Government of God

John Taylor, third president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, presents here not merely a religious treatise but a bold political philosophy: that God's government, as revealed through priesthood authority, offers the only true model for human civilization. Written in the turbulent aftermath of polygamy persecution and federal opposition, this 1882 work articulates a sweeping vision where divine law transcends man-made constitutions, and where the Church's hierarchical structure represents heaven's own governance mirrored on earth. Taylor argues that secular governments inevitably fail because they lack divine sanction, while theocratic organization restores the order intended by the Creator. This is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how a minority religion in America constructed an entire alternative governmental philosophy, one that persists in influencing millions and continues to shape debates about religious liberty, the separation of church and state, and the boundaries of faithful citizenship.