--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Morgan, Nicholas G. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 31 number: 6 published: 1928-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Nicholas G. Morgan, “Responsibility of Officials of the Law,” *Improvement Era* 31, no. 6 (April 1928): 464–465." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3106unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3106unse start_page: 464 end_page: 465 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1928-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3106unse publication_year: 1928 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1928, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Responsibility of Officials of the Law Responsibility of Officials of the Law By Nicholas G. Morgan, Chairman of Junior Department, General Board Y. M. M. I. A. IN THE matter of law enforcement, there rests a heavy responsi- bility upon public officials, not only in the enforcement of the law, but in the establishment in the minds of the people of a high respect and a due regard for the same. If those who are charged with this responsibility do not obey and respect the law themselves, the example they set is dangerous to the community and to the citizenry in general. When an individual is clothed with the power and the responsi- bility of judgeship, it is his first duty so to act and in his rulings so to decide that his actions and his decisions will tend to emphasize the importance of his high office and the sanctity of the law. Un- fortunately, we find, in some of our communities, judges who permit personal bias and opinion to control their actions and their decisions. In such cases we find those courts breeding contempt for the law and establishing an especially bad example for others. Attorneys who represent the state in prosecutions, and attorneys who defend those who are accused, also have a heavy responsibility resting upon them. Justice should be the objective of both sides, and when justice has been attained, then the responsibility ends. The practice of procuring manufactured testimony and the prevalence of perjury in law-enforcement cases are among the most dangerous and insidious foes of our civil government. Attorneys are officers of the court, and, in every case, should cooperate with the court in seeing that both the rights of the state and of the accused are protected. Every man is presumed to be innocent until he is proved guilty; but when guilt has been established, then all officers of the court should cooperate in securing a just punishment for the offense committed. One of the worst practices of today is the selection of juries composed of men who are openly opposed to the law which is. sought to be enforced. Such men will perjure themselves in order to sit as jurors in the case, and, because of their personal animosity toward the law, will return a verdict in favor of the defendant, no matter how strong a case the state presents. Such action on the part of jurors is not only reprehensible, but extremely dangerous, as it makes trial by jury nothing but mockery and the law a mere by-word. In order for an individual to become a witness in a case, he is re- quired to take a solemn oath that he will, in his testimony, "tell the RESPONSIBILITY OF OFFICIALS OF THE LAW 465 truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." This, of course, means the truth as he understands it. Under this oath, a great responsibility rests upon him. Knowingly giving false testi- mony on the witness stand is a most serious crime and is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary. Any individual who has respect for himself, or loyalty for his country, should shun such offence. And, yet, every day in our courts, where men and women are tried for the violation of laws, especially the prohibition laws, wilful perjury is committed. One of the fundamental principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that contained in the Article of Faith which provides that "We believe in being subject to kings, pres- idents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law." Every Latter-day Saint, be he judge, attorney, juror, or witness, should make it his duty to honor and respect the law and to cooperate with all other agencies in the endeavor to secure the en- forcement of the same. Government and civilization hang in the balance; the judiciary and law-enforcement officers must be clean; perjury must be stamped out if justice prevails. Yours Just For Today Oh, guard well this temple entrusted to you. It is yours for a season, God given, to use. He gave you the wisdom and told how to do: 'Tis his for tomorrow, not yours to abuse. 'Tis only a mantle wherein is enthroned The spirit that liveth forever and aye; You are but the keeper, to you it is loaned. Remember 'tis borrowed; yours just for today. God gave it unto you as sacred and pure As the daintiest flower that grows, And he will expect it returned at his door, As sweet and as clean as the heart of a rose. So prove that you're worthy, and keep well the trust. And God will your spirit enrich and enfold. He loaned you this body, so guard it you must; 'Tis the most sacred trust that you could e'er hold. Wcso. Arizona. IDA R. ALLDREDGE