King Benjamin, a man in whom all political power and authority was concentrated, labored just like you and me to support himself so as not to tax his subjects.
O that I had a King!I wish that I was a royal subject, not to any king, but to one in particular. When I open my scriptures to Mosiah Chapter two in the Book of Mormon, I wish that I lived under a king like King Benjamin. Imagine a man in whom all political power and authority is concentrated who labors just like you and me to support himself so as not to tax his subjects!In verse 14 he says: “I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes.”It seems to me that King Benjamin understood something about authority that’s even deeper than what we already know to be true. In D&C 121: 37 , the Lord says: “When we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens ewithdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.”
I’ll put forth that King Benjamin understood that ANY authority, either priestly or political, is dependent on principles of righteousness (not compulsion) for its continual validity.
Taxation is used to:
- Fund secret government activities (cover sins).
- Reward service to the coercive state (gratify pride).
- Pursue public projects and social programs (vain ambitions).
- Regulate and/or prohibit voluntary trade or travel and fine or imprison any who disobey. Read “Exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness.”
- Fund more taxation, which is itself theft.
Amen to the authority of the state. If you believe the Book of Mormon to be scripture, then you have to be against taxation and governmental compulsion of any kind. Feel free to either jettison your faith in the state or your belief in scripture. You can’t keep both.
To find out more about taxation and righteous government check out LDS Liberty’s latest episode at www.dsliberty.libsyn.com
