be held in servitude. [ Church was against slavery. ]