Voice of the People

Both the Book of Mormon and Covenant of Christ clarify the meaning of “the voice of the people.” It refers to a decision made by a simple majority vote. This is distinct from the concept of “mutual agreement.” Therefore, when a majority votes either for or against a proposal, the outcome of that vote determines the course of action. For example, we’ve been instructed that the proposal to sustain Covenant of Christ will inform the Lord of our willingness or unwillingness to accept the text as His covenant language for our use.¹ Covenant of Christ says it’s not often that the voice of the people is going to choose error.²Therefore choose for yourselves… by your vote, so that you can be judged according to the laws that have been established by our forefathers, which are good and were given to them by the Lord. Now it’s not common for the majority of the people to want anything contrary to what’s right, but it’s common for the minority to want what isn’t right. So you must observe this principle and make it your law, to do your business by the majority vote of the people. And if the time comes that the majority of the people choose iniquity, then that is when God’s judgments will fall upon you and He’ll cause great destruction, just like He’s done upon this land up until now (Mosiah 13:6 CE). See also COMMON CONSENT, MUTUAL AGREEMENT.