Part 2: Government

(from a series of letters I wrote in 1995)

In This letter I will begin the section on government.  This letter will cover the basic principles of government.  These principles are general and apply to all governments.  In following letters I will continue the section on government by discussing the Constitutional implementation of the principles of government, and things that governments should not do.

Government Should Be Based on Principles

In regard to questions about government proposals Ezra Taft Benson said "Decisions of this nature should be based upon and measured against certain basic principles regarding the proper role of government.  If principles are correct, then they can be applied to any specific proposal with confidence" (An Enemy Hath Done This. p. 126).  Government like everything else can be proper or improper.  There are valid and invalid uses of government power.  We cannot justify government action based on results alone.  We must consider whether it is right or wrong on a more fundamental, or moral, basis.  The idea that the ends can justify the means is false.
 
Government is Force

Before we consider the principles that we should base government on we must consider what government is.  When an individual breaks a law, force in some way will be applied.  The individual will usually be jailed of fined.  We say the law is enforced.  If government laws and regulations did not have penalties associated with them, they would just be suggestions.  George Washington said: "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence -- it is force!  Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."  Government is the institutionalization of force.

Government Gets Authority from the People

Now we come to the question of the source of government authority.  As members of the church we understand the concept of a line of authority.  We do not accept the idea that someone or some group can get authority unless it is given to them by someone that already has authority.  So, as we consider government authority we have two choices, either a government is given authority or governments are in some way special and they just have authority.  Although, many people use phrases like "eminent domain" to try to say that governments do not need to be given authority, I cannot think of any reason why we should accept this idea.

So, if we accept the premise that government must be given authority, we must consider the question of who or what can give government authority.  People create governments, so the only available source of legitimate authority is the people.  Because government gets is legitimate authority from the people, the only powers that the government can have are the same powers that individuals have.

President Benson said "Government is nothing more or less that a relatively small group of citizens who have been hired, in a sense, by the rest of us to perform certain functions and discharge responsibilities which have been authorized.  It stands to reason that the government itself has no innate power or privilege to do anything.  Its only source of authority and power is from the people who have created it." (The Constitution, a Heavenly Banner, p. 7)

Proper Role of Government

Individuals can only use force to defensively protect life, liberty and property (see previous letter).  Government is force. Legitimate government authority is derived from individual authority.  Therefore, we conclude, the only legitimate role of government is to defensively protect life, liberty, and property.

Ezra Taft Benson said "I hold that the Constitution denies government the power to take from the individual either his life, liberty or property except in accordance with moral law; that the same moral law which governs the actions of men when acting alone is also applicable when they act in concert with others; that no citizen or group of citizens has any right to direct their agent, the government, to perform an act which would be evil or offensive to the conscience if that citizen were performing the act himself outside the framework of government" (An Enemy Hath Done This, p. 144 emphasis original)

Section 134 of the Doctrine and Covenants is a declaration of our beliefs with regard to earthly governments and laws in general.  Each of the twelve verses begins, like the Articles of Faith, with the phrase "We believe."  I recommend reading and studying the entire section.  I will conclude this letter by quoting verses 2 and 5.  Notice how the proper role of government is to protect the life, liberty, and property of individuals.

We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.

We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and 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.