Topic: Law, Matches 48 quotes.

Power of government derived from will of the people

As you know, the government of the United States is a republic. The genius of this form of government is that the foundation of all law, power, and authority is derived from the will of the people.

Such a government is based upon a written constitution, which provides for three divisions of government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial, each independent of the others, having certain powers within prescribed limitations through a “built in” system of checks and balances, in order that the rights and freedoms of the people may be insured.

The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have taught its members ever since its organization to honor and respect the Constitution of the United States as well as the men who brought it forth and who were patriots indeed!

Joseph Smith described the constitution as a “heavenly banner,” a “glorious standard.”

Source: Elder ElRay L. Christiansen
General Conference, October 1967

Topics: Law; Republic

Government of Laws

One of our great United States Senators had this to say regarding the laws of the land:

“It is a form of anarchy to say that a person need not comply with a particular statute with which he disagrees. Ours is a government of laws, not men, and our system cannot tolerate the philosophy that obedience to law rests on the personal likes or dislikes of any individual citizen whether he supports or opposes the statute in question.” (Senator Richard Russell of Georgia.)

Source: Elder Thorpe B. Isaacson
General Conference, October 1964

Topics: Government, Forms of; Law

The government of the United States has passed through many crises since the adoption of the Constitution in 1787. The one hundred and forty-seven years of our national existence have witnessed times of serious political struggles; periods of social and economic strife and unrest. The World War left the nations of the world with intricate problems. The largest armies of all history had marched to battle, and nations were put to the test of preserving their integrity. Kings and emperors were dethroned; governments were overthrown, and political life came to be anything but the thoughtful study of the science of government. In our own country particularly, laws have been enacted by state legislatures and Congress that have little bearing on the economic and social questions of the day, and as a result, we are lost in a veritable chaos of laws that are never enforced, and which have helped to bring about a disregard for law and order.

Source: Elder Levi Edgar Young
General Conference, April 1936

Topics: Law; War

I now appeal to you and to all other good citizens to unite and help enforce the laws which have been enacted for the regulation of the liquor traffic. I appeal for the election to office in every branch of our government those who live in accordance with the law and those who favor its enforcement. Will you be good citizens and go to the primaries and to the polls and help as best you can to see to it that no one is elected to public office who owes allegiance to the liquor traffic or to any of its allied evils?

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1935

Topics: Law; Prohibition; Voting

Ten Thousand Commandments

The breakup of the leading integrated companies and the divorce, divestiture, or dissolution of the biggest producers and distributors, whether integrated or not, is a luxury the country cannot afford. Its “great concentrations of economic power” in American industry are more essential to the nation’s defense than its great concentrations of administrative power in Washington.

The new interpretations of the antitrust laws endanger the political structure of the country. They disintegrate the law, making it a respecter of persons, which tends to be no law at all. They upset the balance of power between Congress and the courts, by judicial legislation, which is a usurpation of Congress’ role. Whatever “power” they take away from business organizations will not revert to the people but is automatically being appropriated by government agencies.

Source: Harold Fleming
The Freeman, January 1993, p.18

Topics: Government, Loss of Freedom; Law

In all ages of the world men have been prone to ignore the personality of others, to disregard men’s rights by closing against them the opportunity to develop. The worth of man is a good measuring rod by which we may judge of the rightfulness or wrongfulness of a policy or principle whether in government, in business or social affairs.

Source: Elder David O. McKay
General Conference, October 1933

Topics: Law

Professions Arise

As society developed, laws became necessary for its government and protection. Men violated these laws and were punished under them. One day a man said to his neighbor, who had been adjudged guilty of an offense: You were not guilty of a violation of the law, the statute under which you were punished was not properly interpreted. If you are in trouble again come to me, and for a consideration I will defend and free you.

Thus a new profession was added to the occupations of man, which has developed until men have become so profound in their knowledge and interpretations of modern law and its proper application, that the judge himself, when criminals are arraigned before him, can scarcely determine whether they are innocent or guilty.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, April 1932

Topics: Law

The Latter-day Saints have taken a very definite stand in reference to their attitude towards the government, and towards the great problems of life. Have we had to shift our position? Has it been assailed successfully? When we have declared our loyalty and patriotism to the Constitution and the government, and that we recognize that the duty of the Latter-day Saints is to uphold and support the laws of the land as faithfully as they do the laws of the Church, were we right? Any people who depart from that will not be able to preserve a civilization very long.

Source: Elder Melvin J. Ballard
General Conference, October 1928

Topics: Law

All Are Subject To Law

“We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.”

My brethren and sisters, this is not a mere platitude; it is not a formality, but it is an article of faith of the Church of Christ. Let me call your attention to the fact that all people in all nations are under a reign of law. We cannot escape this conclusion, we cannot evade the fact, being upon the earth as we are, mingling one with another, we are subject to law. The Lord has said in one of the revelations to his Church, through the Prophet Joseph Smith (See D&C, Section 58):

“Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land.”

That is direct and emphatic, and leads one to the obvious conclusion that the laws of God are higher and superior to the laws of the land.

Source: President Rudger Clawson
General Conference, April 1928

Topics: Law

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