Declaration on Government and Law, circa August 1835, as Published in Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate [D&C 134]
Source Note
Declaration on Government and Law, [, Geauga Co., OH], ca. Aug. 1835. Version published in “General Assembly” in Latter-day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, Aug. 1835, 1:163–164. The copy used for transcription is held at CHL.
mitted: and for the public peace and tranquility, all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders, against good laws, to punishment.
We do not believe it just to 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.
We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with their members for disorderly conduct according to the rules and regulations of such societies, provided that such dealing be for fellowship and good standing; but we do not believe that any religious society has authority to try men on the right of property or life, to take from them this world’s goods, or put them in jeopardy, either life or limb, neither to inflict any physical punishment upon them,—they can only excommunicate them from their society and withdraw from their fellowship.
We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all 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 defending themselves, their friends and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons, in times of exigencies, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.
We believe it just to 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 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 servitude.
A hymn was then sung. returned thanks, after which the assembly was blessed by the Prestdency, with uplifted hands, & dismissed.