His main point is every person desires life, liberty, and property (pursuit for happiness). A person would spend most of their time defending these things unable to increase his/her life, happiness, and liberty. Some would try to increase their life, liberty, and happiness at another's expense (they would take your things, time, etc.). Thus, law is invented and a force to exact the law placed and this government allows people to increase and do things without worry of loss. Punishments equal the deterrents needed to protect these things. So the penalty for stealing horses became death in the old West because money and jail time was not enough to deter the thieves.
"Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place."
- FREDERIC BASTIAT , FRENCH ECONOMIST
One point I love a lot is the idea that when law is used to take things from one person to give to another, the entire purpose of law is violated by the law itself. It no longer is there to protect your life, liberty, and stuff. It now takes those things and gives it to another. There is a need to invest a portion of our stuff to sustain the enforcement of law, but when a government involves itself with philanthropy (social programs to help the poor) and enforces commerce (forcing citizens to purchase another person's products) the government has become the enemy for which the original laws were invented to protect us against.
The second powerful thought he introduced to me was this... When a man is killed, how much of his life was taken? All of it. When we incarcerate a man for two years, how much of his life was taken? The idea is that murder is the taking of life. Even if it's 10%, life was taken and it is murder just not 100% of a mans life. Laws should keep in mind this value system to deliver justice equitably.
Gotta wonder then, is the law of God the same in purpose and design as Bastiat taught? Eternal Life I believe should be considered the most one could obtain in life, liberty, and property. Are the Laws of the Father aimed at protecting eternal life? The answer is an absolute yes. God's laws are centered on this one objective of exalting man to be like Himself (Moses 1:39) or casting out men who try to frustrate or destroy this purpose. Eternal life is God's life meaning all knowledge, power, and materials to do everything possible. No enemy is able to overcome those who have eternal life since they have not any power equal to the task. God's laws then protect eternal life if we keep the law and there is no power or kingdom or person that can take it away if we have earned it.
Then I had a question... "But if there isn't any being that has power to overcome a being who has eternal life, then why is there a need for laws? Would heaven exist without them? Would this plan exist without them? Would God be God without them?"
One of my biggest concerns in looking through this was a thought in the back of my head, "But don't they (the laws of God) by nature send us away from God the moment we are tested?"
So what are the laws of God?
This may seem weird at first but I think I discovered that there is not just one set of laws to follow and they have different sources. As I read Alma and Josephs words in D&C, I began to understand that under God the Father's laws, we are all damned to eternal darkness to be cast out of His presence forever because we broke any one of God the Father's laws. It doesn't seem to matter which law is broken. They all seem to have the same consequence, Outer Darkness.
I began to realize there were laws for each kingdom. That Christ has laws the Father does not have and vise versa. I would guess then the Holy Ghost has laws as well because He is the God of the Telestial Kingdom. At first glance I was tempted to say they were the same laws but there was a conflict of mercy (Christ's law) and God's law. Then I realized the Laws of mercy could not frustrate the Laws of Justice.
"7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." - John 16
Notice how the Holy Ghost is to judge the prince of this world (Satan)? Christ and the Father have already judged him. Why? Because the Holy Ghost must have a set of laws and judgments, much more merciful than Christ's. This is what allows Satan and his people to be here, not able to receive a body having failed the first estate, but able to participate and be judged in the second estate. This brings an entire new slew of questions but I shouldn't entertain them now.
Notice also, in John 16 how Christ explains in verses 22-26 that the process has been Christ saying, "I'll ask the Father for you." when it changes after the atonement to, "Ask the Father yourself in my name." Notice also, in verses 13-15 we see the relationship of these Gods, The Father, Christ, and the Holy Ghost where the Holy Ghost is bringing things given to Him from Christ and Christ is bringing things given to Him from the Father. Notice the subservience of Law and Justice where the Laws of Christ govern the Holy Ghost and are governed by the Father. How Christ refuses to Judge Satan himself for a more lenient law provided by the Holy Ghost that does not violate the Christ's or the Father's Laws.
"Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God." Alma 42:13
Notice how God would cease to be God if God allows His laws to bend to the will of lesser laws.
Notice how mercy and justice are at conflict. Mercy can only exist so long as justice to a law that governs even mercy, is satisfied. God the Father established laws that govern His realm which includes all kingdoms of glory. It does not include (as far as I know) the kingdoms outside of His presence we call outer darkness. Within God's kingdom, there are kingdoms and they have law givers. This means the laws of mercy are under the laws of God the Father. This would possibly mean the laws of the Holy Ghost (if they exist and I suspect they do) would be under the laws of Mercy. This means no laws of mercy can conflict with the design and purpose of the laws of God. It is a lot like our government in the United States with Federal, State, and Local laws. One cannot create conflicting laws of the government above them.
I believe also justice and mercy are the same thing when used in describing the effects of law upon us. They are both justice. We call the justice of Christ merciful because these laws are so much easier to keep since they allow for mistakes with a condition of repentance and covenant making which then the justice is not as harsh. Justice is used to describe God the Father's laws in scripture as though these laws are called the laws of justice and Christ's laws are called the laws of mercy. They merely are used to describe how hard or easy the laws are to keep.
Justice (not specifically referring to God the Father's law) is the enforcement of law. Laws kept, secure rights and liberties. We call them blessings. Hence,
D&C 130
Alma 42
This is true for children and infants (Mosiah 3:16) as much as adults. It was the new law, which is Christ, that children are spared, the ignorant are blessed and given a second chance in the afterlife, and the sinner can repent and still gain blessings otherwise lost.
The conundrum is, would sin even exist without the laws made by God the Father? And why was outer darkness (being cast out of the presence of God) the punishment affixed to God the Father's laws? Seems extreme but is the result of even the slightest imperfect thought and act. WHY??
I have come to a conclusion that matches what I know but is most likely only a portion of the truth. I imagine the Father, our God, has laws that allow for the existence of Heaven in the highest. Without those laws, the place wouldn't exist. Hence, God would cease to be God. I also imagine that these laws are the basis of what allows for persons such as myself to try and gain the blessings of eternal life. Without the laws, these blessings of eternal life could not be obtained (D&C 14:7) (Remember that the gifts of God were predicated upon laws. If this is the greatest gift (eternal life) then it is predicated upon laws that we must keep). The gifts of God could not be deserved. Part of being God is having a following of intelligence. Who would follow a God without law? that would be a scary being indeed. Respecter of persons, moody days would result in catastrophe for countless others, and his appetites would lead his actions.
So, the laws were put in place to govern a place where perfect people could live and have a place of peace and love that protects a perfect life. Anything less than perfect cannot be there or exist there or it would cease to be a perfect place of perfect persons. That would mean all laws must be kept to retain the blessing or obtain it. It also means any broken law is the ejection of that person from that place. Hence, the extreme nature of the law and the justice to it. I feel there is more than this, but I have not discovered it yet.
I have come to a conclusion that matches what I know but is most likely only a portion of the truth. I imagine the Father, our God, has laws that allow for the existence of Heaven in the highest. Without those laws, the place wouldn't exist. Hence, God would cease to be God. I also imagine that these laws are the basis of what allows for persons such as myself to try and gain the blessings of eternal life. Without the laws, these blessings of eternal life could not be obtained (D&C 14:7) (Remember that the gifts of God were predicated upon laws. If this is the greatest gift (eternal life) then it is predicated upon laws that we must keep). The gifts of God could not be deserved. Part of being God is having a following of intelligence. Who would follow a God without law? that would be a scary being indeed. Respecter of persons, moody days would result in catastrophe for countless others, and his appetites would lead his actions.
So, the laws were put in place to govern a place where perfect people could live and have a place of peace and love that protects a perfect life. Anything less than perfect cannot be there or exist there or it would cease to be a perfect place of perfect persons. That would mean all laws must be kept to retain the blessing or obtain it. It also means any broken law is the ejection of that person from that place. Hence, the extreme nature of the law and the justice to it. I feel there is more than this, but I have not discovered it yet.
This image is more accurate than most others where justice is in the scale rather than on the scale itself. Justice is the measuring device and must be satisfied. If the punishment does not equal the sin, then something must change. Christ was punished which we call the atonement for the sins of everyone to satisfy the demands of justice.
Alma taught us that mercy cannot rob justice (Alma 42:25). Justice is the giving of punishment or blessing in relation to a law. The punishment to broken law must be equal in opposition to the blessing one would receive through obedience to a law. Since the laws God has placed are perfect and given to preserve a perfect heaven, the blessing is eternal life (God's life). This means the punishment affixed must be outer darkness, or being cast out of the kingdom and presence of God. The greatest of God's gifts is eternal life (D&C 14:7). If the punishment does not equal the gift, then it is unjust. Hence, the punishment is eternal damnation.
Hence, innocent Adam and Eve were cast out for disobedience and fell from the presence of God the Father having broken the highest of laws that govern eternal life. They were cast out of where they were even though their hearts and desires were good and pure. I thought, "Funny... why didn't God just take the tree of life away from them? Instead he tells them to leave." Because that is a place governed by God the Father's laws. They went to a place where Christs laws preside and were instructed in His laws.
Remember how God looketh upon the heart and doesn't judge by the outward appearance? (1 Samuel 16:7) First of all, I now look at these with the question of "Who is the law giver here?" And usually it's Christ so this is the law of mercy being discussed and taught. Second, I am reminded that we are judged according to the deeds done in the flesh. This is important to understand why Adam and Eve, very good people, were judged and cast out by God even though their hearts were good. They had no evil in them. But to protect them from partaking of immortal life, they were sent away to die that they may suffer and pay the price of sin under a different law. A law of mercy that still allows for mankind to enjoy the blessings of eternal life offered in God the Father's laws.
Continued conclusion... Hence Justice and Mercy are referencing two different laws and law givers. God the Father had to follow his laws or heaven and God would cease. It became required that a mediator come to pay a price we could not to allow us to progress. This has been the way forever and ever. My question of why God would invent sin through the creation of law was answered. I still don't know what exactly God the Father's laws are, but it doesn't seem to matter too much since we can't keep them anyway being powerless to do so. (Christ lived that law though so he could remain blameless, He didn't live by His own law alone, bu tby His Father's laws). It really shows the need for a Savior and why we came here in the first place.
PS. I had a thought during this study. Could it be that the lesser kingdoms of glory only exist because of Christ? God the Father would not create lesser laws or He would cease to be God. He is not creating somewhat good things, He creates perfect things. The result of God the Father being without a Savior is God the Father being alone without any other creature in His presence. The fact that less than perfect persons have a place to reside means there are kingdoms governed by beings that have a lesser law allowing lesser beings to dwell there. Lesser in respect to their power and character of God, not in their value as a person.
P.S.S If the Holy Ghost does have laws that are more lenient than Christs to allow for the murderers and liers etc. to have a place of glory, then wouldn't that mercy have to satisfy the demands of Christ's justice for they have rejected the Savior and do not wish to have the ordinances or make covenants let alone desire to keep them. We know there is a place of glory even for them (D&C 76:81-91, 98-106) yet they did not keep the laws of Christ that would keep them in Christ's kingdom. Then this mercy cannot rob justice meaning a sacrifice must have been made. Don't know if this has already happened maybe in the first estate or maybe it's happening and yet to happen, but it stands to reason that it must be so.
PS. I had a thought during this study. Could it be that the lesser kingdoms of glory only exist because of Christ? God the Father would not create lesser laws or He would cease to be God. He is not creating somewhat good things, He creates perfect things. The result of God the Father being without a Savior is God the Father being alone without any other creature in His presence. The fact that less than perfect persons have a place to reside means there are kingdoms governed by beings that have a lesser law allowing lesser beings to dwell there. Lesser in respect to their power and character of God, not in their value as a person.
P.S.S If the Holy Ghost does have laws that are more lenient than Christs to allow for the murderers and liers etc. to have a place of glory, then wouldn't that mercy have to satisfy the demands of Christ's justice for they have rejected the Savior and do not wish to have the ordinances or make covenants let alone desire to keep them. We know there is a place of glory even for them (D&C 76:81-91, 98-106) yet they did not keep the laws of Christ that would keep them in Christ's kingdom. Then this mercy cannot rob justice meaning a sacrifice must have been made. Don't know if this has already happened maybe in the first estate or maybe it's happening and yet to happen, but it stands to reason that it must be so.
