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SECTION 134A declaration of belief regarding governments and laws in general, adopted by unanimous vote at a general assembley of the Church held at Kirtland, Ohio, August 17, 1835. HC 2:247—249. The occasion was a meeting of Church leaders, brought together to consider the proposed contents of the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. At that time this declaration was given the following preamble: "That our belief with regard to earthly governments and laws in general may not be misinterpreted nor misunderstood, we have thought proper to present at the close of this volume our opinion concerning the same." |
"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates,
in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law." ~ 12th Article
of Faith |
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5—8, All men should uphold their governments, and owe respect and deference to the law; 9—10, Religious societies should not exercise civil powers; 11—12, Men are justified in defending themselves and their property. | ||
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D&C 134:1 We believe that agovernments were instituted of
God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men
baccountable for their acts in relation to them, both in
making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of
societya.
D&C 134:2 We believe that no government can exist in apeace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the bfree exercise of cconscience, the right and control of property, and the dprotection of life. D&C 134:3 We believe that all governments necessarily require acivil bofficers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.
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1a for the good and safety of society The basic unit of society is the family. Thus a further acceptable definition of government to the end of being for the good and safety of the family which is the basic unit of society either in heaven or on earth. |
1a
Jer. 27:6 (4-11);
John 19:11; Rom. 13:1 (1-4); D&C 98:5 (4-7); D&C 101:77; A of F 12; TG Citizenship TG Governments b TG Accountability; TG Judgment 2a TG Peace b TG Agency; TG Liberty c TG Conscience d Josh. 20:3; D&C 42.18 (18-19) 3a Ezra 7:25; 2 Pet. 2:13 (13-17) b D&C 98.10 (8-10); TG Delegation of Responsibility
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D&C 134:4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are
amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their
religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of
others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in
prescribing rules of aworship to bind the consciences of
men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil
magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish
bguilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.
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4a
Matt. 22:21;
Alma 21:22 (21-22); D&C 63:26; A of F 11; TG Worship b TG Guilt; TG Punishment
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D&C 134:5 We believe that all men are bound to asustain and
uphold the respective bgovernments in which they reside
while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such
governments; and that sedition and crebellion are
unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly;
and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their
judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same
time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.
D&C 134:6 We believe that every man should be ahonored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the blaws all men show crespect and deference, as without them peace and harmony and would be supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man; and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker.
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5a
TG
Loyalty; TG Obedience; TG Order b TG Citizenship; TG Governments c TG Rebellion 6a Rom. 13:7 b D&C 58:21; D&C 88:34 c TG Respect
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D&C 134:7 We believe that rulers, states, and governments have a right, and
are bound to enact laws for the protection of all acitizens
in the free exercise of their religious bbelief; but we do
not believe that they have a right in justice to deprive citizens of this
privilege, or proscribe them in their opinions, so long as a regard and
reverence are shown to the laws and such religious opinions do not justify
sedition nor conspiracy.
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7a
TG
Citizenship b Micah 4:5; A of F 11
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D&C 134:8 We believe that the commission of crime should be
apunished according to the nature of the offense; that
murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all
respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their
tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the
offense is committed; and for the public bpeace and
tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing
coffenders against good laws to punishment.
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8a
Alma 1:14 (11-18); D&C 42:84 (84-87) b TG Peace c Ex. 18:22 (17-26); TG Offenses
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D&C 134:9 We do not believe it just to amingle religious
influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered
and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights
of its members, as citizens, denied.
D&C 134:10 We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with their members for disorderly conduct, aaccording to the rules and regulations of such societies; provided that such dealings be for fellowship and good standing; but we do not believe that any religious society has bauthority to try men on the right of property or life, to take from them this world's goods, or to put them in jeopardy of either life or limb, or to inflict any physical punishment upon them. They can only excommunicate them from their society, and withdraw from them their fellowship.
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9a
Alma 30:7 (7-11); TG Governments 10a D&C 42:81 b TG Authority; TG Excommunication
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D&C 134:11 We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of
all awrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is
inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws
exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in
bdefending themselves, their friends and property, and the
government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in
times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and
relief afforded.
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11a
TG
Injustice;
TG
Malice TG Oppression; TG Persecution b TG Deliverance
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D&C 134:12 We believe it just to apreach the gospel to the
nations of the earth, and warn the righteous to save themselves from the
corruption of the world; but we do not believe it right to interfere with
abond-servants, neither preach the gospel to, nor baptize
them contrary to the will and wish of their masters, nor to meddle with or
influence them in the least to cause them to be dissatisfied with their
situations in this life, thereby jeopardizing the lives of men; such
interference we believe to be unlawful and unjust, and dangerous to the peace
of every government allowing human beings to be held in
cservitude.
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12a
TG
Mission of Latter-day Saints; TG Warnings b Philem. 1:10 (10-19); TG Bondage, Physical c TG Slavery
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