January 16, 2020
Mormon Women for Ethical Government’s work is driven by four core attributes: We are faithful, nonpartisan, peaceful, and proactive. This morning, in this particular company, we want to share some of our ideas about the first of those attributes: What it means to be faithful in the context of civic engagement.
For many of our members, faith is central to our advocacy and how we practice it. Faith drives us to participate in civic affairs because it demands that we love our neighbor as ourselves, and because where there is no vision the people perish. Because of our faith, we fight to preserve a society where each child of God is acknowledged to be precious and is protected by a government that is subject to law. We go about this work peacefully, as would the Prince of Peace.
But while the expansiveness of our faith drives us, using the word alone to justify policy can lead to misunderstandings, and the resulting conflict can diminish the legitimacy of religion in the eyes of fellow citizens. To inform our advocacy and provide transparency for our decisions, we have developed the Principles of Ethical Government. These principles focus on the rule of law, the rights of citizens, and the responsibilities we have toward one another. They are clearly articulated and informed by scripture.
Principle 1: Every government official and institution has a duty to respect the rule of law. Both history and scripture teach us that when government leaders strive to make good laws and are committed to working within those laws, peace usually follows. However, when leaders decide they are above the law, only suffering can result.
Principle 2: Every human being is endowed with rights that governments are obligated to protect and not violate. This principle reflects our fundamental belief that every person is a child of God and, as such, is entitled to government protection of the basic rights that preserve human dignity.
Principle 3: All human beings are mutually accountable to their fellow human beings in their local communities, their countries, and the world. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are responsible for helping each other as brothers and sisters. At MWEG we believe this responsibility also includes participating in government for the benefit and protection of our fellow human beings.
These principles work in harmony. When one is upheld, the others are strengthened. When one is neglected, the others cannot thrive. These principles serve as an anchor and a guide to our efforts to advocate for ethical government. We invite all Utahns to consider how we can use these principles as we prepare to vote in the upcoming election. How well do the policies and candidates we support balance these three principles? Are we voting in a way that protects the rights of others and considers our responsibilities towards all of God’s children?
In closing, we also call upon fellow Utahns to view the actions and words of our elected officials involved in the impeachment trial through the lens of the three R’s we have described here today. Specifically, are they defending the rule of law or trampling upon it? The impeachment process is a lawful one, set forth in the Constitution by the Founders. In their wisdom and fear, they included impeachment as a stopgap against those that would willingly co-opt the very institutions put in place to protect the individual voice of the electorate. They recognized the importance of safeguarding the trust of the people in the electoral process as well as the sanctity and power of the individual vote.
It is now the responsibility of Senators Lee and Romney to follow the wisdom of Alexander Hamilton, as laid out in the Federalist 65: “to preserve, unawed and uninfluenced, the necessary impartiality between an individual accused, and the representatives of the people, his accusers.” To do anything less would be a violation of their oaths.
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