Section 134
Overview
Doctrine and Covenants 134 is a formal declaration adopted by the early Latter-day Saint church in 1835 to clarify their stance on civil government and laws. Amidst rising tensions and accusations of sedition or anti-American sentiment, this document was drafted to articulate a clear theology of the state. It asserts that governments are instituted by God for human benefit and that citizens have a moral obligation to sustain them, provided those governments protect inherent rights like life, property, and freedom of conscience. The text strongly advocates for the separation of church and state, insisting that religious societies should only exercise spiritual discipline (like excommunication) and never civil or physical punishments. It also outlines the right to self-defense when legal recourse is unavailable. Notably, verse 12 addresses the contentious issue of slavery, stating that the gospel should not be preached to nor baptisms performed for 'bond-servants' without their masters' permission, reflecting the socio-political compromises of the 1830s American landscape.
Key Figures
- God: The divine institutor of governments and religion, to whom all men are ultimately accountable.
- Civil officers and magistrates: Individuals appointed to enforce laws in equity and justice for the protection of society.
- Bond-servants and Masters: Mentioned in the context of restricting the preaching of the gospel and baptism to maintain social peace.
Doctrines Analyzed
Key theological claims identified in this text:
Divine Institution of Government
Assertion
Governments were instituted by God for the benefit of man, and God holds men accountable for making and administering laws.
Evidence from Text
We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine is highly compatible with Evangelical theology, specifically the teachings of Paul in Romans 13:1-7 and Peter in 1 Peter 2:13-17. Both traditions affirm that civil government is a divine provision to maintain order, punish evil, and promote the good of society. The text's assertion that God holds men accountable for making and administering laws echoes the biblical mandate for justice and righteousness in public office. Evangelicals agree that citizens owe respect and deference to the law as a matter of conscience before God.
Religious Liberty and Separation of Church and State
Assertion
Human law should not prescribe rules of worship, and religious societies should not exercise civil power or inflict physical punishment.
Evidence from Text
we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship... We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government
Evangelical Comparison
Evangelicals, particularly those in the Baptist and free-church traditions, strongly affirm the freedom of conscience and the separation of church and state. The idea that the state wields the sword (civil power) while the church wields the keys (spiritual discipline) is a classic Protestant distinction. D&C 134's limitation of church discipline to excommunication and withdrawal of fellowship perfectly mirrors the biblical model of church discipline found in Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5, rejecting the historical abuses of state-sponsored religion.
Restriction on Evangelizing Slaves
Assertion
It is unjust and unlawful to preach the gospel to or baptize bond-servants without the explicit permission of their masters.
Evidence from Text
we do not believe it right to interfere with bond-servants, neither preach the gospel to, nor baptize them contrary to the will and wish of their masters
Evangelical Comparison
This doctrine presents a severe conflict with the Evangelical understanding of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and the universal nature of the Gospel. In the New Testament, the gospel is freely offered to slaves and free alike (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11). While Paul instructed slaves to obey their masters (Ephesians 6:5), he never restricted the preaching of the gospel or the administration of baptism based on a master's permission. The requirement to withhold the gospel from a specific class of people to maintain socio-political peace directly contradicts the biblical mandate to preach the word in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2) and the apostolic principle that 'we must obey God rather than men' (Acts 5:29).
Comparative Analysis
Theological Gap (Summary)
The primary theological gap lies in the restriction of the Gospel and baptism from slaves without their masters' consent, subordinating the Great Commission to human civil institutions.
Theological Gap (Explained)
While D&C 134 shares much of its political theology with historic Protestantism (echoing Romans 13 and principles of religious liberty), it diverges sharply in verse 12 regarding the evangelization of slaves. By prohibiting the preaching of the gospel and the administration of baptism to 'bond-servants' without the explicit permission of their masters, the text subordinates the universal mandate of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) to the temporal, unjust institution of human slavery. In Evangelical theology, the Gospel transcends all human social structures (Galatians 3:28). The apostles frequently preached and baptized without seeking the permission of civil or domestic authorities, operating under the principle that 'we must obey God rather than men' (Acts 5:29). Elevating a pragmatic, political compromise to the level of canonized scripture fundamentally conflicts with the Evangelical understanding of the Gospel's supreme and unhindered authority.
For All Ages
Imagine you have a wonderful gift that can save someone's life, and Jesus told you to give it to everyone in the whole world. But then, a rule is made that says you can't give this gift to a servant unless their boss says it's okay. That's what this text does. It says the church shouldn't preach to or baptize slaves unless their masters agree. Evangelical Christians believe that Jesus's command to share the Gospel is for everyone, no matter what, and we don't need a human boss's permission to tell someone about Jesus's love and salvation.
Friction Points
Sola Scriptura / The Great Commission
Restricting the preaching of the Gospel and baptism based on human permission (masters of slaves), contradicting the universal command of Christ.
Semantic Warnings
Terms that have different meanings between traditions:
"Preach the gospel"
In This Text
Sharing the teachings of the LDS church, which is restricted from certain classes of people (slaves) to maintain social peace.
In Evangelicalism
Proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection, which is commanded to be shared with every creature without exception (Mark 16:15).
Soteriology (Salvation)
Salvation Defined: To 'save themselves from the corruption of the world' (134:12), used here in a general sense of spiritual deliverance.
How Attained: By hearing the gospel and being baptized (implied in 134:12).
Basis of Assurance: Not explicitly addressed in this text, as it focuses on civic duties.
Comparison to Sola Fide: The text mentions baptism as a key component of responding to the gospel (134:12), which in LDS theology is a required ordinance for salvation/exaltation. This contrasts with Sola Fide, where justification is by faith alone, and baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality, not a prerequisite for justification.
Mandates & Requirements
Explicit Commands
- all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside
- every man should be honored in his station
- to the laws all men owe respect and deference
- all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment
- men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances
Implicit Obligations
- Participate in the civic process to seek and uphold equitable magistrates
- Maintain peace and avoid sedition, rebellion, or conspiracy
Ritual Requirements
- Baptism is mentioned as a religious practice, but explicitly restricted for bond-servants without their master's consent
Evangelism Toolkit
Practical tools for engagement and dialogue:
Discovery Questions
Open-ended questions to promote reflection:
- I noticed in verse 12 it says it's not right to preach the gospel to or baptize slaves without their master's permission. How do you reconcile that with Jesus's command in Matthew 28 to preach the gospel to all nations and every creature?
- The preamble calls this section 'our opinion concerning the same.' How does an opinion of the early church members become canonized as binding scripture?
- If the government or a master forbids us from sharing the Gospel, should we obey God or man?
Redemptive Analogies
Bridges from this text to the Gospel:
The desire for justice, equity, and freedom of conscience.
This deep desire for true justice and freedom ultimately points to the Kingdom of God, where Christ rules in perfect equity. True freedom of the soul is found not just in civil liberty, but in liberation from sin through Christ.
Spiritual Weight
Burdens this text places on adherents:
A modern believer reading verse 12 must grapple with the fact that their canonized scripture explicitly protects the institution of slavery and forbids sharing the gospel with slaves without permission. This creates a heavy burden of cognitive dissonance, forcing the believer to either defend a morally abhorrent historical compromise or question the divine inspiration of the text.