Yes, agreed.LoveIsTruth wrote:Would you then agree that the amendment that explicitly forbade slavery was in harmony with that purpose..?BrianM wrote:In D&C 101 (77-80) the Lord stated the "constitution ... should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles.."
I think the way I would word it is that man's laws should mirror God's laws. The laws aren't even necessarily for the good people (who are already following God's law) but allows them a way to be protected from the bad people. Also, those laws should be made at the proper level of government (local > state > federal).LoveIsTruth wrote:Would you agree that better laws help people to be better, and that bad laws encourage them to be bad?BrianM wrote:The flaw is in men - they don't actually follow the Constitution or the proper role of government.
If you want to say it's "still a flaw" I don't care to argue that point back and forth. It's a flaw that is only a flaw because men are flawed. Yes, we've seen a lot of corruption and ignoring of the Constitution over the years.LoveIsTruth wrote:Still a flaw though, isn't it? And if a flaw then improvement is possible.BrianM wrote:Joseph Smith said it's only flaw is basically that it wasn't broad enough in enforcing its provisions in regards to those who neglect it.
Have we not seen the need for that in the last 200 years?
I'm going to address the rest by skipping down to...
Yes, "more or less than this" - this meaning: "supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges".LoveIsTruth wrote:More or less than what? Than the law supporting "principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges." It does not mean the Constitution is perfect and cannot or should not be improved. Indeed it has been improved by the 13th amendment: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." This is in perfect accord with the word of the Lord "it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another." (D&C 101:79)
Yes, amendments can be beneficial/good (such as the 13th) but most things are best left for each state to decide.
D&C 134 was written by Oliver Cowdery and approved by the Saints for inclusion in the D&C while Joseph was away (FYI).LoveIsTruth wrote: ..This is why D&C 134 is only a declaration of belief, instead of a declaration of finalized and immutable doctrine.