The anarchic laws of D&C 98

I’m going to refrain from expounding these scriptures and just let them speak for themselves. If you take a good, long look at the following laws, you’ll notice that in order for certain parts of them to be complied with, you would need to be living in anarchy because under current governments, if you were to attempt to fulfill the letter of these laws, you’d end up in jail. So, as we can’t today follow their letters (their spirits being another matter altogether), what is the Lord trying to tell us about the future?

LAW OF JUSTIFICATION CONCERNING PERSECUTION FROM ENEMIES

The Lord said, “Now, I speak unto you concerning your families—if men will smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be rewarded; but if ye bear it not patiently, it shall be accounted unto you as being meted out as a just measure unto you. And again, if your enemy shall smite you the second time, and you revile not against your enemy, and bear it patiently, your reward shall be an hundredfold. And again, if he shall smite you the third time, and ye bear it patiently, your reward shall be doubled unto you four-fold; and these three testimonies shall stand against your enemy if he repent not, and shall not be blotted out. And now, verily I say unto you, if that enemy shall escape my vengeance, that he be not brought into judgment before me, then ye shall see to it that ye warn him in my name, that he come no more upon you, neither upon your family, even your children’s children unto the third and fourth generation. And then, if he shall come upon you or your children, or your children’s children unto the third and fourth generation, I have delivered thine enemy into thine hands; and then if thou wilt spare him, thou shalt be rewarded for thy righteousness; and also thy children and thy children’s children unto the third and fourth generation. Nevertheless, thine enemy is in thine hands; and if thou rewardest him according to his works thou art justified; if he has sought thy life, and thy life is endangered by him, thine enemy is in thine hands and thou art justified. Behold, this is the law I gave unto my servant Nephi, and thy fathers, Joseph, and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, and all mine ancient prophets and apostles.” (D&C 98: 23-32)

LAW OF JUSTIFICATION CONCERNING PROCLAMATIONS OF WAR BY ENEMIES

The Lord said, “And again, this is the law that I gave unto mine ancients, that they should not go out unto battle against any nation, kindred, tongue, or people, save I, the Lord, commanded them. And if any nation, tongue, or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift a standard of peace unto that people, nation, or tongue; and if that people did not accept the offering of peace, neither the second nor the third time, they should bring these testimonies before the Lord; then I, the Lord, would give unto them a commandment, and justify them in going out to battle against that nation, tongue, or people. And I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children’s children’s, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation. Behold, this is an ensample unto all people, saith the Lord your God, for justification before me.” (D&C 98: 33-38 )

Next Anarchism/Anarchy article: My take on the FLDS raid

Previous Anarchism/Anarchy article: The role of agency in political systems

Complete List of Articles authored by LDS Anarchist

1 Comment

Comments RSS