Mormon First, Citizen Second

Every country on earth has laws that in someway contradict the lifestyles, standards, and principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. These laws can vary in their nature as well as their impact in society. As a tenant of the gospel teachings we believe that we are to be subject to our rulers/leaders and to obey, honor, and sustain the law. At the same time, Latter-Day Saints have the added challenge to follow higher laws, the laws of God, and have covenanted to do such.

Christ gave the example that when conflict arises between the laws of man and the laws of God, following and accomplishing the work of our Father in Heaven is more important than the judgments and penalties that society may place on righteous obedience.

D&C 58:6 states "Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you—that you might be obedient". Then in D&C 134:4 it reads "We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion;" In these versus we see that we are in this life to demonstrate our obedience to God ultimately, and that the laws of God and religious worship are not to be controlled or influenced by the will of government. As I interpret those references I feel that a clear conscience is one where dedication to God comes first and to country second.

Would this opinion make me a threat to national security? Perhaps in the eyes of some. For me, dedication to deity represents no loss of patriotism, in fact I feel that allegiance to deity over country is a more accurate view of patriotism. Our founding fathers dedicated a healthy portion of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution in recognition of the rights bestowed by and dependence on God that we as a nation should recognize. Would it be fair to say that when a nation places themselves over God or superior to His teachings that such pride is the root disease that will lead to the downfall of that nation?