With all the craziness that we hear of about our government in the past several months, I worry about the relationship between the church and our government. This podcast reviews some of the scriptures and history of church interaction with government.

Over the centuries, religions have learned to cooperate with governments – or suffer the consequences of conflict. In Mark 12:15-17, certain Pharisees and Herodians tried to get Jesus to say something against the Roman government. In answer, he says,

“… bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cæsar’s. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Jesus responded that, yes you should pay your taxes, thus eluding the trap that was set for Him. But he also instructed them to render unto God those things which God requires of us. This principle is still followed by the church and its members today.

As we understand from the 12th Article of Faith, governments are established to bring order and stability to a land. If you continually fight against those who rule over you, there will be no time for worship and your church could be destroyed. Thus we accept the need to be subject to government officials and rulers.

The church has had disagreements with the government in the past. Polygamy and the Edmunds Act of 1882. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) of 1978. So when our religion and government conflict, expect the church to do its best to resolve the issue peacefully. But if the day comes when the church does have to disagree with its government again, I hope that we as a membership understand the need and are ready for it.