Man's laws, legal system should reflect same purposes as God's laws
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Man's laws and legal systems should reflect the same purposes as God's laws, said Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve during the ninth annual J. Reuben Clark Law Society Fireside Feb. 4. During the event, Elder Christofferson was recognized by the society with the J. Reuben Clark Law Society Distinguished Service Award for his contributions over many years in the field of law.
Speaking to an audience in the Conference Center Little Theater in Salt Lake City, as well as chapters throughout the world participating via broadcast, Elder Christofferson said that the law is vital in the eternal potential of men and women.
"In speaking of becoming, I am taking the long view not only of what a person may be able to make of himself or herself in the space between birth and death, but the eternal potential of men and women," he said. "And in speaking of law, I want to reference not only matters of our codes and courts, but also the laws of God."
Elder Christofferson spoke of the importance of agency, and the important role it plays in reaching one's potential.
"We have a potential made possible by God beyond anything we can fully comprehend or appreciate at present. ... Our own choices will always be critical to what we become," he said. "And the capacity and power to choose are ... dependent on laws instituted by or under the authority of God. Such laws link particular actions to fixed outcomes."
It is through choice and consequences to those choices that makes laws — both man's laws and God's laws — and the power to choose an important principle.
Recognizing the importance of establishing laws and codes for society to live by, Elder Christofferson spoke of the need for individuals to be accountable for their actions in relation to laws. Citing section 134 of the Doctrine and Covenants, he said that laws are made for the good and safety of society as well as for securing each individual the rights of life, property and conscience. It is through this stability that people are able to exercise moral agency.
"As a general principle, submission to the laws of man will offer very real protections, providing in effect a safe haven within which we can act to obey and serve God," he said.
Because the laws are meant as a protection for individuals, Elder Christofferson encouraged the audience to take part in raising man's laws to match the laws of God.
"I firmly agree that insofar as humanly possible, man's laws and legal systems should be tied to and reflect the same purpose as God's laws — to foster our becoming all that we can become here and hereafter," he said. "People instinctively appreciate the value of law that has valid moral underpinnings because it is in their nature as spiritual beings and children of God — the ultimate moral Being. The light of Christ that we sometimes call conscience lights every person who comes into this world."
Elder Christofferson said that this principle pertains to all aspects of law.
"Even something so un-ethereal can have value as part of a larger legal structure that supports fundamental fairness, minimizes strife, rewards honest labor, preserves stable families and ultimately enshrines moral agency," he said.
Elder Christofferson spoke of the great need for individuals to be involved in advocating laws and systems like the divine model, or at least that do not undermine it.
"Since all legislation is based on moral judgment … it is not an imposition of religion or religionists to take part of discussion. There is no justice in one side with deeply held values seeking to silence the other because it espouses different deeply held values." he said.
It is in those times, Elder Christofferson said, individuals must "fight the good fight," as Paul declared in the New Testament.
Elder Christofferson said that individuals must uphold critical concepts that protect legitimate individual action, but also oppose the theories and schemes that exert injustice in the operation of law.
"All man-made systems are imperfect and include elements of injustice," he said. "Still, you can strive to make the legal system in which you live and work come as close as possible to the perfectly just legal system of God. You can take as your guide not only the wisdom of similarly-minded men and women from the past, but also the teachings of the scriptures, prophets, and the Holy Spirit."
Most important, Elder Christofferson spoke of the perfect justice of the Savior.
"After all I have said in praise of law and all the effort I have enjoined you to make in sustaining and defending a moral order, we must in the end acknowledge that we cannot achieve ultimate justice apart from Jesus Christ," he said. "To establish and preserve the law is a great good, but the greatest good we can do in helping others become what they can become will be to lead them to the Savior."
