As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, our commitment to following Jesus Christ naturally extends into our roles as citizens. We are taught that we have a moral obligation to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause” (D&C 58:27), and one of the most fundamental ways we can influence our community for good is through the exercise of our right to vote.
The General Handbook of the Church provides clear direction on this civic responsibility:
“Church members are encouraged to participate in political and governmental affairs. … In accordance with the laws of their respective governments, members are encouraged to register to vote and to study issues and candidates carefully. Latter-day Saints have a special obligation to seek out and uphold leaders who are honest, good, and wise (see Doctrine and Covenants 98:10)”. (Section 38.8.31).
This is not merely a suggestion of involvement, but a principle of faithful living. President Dallin H. Oaks, has frequently spoken on the importance of the United States Constitution and our role in upholding its divinely inspired principles. In April 2021, he taught: “We should learn and advocate the inspired principles of the Constitution. We should seek out and support wise and good persons who will support those principles in their public actions. We should be knowledgeable citizens who are active in making our influence felt in civic affairs.”
Our efforts to vote echo the sentiments of the American Founding Fathers, who understood that the success of self-government in a free republic depends upon the virtue and participation of its citizens. Samuel Adams once emphasized the solemn responsibility of the ballot box, stating: “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote . . .that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”
It is easy to fall into the fallacy of believing that a single vote does not matter in the grand scale of an election. However, even in Nevada, several historic and modern elections have demonstrated the power of even a few votes. For example, in a 2018 primary for a Nevada State Assembly seat, the winner was decided by a margin of only 120 votes. In local municipal races, candidates have even tied. Choosing not to vote means allowing others to decide the future in our place.
By registering to vote and casting an informed ballot, we honor the moral agency God has given us and help to preserve the liberties and inspired Constitutional principles that we enjoy as Americans. Let us be a people who are not only known for our faith in God but also for our diligence in citizenship.
Our efforts to vote echo the sentiments of the American Founding Fathers, who understood that the success of self-government in a free republic depends upon the virtue and participation of its citizens. Samuel Adams once emphasized the solemn responsibility of the ballot box, stating: “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote . . .that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”
It is easy to fall into the fallacy of believing that a single vote does not matter in the grand scale of an election. However, even in Nevada, several historic and modern elections have demonstrated the power of even a few votes. For example, in a 2018 primary for a Nevada State Assembly seat, the winner was decided by a margin of only 120 votes. In local municipal races, candidates have even tied. Choosing not to vote means allowing others to decide the future in our place.
By registering to vote and casting an informed ballot, we honor the moral agency God has given us and help to preserve the liberties and inspired Constitutional principles that we enjoy as Americans. Let us be a people who are not only known for our faith in God but also for our diligence in citizenship.
