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The Twelfth Article of Faith

© Rebecca Talley

The Twelfth Article of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is, "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

This Article of Faith is especially heart rendering when the treatment of Joseph Smith and the early members of the Church is taken into consideration. When the Prophet was a young boy and shared his heavenly vision, he was berated and chastised by local ministers and leaders. When he received the gold plates from which to translate the Book of Mormon, he became the subject of many evil plots. During his sojourn on earth, Joseph Smith was ridiculed, endured numerous beatings, was tortured, and even lost two of his children to death as a result of vicious mob attacks. He, and the early members of the Church, lost land, homes and personal belongings on a regular basis. They were driven from state to state in search of the right to religious freedom. Joseph Smith sought protection from local, state, and national agencies, but received little or no aid. Missouri Governor, Lillburn Boggs, even went so far as to issue an order that the Mormons be driven from the state or be exterminated.

After loss of lives, homes, property, and being driven from Missouri and Illinois, the Saints made their way toward the Territory of Utah. During the trek westward, the United States Government called for help in the Mexican War. Many of the young, able-bodied men left their families in dire circumstances to serve the country that refused to protect them. They did this because they believed it was their responsibility to sustain and support their government.

Despite the outright mistreatment that Joseph Smith and the members of the Church suffered, they were still instructed and encouraged to follow the laws of the land. In Doctrine and Covenants 134:1 we learn, "We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society." In Doctrine and Covenants 134:5 we read, "We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected . . . ."

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