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Doctrine and Covenants
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D&C 134
We
believe
that
a
governments
were
instituted
of
God
for
the
benefit
of
man;
and
that
he
holds
men
b
accountable
for
their
acts
in
relation
to
them,
both
in
making
laws
and
administering
them,
for
the
good
and
safety
of
society.
2 We
believe
that
no
government
can
exist
in
a
peace,
except
such
laws
are
framed
and
held
inviolate
as
will
secure
to
each
individual
the
b
free
exercise
of
c
conscience,
the
right
and
control
of
property,
and
the
d
protection
of
life.
3 We
believe
that
all
governments
necessarily
require
a
civil
b
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.
4 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
a
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
b
guilt,
but
never
suppress
the
freedom
of
the
soul.
5 We
believe
that
all
men
are
bound
to
a
sustain
and
uphold
the
respective
b
governments
in
which
they
reside,
while
protected
in
their
inherent
and
inalienable
rights
by
the
laws
of
such
governments;
and
that
sedition
and
c
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.
6 We
believe
that
every
man
should
be
a
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
b
laws
all
men
owe
c
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.
7 We
believe
that
rulers,
states,
and
governments
have
a
right,
and
are
bound
to
enact
laws
for
the
protection
of
all
a
citizens
in
the
free
exercise
of
their
religious
b
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.
8 We
believe
that
the
commission
of
crime
should
be
a
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
b
peace
and
tranquility
all
men
should
step
forward
and
use
their
ability
in
bringing
c
offenders
against
good
laws
to
punishment.
9 We
do
not
believe
it
just
to
a
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.
10 We
believe
that
all
religious
societies
have
a
right
to
deal
with
their
members
for
disorderly
conduct,
a
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
b
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.
11 We
believe
that
men
should
appeal
to
the
civil
law
for
redress
of
all
a
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
b
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.
12 We
believe
it
just
to
a
preach
the
gospel
to
the
nations
of
the
earth,
and
warn
the
righteous
to
save
themselves
from
the
corruption
of
the
world;
but
we
do
not
believe
it
right
to
interfere
with
b
bond-servants,
neither
preach
the
gospel
to,
nor
baptize
them
contrary
to
the
will
and
wish
of
their
masters,
nor
to
meddle
with
or
influence
them
in
the
least
to
cause
them
to
be
dissatisfied
with
their
situations
in
this
life,
thereby
jeopardizing
the
lives
of
men;
such
interference
we
believe
to
be
unlawful
and
unjust,
and
dangerous
to
the
peace
of
every
government
allowing
human
beings
to
be
held
in
c
servitude.
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