By Choice, Not by Force: Why Many Latter-day Saints Embrace Libertarian Principles
Faith and Freedom Intertwined
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that agency—the God-given ability to choose between good and evil—is central to His plan for humanity. This belief shapes not only personal morality but also perspectives on how societies should be governed. For many Latter-day Saints, the principle of agency naturally leads to a preference for political philosophies that maximize individual liberty and minimize coercion. This is why many members find common ground with Libertarian principles, which seek to protect life, liberty, and property while leaving people free to choose their own paths.
Agency: A Divine Gift and Sacred Responsibility
From the very beginning, LDS doctrine emphasizes agency as essential to God’s plan. The Book of Mormon teaches that “men are free according to the flesh… to choose liberty and eternal life… or to choose captivity and death” (2 Nephi 2:27). This freedom to choose is not an incidental blessing; it is the foundation upon which moral growth is built.
The LDS narrative of the War in Heaven is a profound allegory for the value of liberty. In that pre-mortal realm, we are taught that Lucifer proposed a plan to force all souls to choose righteousness, removing the possibility of sin—but also removing agency. The Father rejected this plan, knowing that without freedom, righteousness would be meaningless. Libertarianism echoes this truth: virtue cannot be mandated; it must be chosen.
Accountability: Freedom’s Counterpart
In LDS theology, agency is always paired with accountability. Doctrine and Covenants 101:78 declares that God ordained “that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.” Freedom is not a license to harm others—it is the opportunity to act, coupled with the responsibility to bear the consequences of those actions.
Libertarianism shares this view. It champions a system where individuals may live as they choose, so long as they do not infringe upon the rights of others. Just as the gospel rejects the idea that we can outsource our moral duties to someone else, libertarian thought rejects the idea that a government can make us virtuous through compulsion.
The Proper Role of Government
Many Latter-day Saints believe that the U.S. Constitution was divinely inspired, as stated in Doctrine and Covenants 101:80. Its principles of limited government and individual rights align closely with libertarian ideals. The proper role of government, from this perspective, is to protect citizens from force and fraud—not to direct every aspect of their lives.
LDS history itself provides sobering lessons about government overreach. The persecution of the Saints in Missouri and Illinois—often carried out by state authorities—illustrates the dangers of concentrated political power. These experiences foster a deep appreciation for the need to keep government powers in check.
Voluntary Charity Over Coerced Redistribution
Service and charity are hallmarks of LDS life, but they are meaningful precisely because they are voluntary. Latter-day Saints donate to the Church’s welfare program, participate in humanitarian projects, and perform countless acts of service—not because the government requires it, but because love and compassion move them to act.
Libertarians hold that genuine charity cannot be legislated. While a government can take resources through taxation and redistribute them, it cannot create the spiritual and emotional bonds formed when people freely choose to help one another. Voluntary giving respects both the giver’s agency and the dignity of the recipient.
Acknowledging Differences
Of course, not all Latter-day Saints identify as Libertarians. Some believe government programs can be a tool for compassion or moral order. But even in these cases, the LDS principle of persuasion over compulsion offers common ground. As Doctrine and Covenants 121:41 teaches, power should be maintained “only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned”—principles as valuable in politics as they are in ministry.
Preserving the Gift
Agency is more than a theological concept; it is a stewardship. Preserving the freedom to choose is a responsibility that extends beyond personal life into the civic sphere. For many Latter-day Saints, Libertarianism offers a framework for protecting that sacred gift—ensuring that choices, whether moral or mundane, remain in the hands of individuals rather than distant authorities.
In the end, God’s plan is carried out not by force, but by choice. And it is through protecting that choice—in law, in governance, and in daily life—that we safeguard both liberty and the opportunity for righteousness.
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