ANARCHISM—APPROVED AND PROPHESIED
The Lord said, “Wherefore, hear my voice and follow me, and you shall be a free people, and ye shall have no laws but my laws when I come, for I am your lawgiver, and what can stay my hand?” (D&C 38: 22)
Discuss.
Next Scriptural Discussion: #9 EQUALITY
Previous Scriptural Discussion: #7 AFFLICTIONS—CAN BE SWALLOWED UP IN JOY OF CHRIST
Complete List of Articles authored by LDS Anarchist
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
October 14, 2007
Categories: Agency, Anarchism, Prophecy, Scriptural Discussions . Tags:Agency, Anarchism/Anarchy, Anarchy, Christ, Church, Church of Jesus Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church of Latter-day Saints, Church of the Latter-day Saints, D&C 38, Doctrine and Covenants, Freedom, Holy Scripture, Holy Scriptures, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Latter-day Saint, Latter-day Saints, Law, Lawgiver, LDS, LDS Church, Liberty, Mormon, Mormon Church, Mormonism, Mormons, Prophecy, Religion, Scriptural Discussion, Scriptural Discussions, Scripture, Scriptures, Standard Works, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Author: LDS Anarchist
10 Comments
Comments RSS
LDS Anarchy 
I don’t see where the idea of anarchism has any room in the Church. Sure, we shall have “no laws” established by a government of policticians and lawyers, but we shall have a government for sure. We shall have the Lord’s law, “for [he] is your lawgiver, and what can stay [his] hand?”
Anarchism-if we shall call it that, is the theory that all government is undesirable; all forms, not just all, but the Lord’s. And we can see what happens to a people who rebel against God’s government; they’re excommunicated, cut off, anathema, just as the 1/3 hosts of heaven.
As I understand it, the only true form of anarchy is practiced in Hell. To Satan, any means necessary-any laws he holds or breaks-is the only law. He wants to win at all costs. There are no rules and the only government he allows is the government that controls his frame, because he is bound by righteousness and the Word of God.
Indeed, Satan even trumped himself to get what he wanted, “And Satan sware unto Cain that he would do according to his commands…” (Moses 5:30)
Satan is the only true practice of pure anarchy.
So I want to understand your theory.
The Lord’s law is a government of free agents, where free agency abounds and compulsion is a thing of the past. This is what anarchy is all about. It means “no ruler.” It can also be defined as private rule. Joseph Smith said, “I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves.” Verse 21 of section 38 says, “But, verily I say unto you that in time ye shall have no king nor ruler, for I will be your king and watch over you.” There is nothing contradictory about anarchy (no rulers) and the Lord being king, as his kingdom and kingship is defined as one in which compulsion has no part. Anarchy is anti-compulsion, too, so the two systems are compatible. The Lord has promised us that our “dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.” (D&C 121: 46.) If this will be our dominion, can we say that the Lord’s dominion is any less? No, of course not. The Lord’s dominion is also an everlasting dominion and without compulsory means it flows unto him forever and ever. This is why the entire world, when the Lord comes, will voluntarily submit to him, as he and his laws will be just and no one will be compelled to obey (which is the satanic plan.) The scriptures constantly explain that we should have no kings (rulers), which equates to keeping ourselves in anarchy, unless the king is just (operating on the principle of free agency and not compulsion), which likewise equates to anarchism. All anarchies have laws, even private laws. But when the Lord comes, the private laws adopted by the people to interact with each other will be the laws given by this King Jesus, who all will admit is just. But even in the absence of a just King Jesus, it is still better to remain in anarchy and have private laws, than to have public laws of complusion and rulers among us.
Satan and anarchy don’t mix. Anarchy is represented by free agency and co-operation, whereas the state is represented by compulsion and force (violence.) Satan loves the state, as it is a means to enslave the masses and make everyone as miserable as he is. So, no, Satan doesn’t practice anarchy, at all. The Lord asked, “If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?” In the church the Lord tells us to be one, to be united, unity being the principle, but when describing the enemy, he says, “the enemy is combined.” Israel gathers together, whereas the enemy is combined, as a secret combination. If every devil did his own thing, whether it was devilish or not, the kingdom of the devil wouldn’t last very long.
Satan uses the same techniques and methods with embodied humans that he uses to command the 1/3 of unembodied humans that are with him. It is compulsion, he being the one directing it all. This may be a topic better addressed in a separate post. In the meantime, feel free to check out the Anarchism/Anarchy category on this weblog and the articles written there to gain a better understanding of the scriptural basis of anarchy.
I agree with some of what you say, that there shall be no compulsion with God’s people, but they will choose to follow him in all things. Yet, that time is not now, nor could it be. We are not a tempered people as of yet. We still have the natural man’s rage warring within our bodies, and clanging our souls. It will be a long time coming before all are totally in tune with the eternal laws. As C.S. Lewis puts it, “human beings [and in our case, Saints, or even Christians, say] all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature [God’s eternal law, in our case]; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, pg. 21)
We do know that God is not compelled to be a God. He chooses the things He does because He has mastered the art and eternal principle of intelligence (light and truth). But for us we are so far off as to make the best of us, on our best days, to be utter dependent of the Atonement and mercies of our Lord. So we need a schoolmaster. We no longer need the archaic schoolmasters of Moses. And we no longer need to subjugating schoolmaster of Kings and Serfdom. But what we have before the United Order is instituted is our current system (and I mean specifically, the Constitution, and inherently, the free enterprise system), as flawed and imperfect as it is (D&C101:77-80; 109:54; 98:4-10). Yes, we hold to it and try to support it because that’s what we are commanded and instructed to do, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law” (12th AofF).
I applaud any effort to be politically, socially, and intellectually involved but I think there is an absolute—fine as particle, and even thicker—danger in dealing a new deck to the Church body. Because the only House is the Lord’s, the only spokesman, His prophet, and the only movement, His Church, even the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Concerning your first paragraph, it is not necessary to be a “tempered people” or that we are “totally in tune with the eternal laws” in order to live in peaceful anarchy. Even among wicked people, anarchies are fairly peaceful. See the following posts for more in depth answers to your first paragraph:
Anarchy does not require perfect people
Book of Mormon Anarchy
Also, the natural man’s desire is to rule over the souls of other men, this is why anarchy is the antidote to the natural man’s tendency.
Concerning your second paragraph, I addressed the Constitution in the following post:
What the Lord has said about the Constitution
Although we believe in sustaining laws, this only applies to just laws. Sustaining wicked laws would make us wicked. (Note to self: this would make a good topic for another post.) The current system we have set up makes it impossible to set up any other form of government peacefully. See the following post:
A basic right denied
So, it is seriously flawed and forces us to use bloodshed to replace it with something else. As latter-day saints, we should always seek the best of the best, which in the case of systems of government, would be anarchy, while submitting to the just authorities we are currently under.
Finally, concerning your last paragraph, I am not dealing a new deck to the church. Anarchy is totally scriptural, meaning that it is of our ancient, religious past, having the approbation of God, and will be a part of our religious future. See the following post:
Biblical Anarchism
You may also want to read the articles published over at themormonworker.org. I will be writing more on this subject, too, so stay tuned…
I look forward to reading a lot of these posts, especially the mormon worker.
I would like you to clarify this statement of yours:
“Although we believe in sustaining laws… The current system we have set up makes it impossible to set up any other form of government peacefully. See the following post:
So, it is seriously flawed and forces us to use bloodshed to replace it with something else. As latter-day saints, we should always seek the best of the best, which in the case of systems of government, would be anarchy, while submitting to the just authorities we are currently under.”
The “A basic right denied” post, filed under the Anarchism/Anarchy category, should clarify these paragraphs for you.
He Lds Anarchy What you have written on angency is realy great I really Like this “Satan and anarchy don’t mix. Anarchy is represented by free agency and co-operation, whereas the state is represented by compulsion and force (violence.) Satan loves the state, as it is a means to enslave the masses and make everyone as miserable as he is. So, no, Satan doesn’t practice anarchy, at all. The Lord asked, “If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?” In the church the Lord tells us to be one, to be united, unity being the principle, but when describing the enemy, he says, “the enemy is combined.” Israel gathers together, whereas the enemy is combined, as a secret combination. If every devil did his own thing, whether it was devilish or not, the kingdom of the devil wouldn’t last very long.” Do you think you could write an article for the mormon worker about about agency? You could pretty much use just what you have written in these replies. Great topic that I would love to put in the worker. (ps the new site is up)
thailer, thanks for your compliments. I have visited the new Mormon Worker site and I like the look very much. As to your question, “Do you think you could write an article for the Mormon Worker about agency?” Strangely enough, of all the topics that I want to get to, the topic of agency never really crossed my mind. But I think it is a very important one. I will give it a whirl.
Thanks LDS Anarchist. I think you covered it pretty well in your response. I really need to find more time to read the rest for blog posts. I like what ive read so far.
I came across this quote today which reminded me of the point of this post. Emphasis mine.
Source