List of Doctrines on "Sin: Unrighteous Dominion"
786. We are not to abuse the authority given us—to exercise unrighteous dominion or power.
786. We are not to abuse the authority given us—to exercise unrighteous dominion or power.
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Smith
Orson F. Whitney
Elder Wilford Woodruff
President Brigham Young
Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards
Bruce R. McConkie
President Heber J. Grant
J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O. McKay
Moroni, the Prophet General
President Heber J. Grant
J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O. McKay
Russell M. Nelson
James E. Faust
Related Witnesses
President Ezra Taft Benson
President Brigham Young
Recorded in Luke
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Most men are inclined to abuse authority, especially those who wield it who are the least prepared to hold positions of trust. It has been the characteristic of men in power to use that power to gratify their own pride and vain ambitions. More misery has come to the inhabitants of this world through the exercise of authority by those who least deserved it, than from almost any other cause. Rulers of kingdoms in the past have oppressed their subjects, and where they had the power they have sought to increase their dominions. We have had some horrible examples of misplaced ambition which, in recent years, placed the very existence of humanity in peril. These conditions still prevail in high places bringing fear and consternation to the troubled world.
There should not, however, be any of this unrighteous ambition within the Church, but everything should be done in the spirit of love and humility. CHMR2:178; DGSM:70
Joseph Smith
Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35. Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
36. That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
37. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
38. Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
39. We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
40. Hence many are called, but few are chosen. (Revelation received while in Liberty Jail, March 20, 1839; why many are called and few chosen) D&C 121:34-40
Orson F. Whitney
The great principle enunciated in the Declaration of Independence, that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, permeates this Church and lies at the foundation of its government, determining the manner of the choice of men and women to hold office therein. This has always been the rule of the Church. There is no room in it for tyranny, for usurpation, for the exercise of unrighteous dominion. CR1907Apr:111
Elder Wilford Woodruff
"Many are called, few are chosen." The Almighty has revealed in our day the reasons, but what a mighty host have wrecked their eternal hopes on those fatal reefs—love of the riches of this world, the honors and praises of men, and the exercises of unrighteous dominion.
Let all Israel remember that the eternal and everlasting Priesthood is bestowed upon us for the purpose alone of administering in the ordinances of life and salvation, both for the living and the dead, and no man on earth can use that Priesthood for any other purpose than for the work of the ministry, the perfecting of the Saints, edifying the body of Christ, establishing the Kingdom of Heaven, and redeeming Zion. If we attempt to use it for unrighteous purposes, like lightning from heaven our power, sooner or later, falls, and we fail to accomplish the designs of God. (In official announcement of the death of President John Taylor, Aug. 29, 1887) MOFP3:131
President Brigham Young,Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards
(First Presidency)
The Church and Kingdom of God does not use any compulsion over the souls of men. Nor does it claim any right so to do. The Priesthood which it bears is Divine authority to administer in behalf of Deity in the truths and ordinances of salvation. Those who hold it are warned against seeking to exercise unrighteous dominion, and instructed that it can only be maintained "by persuasion, by longsuffering, by gentleness and meekness and by love unfeigned." The presiding authorities therein regulate the affairs of the Church by "common consent," and their jurisdiction is within, and not without, its ecclesiastical limits. Every member of the organization in every place is absolutely free as a citizen, and is not restrained of any liberty enjoyed by nonmembers. (Sixth General Epistle of the First Presidency of the Church from Great Salt Lake Valley, Jan. 15, 1852) MOFP4:82
Bruce R. McConkie
Babylon is the communistic system that seeks to destroy freedom of people in all nations and kingdoms; it is the Mafia and crime syndicates that murder and rob and steal; it is the secret combinations that seek for power and unrighteous dominion over the souls of men. Babylon is the promoter of pornography; it is organized crime and prostitution; it is every evil and wicked and ungodly thing in our whole social structure." (The Millennial Messiah, p. 424) DGSM:98
President Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O. McKay
(First Presidency)
The gospel of Christ is a gospel of love and peace, of patience and long suffering, of forbearance and forgiveness, of kindness and good deeds, of charity and brotherly love. Greed, avarice, base ambition, thirst for power, and unrighteous dominion over our fellow men, can have no place in the hearts of Latter-day Saints nor of God-fearing men everywhere. We of the Church must lead the life prescribed in the saying of the ancient prophet-warrior:
"I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country." (Alma 60:36) CR1942Apr:90
Moroni, the Prophet General,
quoted by Mormon
quoted by Mormon
Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I close mine epistle. (Moroni complains to Pahoran of the government's neglect of the armies, about 62 B.C.) Alma 60:36
President Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O. McKay
(First Presidency)
That sin [of war], as Moroni of old said, is to the condemnation of those who "sit in their places of power in a state of thoughtless stupor," those rulers in the world who in a frenzy of hate and lust for unrighteous power and dominion over their fellow men, have put into motion eternal forces they do not comprehend and cannot control. God, in His own due time, will pass sentence upon them.
"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Romans 12:19) CR1942Apr:95-96
Russell M. Nelson,
also quoting Joseph Smith
Like cutting the cord with clippers, it is possible to use spiritual power so carelessly as to destroy one's very connection to that power. I know a husband who dominates his wife as though she were his possession. . . . And I know a wife who dominates her husband to the point that he has lost all feelings of worth.
Remember, "the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and . . . the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness." (D&C 121:36; italics added by RMN)
The unrighteous use of priesthood authority surely severs the connection to the Source of that authority. (See D&C 121:37.) CR1984Oct:40
James E. Faust
As direction is given in the Church and in our homes, there should be no spirit of dictatorship and no unrighteous dominion, CR1983Apr:59
Gordon B. Hinckley
There [should] never be in [the] home any "unrighteous dominion" of husband over wife (see D&C 121:37,39), no assertion of superiority, but rather an expression in living which says that these two are equally yoked.
No man can please his Heavenly Father who fails to respect the daughters of God. No man can please his Heavenly Father who fails to magnify his wife and companion, and nurture and build and strengthen and share with her. CR1985Apr:65; DGSM:80
Related Witnesses:
President Ezra Taft Benson
Arguments, fights, unrighteous dominion, generation gaps, divorces, spouse abuse, riots, and disturbances all fall into this category of pride. CR1989Apr:5
President Brigham Young,
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
Thrust a man into prison and bind him with chains, and then let him be filled with the comfort and with the glory of eternity, and that prison is a palace to him. Again, let a man be seated upon a throne with power and dominion in this world, ruling his millions and millions and without that peace which flows from the Lord of Hosts—without that contentment and joy that come from heaven, his palace is a prison; his life is a burden to him; he lives in fear, in dread, and in sorrow. But when a person is filled with the peace and power of God, all is right with him. (In Bowery, July 5, 1857, JD5:1-2) DBY:33
Recorded in Luke
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (The devil tempts Jesus) Luke 4:5-8
