Doctrine and Covenants 98-101

<p>We live in a world full of discord and disunity. We need not and must not become a party to that worldly way of living. Our role is that of peacemakers. As the Latter-day Saints of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, we must &ldquo;therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children&rdquo; (D&amp;C 98:16).</p> <p>The need within the Church for a spirit of unity and loyalty and love is reflected in these words of the Savior from the Book of Mormon: &ldquo;. . . And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been. For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away&rdquo; (3 Nephi 11:28-30).</p> <p>When we hear our voices rise in speaking with one another, when we feel our faces getting flushed and red, when our muscles tense and we get warm under the collar, these are danger signals. It is time to repent and change whatever we are saying or doing. I plead for unity and consideration among us who claim to be sons and daughters of God. I pray for that love and affection which characterizes the true disciples of Jesus Christ. May God bless us all to know with such a surety of heart that this is the true church and kingdom of Jesus Christ, that we will have character enough to practice those principles which we espouse.</p>

<p>Seventeen days after Latter-day Saints were mobbed in Jackson County, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation counseling them to &ldquo;bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge&rdquo; (D&amp;C 98:23). Instead, the faithful were to seek within the framework of the Constitution of the United States redress for wrongs suffered. The reason for having the Saints look to the Constitution was explained by Joseph Smith: &ldquo;The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner. ... I am the greatest advocate of the Constitution of the United States there is on the earth.&rdquo;<a id="_ftnref1" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn1">[1]</a> The principles of the Constitution would enable the Saints to right the wrongs suffered in Missouri.</p> <p>Since the days of Joseph Smith, succeeding presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have turned to the US Constitution and extolled the principles of the Constitution and writers of that &ldquo;glorious standard.&rdquo;<a id="_ftnref2" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn2">[2]</a> For example, President Wilford Woodruff declared that &ldquo;those men who laid the foundation of this American government were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits ... [and] were inspired of the Lord.&rdquo;<a id="_ftnref3" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn3">[3]</a> Heber J. Grant stated,</p> <blockquote> <p>I counsel you, I urge you, I plead with you, never, so far as you have voice or influence, permit any departure from the principles of government on which this nation was founded, or any disregard of the freedoms which, by the inspiration of God our Father, were written into the Constitution of the United States.<a id="_ftnref4" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn4">[4]</a></p> </blockquote> <p>President David O. McKay said, &ldquo;Next to being one in worshiping God there is nothing in this world upon which this church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States.&rdquo;<a id="_ftnref5" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn5">[5]</a></p> <p>But of all the presidents of the Church, none has spoken more often or in more urgent tones about the US Constitution than Ezra Taft Benson. President Benson understood the great importance of the Constitution, having served in the US cabinet of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He said,</p> <blockquote> <p>The Constitution of the United States has served as a model for many nations and is the oldest constitution in use today. ... Only in this foreordained land, under its God-inspired Constitution and the resulting environment of freedom, was it possible to have established the restored church. It is our responsibility to see that this freedom is perpetuated so that the Church may more easily flourish in the future. ...</p> <p>I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. It will be saved by the righteous citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church&mdash;among others&mdash;men and women who understand and abide the principles of the Constitution.</p> <p>I reverence the Constitution of the United States as a sacred document. To me its words are akin to the revelations of God, for God has placed His stamp of approval upon it. I testify that the God of heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government, and He has now sent other choice spirits to help preserve it.</p> <p>Unfortunately, we as a nation have apostatized in various degrees from different Constitutional principles as proclaimed by the inspired founders. We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: &ldquo;Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction.&rdquo;<a id="_ftnref6" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn6">[6]</a></p> </blockquote> <div class="footnotes"> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn1" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref1">[1]</a> Joseph Fielding Smith, <em>Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith</em> (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 1977), 147.</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn2" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref2">[2]</a> Smith, <em>Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith</em>,147.</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn3" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref3">[3]</a> Wilford Woodruff, Conference Report, April 1898.</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn4" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref4">[4]</a> Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1944.</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn5" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref5">[5]</a> David O. McKay, Conference Report, October 1939.</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn6" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref6">[6]</a> Martha Jane Knowlton Coray, Manuscript, July 19, 1840, in Ezra Taft Benson, &ldquo;Our Divine Constitution, General Conference, October 1987.</p> </div>

<p>It is noteworthy that the first commandment the Lord gives to the Saints at this particularly trying time is &ldquo;in everything give thanks&rdquo; (D&amp;C 98:1). Even in the midst of our most severe trials, gratitude helps alleviate the pain and sorrow that we feel. When Job found himself in the midst of the most severe trials imaginable&mdash;so severe that his wife urged him to &ldquo;curse God, and die&rdquo;&mdash;Job responded, &ldquo;shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?&rdquo; (Job 2:9&ndash;10). God later compared Joseph Smith to Job (D&amp;C 121:10) and told Joseph that his adversity and afflictions would be &ldquo;but a small moment&rdquo; (D&amp;C 121:7). When we are confronted with challenges like the Saints were during this time, there are still things in our lives to be grateful for. Focusing on the good in our lives can help us gain the strength to overcome our current trials.</p> <p>Secondly, the Lord urges the Saints to be patient in waiting for the Lord to answer their prayers. In the panicked moment of our trials, we often want an instant response from the Lord, but this type of response is not typically how the Lord works. When our prayers appear unanswered, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland offered this counsel, &ldquo;Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don&rsquo;t come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, <em>they come</em>. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come.&rdquo;<a id="_ftnref1" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn1">[1]</a></p> <div class="footnotes"> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn1" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref1">[1]</a> Jeffrey R. Holland, &ldquo;An High Priest of Good Things to Come,&rdquo; October 1999 general conference.</p> </div>

<p>While the Church does not endorse specific candidates or political parties, it does urge its members to participate in the political process and seek out honest, wise, and good men and women to lead their communities and countries. In the Book of Mormon, King Mosiah warned, &ldquo;For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!&rdquo; (Mosiah 29:17). President Dallin H. Oaks taught that it is important for Saints to be involved in the political process of their homelands: &ldquo;In the United States and in other democracies, political influence is exercised by running for office (which we encourage), by voting, by financial support, by membership and service in political parties, and by ongoing communications to officials, parties, and candidates. To function well, a democracy needs all of these, but a conscientious citizen does not need to provide all of them.&rdquo;<a id="_ftnref1" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn1">[1]</a></p> <p>In verse 10, the Lord also urges the Saints to diligently seek for good leaders. This counsel suggests that staying informed on current issues, candidates, and political movements is important. President Oaks also counseled, &ldquo;There are many political issues, and no party, platform, or individual candidate can satisfy all personal preferences. Each citizen must therefore decide which issues are most important to him or her at any particular time. Then members should seek inspiration on how to exercise their influence according to their individual priorities. This process will not be easy. It may require changing party support or candidate choices, even from election to election.&rdquo;<a id="_ftnref2" class="see-footnote" title="" href="#_ftn2">[2]</a></p> <div class="footnotes"> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn1" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref1">[1]</a> Oaks, &ldquo;Defending Our Constitution.&rdquo;</p> <p class="footnote"><a id="_ftn2" class="footnote-label" title="" href="#_ftnref2">[2]</a> Oaks, &ldquo;Defending Our Constitution.&rdquo;</p> </div>