Eccl. 12: 13-14,
"Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole
duty of man.
"For God shall
bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it
be good, or whether it be evil."
1 Tim. 2: 1-3,
"I EXHORT therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
"For kings, and
for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life in all godliness and honesty.
"For this is
good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour."
Mosiah 29: 26,
"Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth
anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser
part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this
shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice
of the people."
D&C 58: 21,
"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."
D&C 134: 1-11,
"WE believe that governments were instituted of God for the
benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in
relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the
good and safety of society.
"We believe that
no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held
inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience,
the right and control of property, and the protection of life.
"We believe that
all governments necessarily require civil officers 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.
"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 worship 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 guilt, but never
suppress the freedom of the soul.
"We believe that
all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in
which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable
rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion
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 own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest;
at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.
"We believe that
every man should be honored 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 laws all men show respect and deference,
as without them peace and harmony 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.
"We believe that
rulers, states, and governments have a right, and are bound to enact
laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their
religious belief; 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.
"We believe that
the commission of crime should be punished 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
peace and tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability
in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment.
"We do not believe
it just to mingle 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.
"We believe that
all religious societies have a right to deal with their members for
disorderly conduct, according 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 authority 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.
"We believe that
men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs 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 defending 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."
Articles
of Faith - Clipart: 