Ezra
Taft Benson
13th President
1985–1994
The
United States
Constitution
The
Bill of Rights
Declaration
of
Independence
Survival
and the
American Way
of Life
Civic
Standards for
Faithful Saints
American
Heritage
Of Freedom
Righteousness
Exalteth A
Nation
The
American Heritage of Freedom
Every
member of the priesthood should understand the divine plan designed by the
Lord to raise up the first free people in modern times. Here is how
scripture says it was achieved:
First:
Prophecy is abundant that God deliberately kept the American continent
hidden until after the Holy Roman Empire had been broken up and the
various nations had established themselves as independent kingdoms.
Keeping America hidden until this time was no accident. (2 Ne. 1:6,
8.)
Second:
At the proper time, God inspired Columbus to overcome almost
insurmountable odds to discover America and bring this rich new land to
the attention of the gentiles in Europe. (1 Ne. 13:12.)
Third:
God revealed to his ancient American prophets that shortly after the
discovery of America there would be peoples in Europe who would desire to
escape the persecution and tyranny of the Old World and flee to America.
(1 Ne. 13:13-16.)
Fourth:
God told his prophets that the kingdoms in Europe would try to exercise
dominion over the people who had fled to America, but that in the wars for
independence the American settlers would win. (This is a remarkable
prophecy in that 2,300 years before the Revolutionary War was fought, God
through his prophets predicted who would win it.) (1 Ne. 13:16-19.)
Fifth:
The prophets were told that in the latter days when the gentiles came to
America, they would establish it as a land of liberty on which there would
be no kings. The Lord declared that he would protect the land, and
whosoever would try to establish kings either from within or without would
perish. (2 Ne. 10:8-14.)
Sixth:
Having declared America to be a land of liberty, God undertook to raise up
a band of inspired and intelligent leaders who could write a constitution
of liberty and establish the first free people in modern times. The hand
of God in this undertaking is clearly indicated by the Lord himself in a
revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith in these words: ". . . I
established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I
raised up unto this very purpose. . . ." (D&C 101:80.)
Seventh:
God declared that the United States Constitution was divinely inspired for
the specific purpose of eliminating bondage and the violation of the
rights and protection which belong to "all flesh." (See D&C
101:77-80.)
Eighth:
God placed a mandate upon his people to befriend and defend the
constitutional laws of the land and see that the rights and privileges of
all mankind are protected. He verified the declaration of the founding
fathers, that God created all men free. He also warned against those who
would enact laws encroaching upon the sacred rights and privileges of free
men. He urged the election of honest and wise leaders and said that evil
men and laws were of Satan. (D&C 98:5-10.)
Ninth:
God predicted through his prophets that this great gentile nation, raised
up on the American continent in the last days, would become the richest
and most powerful nation on the face of the earth; even "above all
other nations." (See 1 Ne. 13:15,
30; Ether 2:12.)
Tenth:
Concerning the United States, the Lord revealed to his prophets that its
greatest threat would be a vast, worldwide "secret combination"
which would not only threaten the United States but also seek to
"overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations and countries."
(Ether 8:25.)
Eleventh:
In connection with attack on the United States, the Lord told the Prophet
Joseph Smith there would be an attempt to overthrow the country by
destroying the Constitution. Joseph Smith predicted that the time would
come when the Constitution would hang, as it were, by a thread, and at
that time "this people will step forth and save it from the
threatened destruction." (Journal of Discourses, vol. 7, p.
15.) It is my conviction that the elders of Israel, widely spread over the
nation, will at that crucial time successfully rally the righteous of our
country and provide the necessary balance of strength to save the
institutions of constitutional government.
Twelfth:
The Lord revealed to the prophet Nephi that he established the gentiles on
this land to be a free people forever, that if they were a righteous
nation and overcame the wickedness and secret abominations that would rise
in their midst, they would inherit the land forever. (1 Ne. 14:1-2.)
Thirteenth:
On the other hand, if the gentiles on this land reject the word of God and
conspire to overthrow liberty and the Constitution, then their doom is
fixed, and they "shall be cut off from among my people who are of the
covenant." (1 Ne. 14:6; 3 Ne. 21:11,
14, 21; D&C 84: 114-115, 117.)
Fourteenth:
The great destructive force which was to be turned loose on the earth and
which the prophets for centuries have been calling the "abomination
of desolation" is vividly described by those who saw it in vision.
Ours is the first generation to realize how literally these prophecies can
be fulfilled now that God, through science, has unlocked the secret to
thermonuclear reaction.
In
the light of these prophecies, there should be no doubt in the mind of any
priesthood holder that the human family is headed for trouble. There are
rugged days ahead. It is time for every man who wishes to do his duty to
get himself prepared—physically, spiritually, and psychologically—for
the task which may come at any time, as suddenly as the whirlwind.
Where
do we stand today? All over the world the light of freedom is being
diminished. Across whole continents of the earth freedom is being totally
obliterated.
Never
in recorded history has any movement spread its power so far and so fast
as has socialistic communism. The facts are not pleasant to review.
Communist leaders are jubilant with their success. They are driving
freedom back on almost every front.
It
is time, therefore, that every American, and especially every member of
the priesthood, become informed about the aims, tactics, and schemes of
socialistic communism. This becomes particularly important when it is
realized that communism is turning out to be the earthly image of the plan
which Satan presented in the preexistence. The whole program of
socialistic communism is essentially a war against God and the plan of
salvation—the very plan which we fought to uphold during "the war
in heaven."
Up
to now some members of the Church have stood aloof, feeling that the fight
against socialistic communism is controversial and unrelated to the
mission of the Church or the work of the Lord. But the president of the
Church in our day has made it clear that the fight against atheistic
communism is a major challenge to the Church and every member in it.
During
the general conference of the Church in October 1959, President David O.
McKay, in discussing the threat of communism, referred to W. Cleon
Skousen's book The Naked Communist and said, "I admonish
everybody to read that excellent book." He then quoted the following
from the flyleaf: "The conflict between communism and freedom is the
problem of our time. It overshadows all other problems." (Conference
Report, October 1959, p. 5.)
The
fight against Godless communism is a very real part of the duty of every
man who holds the priesthood. It is the fight against slavery, immorality,
atheism, terrorism, cruelty, barbarism, deceit, and the destruction of
human life through a kind of tyranny unsurpassed by anything in human
history. Here is a struggle against the evil, satanical priestcraft of
Lucifer. Truly it can be called "a continuation of the war in
heaven."
In
the war in heaven the devil advocated absolute eternal security at the
sacrifice of our freedom. Although there is nothing more desirable to a
Latter-day Saint than eternal security in God's presence, and although God
knew, as we did, that some of us would not achieve this security if we
were allowed our freedom, yet the very God of heaven who has more mercy
than us all still decreed no guaranteed security except by a man's own
freedom of choice and individual initiative.
Today
the devil as a wolf in a supposedly new suit of sheep's clothing is
enticing some men, both in and out of the Church, to parrot his line by
advocating planned government-guaranteed security programs at the expense
of our liberties. Latter-day Saints should be reminded how and why they
voted as they did in heaven. If some have decided to change their votes
they should repent—throw their support on the side of freedom—and
cease promoting this subversion.
When
all of the trappings of propaganda and pretense have been pulled aside,
the exposed hard-core structure of modern communism is amazingly similar
to the ancient Book of Mormon record of secret societies such as the
Gadiantons. In the ancient American civilization there was no word which
struck greater terror to the hearts of the people than the name of the
Gadiantons. It was a secret political party which operated as a murder
cult. Its object was to infiltrate legitimate government, plant its
officers in high places, and then seize power and live off the spoils
appropriated from the people. (It would start out as a small group of
dissenters, and by using secret oaths with the threat of death for
defectors, it would gradually gain a choke hold on the political and
economic life of whole civilizations.)
The
object of the Gadiantons, like modern communists, was to destroy the
existing government and set up a ruthless criminal dictatorship over the
whole land.
One
of the most urgent, heart-stirring appeals made by Moroni as he closed the
Book of Mormon was addressed to the gentile nations of the last days. He
foresaw the rise of a great worldwide secret combination among the
gentiles which "seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands,
nations, and countries." (Ether 8:25.) He warned each gentile nation
of the last days to purge itself of this gigantic criminal conspiracy
which would seek to rule the world.
The
prophets, in our day, have continually warned us of these internal threats
in our midst—that our greatest threat from socialistic communism lies
within our country. We don't need a prophet—we have one; we need a
listening ear. And if we do not listen and heed, then "the day cometh
that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of
his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles,
shall be cut off from among the people." (D&C 1:14.)
The
prophets have said that these threats are among us. The prophet Moroni,
viewing our day, said, "Wherefore the Lord commandeth you, when ye
shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of
your awful situation." (Ether 8:24.)
Unfortunately,
our nation has not treated the socialistic communist conspiracy as
"treasonable to our free institutions," as the First Presidency
pointed out in a signed 1936 statement. If we continue to uphold communism
by not making it treasonable, our land shall be destroyed, for the Lord
has said that "whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret
combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the
nation, behold they shall be destroyed." (Ether 8:22.)
Moroni described how the secret combination would take over a
country and then fight the work of God, persecute the righteous, and
murder those who resisted. Moroni therefore proceeded to describe the
workings of the ancient secret combinations so that modern man could
recognize this great political conspiracy in the last days. (See Ether
8:23-25.)
Moroni seemed greatly exercised lest in our day we might not
be able to recognize the startling fact that the same secret societies
which destroyed the Jaredites and decimated numerous kingdoms of both
Nephites and Lamanites would be precisely the same form of criminal
conspiracy which would rise up among the gentile nations in this day.
The
strategems of the leaders of these societies are amazingly familiar to
anyone who has studied the tactics of modern communist leaders.
The
Lord has declared that before the second coming of Christ it will be
necessary to "destroy the secret works of darkness" in order to
preserve the land of Zion—the Americas. (See 2 Ne. 10:11-16.)
The
worldwide secret conspiracy which has risen up in our day to fulfill these
prophecies is easily identified. President McKay left no room for doubt as
to what attitude Latter-day Saints should take toward the modern
"secret combinations" of conspiratorial communism. In a lengthly
statement on communism, he said:
Latter-day
Saints should have nothing to do with secret combinations and groups
antagonistic to the constitutional law of the land, which the Lord
"suffered to be established," and which "should be
maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh according to just
and holy principles." (Gospel Ideals, Improvement Era, 1953,
p. 306.)
There
are those who recommend that the clash between communism and freedom be
avoided through disarmament agreements. Abolishing our military strength
and adopting an unenforceable contract as a substitute to protect us would
go down in history as the greatest mistake free men could make in a time
of peril.
President
McKay declared:
Force
rules in the world today; consequently, our government must keep armies
abroad, build navies and air squadrons, create atom bombs to protect
itself from the threatened aggression of a nation which seems to listen to
no other appeal than compulsion. (Ibid., p. 304.)
This
parallels the historic statement by George Washington when he vigorously
warned:
There
is a rank due in the United States among the nations that will be totally
lost by the reputation of weakness. If we would avoid insult we must be
able to repel it, if we would secure the peace, it must be known that we
are at all times ready for war. (Speech to Congress, December 3, 1793.)
Some
timid, vacillating political leaders proclaim that communism is something
we will have to learn to live with. The present communist system, they
declare, will continue because there is no alternate system to replace
communism. The policy of increasing power, of pushing their system
outward, and using the communist party, they say, will go on.
Such
a negative attitude writes off the hundreds of millions behind the iron
curtain as a lost cause. Surely no courageous, liberty-loving citizen will
treat the communist secret combination as "something we will have to
learn to live with."
There
is a more courageous and sounder point of view. President McKay expressed
it in these words:
Men
will be free. I have hoped for twenty years that the Russian system would
break up. There is no freedom under it, and sooner or later the people
will rise against it. They cannot oppose those fundamentals of
civilization and of God. They can't crush their people always. Men will be
free. (Church News, November 6, 1957.)
What
is the official position of the Church on communism? In 1936 the First
Presidency made an official declaration on communism which has never been
abrogated. I quote the concluding paragraph: "We call upon all Church
members completely to eschew communism. The safety of our divinely
inspired constitutional government and the welfare of our Church
imperatively demand that communism shall have no place in America." (Improvement
Era, vol. 39 [1936], p. 488.)
We
must ever keep in mind that collectivized socialism is part of the
communist strategy. Communism is fundamentally socialism. We will never
win our fight against communism by making concessions to socialism.
Communism and socialism, closely related, must be defeated on principle.
The close relationship between socialism and communism is clearly pointed
out by Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina in the following letter to
the editor of the Washington Post, published August 6, 1961:
Both
socialism and communism derive from the teachings of Marx and Engels. In
fact, the movements were one until the split over the methods of approach,
which resulted after the Russian revolution in 1905. . . . The aim and
purpose of both was then and is now world socialism, which communism seeks
to achieve through revolution and which socialists seek to achieve through
evolution.
The
industrial achievements of the U.S. are the result of an economic system
which is the antithesis of socialism. Our economic system is called
"capitalism" or "private enterprise" and is based on
private property rights, the profit motive and competition.
Both
communism and socialism seek to destroy our economic system and replace it
with socialism; and their success, whether through evolution by socialism
or through revolution by communism or a combination, will destroy not only
our economic system, but our liberty, including the "civil"
aspects as well. . . .
.
. . The "common ground" of socialism and communism is a factor
to which the American people should be alerted. Without a clear
understanding that communism is socialism, the total threat and menace of
the cold war can never be comprehended and fought to victory.
When
socialism is understood, we will realize that many of the programs
advocated, and some of those already adopted in the United States, fall
clearly within the category of socialism. What is socialism? It is simply
governmental ownership and management of the essential means for the
production and distribution of goods.
We
must never forget that nations may sow the seeds of their own destruction
while enjoying unprecedented prosperity.
The
socialistic-communist conspiracy to weaken the United States involves
attacks on many fronts. To weaken the American free-enterprise economy
that outproduced both its enemies and allies during World War II is a high
priority target of the communist leaders. Their press and other propaganda
media are therefore constantly selling the principles of centralized or
federal control of farms, railroads, electric power, schools, steel,
maritime shipping, and many other aspects of the economy—but always in
the name of public welfare.
This
carries out the strategy laid down by the communist masters. John Strachey,
a top official in the Labor Socialist party of Great Britain, in his book
entitled The Theory and Practice of Socialism said:
It
is impossible to establish communism as the immediate successor to
capitalism. It is accordingly proposed to establish socialism as something
which we can put in the place of our present decaying capitalism. Hence,
communists work for the establishment of socialism as a necessary
transition stage on the road to communism.
The
paramount issue today is liberty against creeping socialism. It is in this
spirit that President McKay stated:
Communism
is antagonistic to the American way of life. Its avowed purpose is to
destroy belief in God and free enterprise. . . . The fostering of full
economic freedom lies at the base of our liberties. Only in perpetuating
economic freedom can our social, political, and religious liberties be
preserved. (Treasures of Life, pp. 501-502; Gospel Ideals,
p. 433.)
Again
President McKay warned, citing the words of W. C. Mullendore, president of
Southern California Edison Company:
"During
the first half of the twentieth century we have traveled far into the
soul-destroying land of socialism and made strange alliances through which
we have become involved in almost continuous hot and cold wars over the
whole of the earth. In this retreat from freedom the voices of protesting
citizens have been drowned by raucous shouts of intolerance and abuse from
those who led the retreat and their millions of gullible youth, who are
marching merrily to their doom, carrying banners on which are emblazoned
such intriguing and misapplied labels as social justice, equality, reform,
patriotism, social welfare. . . ." (Gospel Ideals, p. 273.)
It
is significant that the Prophet Joseph Smith, after attending lectures on
socialism, made this official entry in Church history: "I said I did
not believe the doctrine." (Documentary History of the Church,
vol. 6, p. 33.)
No
true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a
communist or support programs leading in that direction. These evil
philosophies are incompatible with Mormonism, the true gospel of Jesus
Christ.
What
can priesthood holders do? There are many things we can do to meet the
challenge of the adversary in our day.
First,
we should become informed about communism, about socialism, and about
Americanism. What better way can one become informed than by first
studying the inspired words of the prophets and using that as a foundation
against which to test all other material? This is in keeping with the
Prophet Joseph Smith's motto, "When the Lord commands, do it." (DHC,
vol. 2, p. 170.)
The
Foundation for Economic Education at Irvington-on-Hudson, New York, on
which President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., served as a board member, continues
to supply sound freedom literature. We should know enough about American
free enterprise to be able to defend it. We should know what makes it
possible for six percent of humanity—living under our free economy—to
produce about one-half of the earth's developed wealth each year.
We
should know why paternalism, collectivism, or unnecessary federal
supervision will hold down our standard of living and reduce productivity
just as it has in every country where it has been tried. We should also
know why the communist leaders consider socialism the highroad to
communism.
Second,
we should accept the command of the Lord and treat socialistic communism
as the tool of Satan. We should follow the counsel of the President of the
Church and resist the influence and policies of the socialist-communist
conspiracy wherever they are found—in the schools, in the churches, in
governments, in unions, in businesses, in agriculture.
Third,
we should help those who have been deceived or who are misinformed to find
the truth. unless each person who knows the truth will "stand up and
speak up," it is difficult for the deceived or confused citizen to
find his way back.
Fourth,
we should not make the mistake of calling people "communist"
just because they happen to be helping the communist cause. Thousands of
patriotic Americans, including a few Latter-day Saints, have helped the
communists without realizing it. Others have knowingly helped without
joining the party. The remedy is to avoid name-calling, but point out
clearly and persuasively how they are helping the communists.
Fifth,
each priesthood holder should use his influence in the community to resist
the erosion process which is taking place in our political and economic
life. He should use the political party of his choice to express his
evaluation of important issues. He should see that his party is working to
preserve freedom, not destroy it. He should join responsible local groups
interested in promoting freedom and free competitive enterprise, in
studying political issues, appraising the voting records and proposed
programs, and writing to members of Congress, promoting good men in public
office, and scrutinizing local, state, and federal agencies to see that
the will of the people is being carried out. He should not wait for the
Lord's servants to give instruction for every detail once they have
announced the direction in which the priesthood should go. Each member
should exercise prayerful judgment and then act.
Sixth,
and most important of all, each member of the priesthood should set his
own house in order. This should include:
1.
Regular family prayer, remembering especially our government leaders.
2.
Getting out of debt.
3.
Seeing that each member of the family understands the importance of
keeping the commandments.
4.
Seeing that the truth is shared with members of the family, with
neighbors, and with associates.
5.
Seeing that each member is performing his duties in the priesthood, in the
auxiliary organizations, in the temple, and in the civic life of the
community.
6.
Seeing that every wage earner in the home is a full tithe-payer and
fulfilling other obligations in financial support of the kingdom.
7.
Providing a one-year supply of essentials.
In
doing these things a member of the Church is not only making himself an
opponent of the adversary, but a pro-ponent of the Lord.
In
the prophecies there is no promise except to the obedient. To a modern
prophet the Lord said:
Therefore,
what I say unto one, I say unto all: Watch, for the adversary spreadeth
his dominions, and darkness reigneth;
And
the anger of God kindleth against the inhabitants of the earth;
.
. . I give unto you directions how you may act before me, that it may turn
to you for your salvation.
I,
the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say,
ye have no promise. (D&C 82:5-6,
9-10.)
May
God give us the wisdom to recognize the threat to our freedom and the
strength to meet this danger courageously. Yes, perilous times are ahead,
but if we do our duty in all things, God will give us inner peace and
overrule all things for our good. God grant it may be so.
Jesus
Christ Joseph Smith
Jr.
Brigham Young
John Taylor
Wilford Woodruff
Lorenzo Snow
Joseph F. Smith
Heber J. Grant
George A. Smith
David O. McKay
Joseph F. Smith
Harold B. Lee
Founding
Fathers Spencer Kimball Howard Hunter
Gordon Hinckley First Presidency Elders
Citizens
Rule Book
