Some Divine Advice When it Comes to Voting

The Latter-day Saints (the Mormons), as well as to many other religious people, believe the Constitution of the United States of America is a divinely inspired document. In the scriptures known as the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord states:

 "77 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;

 "78 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.

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

"80 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." (D&C 101:77-80 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/101?lang=eng).

In a previous section of the Doctrine and Covenants we read the Lord's advice concerning who we should support for political offices. Verse 10 is where the advice comes in, but I've included several preceding verses.

"5 And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.

 "6 Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;

 "7 And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.

 "8 I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.

 "9 Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.

 "10 Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil." (D&C 98:5-10 https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/98?lang=eng

There are a couple of keys of advice. We are to seek for and "uphold" (support, sustain) honest, good, and wise men (and we can add women). Anything less than this type of person "cometh of evil," which I understand to mean anyone less than honest, good, and wise can be more easily influenced by other factors--such as pride, greed, power--that can result in evil.

Additionally, those we support should be strong advocates for the Constitution as it was written, not as society wants to rewrite, revise, or eliminate it. We should support law that is constitutional, "supporting the principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before" the Lord.

Regarding the law of man, it is my understanding that when the Lord states, with regards to the Constitution, "whatsoever is more or less than this [the Constitution], cometh of evil" it could be easily mean that any law seeking to restrict, regulate, limit, eliminate, add, or remove rights specified in the Constitution is at risk of not being right in the sight of God.

As a side note, my intent is not to discuss all the Constitutional amendments and how the Constitution was designed to be amended. However, the above quoted scriptures were recorded in the year 1833, so one might presume to consider the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments) to be a part of the Constitution that was being approved by the Lord. Additionally, the 11th and 12th amendments had also been ratified by this time. We should definitely note that when the majority of those who vote are wicked, or persuaded by the wicked to support or at least tolerate iniquity (usually by claiming some right), then judicial ruling on laws, new laws, and even new amendments will be influenced towards supporting wickedness.

We must be careful in whom we support for political office. Although a single vote may not make much of a difference in many places, our influence can encourage others to vote. Something to consider when deciding who to vote for is this: if God were to ask you why you voted for the people you did, what justifications and reasoning would you give? Would you really be justified in voting for someone who is not honest, good, and wise just because you might consider the other major candidate as "more evil."

A former president of the LDS Church, President Ezra Taft Benson, said, in his October 1987 address Our Divine Constitution, "The Lord said that 'he holds men accountable for their acts in relation' to governments 'both in making laws and administering them' (D&C 134:1)" (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1987/10/our-divine-constitution?lang=eng). Seems to imply we are accountable for our vote, and more particularly so if our candidate is voted into office. Considering the candidates running for political offices, would you want some accountability for voting them into office?

Too many politicians and candidates running for offices, especially for President of the United States, are willing to exchange Constitutional freedoms for the promise of safety and protection. And, too many people are convinced of the promise, which is little more than an illusion, but they fail to recognize other countries, which have the proposed laws already in place, where the people are no safer and are more reliant and dependent on the government.

Some of these reductions in freedoms include:

• Limiting freedom of speech, particularly where the internet is concerned. But what about limitations where you might "offend" somebody through your freedom of speech? "Political correctness" combined with over sensitivity concerning anything that might be interpreted as racially motivated, or against some "social justice," such as the LGBT agenda including same-sex marriage.

• Limiting freedoms as a result of not providing due process (such as restricting who can buy firearms simply because someone is on a no-fly list).

• Limiting the ability to exercise second-amendment rights. Few politicians advocate the abolishment of the second amendment, but too many are looking  to control, limit, regulate, and prevent people from exercising second amendment rights. These limitations will be increased taxes, fees, more extensive and privacy invading background checks, and other methods to discourage citizens from buying firearms and encourage them to give them up. The easiest methods are by making it more expensive to obtain firearms and ammunition, create a social stigma against firearms, and create extensive regulatory hoops for law abiding citizens to jump through.

• Impeding the free exercise of religion. Despite the country being founded by God-fearing and very religious people, God has been eliminated from schools, and is being regulated from the public. Over the last few years religion, particularly Christian organizations, are further feeling attacks from the non-religious. Fears towards "religious extremists"--whether the person is Muslim or Christian--has increased enmity towards religion in general, particularly towards anyone who might seem overly committed to their beliefs and against societal morals.

• Expanded unreasonable searches, such as collecting personal data. In the name of "protection" and "safety" the privacy and even security of personal data is being violated with little more than a vague court order or blanket political mandate.

And even if the candidate you support verbally supports the Constitution, you should take into consideration what their party platform supports. Not just the feel-good talking points, but get into the details to discover what the party supports. If the party supports the candidate, it becomes too often the case that the candidate will take on the party's agenda in order to maintain support from the party.

In the previously mentioned address by President Benson, he also stated:

"Unfortunately, we as a nation have apostatized in various degrees from different Constitutional principles as proclaimed by the inspired founders. We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: 'Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction' (19 July 1840, as recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; ms. in Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City)."

Remember, President Benson stated this in 1987, 29 years ago. How much further has the Constitution been eroded and shredded with regulations, restrictions, limitations, laws, and other legislative, judicial, and even executive actions?

Verse 2 of D&C section 134 states, "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." (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/134.2?lang=eng#1).

The Declaration of Independence has a similar statement, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed" (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html).

 A few other bits from President Benson. He quote John Adams, who said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” (The Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams, Boston: Little, Brown Co., 1851, 4:31).

He also read the words of a couple of ancient prophets who said, concerning the land of America and those who inhabit the land:

“Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he [God] shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever” (2 Ne. 1:7).

“And now we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity” (Ether 2:9).

The freedoms and rights of the Constitution are continually being threatened and tread upon. In many cases, instead of attacking the Constitution directly politicians attack those rights by restricting the ability of citizens to exercise their Constitutional rights.

Iniquity (this includes acts and beliefs, and tolerating or supporting those , that are contrary to God's commandments, which in the scriptures is also referred to as wickedness) is increasing rapidly and it doesn't take much effort to find that which is evil being called good, and good being called evil. If we want to maintain our liberty, the freedoms and rights established by the Constitution, we need to seek out and "uphold" good, honest, and wise candidates and give them our vote.

Voting for evil, even the lesser of evils, is putting evil in positions of power over you and will further increase iniquity in this land. If you accept what the scriptures, and the prophets, have said, when America is ripe in iniquity the people will be brought down into captivity and "swept off." It is my understanding that "ripe in iniquity" does not necessarily mean everyone is wicked, but that wickedness is tolerated, accepted, supported, and/or engaged in by the majority of the people.

In my opinion, neither of the two major party candidates--Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump--could be considered as honest, good, and wise. Lip service is given to supporting the Constitution, but both have made statements that support regulating or controlling Constitutional freedoms.

An argument many use is the selection of Supreme Court Justices, and to vote for the person who would be more likely to select justices who are more favorable to your political views. But, would a person who is not honest, wise,  or good really look to nominate someone who is as a judge? Or, would they be more likely to select those who have a similar mindset? If the judge doesn't respect and uphold the Constitution, it doesn't matter what party they are from because they will continue to tear down the laws of the land.

Each of us needs to make efforts in seeking out who we will support with our vote. Don't settle with voting for a candidate simply because you may be affiliated with that party or are against the other major party's candidate.

-- update --

I've been wondering, would Trump kind of be like Omni:

"Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done."

Trump isn't the best candidate, but would he actually fight to preserve our Constitutional freedoms? Or, at least preserve more of them than Hillary?

Between Trump and Hillary, I would choose Trump. I agree with Iraq that I'm not impressed with Trump the personal level. I'm not even sure how impressed I am with him as a business person, but he does know how to play the system.

From the little I know of Mike Pence, I am more impressed with him.

I expect that whomever is elected will probably not make it to the end of their first time, and their VP is most likely to take over.

My intent was to not vote for either major party candidate. Neither one will make much of a difference in the direction our country is headed. To change course, the president would have to reverse the country's course on a number of issues, including same-sex marriage. Kind of like how Lachoneus and Gidgidonni manage to get the Nephites to repent before the Gadianton robbers invade the country. Doesn't seem very likely to happen.

Neither Hillary nor Trump could be characterized as being honest, wise, and good. I'm not sure if any candidate meets that criteria.

So, who supports the Constitution and laws that are constitutional, and not laws which are "more or less" than what is in the Constitution?

And of those who will uphold our freedoms, which candidate has the best shot at actually doing it? Meaning, which candidate might actually have support in Congress. While I'm considering some third party options, I'm not sure if any would really have the support they would need in Congress.

And, while I am looking at third party options, it is very likely that I may vote for Trump. Not because he's good, honest, or wise but because he might have the best chance to preserve some of our liberties.