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| D&C 134 |
| A declaration of belief regarding governments and laws in general adopted by unanimous
vote at a general assembly of the Church held at Kirtland, Ohio, August 17, 1835. (This
declaration is considered scripture by the Church.) |
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| Law: An
Overview |
| Three types of laws exist: spiritual or divine laws, laws of nature, and
civil laws. Latter-day Saints are deeply and consistently law-oriented, because laws,
whether spiritual, physical, or civil, are rules defining existence and guiding action.
Through the observance of laws, blessings and rewards are expected, and by the violation
of laws, suffering, deprivation, and even punishment will result." Encyclopedia of
Mormonism |
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| Divine and
Eternal Law |
| "The relation of divine law to other species of law has not been
given systematic treatment in Mormon thought as it has in traditional Christian theology
(e.g., the Summa Theologica of Thomas Aquinas). But distinctive observations about divine
law and eternal law may be drawn from Latter-day scriptures and related sources." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism |
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| Constitutional
Law |
| "As a people, the Latter-day Saints are committed to sustaining
constitutional government as the best instrument for maintaining peace, individual
freedom, and community life in modern society." Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
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| Constitution of the United
States of America |
| "While LDS scripture reinforces the traditional Christian duty of "respect
and deference" to civil laws and governments in general as "instituted of God
for the benefit of man" (D&C 134:1, 6), Latter-day Saints attach special
significance to the Constitution of the United States of America. They believe that the
Lord "established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom [he]
raised up unto this very purpose" (D&C 101:80)." Encyclopedia
of Mormonism |
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| Murder |
| "In LDS doctrine, murder is second in seriousness only to the unpardonable sin of
blasphemy against the Holy Ghost." Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
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| Capital
Punishment |
| "...capital punishment is viewed in the doctrines of the Church to be an
appropriate penalty for murder, but that penalty is proper only after the offender has
been found guilty in a lawful public trial by constitutionally authorized civil
authorities." Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
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| Civil Rights |
| "An oft-cited 1963 statement by a member of the Church First Presidency, Hugh
B. Brown, called for 'full civil equality for all of God's children,' saying 'it is a
moral evil…to deny any human being the right to gainful employment, to full
educational opportunity, and to every privilege of citizenship, just as it is a moral evil
to deny him the right to worship" (p. 1058)." Encyclopedia of
Mormonism |
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| Legal
and Judicial History |
| "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has usually relied upon the law
for protection and has honored its judgments in principle and practice. The one
significant exception was its resistance to antipolygamy laws before plural marriage was
discontinued in 1890. Obedience to the law of the land is a tenet of LDS belief (see Politics: Political Teachings)."
Encyclopedia of Mormonism |
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| Civil Disobedience |
| "Generally speaking, the Church does not support its members in exercising civil
disobedience." W. John Walsh |
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| (See Basic Beliefs home page; Doctrines
of the Gospel home page; Politics home
page) |
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