“Being Good Citizens”
Lesson 44
– D&C 58:21-22, 26-28; 98:4-10; 134; Articles of Faith 1:12
Our Heritage, pgs. 133-134
In 1952, Dwight D. Eisenhower, newly elected as President of
the United States, formed his cabinet.
In the process of looking for the best-qualified people to serve, he
requested that Elder Ezra Taft Benson, who was then serving in the Quorum of
the Twelve, accept the post of Secretary of Agriculture. David O. McKay, President of the Church,
encouraged Elder Benson to accept the assignment. Elder Benson served well as a Cabinet Secretary. In his first
general conference address after becoming Secretary of Agriculture, he stated: “I have been happy in the
privilege to serve, in a small way at least, this great country and the
government under which we live. I am
grateful to the First Presidency and my brethren that they have been willing,
not only to give consent, but also to give me their blessing as I have
responded to the call of the chief executive” (Conference
Report, Apr. 1953, 40).
Elder Benson was encouraged to accept the post of Secretary
of Agriculture because Church leaders have encouraged us to be good citizens
and strengthen our communities and nations.
Ways to accomplish this include participating in government or political
processes, obeying and support the law, and rendering civic service in our
communities. This lesson will discuss the Lord’s teachings on government and
good citizenship.
A declaration of beliefs about government was unanimously
approved by a general assembly of the Church at Kirtland, Ohio, in the summer
of 1835. It is recorded in D&C 134.
§
D&C 134:1, 6-8, and 11 list the purposes of civil
governments:
o
“For the good and safety of society” (134:1)
o
“For the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty”
(134:6)
o
“For the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their
religious belief” (134:7)
o “For the redress of all
wrongs and grievances” (134:11)
Each of us as a citizen has a responsibility to support
civil government in the fulfillment of these divinely-approved purposes. Elder
L. Tom Perry said: “As Church members, we live under the banner of many different flags.
How important it is that we understand our place and our position in the lands
in which we live! We should be familiar
with the history, heritage, and laws of the lands that govern us. In those countries that allow us the right
to participate in the affairs of government, we should use our free agency and
be actively engaged in supporting and defending the principles of truth, right,
and freedom” (Ensign, Nov. 1987, 72).
D&C 134 teaches that we as members have a special
responsibility to seek after and support leaders who “Administer the law in
equity and justice” (134:3). Further
counsel comes in D&C 98:10 that we should look for honesty and wisdom in
civic leaders. It is up to us to take
this seriously and prepare ourselves to choose wisely as we participate in
political selection processes or go to the polls.
It is important to note that “the Church is politically
neutral. It does not endorse political parties, platforms, or candidates. Candidates should not imply that they are
endorsed by the Church or its leaders. Church leaders and members should avoid
statements or conduct that might be interpreted as Church endorsement of
political parties or candidates” (Church Handbook of
Instructions, Book 2:Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 325).
We find instruction in D&C 58:21-22; 98:4-6; 134:5-6;
Articles of Faith 1:12 regarding our responsibility to obey the laws of the
land.
§
Obey the laws—there is no need to break them—and be subject
to the lawful powers
§
Constitutional law is justifiable before the Lord. It
maintains rights and privileges, so we are justified in “befriending that law which
is the constitutional law of the land”.
§
We are bound to support governments which protect our rights
through the laws they enact. The governments have the right to enact laws which
secure the public interest while holding sacred the freedom of conscience. We owe respect and deference to the laws
(which provide peace and harmony). Laws
are instituted to regulate our interests as individuals and nations.
§
“We believe… in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law”.
· It is also a sacred responsibility to teach our children their responsibilities toward the civil laws and its associated institutions.
·
It is our responsibility to actively seek, support, select,
and honor law enforcement and other civil officers in the performance of their
duties.
The relationship between church and state should be in accordance with the teachings of D&C 134:4, 9. The state should not impose laws upon religion unless religious exercise infringes upon the rights and liberties of others.
The Church Handbook of Instructions states: “Members
should do their civic duty by supporting measures that strengthen society
morally, economically, and culturally.
Members are urged to be actively engaged in worthy causes to improve
their communities and make them wholesome places in which to live and rear
families” (Book 2, page 325).
·
Serve Others: Participate in community service
projects and invite others in the Church to join you in those projects. If you are aware of a worthy project that
needs support, inform appropriate ward leaders (quorum leaders, YW
Presidency/advisors, Relief Society Presidency, etc.) of the need and the
opportunity to see if they and their group would be interested in supporting
the activity. Through personal and
group support, the community benefits from our service(s). We too are blessed in many ways by serving
others.
·
Serve in elected or appointed public service
positions: The First
Presidency has counseled us: “We strongly urge men and women to be willing to
serve on school boards, city and county councils and commissions, state
legislatures, and other high offices of either election or appointment” (First
Presidency letter, 15 Jan. 1998). Good
people in such positions are able to be an influence for good upon many in the
community.
·
Support worthy causes or activities: D&C
58:27 urges us to be “anxiously engaged” in good causes by taking individual
responsibility for things that need to be done. This account of one LDS sister’s contribution and its impact: “While Dolina Smith was
serving as Young Women president in the Toronto Ontario Stake in 1986, she
asked an expert to speak at a fireside about the growing problem of
pornography. Later she became involved
with a nationwide group called Canadians for Decency, which mobilizes thousands
of anti-pornography Canadians to contact their elected officials as specific
concerns about pornography arise… In
1990 her involvement increased when she was named chairperson of Canadians for
Decency. In this new role she has given numerous presentations before the
provincial and federal governing bodies that make and change pornography laws.
She has also spoken to many groups of citizens who work with local governments
to clamp down on the spread of pornography in their communities” (Donald S.
Conkey, “Together We Can Make a Difference“, Ensign, Feb. 1996,
68).
As Latter-day Saints, we are expected to find worthy causes that we can support locally. It is up to us to make our communities better by fighting evil influences that would otherwise prevail.
Challenges to community service include the time commitment required. If at all possible, try to do something that the whole family can be involved in so that community service time is also family time.
Elder M. Russell Ballard said: “In the Church, we often
state the couplet, ‘Be in the world but not of the world.’ …Perhaps we should state the
couplet…as two separate admonitions. First, ‘Be in the world.’ Be
involved; be informed. Try to be understanding and tolerant and to appreciate
diversity. Make meaningful contributions to society through service and
involvement. Second, ‘Be not of the world.’ Do not follow wrong paths or
bend to accommodate or accept what is not right… Members of the Church need to
influence more than we are influenced. We should work to stem the tide of sin
and evil instead of passively being swept along by it. We each need to help solve the problem
rather than avoid or ignore it” (Ensign, May 1989,
80).
Regardless of the nation or community in which we live,
Latter-day Saints have a responsibility to be good citizens. We must support good government, good civic
leaders, worthy causes, and efforts which strengthen our communities.