Obeying, Honoring, and Sustaining the Law
Articles of Faith 1:12
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
Elder L. Tom Perry said:
“Celebrations that commemorate important events in our native lands should receive our support and attention. I was impressed with how vigorously and appropriately members of the Church residing in the United States celebrated the 200th year of the Constitution [in 1987].
“After all, we declare in the twelfth article of faith, ‘We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law’ [Articles of Faith 1:12]. We find that this counsel is continually needed in the Church today. All members of the Church should be committed to obeying and honoring the laws of the land in which they live. We should be exemplary in our obedience to the governments that govern us. The Church, to be of service to the nations of the world, must be a wholesome influence in the lives of individuals who embrace it, in temporal as well as spiritual affairs.
“In Matthew, the twenty-second chapter, we recall the account of the Pharisees attempting to entangle the Savior in the conflict they perceived in His teachings between Church and state:
“‘Tell us therefore, what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
“‘But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
“‘Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
“‘And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
“‘They said unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s’ (Matt. 22:17–21).”
(“A Meaningful Celebration,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 71–72.)
