Footings of Mormon Conceptions of Law: Vantage Points for Understanding Constitutional Law and the Law of Religious Freedom Chapter

Law holds a central place in both the theology and the historical experience of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.¹ The Bible as well as other texts accepted by the Church as scripture² contain countless passages relating to law,³ as do numerous statements from successive presidents of the Church, who are sustained by Latter-Day Saints as prophets. More generally, church leaders and scholars with LDS roots have frequently addressed the significance of law, both on ceremonial occasions⁴ and in the course of grappling with practical legal problems,⁵ as well as in the context of giving religious guidance to