Religion and Politics

There are peculiar notions extant in relation to propriety or impropriety of mixing religion with politics, many of which we consider to be wild and visionary. Having witnessed in the proceedings of some of our old European nations a policy that was dangerous, hurtful, and oppressive in the union of church and state, and seem [seen] in them an overgrown oligarchy, proud and arrogant, with a disposition to crush every thing that opposed its mandate, or will. We have looked with abhorence [abhorrence] upon the monster, and shrink from the idea of introducing any thing that would in the least deprive us of our freedom, or reduce us to a state of religious vassalage. Living under a free republican form of government; sheltered by the rich foliage of the tree of liberty; breathing a pure atmosphere of religious toleration; and basking in the sunbeams of prosperity, we have felt jealous of our rights, and have been always fearful, lest some of those eastern blasts should cross the great Atlantic, wither our brightest hopes, nip the tree of liberty in the bud, and that our youthful republic should be prostrated and the funeral dirge be chanted in the "Land of the free, and the home of the brave," in consequence of a union between church and state.

No one can be more opposed to an unhallowed alliance of this kind than ourselves; but while we would depreciate any having a tendency to deprive the sons of liberty of their rights, we cannot but think that the course taken by many of our politicians is altogether culpable, that the division is extending too far, and that in our jealousy lest a union of this kind should take place, we have thrust out God from all of our political movements, and seem to regard the affairs of the nation as that over the great Jehovah's; providence, has no control, about which his direction or interposition, never should be sought, and as a thing conducted and directed by human wisdom alone.

Either God has something to do in our national affairs, or he has not. If he has the oversight and charge of them, if "he raises one king and puts down another, according to the counsel of his own will;" if "the powers that be, are ordained of God;" then it becomes necessary for us, in all our political movements, to look to God for his benediction and blessing. But if God has nothing to do with them, we will act consistently, we will cease to pray for our president, or our legislators, or any of our own rulers, and each one will pursue his own course, and "God shall not be in all our thoughts," so far as politics are concerned.

By a careful perusal of the scriptures, however, we shall find that God in ancient days had as much to do with governments, kings and kingdoms, as he ever had to do with religion. The Jews, as a nation, were under the direct government of heaven, and not only had they judges and kings anointed of God, and set apart by him; but their laws were given them of God; hence says the prophet: "The Lord is our king; the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our law-giver, and he shall reign over us;" and in the history of the kings of Israel, we find the Lord and his prophets interfering as much in their civil, as their religious affairs, as the book of Kings abundantly testify. Hence, Saul, David, Solomon, Hezekiah, Jehu, and all the rest of their kings, were anointed of God and set apart especially to fulfil [fulfill] that office; and in regard to their policy, their war, their deliverance, they sought wisdom and protection from God, and ascribed their victories to him.

Nor was this the case with the Israelites alone; but other nations also, acknowledged his supremacy and sought his aid.

Abimelech, king of the Philistines, captivated by the beauty of Sarah, took her for the purpose of making her his wife, when the Lord

appeared to him in a dream and gave him certain instructions, the which he immediately obeyed; and although God had smitten his family in consequence of the evil, he immediately removed his hand, and restored them to health, and removed his wrath from the nation. Nebuchadnezzar had to acknowledge the Lord's sovereignty when he was told by Daniel that "the Lord removeth kings, and setteth up kings;" and in the writing which Belteshezzar saw on the wall the Lord revealed to him, through Daniel, not only his own state, but the situation of other kingdoms, that should come after his.

The Lord sent by Jonah a message to Ninevah, saying: 'that in forty days Ninevah should be destroyed;' but when the king proclaimed a fast, and sat in ashes, both him and his people-the Lord averted his wrath and prolonged their lives. God revealed his will through the mouth of his prophets to the Ammonites, Moabites, Elamites, Hittites, Jebusites, and numerous other nations, and Nebuchadnezzar in a dream had revealed to him, not only the situation of his own kingdom, but that of the different nations that should arise after his, until the final winding up scene.

And Daniel, and the apostle John, both in prophetic vision beheld a time that is spoken of as a period of great glory, when 'the Lord shall be king over all the earth,' and when 'the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the saints of the Most High God.'

Certainly if any person ought to interfere in political matters it should be those whose minds and judgments are influenced by correct principles-religious as well as political; otherwise those persons professing religion would have to be governed by those who make no professions; be subject to their rule; have the law and word of God trampled under foot, and become as wicked as Sodom and as corrupt as Gomorrah, and be prepared for final destruction. We are told "when the wicked rule the people mourn." This we have abundantly proved in the state of Missouri, and having had our fingers once burned, we dread the fire. The cause of humanity, the cause of justice, the cause of freedom, the cause of patriotism, and the cause of God requires us to use our endeavors to put in righteous rulers. Our revelations tell us to seek diligently for good and for wise men. Doc. and Cov. Sec. lxxxv. Par. 2:-

"And now verily I say unto you, concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all these things whatsoever I command them, and that the 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; therefore I the Lord justifieth you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land: and as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than these, cometh of evil. I the Lord God maketh you free; therefore ye are free indeed: and the law also maketh you free; nevertheless when the wicked rule the people mourn: 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."

No one can be more fit for the task than Gen. Joseph Smith; he is wise, prudent, faithful, energetic and fearless; he is a virtuous man and a philanthropist; if we want to find out who he is, his past history shows his indomitable perseverance, and proves him to be a faithful friend, and a man of exalted genius, and sterling integrity; whilst his public addresses and views, as published to the world, prove him to be a patriot and statesman.

Let every man then that hates oppression, and loves the cause of right, not only vote himself; but use his influence to obtain the votes of others, that we may by every legal means support that man whose election will secure the greatest amount of good to the nation at large.