I feel that that was slightly a loaded question. It might have been completely unintentional but I bring this up because anyone who was forced to make a choice between their religion and their nation would be in quite a mind bogling dilema. I am an endowed member of the church and I will say that I agree with the first peron's answer. Most devout members of any faith would say that they are first devoted to the deity that they worship. However, I would like to point out that one of the things that is required to be an endowed member is that you obey the law of the land. In fact you must obey the law of the land before you can even get baptized. Also, it is taught that the founding fathers and the constitution were inspired by Heavenly Father. Our church leaders also encourage us to be involved the process of democracy, and in local volunteer groups. We beleive strongly in working with our neighbors to make our country a better place. I will end this by emphasizing that though we have differences in docterine with other peoples and faiths we know that everyone is a child of God and that we all of live in this world together. Peace and brotherhood are the key to making the world a better place.

Let me add something more to what the others have written. Doctrine and Covenants section 134 (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/134/) is a statement of our beliefs concerning our responsibility to government. In this section we are told that it is our responsibility to support and obey the governments under which we live. As a general rule, we do this. However, given the hypothetical situation, if I had lived in Nazi Germany and had I known just what that government was doing in the concentration camps, then I think that I would have rebelled against that government and joined some underground movement to work against it. Indeed, a number of Latter-day Saints were sent to the concentration camps because they would not tow the Nazi line. In a case where my government required something of me that I considered to be immoral, then I hope that I would have the personal courage to stand for that which is moral rather than submit to an unjust command. Now, Science Geek, I am going to assume that you are religious. So, let me turn this around on you. Where does your primary loyalty lie, your nation or your religion/understanding of God? ************* Note that rather than answering my question about where his loyalties would lie, Science Geek just launches into a rant against my religion. Enough said.

Well, I am in the military, in Iraq again, ummmmmmm oh Ex Mormon, but even so, Guess???? :D

Can God build a rock so big that He cannot lift it? That question is similar to the one you just asked. It is pure speculation on which would come first, in what situation and when. It is actually a cycle. Like the cycle of faith. Faith cannot grow unless it is fed. Spiritual food would be reading scriptures, going to Church, partaking of the Sacrament, following the commandments. Then our faith will grow, and we can grow closer to our Heavenly Father. However, it takes faith to fill ourselves with spiritual food. Both are necessary. All virtues are important. The Church teaches us to obey the law of the land in which we live. It also depends on the nation. This nation gives us the right to worship freely...that is not the case for many other nations. So, the answer is both have our loyalty, each a little more than the other and a little less at certain times and in different situations. I do give you points on the questions, even though it was loaded and even could be intended as a snare, it is also a creative question that got me thinking deeply about it. +pts