Civic lessons from the Book of Mormon
What one religious text can teach us about principles and politics
And now I desire that this inequality should be no more in this land, especially among this my people; but I desire that this land be a land of liberty, and every man may enjoy his rights and privileges alike, so long as the Lord sees fit that we may live and inherit the land…
Liberty, equality, the balance of power, the roles of church and state: even scripture is chock full of examples. Like many around the world, I read religious texts often to gain insights inspired by the divine. As a Latter-day Saint, my study primarily includes Christian texts like the Bible and The Book of Mormon.
The ‘government’ chapters of The Book of Mormon have especially amazed me during my reading this year. Among important religious teachings—about things like Jesus, faith, and joy that comes from living the commandments—are scattered a fair number of civic lessons.
These chapters highlight a series of kings, judges, and would-be usurpers seeking power. Some are good leaders. Others are clearly not. The contrast between different leadership styles is clear.
The takeaway is clear too: leadership matters.
On one hand, power-hungry leaders limit freedoms and lead their constituents into captivity and war. But righteous leaders exist too, and bring peace and prosperity. Good leaders, in the words of one stalwart army captain named Moroni, “seek not for power, but to pull it down” and seek “for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country.” (Alma 60:36)
A few nuggets from my most recent read-through.
Takeaway 1: The personal righteousness of a leader is important.
In The Book of Mormon, a commitment to righteous principles is an essential characteristic of good leadership. Choosing a leader more interested in the good of their people than in their own power is more important than specific policies.
Moral leadership is more important to the peace and prosperity of the people than the type or structure of government they choose. It’s more important than their economic policies or military strategy.
Good leadership
For instance, when King Mosiah (the last of a series of good kings), suddenly doesn’t have a clear successor, he recommends—and his people accept—a full-on system change. Mosiah recognizes the dangers of authoritarian rule. He cautions his people about self-interested leaders, warns of the dangers of a contested power struggle, and counsels against concentrating too much power in one individual (see all of Mosiah 29).
Instead of appointing another king, Mosiah extols the virtues of a democratic society that is subject to the will of the people. He even proposes checks and balances, with lower and upper judges serving to check the power of the other. Says King Mosiah:
“Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right…. therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.” — Mosiah 29:26
At his encouragement, a vote is held. At the advice of their king, who wants freedom for his people, the people vote for a semi-democratically elected government with checks and balances.
And it’s not just Mosiah! In another story, a beloved church leader named Alma eschews the chance to be a king (see Mosiah 23:6–15). He urges his people not to have a king. Alma has seen firsthand the pitfalls of concentrated power in one individual, especially an immoral one: he’s a former high priest to a wicked king named Noah. We’ll come to him next.
Takeaway 2: Wicked leaders lead to devastating consequences
King Noah, on the other hand, is the antithesis of a good leader. Noah seeks first and foremost his own welfare, not that of his people. He raises taxes to benefit the rich and persecutes anyone who opposes him (see Mosiah 11–19). When faced with danger, he chooses to flee, urging his constituents to sacrifice their families (innocent women and children!) just so he isn’t captured.
Ultimately, King Noah’s bad choices and personal shortcomings lead to much bloodshed and his people’s loss of liberty. (They also lead to his demise from those angry that he commanded them to abandon their families. He’s burned at the stake.)
Later on, we see the frequent rise of frequent would-be authoritarians, from Zarahemnah (Alma 43–44) to Amalickiah (Alma 46–51) who reject the rule of law, flatter their followers, and grab power wherever they can find it. These leaders are well-spoken and crafty, but they rule by deceit. The aim of such leadership is, usually, personal profit at the expense of personal freedoms and civil liberties.
As a later prophet-historian summarized it:
“We also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place…. a man of cunning device and… many flattering words… [will seek] to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them.” (Alma 46:9–10)
Lesson 3: When moral leaders prevail, their constituents are blessed.
These Book of Mormon stories showcase all the good that comes from courageous, moral leadership. Under righteous leaders who are concerned about their people’s well-being, the nation has better national security—they better withstand attacks from within and without. Their economy is stronger. Trade flourishes. The people are safer and happier, too.
Even when wars happen, as they certainly do, the people are more prepared and protected because their leaders rally them together.
Leaders who care more about their people than their own power unite their populace around the principles and freedoms they cherish. Because of courageous, often selfless leadership, their nation survives even against seemingly insurmountable odds. (I’d be remiss not to mention that a central message is how God helps them when they stay true to their principles and His commandments).
What did the good leaders in The Book of Mormon do?
While each figure had challenges and struggles unique to their own time, there are plenty of commonalities between the practices and teachings of the righteous leaders. Good leaders practice some of the following:
Equality before the law, regardless of belief
Even kings subject themselves to the same rules their people have to abide by. No one is above the law, or above work. In this society, the king and his family worked for their living, just like their subjects. Multiple rulers taught that members of the ruling class (judges) were also to support their families through labor along with their public service. This is also true of the religious leaders and teachers of the day, they had a lay ministry.
There was religious equality too. Neither believers nor unbelievers were allowed to persecute each other for their beliefs. (See Mosiah 27:1–4). Prophet-leaders taught the people religious truths, yet religious pluralism was respected: no one was forced to belong to a specific church. All were allowed to follow their own conscience. They hold this freedom especially dear.
Respect for the balance of powers
Even kingly power was supposed to have limitations, although of course only moral leaders respected such boundaries. King Mosiah, for example, showed that he respected the religious authority of a contemporary church leader. Instead of usurping judgment for himself, the king left the adjudication of religious disputes to the religious leaders of his day, a sort of checks and balances.
Help for those in need
Caring for those in need, the widow and fatherless, was consistently taught by righteous leaders. A prophet-king named Benjamin pleads with his people “to labor to serve one another” (Mosiah 2:18) and later to “succor those that stand in need of your succor… administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and… not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain.” (Mosiah 4:16)
A desire to live peacefully
Righteous leaders throughout consistently sought to unite their people. They tried to preach peace, administer justice impartially, and teach their people good principles. Their people, in turn, are allowed to live freely as long as they abide by a shared set of values.
The Book of Mormon also specifically mentions that good leaders keep people out of prison, do away with slavery, don’t tolerate murder, plunder, or adultery, and avoid burdensome taxes on their constituents.
These all sound pretty nice to me.
The results of righteous leaders
The effects of moral leadership are, perhaps, exactly what we hope for in the United States today. One Book of Mormon leader ruled so circumspectly that “there was no more contention in all the land” (Mosiah 1:1). Under another righteous leader, “there began to be much peace in the land…. and they became a large and wealthy people.” (Mosiah 27:6–7)
How beautiful it would be to lose the animosity that so often undergirds our politics!
The leadership qualities to look for
If we want to preserve the freedom in our nation, who we elect matters.
We need leaders with a firm commitment to just principles. Leaders prepared to make hard, courageous, and sometimes unpopular choices for the good of the nation. Leaders willing to relinquish power to preserve
This means we scrutinize the personal character of a candidate as well as how they campaign.
Do we seek for candidates who seek to unite rather than divide? For leaders who practice humility? Who both affirm and personally abide by good principles?
Our nation will be stronger when we choose representatives who demonstrate courage and integrity. Of course, we won’t always have perfect information. But instead of a lower standard, what if we held public servants to a higher standard?
What if we united to vote out officials who break the law? Or who seek to increase their own wealth and power (hello insider trading)?
Whether or not they align with our preferred policies, the United States of America would be a better place with leaders who demonstrate commitment to principles over personal gain. No matter their party.
Faith and leadership
These thoughts focus on the civic lessons, but of course, the religious lessons from The Book of Mormon are even more profound. Faith in God plays an integral role in the lives of most of the best leaders.
Those of us who are religious should agree: regardless of their church affiliation, leaders who live moral lives are better suited to receive divine guidance in their work. And when facing new and difficult choices, as the president so often does, I want God to be able to guide him or her. In fact, I can hardly think of more a more important qualification for top office.
As my wise grandma taught me decades ago (when I was dispirited about Mr. Obama’s 2008 election win), “I may not have voted for him, but I sure will pray for him.”
May we elect leaders who demonstrate integrity. And may we pray for all who lead our nation.