lds doctrine and covenants slideshow 23: d&c 98-99, 102, 106, 108, 134

7/28/2019 LDS Doctrine and Covenants Slideshow 23: D&C 98-99, 102, 106, 108, 134

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DOCTRINE andCOVENANTS

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Sections 9899,

102, 106, 108, 134


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The Constitution of our country formed by theFathers of liberty. Peace and good order in society.Love to God, and good will to man. All good andwholesome laws, virtue and truth above all things,and aristarchy, live for ever! But woe to tyrants,

mobs, aristocracy, anarchy, and toryism, and allthose who invent or seek out unrighteous and vexatious lawsuits, under the pretext and color of law, or office, eitherreligious or political. Exalt the standard of Democracy! Down

with that of priestcraft, and let all the people say Amen! thatthe blood of our fathers may not cry from the ground againstus. Sacred is the memory of that blood which bought for us ourliberty. Joseph Smith, March 1838

(History of the Church 3:9)

The political motto of the Church

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The elephant in

the room Must a person belong to

a specific political partyin order to be a faithful

Latter-day Saint? Do all political parties

have platforms that support the teachings of thegospel of Jesus Christ?

Do all political parties have at platforms that arecontrary to the teachings of the gospel of JesusChrist?

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Now, there is much that we can and must do inthese perilous times. We can give our opinions onthe merits of the [political] situation as we see it,but never let us become a party to words or worksof evil concerning our brothers and sisters invarious nations on one side or the other. Political differencesnever justify hatred or ill will. I hope that the Lords peoplemay be at peace one with another during times of trouble,regardless of what loyalties they may have to different

governments or parties. President Gordon B. Hinckley, April 2003

Political differences

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First principles

58:2122. Let no man break the lawsof the land, for he that keepeth the

laws of God hath no need to break thelaws of the land. Wherefore, besubject to the powers that be, until he

reigns whose right it is to reign, andsubdues all enemies under his feet.

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Civil law

As members of the Church andkingdom of God, what are our

obligations as members of societyliving under civil authority?

98:47; 101:7680. The Lord on civil

law and the Constitution.

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The Constitution of the United States is a gloriousstandard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is aheavenly banner; it is to all those who are privilegedwith the sweets of its liberty, like the cooling shadesand refreshing waters of a great rock in a thirsty andweary land. It is like a great tree under whosebranches men from every clime can be shielded from theburning rays of the sun.

Joseph Smith, March 1839

(History of the Church 3:304)

The Constitution of the United States

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The law and freedom

98:810. Freedom and wisegovernment.

How does the Lordmake us free? Moses 7:32. How does the law make us free? D&C 134:6.

Just vs. unjust laws.

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The Gospel in its fulness places those who obey it, underits influences, while at the same time it does not relievethem from other obligations of a terrestrial nature. It issaid in the Doctrine and Covenants, that he that keepeththe laws of God, hath no need to break the laws of the

land. It is further explained in section 98, what is meantin relation to this. That all laws which are constitutional must beobeyed, as follows: [quotes D&C 98:47]

That is taking this nation as an example, all laws that are proper andcorrect, and all obligations entered into which are not violative of theconstitution should be kept inviolate. But if they are violative of theconstitution, then the compact between the rulers and the ruled isbroken and the obligation ceases to be binding.

President John Taylor, February 1884

(Journal of Discourses 26:350)

Obedience to unjust laws

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Because the laws of man, by and large, do not raisemoral issues, we are taught to honor, sustain, and obeythe law, and that he that keepeth the laws of God hathno need to break the laws of the land.

When a moral issue does arise, it is the responsibility of

the leaders of the Church to speak out. Gambling, forinstance, certainly is a moral issue. Life is a moral issue. Whenmorality is involved, we have both the right and the obligation toraise a warning voice. Elder Boyd K. Packer, April 1992

Obedience to unjust laws

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War

98:1316. The Lords law ofwar. Just war.

What kind of people make war? D&C 38:29;45:69; 63:33; 76:2930.

Offensive vs. defensive.

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While we will be the last to oppress, we will be thelast to be driven from our postpeace, be still;burythe hatchet and the swordthe sound of waris dreadful in my ear. [But] any man who will notfight for his wife and children is a coward and abastard. January 1843 (Words of Joseph Smith 162)

It may be that the Saints will have to beat their ploughs intoswords, for it will not do for men to sit down patiently and seetheir children destroyed. May 1844 (HC6:365)

There is one principle which is eternal; it is the duty of all mento protect their lives and the lives of the household, whenevernecessity requires, and no power has a right to forbid it, shouldthe last extreme arrive. June 1844 (HC6:605)

Joseph Smith on self-defense

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Self-defense

134:11. All men are justified indefending themselves.

What of military service?

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Those in the armed services are under obligation totheir respective governments to execute the will ofthe sovereign. When they joined the militaryservice, they entered into a contract by which theyare presently bound and to which they havedutifully responded.

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Ibelieve that God will not hold men and women in uniformresponsible as agents of their government in carrying forwardthat which they are legally obligated to do. It may even be thatHe will hold us responsible if we try to impede or hedge up theway of those who are involved in a contest with forces of eviland repression. President Gordon B. Hinckley, April 2003

Killing and military service

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The responsibility for the loss of life anddesolations poured out through warfare will restupon those who foment and cause the wars. It istrue that individual soldiers may be heldaccountable for needless, brutal killings. War assuch is not an open door to unrestricted slaughter.But the soldier who is required to take life andspread desolation will be guiltless before the throne of the JustJudge, whether that single individual fought for or against the

Lords purposes. Bruce R. McConkie,Mormon Doctrine, p. 827

Killing and military service

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The Lords law of war

98:2338. Renounce war. 98:23. Bear it patientlyand revile not,

neither seekrevenge.

98:2831.When are we justified inretaliating?

98:3238.Applied to nations, ancient and

modern.

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Foryears it has been held that peace comes only bypreparation for war; the present conflict [World War I] shouldprove that peace comes only by preparing for peace, throughtraining the people in righteousness and justice, and selectingrulers who respect the righteous will of the people..There is only one thing that can bring peace into the world. Itis the adoption of the gospel of Jesus Christ, rightlyunderstood, obeyed and practiced by rulers and people alike.It is being preached in spirit to all nations, kindreds, tonguesand peoples of the world, by the Latter-day Saints, and the day is not far

distant when its message of salvation shall sink deep into the hearts of thecommon people, who, in sincerity and earnestness, when the time comes,will not only surely register their judgment against a false Christianity, butagainst war and the makers of war as crimes against the human race.

President Joseph F. Smith, September 1914

Modern prophets on war

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The divine law on the taking of human lifewas proclaimed at Sinai and in the Garden.This law, we declare, is equally bindingupon men and upon nations. It embraceswar.

We further declare that God is grieved bywar and that He will hold subject to the eternal punishments of His willthose who wage it unrighteously.

.

We condemn all wars foul broodavarice, greed, misery, want, disease,

cruelty, hate, inhumanity, savagery, death.We earnestly implore all members of the Church to love their brethren andsisters, and all peoples whoever and wherever they are; to banish hate fromtheir lives, to fill their hearts with charity, patience, long-suffering, andforgiveness. The First Presidency, October 1939


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In the face of the tragic condition among mankind[World War II], honest thinking men and womenask how is it possible to reconcile the teachings ofJesus with the participation of the Church in armedconflict.

War is basically selfish. Its roots feed in the soil of envy,hatred, desire for domination. Its fruit, therefore, is alwaysbitter. They who cultivate and propagate it spread death anddestruction, and are enemies of the human race.

.


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War impels you to hate your enemies.The Prince of Peace says, Love your enemies.War says, Curse them that curse you.The Prince of Peace says, Pray for them that curseyou.War says, Injure and kill them that hate you.The Risen Lord says, Do good to them that hate you.

Thus we see that war is incompatible with Christs teachings.The gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of peace. War is its

antithesis, and produces hate. It is vain to attempt to reconcilewar with true Christianity.

.


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There are, however, two conditions which mayjustify a truly Christian man to entermind you, Isayenter, not begin a war: (1) An attempt todominate and to deprive another of his free agency,and, (2) Loyalty to his country. Possibly there is athird, viz., Defense of a weak nation that is being unjustlycrushed by a strong, ruthless one.

President David O. McKay, April 1942


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The whole world is in the midst of a war that seemsthe worst of all time. This Church is a worldwideChurch. Its devoted members are in both camps.They are the innocent war instrumentalities of theirwarring sovereignties. On each side they believe

they are fighting for home, and country, andfreedom. On each side, our brethren pray to the same God, inthe same name, for victory. Both sides cannot be wholly right;perhaps neither is without wrong. God will work out in Hisown due time and in His own sovereign way the justice and

right of the conflict, but He will not hold the innocentinstrumentalities of the war, our brethren in arms, responsiblefor the conflict. This is a major crisis in the world-life of man.God is at the helm.

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To our young men who go into the service, nomatter whom they serve or where, we say live clean,keep the commandments of the Lord, pray to Himconstantly to preserve you in truth andrighteousness, live as you pray, and then whatever

betides you the Lord will be with you and nothingwill happen to you that will not be to the honor and glory ofGod and to your salvation and exaltation.

President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., April 1942


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Then as the crowning savagery of [World War II],weAmericans wiped out hundreds of thousands of civilianpopulation with the atom bomb in Japan, few if any of theordinary civilians being any more responsible for the war thanwere we, and perhaps most of them no more aiding Japan inthe war than we were aiding America. Military men are now

saying that the atom bomb was a mistake. It was more thanthat: it was a world tragedy. And the worst of this atomic bomb tragedy isnot that not only did the people of the United States not rise up in protestagainst this savagery, not only did it not shock us to read of this wholesaledestruction of men, women, and children, and cripples, but that it actuallydrew from the nation at large a general approval of this fiendish butchery.

.Thuswe in America are now deliberately searching out and developing themost savage, murderous means of exterminating peoples that Satan canplant in our minds. We do it not only shamelessly, but with a boast. Godwill not forgive us for this. President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., October 1946


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In spite of our delight in defining ourselves as modern,and our tendency to think we possess a sophisticationthat no people in the past ever hadin spite of thesethings, we are, on the whole, an idolatrous peopleacondition most repugnant to the Lord.

We are a warlike people, easily distracted from ourassignment of preparing for the coming of the Lord. When enemiesrise up, we commit vast resources to the fabrication of gods of stoneand steelships, planes, missiles, fortificationsand depend onthem for protection and deliverance. When threatened, we becomeantienemy instead of pro-kingdom of God; we train a man in the artof war and call him a patriot, thus, in the manner of Satanscounterfeit of true patriotism, perverting the Saviors teaching:


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Loveyour enemies, bless them that curse you, do goodto them that hate you, and pray for them whichdespitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may bethe children of your Father which is in heaven.

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What are we to fear when the Lord is with us? Can wenot take the Lord at his word and exercise a particle of faith in him?Our assignment is affirmative: to forsake the things of the world asends in themselves; to leave off idolatry and press forward in faith; to

carry the gospel to our enemies, that they might no longer be ourenemies. President Spencer W. Kimball, June 1976


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Because of the long history of hostility upon theearth, many feel that peace is beyond hope. Idisagree. Peace is possible. We can learn to love ourfellow human beings throughout the world.Whether they be Jewish, Islamic, or fellowChristians, whether Hindu, Buddhist, or other, wecan live together with mutual admiration and respect, withoutforsaking our religious convictions. Things we have in commonare greater than are our differences. Peace is a prime priority

that pleads for our pursuit. Elder Russell M. Nelson, October 2002


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The Lords law of war

98:3948. How often should weforgive our enemies?

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Laws and governments

Section 134 (August 1835). Declaration, not revelation.

134:1. Governments were institutedof God.

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Even the monopoly of the one-man-power as in Russia,

or the monopoly of the aristocracy as in other parts ofEurope, or the imbecility and sometimes stupidity of arepublic like our own, is far better than no governmentat all. And for this reason, says the Apostle Paul,The powers are ordained of God, not that they arealways the best forms of government for the people, orthat they afford liberty and freedom to mankind, but that any and allforms of government are better than none at all, having a tendencyas they do to restrain the passions of human nature and to curb

them, and to establish and maintain order to a greater or less degree.One monopoly is better than many; and the oppression of a king istolerable, but the oppression of a mob, where every man is a law tohimself and his own right arm, is his power to enforce his own will, isthe worst form of government. Elder Erastus Snow, April 1881

(JD 22:151)

Government ordained of God

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134:2. The purpose of law. John Locke: life, health, liberty, or

possessions.

The Founding Fathers: life, liberty, and thepursuit ofhappiness.

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It is not the right of property which is protected,but the right to property. Property, per se, has norights; but the individualthe manhas three greatrights, equally sacred from arbitrary interference:the right to his life, the right to his liberty, and theright to his property. The three rights are so bound together asto be essentiallyone right. To give a man his life, but deny himhis liberty, is to take from him all that makes life worth living.To give him liberty, but take from him the property which is

the fruit and badge of his liberty, is to still leave him a slave. President David O. McKay, October 1962

Fundamental rights

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134:4, 9. The relationship of the stateto religion, and religion to the state.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

Saints holds to the doctrine of theseparation of church and state; the non-interference of church authority in politicalmatters; and the absolute freedom andindependence of the individual in theperformance of his political duties. If at any time there has been conduct at

variance with this doctrine, it has been in violation of the well-settledprinciples and policy of the Church.We declare that from principle and policy, we favor:

The absolute separation of church and state;No domination of the state by the church;No church interference with the functions of the state;No state interference with the functions of the church, or with the freeexercise of religion;The absolute freedom of the individual from the domination ofecclesiastical authority in political affairs;The equality of all churches before the law.

The First Presidency, March 1907

Separation of church and state

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DOCTRINE andCOVENANTS

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Next week:

Sections 111112,114115, 117120

lds doctrine and covenants slideshow 23: d&c 98-99, 102, 106, 108, 134

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