I expect to see the day when the Elders of Israel will protect and sustain civil and religious liberty and every Constitutional right bequeathed to us by our fathers, and spread these rights abroad in connetion with the Gospel for the salvation of all nations. I shall see this whether I live or die.

Source: Brigham Young
Discourses of Brigham Young p. 361

Topics: Responsibility

Taxing Our Children

The voters of one period should not tax those of a later period. Those of the later period are not represented in the instant taxing body, and hence today’s taxation of the citizens of tomorrow distinctly violates the principle of taxation by representation of those who pay the taxes. This means that to increase its expenditures government should not incur debt, because the burden of its redemption is thereby imposed on future taxpayers.

Source: Bradford B. Smith

Topics: Taxes

Joseph Smith on Politics

Relative to politics the epistle urged that inasmuch as none of the candidates who were before the public for the high office of president of the United States had “manifested any disposition or intention to redress wrong and restore liberty, and law,” the saints were advised to stand aloof from corrupt men and measures, “and wait at least till a man is found, who, if elected, will carry out the enlarged principles, universal freedom and equal rights and protection, expressed in the views of our beloved Prophet and martyr.” “We do not, however,” said the epistle, “offer this political advice as binding on the consciences of others; we are perfectly willing that every member of this church should use his own freedom in all political matters; but we give it as our own rule of action, and for the benefit of those who may choose to profit by it.” (Joseph Smith’s full letter was printed in Times and Seasons, vol. v, p. 620. The presidential election year was 1844.)

Source: B.H. Roberts
A Comprehensive History of the Church
Volume Two, p. 448

Topics: Citizenship; Responsibility; Statesmanship

Government of the People

In every government on earth is some trace of human weakness, some germ of corruption and degeneracy, which cunning will discover, and weakness insensibly open, cultivate and improve. Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves therefore are it’s only safe depositories. And to render even them safe, their minds must be improved to a certain degree. The influence over government must be shared among all the people. If every individual which composes their mass participates of the ultimate authority, the government will be safe.

Source: Thomas Jefferson

Topics: Government

As we have progressed the mist has been removed, and in relation to these matters, the elders of Israel begin to understand that they have something to do with the world politically as well as religiously; that it is as much their duty to study correct political principles as well as religious, and to seek to know and comprehend the social and political interests of man, and to learn and be able to teach that which would be best calculated to promote the interests of the world.

Source: John Taylor
JD, 9:339-340, April 13, 1862.
Political Responsibility of the Elders

Topics: Citizenship

Roman History

Now, in the last years, we in America have gone a long distance towards the adoption of the Roman concepts, and the abuses against property rights and human freedom and liberties which are possible under that system. And let me say here and now, that in the whole history of the human race, from Adam until now, Tyranny has never come to live with any people with a placard on his breast bearing his name. He always comes in deep disguise, sometimes proclaiming an endowment of freedom, sometimes promising help to the unfortunate and downtrodden, not by creating something for those who do not have, but by robbing those who have. But Tyranny is always a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and he always ends by devouring the whole flock, saving none.

Source: Reuben J. Clark
“Inroads upon the Constitution by the Roman Law.”

Topics: Freedom, Threats to; Government, Tyranny

The accumulation of property is no guarantee of the development of character, but the development of character, or of any other good whatever, is impossible without property.

Source: William Graham Sumner
On Liberty, Society, and Politics (Liberty Fund)

Topics: Character

Cultural War

“One newspaper headline reads, “The Battle Lines Are Clearly Drawn for America’s ... Cultural War.” The article then asks: “Who determines ‘the norms by which we live . . . and govern ourselves”(?) Who decides what is right and wrong, moral and immoral, beautiful and ugly ...? Whose beliefs shall form the basis of law? ...

“Our (cultural) challenge is about ‘who we are’ and ‘what we believe’ “ (Patrick J. Buchanan, Salt Lake Tribune, 13 Sept. 1992, sec. A, p. 15).

Cal Thomas of the Los Angeles Times wrote that some see “the state as either equal or superior to God in human affairs. Theirs is an uninvolved god who trickles down blessings when we want them, but whose commands are to be ignored when he asks us to do something we don’t want to do.

“The fact is that our laws came from a standard of righteousness that was thought to promote the common good, or ‘general welfare.’ . . . That standard has been abandoned as biblical illiteracy has flourished, thanks in part to the state’s antipathy toward immutable and eternal truths.

“William Penn wamed, ‘If we are not governed by God, then we will be ruled by tyrants.’ One’s view of God and his requirements for our personal lives determines one’s view of the role of the state in public life....

“Benjamin Franklin ... observed that if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without God’s knowledge, ‘can an empire rise without his aid?’ “The late philosopher-theologian Francis Schaeffer wrote that ‘God has ordained the state as a delegated authority; it is not autonomous. The state is to be an agent of justice, to restrain evil by punishing the wrongdoer, and to protect the good in society. When it does the reverse, it has no proper authority. It is then a usurped authority and as such it becomes lawless and is tyranny.’ . . .

“This is what the culture war is about. It is a conflict between those who recognize an ... existing God who has spoken about the order of the universe, the purpose of the state and the plan for individual lives and those who think those instructions are unclear, or open to interpretation, or that God is irrelevant to the debate or doesn’t exist and we are on our own....

”(Thirty years ago) students could still pray and read the Bible in school, abortion was illegal and ‘gay rights’ meant the right to be happy. . . . The issue now is whether we will become our own god” (Cal Thomas, Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Sept. 1992, sec. A, p. 18).

No wonder Isaiah, speaking under inspiration, declared, “Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). ...

Source: David B. Haight
General Conference, November 1992

Topics: Culture

Our Responsibility to America

If we are to protect this American base, we must realize that all things, including information disseminated by our schools, churches, and governments, should be judged according to the words of the prophets, especially the living prophet. This procedure, coupled with the understanding which will come through the Spirit of the Lord, if we are living in compliance with the scriptures, is the only sure foundation and basis of judgment. Any other course of action leaves us muddled, despondent, wandering in shades of gray, easy targets for Satan. If we fail in these pressing and important matters, we may well fall far short of the great mission the Lord has proffered and outlined for America and for His divinely restored Church.

Source: Ezra Taft Benson
Title of Liberty, pp. 88-91.

Topics: Citizenship

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