"I,the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.

"Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn."Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil." (D&C 98:8-10.)

One phrase from this passage of scripture has a particularly solemn ring: "Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn."

In the very next verse, we are told rather pointedly that we have a responsibility to seek and support those leaders who are "honest," "good" and "wise."

Those of us who are citizens of countries where we have the privilege of choosing our leaders ought to feel the weight of individual responsibility reflected in these passages from the Doctrine and Covenants. A few questions each of us might ask include:

- Do I study the issues before voting?

- Do I vote for the candidate most likely to represent me in office or do I cast my ballot for the one my friend, neighbor, co-worker or other individuals suggested?

- Do I vote, or am I not interested in politics, or am I too busy with other things to go to the polling place during the primary and general elections? Do I vote by absentee ballot when circumstances warrant such?

- Do I attend meetings to be informed on the issues and be given the opportunity to make my wishes known? Do I attend public hearings on issues of importance to me, my family or neighbors? Do I go to school board meetings when important decisions are being discussed that will affect my children or others in my community?

- Do I make prayer part of my decision in selecting a candidate for whom to vote? After the elections are over, do I pray for the office holders, whether or not they were the candidates of my choice?

Many more questions could be asked. The point is that citizenship goes hand-in-hand with responsibility.

Years ago, President David O. McKay turned to the scriptures to emphasize the privilege of citizenship: "When the Apostle Paul was being bound with thongs for a scourging, he said to the centurion that stood by, `Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?'

"Then the chief captain came and said to Paul: `Tell me, art thou a Roman?' and Paul answered that he was. `And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom.'

"I fancy that Paul straightened up when he said: `But I was free born!' (See Acts 22:25-28.)

"I wonder if we freeborn Americans appreciate what it is to have the right to vote, to express by our vote our choice of those who are to rule over us. No, thank heaven, not to rule over us - to serve us in the service of the government. For you, the electorate, are the rulers in this great Republic. Those who have taken out their citizenship I think appreciate it even more than some of us who have it by birth." (October 1956 general conference report.)

President Ezra Taft Benson, in counseling members to pay more attention to their civic responsibilities, said: "No one can delegate his duty to preserve his freedom, for the price of liberty is still eternal vigilance. . . . An ounce of energy in the preservation of freedom is worth a ton of effort to get it back once it is lost." (April 1967 general conference report.)

Through the years, Church leaders have urged us to do our civic duty and assume responsibilities as individual citizens. Over and over, we have been encouraged to do our part in our cities and communities. Church leaders do not tell us how to vote, but they do tell us we ought to vote.

We have serious issues facing us. We, as the mere mortals that we are, do not always know the right answers to the questions before us. We don't always find the right solutions to the problems that beset our neighborhoods, cities, states or provinces, and nations. But the Lord knows all the answers and has all the solutions.

In deciding for whom we should vote and on what side of the issues we should stand, we must not rely solely upon the wisdom that comes from the world. "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God," Paul told the Corinthians. (1 Cor. 3:19.) We are entitled to the Lord's guidance in making our decisions.