Ezra
Taft Benson
13th President
1985–1994
The
United States
Constitution
The
Bill of Rights
Declaration
of
Independence
The
12th Article
of Faith
Survival
and the
American Way
of Life
Civic
Standards for
Faithful Saints
Righteousness
Exalteth A
Nation
The
Twelfth Article of Faith
When
the Prophet Joseph Smith outlined the Articles of Faith, he set forth in
clear, unmistakable terms the foundations of our worship and of our
relationships with one another. In view of the troubled times which the
nations of the earth are experiencing at present, it is well for us as
members of the Lord's kingdom to understand clearly our responsibilities
and obligations respecting governments and laws as declared in the Twelfth
Article of Faith: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents,
rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the
law."
In
it is a declaration requiring obedience, loyalty to, and respect for duly
constituted laws and the officials administering those laws. In justifying
such loyal compliance, however, the Lord also promulgated certain
safeguards and conditions which must be observed if freedom and liberty
are to be preserved and enjoyed. These are emphasized primarily in the
98th and 134th sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. How I wish these
fundamental concepts were emblazoned on the hearts of all our people!
It
seems to me there are two thoughts with regard to governments and laws
which might profitably be considered at this time. One relates to the
people who administer the laws and the other to the laws themselves.
Concerning our public officials, the Lord has counseled:
"Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn. Wherefore,
honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and
wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than
these cometh of evil." (D&C 98:9-10.)
These
admonitions, in my humble judgment, are just as binding upon the
Latter-day Saints as are the law of tithing, the Word of Wisdom, and
baptism. We should seek out honest men and wise men to hold political
office in our respective governments. This is the will of the Lord as
spoken by revelation.
Many
people have had cause for serious reflection of late as they have observed
the rise and fall of once glorious and powerful nations. Why, they ask,
have nations which have contributed so richly to the fields of literature,
music, and the arts and sciences permitted selfish, ambitious men to rise
to great power as has been evidenced in several European nations? One of
the important reasons, as I have observed it firsthand, is the fact that
the citizens generally failed to carry out the admonition which the Lord
has given the Latter-day Saints: to seek out their good and wise men to
serve as their leaders in political capacities. Men without faith in
eternal principles were permitted to rise to power.
We
must not think it cannot happen here. We must be eternally vigilant as
Latter-day Saints and inspire in the lives of our children a love for
eternal principles and a desire to seek out honorable men—the best
possible—to stand at the head of our political governments, local,
state, and federal. Only in this way can we safeguard the liberties which
have been vouchsafed to us as our inalienable rights. Unless we do so, we
may very easily lose them because of our indifference, because of our
failure to exercise our franchise, because we permit men who are unworthy
to rise to positions of political power.
Not
only should we seek humble, worthy, courageous leadership; but we should
also measure all proposals having to do with our national or local welfare
by four standards:
First,
is the proposal, the policy, or the idea being promoted right as measured
by the gospel of Jesus Christ? I assure you it is much easier for one to
measure a proposed policy by the gospel of Jesus Christ if he has accepted
the gospel and is living it.
Second,
is it right as measured by the Lord's standard of constitutional
government, wherein he says: "And that law of the land which is
constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights
and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before
me"? (D&C 98:5.) Whether we live under a divinely inspired
constitution, as in the United States, or under some other form of
government, the Lord's standard is a safe guide.
Third,
we might well ask, is it right as measured by the counsel of the living
oracles of God? It is my conviction that these living oracles are not only
authorized, but are also obligated to give counsel to this people on any
subject that is vital to the welfare of this people and to the up-building
of the kingdom of God. So that measure should be applied.
Fourth,
what will be the effect upon the morale and the character of the people if
this or that policy is adopted? After all, as a church, we are interested
in building men and women and in building character, because character is
the one thing we make in this world and take with us into the next. It
must never be sacrificed for expediency.
May
we do our duty as citizens and as members of the Church to see to it that
the right kind of people are elected to public office, so that the rich
blessings that we now enjoy and that have been promised to us may be
realized in all the days to come. May we likewise use wisdom and care as
we evaluate various proposals and programs, so men everywhere may come to
know the joy of living under wise laws honorably administered by men and
women intent upon preserving and strengthening man's free agency and
ennobling his character.
(Ezra
Taft Benson, God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties [Salt
Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1974], 279.)
Jesus
Christ Joseph Smith
Jr.
Brigham Young
John Taylor
Wilford Woodruff
Lorenzo Snow
Joseph F. Smith
Heber J. Grant
George A. Smith
David O. McKay
Joseph F. Smith
Harold B. Lee
Founding
Fathers Spencer Kimball Howard Hunter
Gordon Hinckley First Presidency Elders
Citizens
Rule Book
