EXHIBIT 5.1

                       (Jones & Keller, P.C. Letterhead)

                                 June 13, 2003


Citizens, Inc.
400 East Anderson Lane
Austin, Texas 78714-9151

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as special counsel for Citizens, Inc. (the "Company") in
connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-4, to be filed by the Company
under the Securities Act of 1933 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Registration Statement relates to the proposed issuance of an undetermined
number of shares of Class A Common Stock, no par value, to be issued in
connection with the Plan and Agreement of Merger among Mid-American Alliance
Corporation, the Company, and Citizens Acquisition, Inc. dated March 7, 2003
(the "Merger Agreement"). The number of shares to be issued will be equal in
market value to $8,208,540, with the per share market value of the Company's
Class A common stock being equal to the average closing price as reported on the
New York Stock Exchange for the 20 trading days immediately preceding the
closing date of the proposed exchange. The Registration Statement and exhibits
thereto to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under such Act
are referred to herein as the "Registration Statement."

         This letter is governed by, and shall be interpreted in accordance
with, the Legal Opinion Accord (the "Accord") of the ABA Section of Business Law
(1991). As a consequence, it is subject to a number of qualifications,
exceptions, definitions, limitations on coverage and other limitations, all as
more particularly described in the Accord, and this letter should be read in
conjunction therewith.

         We have examined the Articles of Incorporation of the Company as filed
with the Colorado Secretary of State, the Bylaws of the Company, and the minutes
of the meetings and records of proceedings of the Board of Directors of the
Company, the applicable laws of the State of Colorado and a copy of the
Registration Statement.

         Based upon the foregoing, and having regard for such legal
considerations as we deemed relevant, we are of the opinion that when issued
pursuant to the Registration Statement and under the terms of the Merger
Agreement, the shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company shall have been
legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.



         We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as part of the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our name under the heading "Legal
Matters" in the Proxy Statement-Prospectus constituting a part of the
Registration Statement.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     /s/ Jones & Keller, P.C.

                                                     JONES & KELLER, P.C.