LDS Cooperative "one heart and one mind...with no poor among us"

The 2008 US presidential campaign has brought a renewed interest nationally about Latter-day Saint attitudes and doctrines about politics. In recent decades Latter-day Saints have distinguished themselves as avid believers in democracy, while also going to great lengths to show their patriotism and allegiance to the US government. While a commitment to democracy is consistent with Latter-day Saint scripture, unquestioning obedience to political authority is not. Below is a brief attempt to develop a Mormon political theology, which is supportive of democracy, yet also critical of government abuses of power.
A common theme in Latter-day Saint scripture is deep suspicion towards power and the exercise of political authority over others. This is based on the assumption that power tends to corrupt those who acquire it. The prophet Joseph Smith stated that, “We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men [and women] as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion (Doctrine and Covenants 121:39).” Latter-day Saints are to “befriend” the laws of the constitution because such laws support “that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges” of “all mankind,” against the threat of unrestrained government authority (Doctrine and Covenants 98: 5-6).
In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma warns those who have fled the tyranny of King Noah that they should not simply choose for themselves a new king, but rather that, they “shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another, therefore I say unto you it is not expedient that ye should have a king (Mosiah, 23:7).” Such views tend to reinforce the radically different view of leadership taught in the New Testament, where Jesus explains that, “Ye know that the princes of the gentiles exercise dominion over them and they that are great exercise authority upon them, but it shall not be so among you. . . whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant (Mathew 20:25-27).”
The examples above suggest that Latter-day Saint doctrine advocates a political system that is highly democratic, decentralized, participatory, and which promotes equality, so that each member of the body politic can act as “an agent unto him [or her] self (Doctrine and Covenants 29:35),” and freely make decisions about how to live his or her life, using the ethics of the Gospel as a compass and guide. Further, this political freedom and equality should be accompanied by economic freedom and equality, in which “all things [are had] common among them; therefore there [are] not rich and poor, bond and free, but they [are] all made free and partakers of the heavenly gift (4 Nephi 1:3).”
But what if living under such a system is not possible? How should Latter-day Saints act when living under authoritarian regimes, or when their government, whether democratic or authoritarian, under takes immoral policies, such as waging wars of aggression for economic gain? “A large part of the Bible is devoted to people who condemned the crimes of state and immoral practices (Interventions, Noam Chomsky, City Lights Books, San Franciso, CA, 2007, pg. 214.),” such as the prophet Elijah who condemned the wicked King Ahab for killing Naboth in order to take possession of his vineyard (1 Kings 21). In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Abinidi is imprisoned and finally burned to death for criticizing the wicked King Noah (Mosiah 12-17). The example of these prophets suggests it is our religious responsibility to criticize abuses of power, even by those who assume benign sounding titles, such as president and prime minister.
When engaging in politics, we as Latter-day Saints should always remember our religious heritage, and seek to promote Latter-day Saint values of democracy, equality, and freedom, while at the same time strongly condemning/resisting the crimes of those in power.