This one is very important (but then again, they all are :))
"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law"
Many of the YM in the church, (at least in the US) do the Boy Scouts program-- including Citizenship in the World/Nation/Community (I think those are the ones :S)
During the early days of the Church, Joseph Smith was imprisoned in Liberty Jail, Missouri. Why? Because he was the leader of the Mormons.
Wait! doesn't the Constitution give us the right to worship whatever religion we want to? Yes it does.
Here is a section of the article in the Ensign (a LDS adult magazine):
"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law"
Many of the YM in the church, (at least in the US) do the Boy Scouts program-- including Citizenship in the World/Nation/Community (I think those are the ones :S)
During the early days of the Church, Joseph Smith was imprisoned in Liberty Jail, Missouri. Why? Because he was the leader of the Mormons.
Wait! doesn't the Constitution give us the right to worship whatever religion we want to? Yes it does.
Here is a section of the article in the Ensign (a LDS adult magazine):
It began in 1839. The Prophet Joseph Smith,
finally free after more than four months of imprisonment in Liberty,
Missouri, had settled in Illinois, and the Saints had begun building
what would become the city of Nauvoo. With the Missouri persecutions
fresh in their minds, the Saints sought redress for the grievances they
had suffered, but they were not successful.
1
Frustrated,
Joseph determined to seek help from the federal government. ...
Joseph
Smith left Nauvoo for Washington, D.C., with Sidney Rigdon, Elias
Higbee, and Orrin Porter Rockwell in a two-horse carriage “to lay before
the Congress of the United States, the grievances of the Saints while
in Missouri.”
2
Joseph and Judge Higbee met with President Martin Van Buren on
November 29, 1839. At first Van Buren was inconsiderate of the Prophet’s
plea. However, as the discussion progressed, the president promised to
reconsider his position and “felt to sympathize with [the Mormons], on
account of [their] sufferings.”
3
After
their visit with President Van Buren, the Prophet and Elias Higbee
stayed two months in the East, trying to gain support from senators and
representatives who might be willing to espouse their cause.
4
They met with President Van Buren again in February 1840.
5
By this time, Van Buren had lost any sympathetic feelings he
might have had for the Church. According to the Prophet, the president
treated them rudely and declared: “Gentlemen, your cause is just, but I
can do nothing for you. … If I take up for you I shall lose the vote of
Missouri.”
Now, this might have nothing to do with the 12th Article of Faith, but I think that it ties in, if you think about it.
To finish, here is a way that it was re-stated in a "Friend" (a LDS Children's magazine): We believe it is right to follow the leaders and obey the laws of the
country and city where we live. It is important to Heavenly Father that
we are good citizens.
I think it totally applies and shows how dangerous when politicians lose sight of the WHY they should be politicians...not to gain the vote, but to preserve and stand up for what is right.
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