A Government Designed For All Mankind

The coming of Columbus to this continent was not a thing of chance. It had been foreseen and foretold by the prophets of God. The coming of the Pilgrim fathers to New England, of the Dutch to New York, and the cavaliers of the Old World to Virginia, was not a thing of chance, it was just the chosen combination of men and women who were calculated to make up the composite government which was established at the time of the adoption of the Constitution of the United States. They were prayerful people, they were people who had faith in God, they prayed to him and their prayers were answered; and, as stated in the scripture which the President has read, it was under the Lord’s inspiration that these men were moved upon to give us this government under which we have so rapidly and wonderfully developed. It was not to be a government of Englishmen, nor of Dutchmen, nor of royalty represented in the cavaliers, nor of French people who were in Louisiana, and to the north of us, in Canada, but a government designed fo the benefit of all mankind, a government which was to make all people equal under the law.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: America, History

Civil And Religious Laws Are Separate

The beginnings of it in this dispensation were had when Martin Luther struck from the people of the Old World the shackles which bound them to a policy by which the church sought to dominate the state and government in civil, as well as religious affairs—a thing which the Lord has told us is not his will, that we are responsible to him for our faith, for the morality and the righteousness of our lives. He has told us just as definitely that we are responsible to the civil law, so far as the control of our temporal affairs is concerned. What could be accomplished without the proper administration of civil law? There would be no protection for society, the weak would be subject to the power of the strong, to prevent all of which fundamental laws of our country have been enacted by wise men. How wisely the Constitutional law of our country has been framed! It provides for a legislative body to carefully study and enact the laws of our country. These men are not to execute the laws that they themselves make it—would be a dangerous thing—but an administrative department of government is provided, which is to execute and administer the law enacted by the legislative body. They are just laws. It may be that laws have been enacted which were in a sense undesirable. A way is provided by which they may be abrogated or amended, and that is the proper mode of procedure.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: US Constitution

The Need Of Emphasizing Law Observance

Now what is the necessity of calling attention to this matter at this particular time? I believe that we who are present know that the necessity does exist. You only need to read the reports that come to us from the various parts of the United States, and from our own state and county. There is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that lawlessness is running riot. Men go, boldly and unmasked, and shoot their way into the treasure-houses of this country, killing, if law-abiding men stand in the way, in order that they may carry away that which does not belong to them. Men violate, unblushingly, the laws of chastity and virtue, which are the very foundations upon which all good governments may stand. Men holding public office violate that trust which has been reposed in them by the people, and themselves stand out violators of the very law that they are appointed to magnify and uphold. Only this morning you who read the papers saw an account of one of the most atrocious crimes that could be named, said to have ben perpetrated by an official who has been appointed to administer the law, not to violate it, in which at a threat of life he takes a woman into an automobile, carries her away to a secluded place, and there keeps her during the entire night. I have passed a good part of my life among uncivilized people. I have been with Indian tribes from the Canadian border to the interior of Mexico, and I have never in my experience encountered a tribe of Indians who would tolerate lawlessness of this character in the indifferent manner that we do. Men are arrested, prosecution is sought, the best legal talent available is called in for their defense, and there is scarcely one chance in ten that they will be convicted. Witnesses unblushingly perjure themselves, while attorneys who pose as respectable members of society, with full knowledge of the fact, encourage them in it.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Law, Respect For

Calling of the Church to Uphold Right and Oppose Crime

I speak plainly upon this subject, my brethren and sisters, because it appears to me to be vital to our welfare. I do not direct my remarks to Latter-day Saints alone, but to the people of all creeds, professions of faith, or of no faith at all. I know that politics has been held up to us as a thing so sacred that the Church has nothing to do with it, and should not refer to it. I ask you, in heaven’s name, what is the calling of the Church, if it is not to oppose lawlessness and crime, and seek to establish righteousness; if it is not to stand firmly for the proper administration of the law, and to oppose violation of it that peace and prosperity may abide with the people of our country, which can be had under no other conditions?

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Law

An Appeal To Citizens To Uphold The Law

I appeal to good people everywhere, not to any political party, not to any particular church, but to all people, to use their influence to bring to pass righteousness in the administration of the civil affairs of our country, and I make this appeal to both the church and the state for both need it. Do men preach righteousness who themselves to violate the civil law? Ask the preachers of today for the answer. Do men standing in high places in governmental affairs violate the law? Go back to Washington and investigate. How can we expect, as this statesman from whom the president has quoted, asks, that the common people, one of whom I am, who look to their leaders for example, shall honor and obey the law when they see it constantly violated in higher callings of life? Violation of the law is an evil under any circumstance, but when the law is violated by people who are chosen to maintain and administer it, it becomes a double offense in the sight of God and man, because a man not only becomes a violator of the aw, but he breaks the trust placed in him, the trust which his fellow citizens have reposed in him and which he has sworn to discharge. He thus becomes doubly guilty.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Law

Nation’s Salvation Rests With Its Citizens

We leave this question with you. We want you to understand that the salvation of this nation rests in the hands of its citizens not in the hands of those who control its civil affairs at present, but those who hold the franchise, and are to exercise it in the future. It appears to me that if the importance of this were understood, greater care would be exercised in the selection of men for public office.

There are enough of such men, and to spare, to administer our public affairs. There are good men, honest men, in all political parties, and associated with all churches and many who are allied with neither party or church. I do not appeal to any particular group of people, but to Christian people the world over.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Politics

Latter-day Saints Must Uphold The Law

There is much being said now about the law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of liquor. Latter-day Saints should uphold that law everywhere, at socials, at banquets. Civil officers, members of clubs, who are contributing to the formation of public opinion ought to be proud to uphold that law. It is a constitutional law, and it is time that the leaders of this country, the politicians, the statesmen, the leaders in civic affairs in the state and in the cities should so speak of this law, so act towards it, that public sentiment would be turned in favor of its enforcement. Latter-day Saints, we are expected to uphold it and to uphold every other law which contributes to the advancement and peace of mankind. And these laws against the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors are such laws, and our conditions now in society, with millions of automobiles, the drivers of which must be at their very best, active mentally, quick to respond physically in emergency, make it necessary that we eliminate from sociey anything that will becloud the brain or leave the driver’s hand unsteady. We are living in a condition in which we cannot with impunity foster traffic in intoxicating liquors. God said long ago that they were not good for man. Our boys and girls, from the standpoint of integrity and consistency, should take a stand against the use thereof.

Source: Elder David O. McKay
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Prohibition

So far as the Latter-day Saints are concerned, we rejoice in every measure that seeks to preserve us from these destructive influences [alcohol], and yet I recognize that all the legislation that can be enacted will not charge the appetites of men or control their will. If it becomes necessary for us to use half the people of this country to police the other half, civilization will be in dire peril. The strength and power of the American government was in the willingness on the part of the great masses of the people to observe the constitutional law and honor and respect it. We have been changing year by year from that time until the present, and never before in the history of our government has there been such a police force in use in the nation, in the states, and in the counties and in the cities to attempt to maintain law and order. There must come an awakened respect for law and order or we shall reach the point where 51% of the people shall be lawless, and then our interests will be in danger, our constitution, or privileges and our rights will be in imminent jeopardy.

Source: Elder Melvin J. Ballard
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Law, Respect For

In time of war we know no party; all come to the defense of the country. In this hour, when Constitution and laws are being ridiculed, there ought to be no Democrats and no Republicans, no Prohibitionists and no Socialists, but only the one great party—the party of those who stand for law and order, for the Constitution of our country and the liberties for which we have paid so great a price.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Politics

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