Honouring the Law
The 12th Article of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proclaims that
"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, magistrates, in honoring, sustaining, and obeying the law."The 134th Section of the Doctrine & Covenants further outlines some of the basic beliefs of the LDS Church concerning government and laws in general. Of particular interest to me right now are these verses:
1 WE believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.5 We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.6 We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men show respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man; and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker.8 We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense; that murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment.
As a Latter-day Saints, I believe in following this inspired counsel. I agree with the teachings that governments serve an important role in our lives, and we should be willing to be subject to the laws of the land. As a member of the Boys Scouts of America, I was taught the importance of citizenship. in the community, in the nation, and in the world. I understand that a world without rules is a world of chaos.
Recently, there has been much discussion about a law recently passed in Arizona that makes it a state criminal offense to be in the state without legal sanction. This is another way of saying that it is now against the law to be an illegal alien or, to put it even more obviously, it is now illegal to do something that is illegal. I have found this law to be somewhat ridiculous, due in large part to the fact that if something is illegal, there is no need to make another law stating the fact.
I understand that there are certain extenuating circumstances that lead to illegal immigration and also to suddenly finding oneself in the country without legal authorisation. There are always extenuating circumstances. A good friend of mine from Japan was married to an American, they had children who were American citizens, but it took years for her to get her citizenship. For a good portion of her time here, she was an illegal alien. Another good friend of mine, an American citizen, recently got married to a Canadian. They were living in Canada until her visa expired and she got kicked out of the country. She is now staying with friends while trying to get her visa renewed and her citizenship application approved. Despite the touching stories, it is still a crime to be in a country contrary to the laws of the land.
A friend of mine recently opined that it is wrong to label illegal immigrants as criminals. I responded by pointing out that, the last time I checked, a criminal is someone who has committed a crime, and you commit a crime by violating a law. Entering the country illegally means you have violated federal immigration laws. Never mind that the laws are stupid and need to be completely re-written. They are still the laws and, since the US Supreme Court has not struck them down, we are supposed to honour the laws of the land. Basic civics right there. So I am amused at people protesting the assignation of illegal aliens as “criminals” – that is exactly what they are.
My friend's counter-response was that I needed to re-examine my definition of a criminal. He pointed out that people routinely break laws, such as speeding in their automobiles or jaywalking. I told him that it is his definition of a criminal that needs to be re-examined. We need to realise that all laws are not created equally. There is a difference between jaywalking, illegally entering (or staying in) a country, and committing murder. However, all laws should be honoured. If you violate a law, you should be willing to pay the consequences. Fortunately, we do not live under the Code of Hammurabi. The punishment for violating most laws is not death or dismemberment.
Sometimes we have laws that are pretty dumb. They were created by people who meant well, but the method of carrying out their intentions left much to be desired. I feel that the US immigration laws fall under this category. We don't need a reformation of immigration law. We need a re-creation. We need to figure out a system that works, for the benefit first of those already in this country, and second for the benefit of those who wish to come and be a part of the American Dream. What we don't need is to throw out all the laws and let anarchy take over. We need control. We need to govern. But we need to do it right.
In figuring out how to do it right, I think that the there are broader questions we should be asking ourselves. These questions relate to all aspects of governing, whether it be governing ourselves, our families, or our world. What do we have laws? What purpose do they serve? What should we do when the laws are unjust? How do we avoid tyranny, either of the majority over the minority or vice versa? Is it possible to make a difference? What are we doing to effect change? Where do we start? Where do we finish? What will be the results of our actions? Only when we ask ourselves these questions, and seek to honestly answer them, will we be able to govern with honour, promoting peace and harmony.
Recently, there has been much discussion about a law recently passed in Arizona that makes it a state criminal offense to be in the state without legal sanction. This is another way of saying that it is now against the law to be an illegal alien or, to put it even more obviously, it is now illegal to do something that is illegal. I have found this law to be somewhat ridiculous, due in large part to the fact that if something is illegal, there is no need to make another law stating the fact.
I understand that there are certain extenuating circumstances that lead to illegal immigration and also to suddenly finding oneself in the country without legal authorisation. There are always extenuating circumstances. A good friend of mine from Japan was married to an American, they had children who were American citizens, but it took years for her to get her citizenship. For a good portion of her time here, she was an illegal alien. Another good friend of mine, an American citizen, recently got married to a Canadian. They were living in Canada until her visa expired and she got kicked out of the country. She is now staying with friends while trying to get her visa renewed and her citizenship application approved. Despite the touching stories, it is still a crime to be in a country contrary to the laws of the land.
A friend of mine recently opined that it is wrong to label illegal immigrants as criminals. I responded by pointing out that, the last time I checked, a criminal is someone who has committed a crime, and you commit a crime by violating a law. Entering the country illegally means you have violated federal immigration laws. Never mind that the laws are stupid and need to be completely re-written. They are still the laws and, since the US Supreme Court has not struck them down, we are supposed to honour the laws of the land. Basic civics right there. So I am amused at people protesting the assignation of illegal aliens as “criminals” – that is exactly what they are.
My friend's counter-response was that I needed to re-examine my definition of a criminal. He pointed out that people routinely break laws, such as speeding in their automobiles or jaywalking. I told him that it is his definition of a criminal that needs to be re-examined. We need to realise that all laws are not created equally. There is a difference between jaywalking, illegally entering (or staying in) a country, and committing murder. However, all laws should be honoured. If you violate a law, you should be willing to pay the consequences. Fortunately, we do not live under the Code of Hammurabi. The punishment for violating most laws is not death or dismemberment.
Sometimes we have laws that are pretty dumb. They were created by people who meant well, but the method of carrying out their intentions left much to be desired. I feel that the US immigration laws fall under this category. We don't need a reformation of immigration law. We need a re-creation. We need to figure out a system that works, for the benefit first of those already in this country, and second for the benefit of those who wish to come and be a part of the American Dream. What we don't need is to throw out all the laws and let anarchy take over. We need control. We need to govern. But we need to do it right.
In figuring out how to do it right, I think that the there are broader questions we should be asking ourselves. These questions relate to all aspects of governing, whether it be governing ourselves, our families, or our world. What do we have laws? What purpose do they serve? What should we do when the laws are unjust? How do we avoid tyranny, either of the majority over the minority or vice versa? Is it possible to make a difference? What are we doing to effect change? Where do we start? Where do we finish? What will be the results of our actions? Only when we ask ourselves these questions, and seek to honestly answer them, will we be able to govern with honour, promoting peace and harmony.
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