BEING GOOD CITIZENS

D&C Lesson #44

by Ted L. Gibbons



INTRODUCTION:



Unless we have faith in God and fear him and keep his commandments, we can hardly be worthy to hold high positions in government. The Prophet Joseph has told us in this statement through the inspiration of the Lord that we must have righteous men in order to have righteous government. If we are to be a God-fearing nation and enjoy the blessings of peace, then each one of us who has a faith in God must do our duty, take our part to accomplish our purpose in government. We should become intimately familiar with those who are active politically; we ought to be part and parcel of them. They should not be strangers to us. We should see to it that those men who have true qualities of leadership are placed in positions of trust and responsibility in the government; these fundamental principles of truth apply to every political party alike. There is no ope and can be no hope for our government, or any government, to which this principle does not apply. (Elder Henry D. Moyle, C.R., April 1952)



1. PARTICIPATING IN GOVERNMENT:



A careful consideration of the scriptural record will provide several accounts of members of the covenant people serving in positions of civil significance. Daniel and his three friends were political figures in Babylon (Daniel 2:48,49). Mordecai and his niece Esther were a part of the king's court in Persia (see Esther 2; Esther 8:2). Joseph became prime minister of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh in all the land (Genesis 41:39-41). Ezra Taft Benson served in the cabinet of President Eisenhower. Joseph Smith served a city Mayor of Nauvoo, and he campaigned for President of the United States There are other examples. They all clearly demonstrate the interest of the Lord And his servants in the way his people and his children are governed.



A number of revelations and prophetic statements give us divine direction in this matter. For example, When King Mosiah convinced the Nephites to forgo reliance on a king in favor of a system of judges, he told them what kind of men they ought to seek as their leaders.



. . . let us appoint judges, to judge this people according to our law; and we will newly arrange the affairs of this people, for we will appoint wise men to be judges, that will judge this people according to the commandments of God. (Mosiah 29:11)



As we begin to make a list of great qualities in leaders that will bless us, we can begin with this one: