Comments on: Scriptural Authorization for Taxation

By: Aaron Abell

Aaron Abell — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:53:37 +0000

There are people who work for the Church in our day, who receive pay, but they are not paid by any sort of tax. They are paid with tithing, a VOLUNTARY offering. A tax precludes coercion, in that the State says it has a higher claim on a person’s property than they do–”Give me X amount of money a year, or per month, or we will throw you in jail or kill you.” A person then has the ultimate right to his own body, goods, and agency denied him by the very people who are supposed to “protect him”. The judges in the BoM doubtless were paid, but since the Nephite societies (at least during the righteous times) were based on covenant, they were paid from donations made by people who wished to remain within the Nephite system and umbrella of law and protection.
It would then be a system of, “If you pay X, you will receive Y in return.” Much more in keeping with scripture and the whole, “not depriving anyone of their agency” thing…
That, and how can you leave out Pre-Samuel Israel? They were NOT taxed, but the judges and the whole nation survived on industry and the priests even were paid from the donations made to the church. In keeping with the supreme importance of agency, any Israelite who did not contribute their tithings were then unable to enjoy the blessings of someone in keeping with the donative requirements given to the Nation of Israel…

By: Libertarianism – A Correction To Caleb Smitherson | LDS Freemen

Libertarianism – A Correction To Caleb Smitherson | LDS Freemen — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:16:34 +0000

[...] in a debate of sorts regarding what the Book of Mormon says regarding tax and limited government. Gabriel’s position is that God has authorized some coercive taxation and limited government. Chris Brown’s [...]

By: But King Mosiah Levied a Tax – A reply to Chris Brown | LDS Freemen

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:50:40 +0000

[...] than refute each assertion made by Chris is his article which was a response to my initial article, a new argument will be presented which I believe provides conclusive evidence that the scriptures [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:51:23 +0000

Caleb,

I simply do not think we can reason, “Why else would it be in the scriptures if the Lord didn’t want us to use it as a model for political government?” We could use that reasoning about anything in the scriptures and come out with some pretty crazy beliefs.

I do not see how your picking those scriptures is more valid than any others that are used regarding political government used in the scriptures. The scriptures you use are mainly descriptive and historical. Why wouldn’t you use scriptures regarding the Constitution in D&C? They are at least much more recent and explicitly from the Lord. Or why not use the pattern of Zion set up by Joseph Smith?

By: Skyler Collins

Skyler Collins — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:32:40 +0000

My response to this 2-part essay can be found here: http://www.ldsfreemen.com/god-and-secular-government/

By: Caleb Smitherson

Caleb Smitherson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:10:52 +0000

My example contains many aspects of government which I beleive apply today in an era where many contitutional governments exist. I have provided many scriptural references which illustrate how many issues we deal with today were dealt with by the Nephites. Why is such a large portion of the Book of Mormon dedicated to the inner workings of this government model of the Nephites? I have offered one possible interpretation of these scriptures. If I am in error, I sincerely ask you to show me how. I have been contemplating these issues for the last thirteen months and I have yet to find any reasoning or logic which makes more sense. If my interpretation of these verses is incorrect why do you beleive the Lord inspired Mormon to include them? If you review my articles over the past year you can see a progression in my understanding on these concepts. If a better explanation of these verses can be offered I will rejoice when it is offered to me. I do not believe what I have argued is the Lord’s government and I did not intend to ever convey that (if I did). I beleive this is one example of a model of government which Christians can support that is considered valid (but not ideal) by the Lord. Perhaps it could be considered a schoolmaster to the higher form of government the Lord desires man to live under.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:01:14 +0000

Caleb,

Of course, if you pushed me, a lower tax is better than a higher tax, but I think no slavery is better than a little slavery. But I think you are missing the point. I wrote this as a comment on your previous article but would like to know your response.

The Book of Mormon contains multiple examples of governments. If you can choose Mosiah 29, I get to choose Mosiah 23 (6,7,13):

6 And the people were desirous that Alma should be their king, for he was beloved by his people.

7 But he said unto them: Behold, it is not expedient that we should have a king; for thus saith the Lord: Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another; therefore I say unto you it is not expedient that ye should have a king.

13 And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds; yea, even out of the ahands of king Noah and his people, and also from the bonds of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over you.

Just b/c something is found in the scriptures and in the context of the Lord and Israel does not mean it applies to non-covenant people. I think you are ultimately conflating the Lord’s government with that of men. Kings and judges who hold the priesthood and are chosen voluntarily by men are different from those who exist in secular governments.

As usual, the church is actually an example of this idea of market anarchy. The use of the tithe is how the church operates, even for church courts. But that is entirely private, voluntarily paid, and agreed to by covenants with God. This is not the equivalent of the state but requires the freedom (the anarchy, or absence of the state) for individuals to make such choices, not being coerced into them.

By: God and Secular Government | LDS Freemen

God and Secular Government | LDS Freemen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:24:39 +0000

[...] its accuracy, this 2-part article written by Caleb Smitherson uses the Book of Mormon to show that God has authorized a limited form of [...]

By: Caleb Smitherson

Caleb Smitherson — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:02:46 +0000

The Lord has not authorized man to enforce any negative sanction in regards to the tithe. It is a form of worship, and as I point out in part two, God has forbidden man to enact laws which punish those who do not worship him. That judgement he has reserved for himself.

Tithing in a sense, is not actually a donation. It is God’s property and he requires one tenth of what he has given to us as stewards. A person who does not comply with the law of the tithe is guilty of theft (See Malachi 3:8–11). Man is free to choose whether or not he will pay the tithe, but he is not ultimately free from the consequence of his failure to do so. Implying that tithing is a donation is an implication that you are the owner of the property, not the Lord.

By: Tim Bartlett

Tim Bartlett — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:42:29 +0000

“(after the Lord received his)” where does all the tithing go these days? Can it actually be classified as donating, when there is an underlying scripture which infers being burnt if you dont pay tithing?

By: Scriptural Authorization for Limited Government | LDS Freemen

Scriptural Authorization for Limited Government | LDS Freemen — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:39:34 +0000

[...] is the second part of the entire article. Part one is here. Both articles are based upon the Stewardship Principle found here. This article is not [...]