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 Question/Answer
from
D&C 134:12 ...Platform of God's Global Government
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12 We believe it just to preach the gospel to the
nations of the earth, and warn the righteous to save themselves from the corruption of the
world; but we do not believe it right to interfere with bondservants, neither preach the
gospel to, nor baptize them contrary to the will and wish of their masters, nor to meddle
with or influence them in the least to cause them to be dissatisfied with
their situations in this life, thereby jeopardizing the lives of men; such interference we
believe to be unlawful and unjust, and dangerous to the peace of every government allowing
human beings to be held in servitude. |
| Q. |
"Influence
in the least"?
How far do you take that? |
| A. |
 | Taken in its fullest extent, in order to comply with this
platform, we would have to burn the scriptures, lest a slave -- whether of an owner or of
a nation -- get a copy and grow dissatisfied with servitude.
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| I believe the choice ought to be completely on the individual's
initiative thus indentured. They should not be proactively proselyted by a church,
but when they request instruction, I do not believe we should withhold what we can
individually prudently provide. Apparently, and significantly, the distinction here
is between the injunction placed upon a religious society versus the injunction placed
upon an individual. The individual has an obligation to both uphold religious
principles as well as principles of freedom as it pertains to government. The
jurisdiction of the church cease in the case of the servant, but the jurisdiction of the
individual does not, for the individual can belong to both the church and the state and is
therefore obliged to perform faithfully for both. The church must not encourage
insurrection in the least, but the individual must stir up purposeful insurrection against
tyranny until all tyranny has ceased. Just as his spiritual welfare hinges on his
faithful execution of religious duty, so does his temporal welfare hinge on his faithful
execution of his obligations regarding upholding the proper role of government which is to
protect all mankind in their exercise of freedom.
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by Sterling D. Allan; Mapleton, Utah; January 1, 1999
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