The kingdom of God is an order of government established by

Hear now the solemn words of Orson Pratt: “The kingdom of God is an order of government established by divine authority. It is the only legal government that can exist in any part of the universe.” These words, like thunder rolling across the mountains, proclaim that beyond the laws of kings and the decrees of men, there is but one true rule that binds heaven and earth. It is not crafted in parliaments, nor defended by swords, but flows from the eternal throne of the Almighty, who alone holds the right to govern all creation.

When Pratt speaks of the kingdom of God, he does not speak of a place confined to borders or armies. He speaks of a realm where justice is not corrupted by greed, where mercy and truth embrace, where the will of the Creator shines brighter than the sun. It is an order of government, not of chaos, but of harmony; not of tyranny, but of divine balance. Against this eternal rule, the kingdoms of men appear as shadows—fleeting, fragile, destined to crumble like clay in the hands of time.

Think upon the empires of old. Babylon rose like a golden city, its walls towering, its temples rich with treasure. Rome stretched its legions across the known world, declaring dominion from the deserts of Africa to the forests of Europe. Yet where are these empires now? Dust and ruins, their glory extinguished. But the government of God—its laws of love, of sacrifice, of truth—still stirs hearts, still lifts nations, still commands obedience in the conscience of humanity. The rise and fall of mortal empires stand as testimony: all governments not founded upon the eternal will of heaven are but temporary guests in the halls of history.

Consider the story of Constantine, the emperor who bent the power of Rome toward Christianity. Though imperfect in his ways, he glimpsed a higher order. At the Milvian Bridge, he marched beneath the sign of the cross, believing heaven itself granted him victory. His empire could not endure forever, yet the seed he watered—the recognition of a divine government above the Caesars—spread across continents, shaping civilization for centuries. In this we see: even the mightiest rulers bow to a sovereignty beyond their own.

The quote also carries a challenge: if the kingdom of God is the only true legal government, then what are the laws of men compared to it? They are at best imitations, at worst, rebellions. And yet, in His mercy, God calls men and women to align their earthly lives with His eternal decrees: to honor justice, to love mercy, to walk humbly before Him. When human law reflects divine law, society flourishes; but when it strays, oppression and ruin follow. Thus, the wisdom of the ancients is confirmed in every age.

For the listener, the lesson is clear: do not place your trust wholly in presidents, kings, or parliaments, for their power is as grass before the scythe. Instead, seek to live under the authority of God, whose reign cannot be shaken. Let your heart be ruled by His commandments, your home ordered by His love, your dealings shaped by His justice. Where His government reigns—in your soul, your family, your community—there is peace that no empire can purchase and no tyrant can destroy.

In practice, this means lifting your life to the standards of the eternal kingdom. Govern your tongue with truth, your hands with compassion, and your judgments with fairness. Refuse corruption, resist cruelty, and remember that every act of kindness is a vote cast in favor of God’s rule upon the earth. When faced with laws that contradict conscience, stand firm, for loyalty to the eternal outweighs obedience to the temporal.

Thus we end with a charge: live not as citizens of a fading nation, but as heirs of a kingdom without end. Know that the universe itself bows to one order of government, and that is the kingdom of God, established by divine authority, eternal, unbreakable, and true. Walk in it, teach it, defend it—and you shall partake in the only government that will never pass away.