We Have Had a Very Excellent Conference Thus Far

We have had a very excellent conference thus far. To me the meetings have been extremely profitable, and I have rejoiced greatly in the spirit of the conference. ¶

I am reading now the Twelfth Article of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: ¶

All Are Subject to Law

"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law." ¶

My brethren and sisters, this is not a mere platitude ; it is not a formality, but it is an article of faith of the Church, of Christ. Let me call your attention to the fact that all people in all nations are under a reign of law. We cannot escape this conclusion, we cannot evade the fact, being upon the earth as we are, mingling one with another, we are subject to law. The Lord has said in one of the revelations to his Church, through the Prophet Joseph Smith (See Doctrine and Covenants, Section 58) : ¶

"Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no heed to break the laws of the land." ¶

That is direct and emphatic, and leads one to the obvious conclusion that the laws of God are higher and superior to the laws of the land. ¶

We read in the scriptures that when the wicked rule the people mourn, and conversely it might be said that when the righteous rule the people rejoice. They rejoice because the righteous make righteous laws, and they mourn because the wicked make wicked laws. We are living, my brethren and sisters, under one of the best and most substantial governments in the world today, if not the best. It simply results from having the best and most liberal laws of government. ¶

I call your attention to this important truth, that people who live in far distant hamlets are under law ; that people who live in the cities of the land are subject to law, and it follows if a citizen desires to enjoy the privileges that belong to the city in which he resides, he must yield obedience to the laws of that city, and give heed to its ordinances. If a man wishes to enjoy the advantages and privileges of citizenship in this great nation of ours, he must subject himself to the laws of the nation. You know quite as well as I do what is said of a man who disregards law, who goes beyond and away from it, who appears to think that that is his privilege. Well, the Lord has something to say about that, for he spoke by revelation to Joseph Smith the Prophet and said: ¶

"And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same. ¶

"That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still." ¶

So a man who ignores the law. who sets his face as flint against it, is called an outlaw, and if he sets himself against the Government in which he resides and of which he is a part, and violates the law and uses his influence against the Government, that is designated treason. He is treasonable, he is subject to the action of this very law which he violates. ¶

Laws of God and Laws of Man

Now there are two great law-givers, the one is the Lord in heaven. He is the supreme law-giver of the universe. The other is man upon the earth. The laws of God are great spiritual and eternal laws, and are given to govern us in our conduct and to protect us in our future prospects. The laws of the land are of temporary character and appertain to mortal life. However, if the laws of the land are good laws, they have the approval of the Almighty. The greatest and most spectacular revealment of law, if I may use that expression, ever made, was given at Mount Sinai when the Lord descended upon the mountain, and in the midst of thundering and lightning and a great smoke going up, he gave the Ten Commandments. It might truly he said that all the righteous laws of man have their origin in the Ten Commandments. ¶

The Purpose of the Constitution

The Lord had a great purpose in view in establishing the Constitution of this land, and doubtless entertained very great respect for our pilgrim fathers, and the early fathers of this great nation, because he has referred to them in a revelation given to his servant Joseph Smith. (See Sec. 101, Doc. and Cov.) Speaking of the Constitution the Lord said: ¶

"According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles; ¶

"That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity. , according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment. ¶

"Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. ¶

"And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood." ¶

Our Attitude Towards the Constitution

Is it to be wondered at, brethren and sisters, that the Latter-day Saints as a people have profound respect for the Constitution of the United States? We believe that the Constitution was inspired of the Lord. If other people draw away or lose their interest, or their faith in the Constitution and the flag of our country, the Latter-day Saints will be expected to rally around it. We propose to maintain the Constitution and all that it stands for. Our children are taught to respect the flag and to honor the law-givers of the nation. In Scout law, our boys are taught to be obedient and to honor the law, to be honest, to be truthful, to be upright. They do not always have a good example set before them by men of influence and men of power in the nation, men who have rightly earned the designation of "bootleggers." We hope that the Scouts who are growing up will be safeguarded against the pernicious example of these men. ¶

Prohibition Law Should Be Observed

The law pertaining to prohibition is an expression of the wishes of the majority of the people of the United States of America. It has become a sacred law of the land, and should be so regarded, at ¶

least until it is repealed. So I might add that the voices of the Latterday Saints are raised against those who violate this law. ¶

All Kingdoms Governed by Law

I call your attention to the fact, and to me it is very interesting, that the Lord is the author of many great and glorious laws. We are told in one revelation from on high that all kingdoms have a law given unto them. ¶

"There are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom. ¶

"And unto every kingdom is given a law ; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions. ¶

"All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified. * * * ¶

"And again, verily I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things, by which they move in their times and their seasons ; ¶

"And their courses are fixed, even the courses of the heavens and the earth, which comprehend the earth and all the planets. ¶

"And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days, in their weeks, in their months, in their years — all these are one year with God, but not with man." ¶

The foregoing quotation will be found in Section 88, Doc. and Cov. ¶

Blessings Predicated Upon Obedience to Law

Upon another occasion the Lord said to his prophet : ¶

"For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory. ¶

"For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world. ¶

"And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my glory ; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God. (Doc. and Cov. 132, verses 4, 5, 6.) ¶

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated — ¶

"And when we obtain any blessing from God. it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.'' (Doc. and Cov., Sec. 130, verses 20, 21.) ¶

Now we learn from this that every blessing bestowed upon men is predicated upon law. I take it there is no exception to this rule. Blessings do not come in a haphazard way, they do not come by chance, but they come by obedience to law. And if you want a blessing you must obey the law upon which that particular blessing is predicated. The blessing of salvation is predicated upon obedience to the New and Everlasting Covenant, and condemnation is predicated upon its rejection. ¶

The New and Everlasting Covenant

Now, what is this New and Everlasting Covenant spoken of? We understand it to be the gospel of Jesus Christ, or the law of the gospel. If you desire salvation, then you must obey the law of the gospel. It cannot be had in any other way. We can't run and jump into heaven, or drop down into it from above, or climb up into it from below. If you get into heaven, if you would secure the blessings, joys and privileges of heaven, you must obey the law that governs in heaven. That is good logic and good reasoning, and is according to revelation. ¶

Blessings Derived From Payment of Tithes

Let us make an application or two : For instance, there is the law of tithing. It is a law of God. If you would receive the blessing that goes with paying tithing, then you must obey the law of tithing. Somebody might ask : "Well, what is the blessing that goes with the paying of tithing?" The answer is this: A great and important blessing. We are told in the revelation on tithing — Doc. and Cov., Sec. 119 — that to them who observe to keep this law the land will be sanctified and will become a land of Zion; it will not be a land of Zion to them who reject the law of tithing. ¶

Blessings Obtained Through Obeying the Word of Wisdom

What blessing, if any, comes through obedience to the Word of Wisdom? Is it worth while to render obedience to this special Word from the Lord? Certainly it is worth while. The Word of Wisdom is often referred to in our Church as the law of health. I am sure if the Latter-day Saints would follow it strictly and carefully, they would enjoy the blessing of health to a very great extent. Of course we naturally inherit the weaknesses and imperfections of the flesh, that is true, but generally speaking, good health and the preservation of our bodies would result in the main from an observance of the Word of Wisdom. ¶

Still another great blessing comes from observance of the Word of Wisdom, for the Lord said to Joseph Smith, the Prophet, that "all Saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones ; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them." ¶

Distinction Between Destroying Angel and Angel of Death

Some people might say, well, so far as that is concerned, the destroying angel slays everybody sooner or later. The answer is : Not so. ¶

There is a distinction between the angel, or messenger, of death and the destroying angel. When a righteous man dies the angel who comes to take charge of his spirit is not a destroying angel, but rather an angel of mercy, of peace and love, a messenger from the Father. ¶

The death of a wicked and disobedient man is bitter, and he has no promise that the destroying angel will pass by him and not slay him. ¶

I rejoice in the fact that all men are subject to law, both civil and heavenly law — the law of the Gospel and the law of the land. We admonish Latter-day Saints to cultivate respect for law. ¶

I know that the Gospel is true, that Christ is and was the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith the prophet, was a glorious character and a mighty minister of truth. I testify of these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶