When in the exercise of its legitimate authority and for purposes recognized as proper to be considered and promoted, the legislative power has prohibited any act or line of conduct, the conscientious belief that such prohibition is wrong and that the act or conduct prohibited is required as a religious duty will not be an excuse or defence for a violation of the law. Religious liberty does not include or involve the right or duty to violate the law. It is not necessary here to enter into any philosophical discussion as to possible conflicts between the law of the land and any assumed natural, moral, or higher law. For the purposes of government, its authority exercised within its recognized sphere must be paramount to any other authority. Therefore, conscientious belief that war is wrong or immoral or contrary to divine law will not justify a refusal to pay taxes for the raising of funds to be used in military operations; and the persons thus refusing to contribute to the support of the government in the exercise of one of its recognized functions can properly be subjected to whatever penalty or punishment is provided in such cases. Likewise, compulsory military service may be required of such persons. But in the full recognition of religious liberty it may be provided that persons who have a conscientious objection to war may be excused from military service on payment of some pecuniary equivalent. As a further illustration of the principle that religious belief is no excuse for violation of law it has been held that persons entertaining the belief recognized by one branch of the Mormon church that polygamy is morally right and commendable, may without interference with their religious belief be required to abstain from polygamous marriages on penalty of criminal punishment (Reynolds v. United States).