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
Born:
4 August 1899
Ordained an Apostle:
7 October 1943
President
of the Twelve: 30 December 1973
President of the Church: 10 November 1985
As
an Apostle
1.
Our Constitution and Bill of Rights guarantee to all our people the
greatest freedom ever enjoyed by the public of any great nation. This
system guarantees freedom of individual enterprise, freedom to own
property, freedom to start one's own business and to operate it according
to one's own judgment so long as the enterprise is honorable. The
individual has power to produce beyond his needs, to provide savings for
the future protection of himself and family. He can live where he wishes
and pick any job he wants and select any educational opportunity. (So
Shall Ye Reap 151; also in TETB 605; from a baccalaureate
address given at the University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 4 Jun 1950)
2.
Second to their duty to God, youth should realize their duty to our
country. They should love and honor the Constitution of the United States,
the basic concepts and principles upon which this nation has been
established. Yes, they need to develop a love for our free institutions. (GFC
219; from an address delivered at the second annual meeting of the
President's Council on Youth Fitness, Camp Ritchie, Cascade, MD, 8 Sep
1958)
3.
Some day we may be called upon as a people to exert great influence in
helping to preserve the liberties and freedoms and blessings vouchsafed to
us as a people in the Constitution of this land. Some of our inspired
leaders have had words to say on that subject. I hope and pray that we
will be ready when the time comes—in fact, I am inclined to feel
sometimes it is going to be a gradual process. Maybe it is underway now.
We will not be able to discharge our obligations unless we adhere strictly
to the standards and ideals of the church and kingdom of God. (GFC
87; from an address delivered at the Mutual Improvement Association
[hereafter MIA] Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, 14 Jun 1959)
4.
Freedom is easily replaced by benevolent social programs designed to take
care of everyone. (
Pres. Ezra Taft Benson)
5.
We must ever keep in mind that collectivized socialism is part of the
communistic strategy. Communism
is fundamentally socialism. When
socialism is understood, we will realize that many of the programs
advocated, and some of these already adopted in the U.S., fall clearly
within the category of socialism. What
is socialism? It is simply
governmental ownership or management of the essential means for the
production and distribution of goods ((CN: or services?)).
The socialistic-communistic conspiracy to weaken the U.S. involves
attacks on many fronts. Their
press and other propaganda media are therefore constantly selling the
principles of centralized or federal control of farms, railroads, electric
power, schools, steel, shipping, and many other aspects of the economy -
but always in the name of public welfare..
((Compiler’s Note: Medicine?))
What
can priesthood holders do? We should become informed about communism, socialism and
about Americanism. What
better way can one become informed then by first studying the inspired
words of the prophets and using them as a foundation against which to test
all other material? We should
know why collectivism or unnecessary federal supervision will hold our
standard of living down and reduce productivity.
We should know why the communist leaders consider socialism the
high road to communism. We
should 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 conspiracy wherever they are
found in the schools, in the churches, in government, in unions, in
business, in agriculture.
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. Thousands of patriotic Americans, including Latter-day Saints, have helped the communists without realizing it. Each priesthood holder should use his influence in the community to resist the erosion which is taking place in our political and economic life. 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, promoting good men in public office and scrutinizing local, state, and federal agencies. He should not wait for the Lord’s servants to give instruction for every detail. In doing these things, a member of the Church is not only making himself an opponent of the adversary, but a proponent of the Lord. May God give us the wisdom to recognize the threat to our freedom and strength to meet this danger. (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson - CR Oct 1961)
6.
To every Latter-day Saint, we have a tremendous obligation to be good
citizens, to uphold the Constitution of this land, to adhere to its basic
concepts, to do all in our power to protect the freedoms and the liberties
and the basic rights which are associated with citizenship. The Lord has
said even in our day, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, that we have an
obligation. He has not only spoken about the Constitution being inspired,
he has said that if we are to be good Latter-day Saints, we also have to
take an interest in this country in which we live and we are to see to it
that good men are upheld and sustained in public office. (TETB
615-16; from an address given at Short Hills, NJ, 15 Jan 1961)
7. Here is a struggle against the evil, satanical priestcraft
of Lucifer. Today, the devil,
as a wolf in sheep’s clothing is enticing some people, 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 vote - they should repent, throw their support on
the side of freedom, and cease promoting this subversion.
(Pres. Ezra Taft Benson - CR Sep 30 1961)
8. No true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a communist, or support programs leading in that direction. (Pres Ezra Taft Benson - CR Oct 1961)
9.
There are two unrighteous ways to deal with prophetic warnings; you can
fight them or you can ignore them. Either course will bring you disaster. To have ben on the wrong side of the freedom issue during the
war in heaven meant eternal damnation.
10.
What are these fundamental principles which have allowed the United States
to progress so rapidly and yet remain free?
First,
a written Constitution clearly defining the limits of government so that
government will not become more powerful than the people. (TL 168;
from an address given at Los Angeles, CA, 11 Dec 1961)
11. We
should pay no attention to the recommendations of men who call the
Constitution an eighteenth-century agrarian document—who apologize for
capitalism and free enterprise. We should refuse to follow their siren
song of concentrating, increasingly, the powers of government in the Chief
Executive, of delegating American sovereign authority to non-American
institutions in the United Nations, and pretending that it will bring
peace to the world by turning our armed forces over to a U.N. world-wide
police force. (TL 176; from an address given at Los Angeles, CA, 11
Dec 1961)
12. It is most unthinkable
that any people would knowingly and willfully take on themselves the yoke
of communist oppression. As a
people who have known only liberty, we are inclined to feel, it cannot
happen here. We have become
lulled away into a false security. I
say to you it can happen here.
It is happening here. Our
liberty is in danger but we go blithely and gullibly on our way.
Some of us fall for the Kremlin line as planned, and call patriots
“Extremists” and accuse courageous liberty-loving citizens of
“Dividing our people”. We
must be vigilant! Let us
unite! Let us join in our fight against the forces of Anti-Christ!
(Ezra
Taft Benson - CR Oct 1962)
13. In this great struggle for free agency, think what a power
for good we could be in this world if we were united. God will hold us responsible.
Let us not be deceived in the sifting days ahead.
Let us rally together on principle behind the prophet as guided by
the promptings of the Spirit. We
should continue to speak out for freedom and against socialism and
communism. We should continue
to come to the aid of patriots, programs, and organizations that are
trying to save our Constitution through every legal and moral means
possible. God has not left us
in darkness regarding these matters.
We have the scriptures ancient and modern.
We have a living prophet, and we may obtain the Spirit.
The time is fast approaching when it will require great courage for
Latter-day Saints to stand up for their peculiar standards and
doctrine–ALL their doctrine, including the more weighty principles such
as the principle of freedom. Opposition
to this weighty principle of freedom caused many of our brothers and
sisters in the Pre-existence to lose their first estate in the War in
Heaven. ( Pres. Ezra Taft Benson -
CR Oct 1963)
14.
The longer we wait, the heavier the chains, the deeper the blood, the more
the persecution, and the less we can carry our God-given mandate and
worldwide mission. The war
fought in heaven still rages on earth today. (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson
- CR Apr 1965)
15. And now as the last neutralizer that the devil used most
effectively – it is simply this: “Don’t do anything in the fight for
freedom until the Church sets up its on specific program to save the
Constitution.” This brings
us right back to the scripture of those slothful servants who will not do
anything until they are “compelled in all things”.
Maybe the Lord will never set up a specific Church program for the
purpose of saving the Constitution. Perhaps
if he set up one at this time it might split the Church asunder, and
perhaps he does not want that to happen yet, for not all the wheat and
tares are fully ripe. The
Prophet Joseph Smith declared it will be the elders of Israel who will
step forward to help save the Constitution, not the Church. (Pres. Ezra T.
Benson - CR April 1965)
16.
We had better take our small pain now than our greater loss later.
There were souls who wished afterwards that they had stood and
fought with Washington and the founding fathers, but they waited too long
- the passed up eternal glory. There
has never been a greater time than now to stand up against entrenched
evil. And while the gentiles
established the Constitution, we have a divine mandate to preserve it!
But, unfortunately, today in this freedom struggle, many gentiles
are showing greater wisdom in their generation than the children of light.
(Pres Ezra Taft Benson - CR Apr 1965)
17. The fight for
freedom is God’s fight. No
matter what the temporary outcome, the Lord has endowed this matter of
freedom with such everlasting repercussions that it sifted the spirits of
men before this world in the Great War in heaven.
And, it seems today, to be the central issue that is sifting those
who are left in the world. No
one can delegate his duty to preserve his freedom, for the price of
liberty is ((CN: Personal)) eternal vigilance.
You cannot effectively fight for freedom and not be attacked.
We also should not expect the Lord to do for us what we can do for
ourselves.
The basic purpose of life is to prove ourselves – not to be with
the majority when it is wrong. Proving
ourselves means showing whether or not we are going to stand up for
freedom. Less spiritually
advanced people have to be commanded in all things.
Those who are spiritually alert look at the objectives, check the
guidelines laid down by the Lord, and then prayerfully act without having
to be commanded.
This attitude prepares men for godhood.
Sometimes the Lord waits on his children to act on their own, and
when they do not, they loose the greater prize.
The more He has to spell it out, the smaller is our reward. Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church –
and the need for that cleansing seems to be increasing — a famine in the
land of one year’s duration could wipe out a large percent of slothful
members, including some ward and stake officers.
To be on the wrong side of the freedom issue in heaven meant
eternal damnation. How
then can Latter-day Saints expect to be on the wrong side in this life and
escape eternal consequences? Will
they heed the counsel of the prophet and preserve their freedom?
Those who want to lead the quiet, retiring life but still expect to
do their full duty can’t have it both ways.
This fight for freedom might never become popular in our day, and
if you wait until everybody agrees in this Church, you will be waiting
through the second coming! The
Lord will not protect us unless we do our part.
This devilish tactic of persuading people not to get concerned
because the Lord will protect them no matter what thy do is exposed by the
Book of Mormon. Today in this
freedom struggle, many gentiles are showing greater wisdom in their
generation than the children of Light. A good deal of the responsibility lies with the Priesthood of
this Church as to what happens to America.
(Pres.
Ezra T. Benson CR Apr 1965)
18. Since “peace” began in 1945, there has been more
death, destruction, and human suffering than in all of the wars of history
combined. (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson)
19. You cannot fully live the gospel without working to save freedom and
the Constitution, and to stop Communism. (Ezra Taft Benson - CR Oct 1966)
20. In
general conference, Pres. McKay said, “Efforts are being made to deprive
man of his free agency – to steal from the Individual his liberty...
there has been an alarming increase in the abandoning of the ideals that
constitute the foundation of the Constitution.
There should be no question in the mind of any true Latter-day
Saint as to what we shall preach.”
Then President McKay lists the areas of preaching should cover and
admonishes us to include in our preaching what governments should or
should not do in the interest of the preservation of freedom.
Do we preach what governments should or should not do as a part of
The Gospel Plan, or do we refuse to follow the Prophet by preaching a
limited gospel Plan of Salvation? The
fight for freedom cannot be divorced from the gospel–the Plan of
Salvation. Can we name any
other gospel theme that has received as much emphasis from the man who
holds the keys, as has the theme of freedom?
We do not need a prophet – we have
one. What we need is a
listening ear, a humble heart, and a soul that is pure enough to follow
his inspired guidance. (Pres Ezra Taft Benson Oct 1966 BYU)
21. I Warn you, unless we wake up soon and do something about the
conspiracy, the communist-inspired civil rights riots of the past will
pale into insignificance compared to the bloodshed and destruction that
lie ahead in the near future. Do
not think the members of the Church shall escape.
The Lord has assured us that the Church will still be here when he
comes again. But has the Lord
assured us that we can avid fighting for freedom and still escape
unscathed both temporally and spiritually?
We could not escape the eternal consequences of our pre-existent
position on freedom. What
makes us think we can escape it here?
(Pres. Ezra Taft Benson Oct 1966 BYU)
22. Satan is anxious to neutralize the inspired counsel of the Prophet and keep the priesthood off balance, ineffective and inert, using perverse reasoning. For example, he will argue, “There is no need to get involved in the fight for freedom –all you need to do is live the gospel.” This is a contradiction, because we cannot fully live the gospel and not be involved in the fight for freedom. Our position on freedom helped get us to this earth and it will make the difference as to whether we get back home or not. The Book of Mormon also tells us of some of the perverse reasoning the devil will use in our day to keep the saints ignorant, complacent and asleep. “And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion: Yea, Zion prospereth; all is well – and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.” Some argue, there is no need to learn about communism ((CN: Socialism)) in order to avoid it, but this counsel can help keep our people in ignorance ((CN: Priestcraft)) and flies in the face of the inspired counsel fo Pres. McKay who said, “I believe that only through a truly educated citizenry can the ideals that inspired the Founding Fathers of our nation be preserved and perpetuated. Teach the facts regarding communism and an enemy to God and to individual freedom.”
“Just preach the gospel – that will stop communism,” is
another neutralizing argument used by some.
Did teaching the truth stop the war in heaven or convert Satan and
his hosts? The Lord is
letting the wheat a d the tares mature before he fully purges the church.
He is testing you to see if you will be misled.
The devil is try8ing to deceive the very elect.
Unfortunately some men who do not honor their stewardship may have
an adverse effect on many people. Often
the greater the man’s responsibility the more good or evil he can
accomplish. Have you counted
the cost if our countrymen, and especially the body of the priesthood,
continue to remain complacent, misled through some of our news media,
deceived by some of our officials, and -perverted by some of our
educators?
(Pres.
Ezra Taft Benson Oct 1966 BYU)
23. Let the Constitution be taught in schools, in seminaries,
and in colleges. Let it be
written in primers, in spelling books, and in almanacs.
Let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative
halls, and enforced in courts of justice.
And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation.
(Pres. Ezra Taft Benson quoting:
Lincoln -
Constitution, A Heavenly Banner )
24. An
ounce of energy in the preservation of freedom is worth a ton of effort to
get it back once it is lost. Today
you cannot effectively fight for freedom and not be attacked, and those
who think they can are deceiving themselves.
While I do not believe in stepping out of the path of duty to pick
up a cross I do not need, a man is a coward who refuses to pick a cross
that clearly lies within his path.
A man must not only stand for the right principles, but he must
also fight for them. Those
who fight for principle can be proud of the friends they’ve gained and
the enemies they’ve earned. We
face days ahead that will test the moral and physical sinews of all of us.
Those who hesitate to get into this fight because it is
controversial fail to realize that life’s decisions should be based on
principles, not on polls.
The basic purpose of life is to prove ourselves, not to be
with the
majority when it is wrong.
In due time, when each of us has had a chance to prove himself, including whether or not we are going to stand up for freedom, God will interject himself, and the final and eternal victory shall be fore free agency. And then shall those weak-willed souls on the sidelines and those who took the popular course lament their decisions.
(Anyone) who retreats from this battle
jeopardizes his life here and hereafter.
Seldom has so much responsibility hung on so few, so heavily; but
our number are increasing, and we who have been warned have a
responsibility to warn our neighbor.
The fight for freedom cannot be divorced from the gospel.
(Pres. Ezra Taft Benson - CF Apr 1967)
25. The crucial question is, “has our nation upheld communism so that it
could get power and gain?” And
the tragic answer is, “Yes”. And
so, unless we as a people can soon stop and reverse the disastrous course
we are taking, communism would be insignificant in our country and the
world today were it not for the consistent and persistent help which it is
continuing to receive from right within our own government.
Let the government of the United States stop helping communism and
communists all over the world, and in a short period of time the
conspiracy would be in retreat and in due time would collapse.
But we extend the advantage of diplomatic recognition to their
puppets when they come to power. We
send them billions in foreign aid. We’ve
trained their pilots. We ship
them wheat. Through cultural
and other exchanges their spies come to America.
We supply them know-how. We
extend them credit. We buy
their goods. Their propaganda
goes through our m ails at our expense.
We’ve helped them in their conquests through secret agreements.
Our government does all it can to keep and anti-communists from
coming to power in any country. It
is a condition that cannot be permitted to exist!
Americans are destroying America!
God grant that we may repent, study the Book of Mormon (because it
exposes the enemy). Follow
the Prophet, do our homework, and wake up in time to reverse the tragic
course we are following.
(Pres.
Ezra Taft Benson May 1968 BYU)
26.Yes, there is a conspiracy of evil. The source of it all is Satan and his hosts. He has a great power over men “to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not harken to the voice of the Lord.” (Moses 4:4) His influence may be manifest through governments; through false educational, political, economic, religious, and social philosophies; through secret societies and organizations; and through myriads of other forms. His power and influence are so great that, if possible, he would deceive the very elect. As the second coming of the Lord, Satan’s work will intensify through numerous insidious deceptions. (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson - CR Apr 1978)
27. There was a time when the American people roared like lions for liberty, now we bleat like sheep for security. (Norman Vincent Peal In this land, we have exalted security, comfort, and ease above freedom - in the end, we shall loose them all. ( Pres. Ezra Taft Benson - CR Apr 1968 & Oct 1966 BYU)
28.
We must determine now to be enslaved or free.
If we make freedom our choice, we must obtain it by united and
vigorous efforts.
(George Washington quoted by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson)
29. I say to you with all the fervor of my soul, that we have sown the
seeds of our own destruction in America.
It is my sober warning to you, that if the trends of the last 50
years continue, we WILL lose that which is more priceless than life
itself. It can happen here,
it is happening here. (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson
- An Enemy Hath Done
This pg. 90)
30. No people can maintain freedom, unless their political
institutions are founded on faith in God and belief in the existence of
moral laws. God has endowed
all people with inalienable rights, and no government may morally limit or
destroy these rights. (Pres.
Ezra Taft Benson - This
Nation Shall Endure pg. 68-69)
31. To me the Constitution is divine. It embodies eternal principles.
If we believe that our rights were given us by God, and man created
governments to maintain those rights, it follows that men are superior to
governments and should remain master over them, not the other way around!
(Pres. Ezra Taft Benson
- Four Pillars of a Moral Nation)
32. Though the people support the Government, the government
should not support the people. (Grover
Cleveland quoted by Ezra Taft Benson - An Enemy pg. 135)
33. Our struggle is freedom vs. socialism.
The amount of freedom depends on the amount of socialism.
America was built on the principles of self-reliance, individual
action, voluntary charity, faith in God, and in themselves.
Today these principles are not dominant in the lives of the people.
Too many Americans believe it is the responsibility of the
government to take care of their every need.
The government cannot give anything to the people, that it does not
first take from the people. (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson
- Four Pillars of a Moral Nation)
34.
If America is destroyed, it may be by Americans who salute the flag, sing
the national anthem, march in patriotic parades, cheer Fourth of July
speakers — normally good Americans, but Americans who fail to comprehend
what is required to keep our country strong and free – Americans who
have been lulled away into a false security. (Ezra Taft Benson - CR Apr
1968)
35. I think it is time for every patriotic American to join with neighbors
to study the Constitution and the conspiracy!
Subscribe to several good patriotic magazines.
(Ezra Taft Benson - Title of Liberty pg. 40)
36. Fortunately
we have materials to help us fight these threatening dangers in the
writings of Pres. David O. McKay and other Church leaders (like our
current prophet Ezra Taft Benson). Some
other fine sources by LDS authors attempting to awaken and inform us of
our duty are: Prophets, Principles, and National Survival (Jerreld
Newquist), Many Are Called but Few are Chosen (Elder Verian
Andersen), and The Elders of Israel and the Constitution (Jerome
Horowitz). But the greatest
handbook for freedom in this fight against evil is the Book of Mormon.
Now undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led
to the destruction of the people, but notice how he singled out the secret
combinations, just as the Church today could point out many threats to
peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work, but it has singled out
the greatest threat as the godless conspiracy.
There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon– it is a
conspiracy fact!
(Pres. Ezra Taft Benson - CR Apr 1972)
37. Are you concerned about the increasing subversion in this
blessed country, and other countries of the free world and the spread of
wickedness by a giant conspiracy? Would
you be interested in reading the Book of Mormon, which records the
downfall of two great ancient American civilizations as a result of
internal secret conspiracies and contains a warning to us today that when
we see these conditions in our midst, the Lord commands us to awake to our
awful situation? With the
increasing amount of aid and trade that we are providing the enemy of
freedom you might be interested to know what the Book of Mormon says will
happen to a nation that upholds this conspiracy.
Would you like to know of the warnings of the prophets about our
increasing descent down the soul-destroying road of socialism and what
they have told us to do about it? (Pres
Ezra Taft Ben - CR Oct 1972)
38. In times as serious as these, we must not permit
fear of criticism to keep us from doing our duty, even at the risk of our
counsel being tabbed as political, as government becomes more and more
entwined in our daily lives. In
the crisis through which we are now passing, we have been fully warned.
There are some of us who do not want to hear the message.
It embarrasses us. The
things which are threatening our lives, our welfare, our freedoms are the
very things some of us have been condoning.
Many do not want to be disturbed as they continue to enjoy their
comfortable complacency. There
can be no neutrality! We are,
or we are not, on the side of the Lord!
(Ezra Taft Benson - CR Apr 1973)
39. I am for freedom and against slavery. I am for social progress and against Socialism.
I am for dynamic economy and against waste.
I am for the private competitive market and against unnecessary
government intervention. I am
for private ownership and against governmental ownership and control of
the means of production and distribution.
I am for national security, and against appeasement and
capitulation to an obvious enemy. (Pres Ezra Taft
Benson )
40. Most
of the major ills of the world have been caused by well-meaning people who
ignored the principle of individual freedom, except as applied to
themselves, and who were obsessed with fanatical zeal to improve the lot
of mankind-in-the-mass through some pet formula of their own...The harm
done by ordinary criminals murders, gangsters, and thieves is negligible
in comparison with the agony inflicted upon human beings by the
professional “do-gooders”, who attempt to set themselves up as gods on
earth and who would ruthlessly force their views on all others with the
abiding assurance that the end justifies the means. (Ezra Taft Benson -
quoting Henry G. Weaver - An Enemy Hath Done This p.140)
41.
Reasons for the fall of Rome:
1. Undermining of the
sanctity of the home.
2. Higher and higher
taxes for free bread and
circuses for the people.
3. Mad craze for
pleasure, sports becoming more
and more exciting and brutal.
4.
Building of gigantic armaments when the real
enemy was the decadence of the people.
5. Decay of religion -
faith fading into mere form
and becoming impotent to warn and guide the
people.
(Ezra Taft Benson quoting Edward Gibbons - CR Apr 1973)
42.
There is a crises situation in America today.
There is first of all a spiritual crisis.
In our quest for material tings, we have forgotten God.
There is a crisis for competent, honest, and moral leaders at all
levels. There is an economic
and political crisis, and where our basic freedoms stand in jeopardy,
because of a departure from fundamental principles.
We must return to these basic principles.
(Pres.
Ezra Taft Benson - Four Pillars of a Moral Nation)
43. It is time that every member of the Priesthood
becomes 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 pan which Satan presented in the
pre-existence. The whole
program of socialistic communism is essentially a war against God and the
Plan of Salvation. 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.
The fight against atheistic communism is a major challenge to the
Church and every member in it. It
is the problem of our time. It overshadows all other problems.
It 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, deceit, and the
destruction of human life, through a kind of tyranny unsurpassed by
anything in history. (Pres.
Ezra Taft Benson - CR Sep 30, 1961)
44. Unless we as citizens of the nation forsake our sins,
political and otherwise, and return o the fundamental principles of
Christianity and of constitutional government, we will lose our political
liberties, our free institutions, and will stand in jeopardy before God of
losing our exaltation. (Ezra
Taft Benson CR Oct 79 )
45. God has endowed men with certain inalienable rights and no legislature
and no majority, however great, may morally limit or destroy these.
The function of government is to protect life, liberty and property
and anything more or less than this is usurpation and oppression. (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson - CR Apr 1968)
46. In
framing that great document which Gladstone declared "the most
wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of
man," our early leaders called upon a kind Providence. Later the
product of the constitutional convention was referred to as our
God-inspired Constitution. They had incorporated within its sacred
paragraphs eternal principles supported by the holy scriptures with which
they were familiar. It was established "for the rights and protection
of all flesh according to just and holy principles" [D&C 101:77].
Later the Lord himself declared, "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]. ("America: A Choice Land" 674;
compare RC 284)
47.
Twenty-five years later, another prophet [Jacob], son of the first one
quoted [Lehi], was privileged to see into the future regarding this land
and to proclaim that God would fortify the land against other nations;
that he that fought against Zion would perish; that no king would ever be
raised on these shores; that the Lord would be their king and be a light
unto the people forever who accepted and listened to his words.
And so this
great nation, has come into being under the inspiration of the Almighty to
accomplish his purposes. Through modern revelation we have had made very
plain to us something of the mission of America and the establishment of
our national Constitution in this dispensation. ("America: Land of
the Blessed" 283; revised in RC 109)
48. And so,
every true Latter-day Saint has a deep love and respect for the
Constitution of this land. ("America: Land of the Blessed" 342)
49. This
same modern prophet [Joseph Smith] said—even though he knew he would
suffer martyrdom in this land—"The Constitution of the United
States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a
heavenly banner" [TPJS 147].
According to
this prophet's contemporaries, he foresaw the time when the destiny of the
nation would be in danger and would hang as by a thread. Thank God he did
not see the thread break. He also indicated the important part his people
should yet play in standing for the principles embodied in these sacred
documents—the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
("America: Land of the Blessed" 342; compare RC 110)
50. We stand
firmly in support of the principles enunciated in the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence, and every Latter-day Saint would defend to
the last those eternal principles. ("America: Land of the
Blessed" 343)
51.
In concluding, I said: "I love this nation. It is my firm belief that
the God of Heaven raised up the founding fathers and inspired them to
establish the Constitution of this land. This is part of my religious
faith." To me this is not just another nation. It is a great and
glorious nation with a divine mission to perform for liberty-loving people
everywhere. (CF 79; from an address given at the 16th Annual
National Farm Institute, Des Moines, IA, 21 Feb 1953)
52.
My one fear, and my one anxiety is that I may inadvertently sometime do
something or say something that will cast an unfavorable light or bring
discredit upon the Church and kingdom of God and the people whom I love so
dearly, and upon this great nation which we all love. I pray that this may
never happen.
I
love this nation of which we are a part. To me it is not just another
nation, not just a member of a family of nations. It is a great and
glorious nation with a divine mission and it has been brought into being
under the inspiration of heaven. It is truly a land choice above all
others. I thank God for the knowledge which we have regarding the
prophetic history and the prophetic future of this great land of America.
. . .
I
am grateful for the Founding Fathers of this land and for the freedom they
have vouchsafed to us. I am grateful that they recognized, as great
leaders of this nation have always recognized, that the freedom which we
enjoy did not originate with the Founding Fathers; that this glorious
principle, this great boon of freedom and respect for the dignity of man,
came as a gift from the Creator. The Founding Fathers, it is true, with
superb genius welded together the safeguards of these freedoms. It was
necessary, however, for them to turn to the scriptures, to religion, in
order to have this great experiment make sense to them. And so our freedom
is God-given. It antedates the Founding Fathers. ("Our Duty as
Citizens" 918, 920)
54.
I am grateful for the Constitution of this land. I am grateful that the
Founding Fathers made it clear that our allegiance runs to that
Constitution and the glorious eternal principles embodied therein. Our
allegiance does not run to any man, to a king, or a dictator, or a
president, although we revere and honor those whom we elect to high
office. Our allegiance runs to the Constitution and to the principles
embodied therein. The Founding Fathers made that clear and provided well
for checks and balances and safeguards in an attempt to guarantee this
freedom to those of us who live in this land.
I
am grateful that the God of heaven saw fit to put his stamp of approval
upon the Constitution and to indicate that it had come into being through
wise men whom he raised up unto this very purpose. He asked the Saints,
even in the dark days of their persecution and hardship to continue to
seek for redress from their enemies "According," he said,
"to the laws and constitution . . . which I have suffered to be
established and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all
flesh." (D&C 101:77.) And then he made this most impressive
declaration:
And
for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the
hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed
the land by the shedding of blood. (D&C 101:80.)
It
is gratifying that the Constitutions in many of the other lands of our
neighbors in the Americas are patterned very much after this
divinely-appointed Constitution, which the God of heaven directed in the
founding of this nation. It isn't any wonder, therefore, that Joseph
Smith, the Prophet—a truly great American—referring to the
Constitution, said,
"[It]
is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a
heavenly banner." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.
147.) ("Our Duty as Citizens" 920)
55.
Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and
good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is
less than these cometh of evil. (D&C 98:10.)
Now
that is a commandment to his Church and to his Saints. To me it means that
we have a responsibility as Latter-day Saints to use our influence so
honest men and wise men and good men will be elected to public office in
the community, in the county, in the state, and in the nation. To me this
commandment of God is just as binding upon the Latter-day Saints as is the
law of tithing, or the Word of Wisdom, or any other commandment which the
God of heaven has given us.
As
I read that for the first time some years ago I thought, "What an
indictment of corrupt would-be political leaders in many parts of the
world—demagogues who deal in half-truths, innuendos, and falsehoods!
Here the God of heaven has pointed out the type of men he wants elected to
public office among his people." It is not enough, my brethren and
sisters, just to stand on the sidelines and criticize what is taking
place, and to point the finger of scorn at some political leader. It is
our job, our duty, and our responsibility to take an active interest in
these matters, and carry out the admonition and the commandment which God
has given us to see to it that men of character—good men, as measured by
the standards of the gospel—are elected to public office.
So,
today, I would like to throw out a challenge to the elders of Israel, my
brethren of the priesthood, that we put forth an effort to prepare
ourselves for statesmanlike work. The Prophet Joseph, as you will recall,
had something to say regarding the important part which the elders of
Israel would play in the safeguarding, if not the saving, of the
Constitution of this land.
It
is my conviction that only in this land, under this God-inspired
Constitution, under an environment of freedom, could it have been possible
to have established the Church and kingdom of God and restored the gospel
in its fulness. It is our responsibility, my brethren and sisters, to see
that this freedom is maintained, so that the Church can flourish in the
future. ("Our Duty as Citizens" 920, 922)
56.
Today I would like to propose four questions which every Latter-day Saint
might well ask as he attempts to appraise any program, policy, or idea
promoted by any would-be political leader. I mention these because I think
they will provide a safeguard in electing to office men who will meet the
requirements which the Lord has set forth in the revelations.
Firstly, is the proposal, the policy, or the idea being promoted right as
measured by the gospel of Jesus Christ? I assure you it is much easier for
one to measure a proposed policy by the gospel of Jesus Christ if he has
accepted the gospel and is living it.
Secondly, is it right as measured by the Constitution of this land and the
glorious principles embodied in that Constitution? Now that suggests that
we must read and study the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence,
and the Bill of Rights, that we might know what principles are embodied
therein.
Thirdly, we might well ask the question: Is it right as measured by the counsel
of the living oracles of God? It is my conviction, my brethren and
sisters, that these living oracles are not only authorized, but are
obligated to give counsel to this people on any subject which is vital to
the welfare of this people and the upbuilding of the kingdom of God. So,
that measure should be applied. Is it right as measured by the counsel of
the living oracles of God?
Fourthly, what will be the effect on the morale and the character of the people
if this or that policy is adopted? After all, as a Church we are
interested in building men and women, building character, because
character is the one thing we make in this world and take with us into the
next. It must never be sacrificed for expediency. ("Our Duty as
Citizens" 922)
57.
The Founding Fathers did not invent this priceless boon of individual
freedom and respect for the dignity of man. That great gift to mankind
sprang from the Creator and not from government. But the Founding Fathers
with superb genius, I believe, welded together certain safeguards which we
must always protect to the very limit if we would preserve and strengthen
the blessings of freedom.
.
. . They were guided by allegiance to basic principles. These principles
must be kept in mind always by those who are here today and reaping the
benefits and the blessings which they so wisely provided. We must be
careful that we do not trade freedom for security. Whenever that is
attempted, usually we lose both. There is always a tendency when nations
become mature for the people to become more interested in preserving their
luxuries and their comforts than in safeguarding the ideals and principles
which made these comforts and luxuries possible. ("Responsibilities
of Citizenship" 8; also in TETB 599-600)
58.
Free agency is an eternal principle vouchsafed to us in the perfect law of
liberty—the gospel of Jesus Christ. Freedom of choice is more to be
treasured than any earthly possession. It is guaranteed in our
heaven-inspired Constitution. Yes, freedom is an inherited, inalienable,
divine gift to men. . . .
The
inspired founding fathers formulated a system of government with checks
and balances protecting the freedom of the people. But even this was not
enough. The first order of the new congress was to draw up a Bill of
Rights—ten amendments guaranteeing for all time the fundamental freedoms
that the American people insist are theirs by the will of God, not by the
will of government.
Yes,
the founders of this nation bequeathed to us a heritage of freedom and
unity that is our most priceless political possession. . . .
.
. . Under the constitutional concept, powers not granted to the federal
government are reserved to the states or to the people [U.S. Const. Amend.
X]. . . .
The
founding fathers, inspired though they were, did not invent the priceless
blessing of individual freedom and respect for the dignity of man. No,
that priceless gift to mankind sprang from the God of heaven and not from
government. Yes, the founding fathers welded together the safeguards as
best they could, but freedom must be continually won to be enjoyed. Let us
never forget these facts.
This
is America—the land of opportunity! A land choice above all other lands.
Let us keep it so! . . .
.
. . It is my firm conviction that the Constitution of this land was
established by men whom the God of heaven raised up unto this very
purpose.
The
days ahead are sobering and challenging and will demand the faith,
prayers, and loyalty of every American. Our challenge is to keep America
strong and free—strong socially, strong economically, and above all,
strong spiritually, if our way of life is to endure. There is no other
way. Only in this course is there safety for our nation. ("The
Heritage of Freedom" 954-55, 957)
59.
We have heard that the Prophet Joseph said something about the time when
the Constitution would be in danger. We do not know just what turn that
will take. He also said something about the Elders of Israel rising to the
challenge and helping to save the Constitution of this land. It is
entirely possible that that may come about in a rather natural way. Our
young people—as they mature and develop and take their positions in
industry, in the professions, and in agriculture clear across this
land—might represent the balance of power in a time of crisis, when they
will stand up and defend those eternal principles upon which this
Constitution has been established. ("A Four-Fold Hope" 7)
60.
Under our system there has been released great creative capacity, because
we have been free, unrestricted. What have we achieved? A standard of
living unequalled anywhere in the world. Not because we are smarter, not
because we are more brilliant, not because we have greater capacity than
people of other nations, but because we have had a system which is
superior—a system which was wisely provided by the Founding Fathers. We
must protect and safeguard that system. Sometimes we find people who
almost apologize for it—the free enterprise system. Of course it is not
perfect; it is operated by human beings, but it is the best system in
operation in this world today. If we are wise, we will preserve it, we
will strengthen it and we will safeguard it for our children and our
children's children. ("A Four-Fold Hope" 8)
61.
No true Latter-day Saint can be a Communist or a Socialist because
Communist principles run counter to the revealed word of God and to the
Constitution of this land which was established by men whom the God of
Heaven raised up unto that very purpose [D&C 101:80]. ("A
Four-Fold Hope" 11)
62.
One of the first considerations given after my appointment to serve as
Secretary of Agriculture was to formulate with my close associates and
other interested parties a basic statement on agricultural policy. Among
the fundamental concepts stated were the following:
"Freedom
is a God-given, eternal principle vouchsafed to us under the Constitution.
It must be guarded continually as something more precious than life
itself." . . .
.
. . How do we stand with reference to our belief in those freedoms
safeguarded for us under the Constitution of the United States? What is
our attitude toward our government—toward the free enterprise system and
our American Way of Life?
.
. . I trust you are leaving this institution [Brigham Young University]
with faith in the Constitution of the United States. ("Paramount
Issue Today" 13)
63.
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: . . .
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." (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.) . . .
Eleventh:
In connection with the 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 History, Jul 4, 1854.)
It
is my conviction that the elders of Israel, widely spread over the nation,
will, at the crucial time, successfully rally the righteous of our country
and provide the necessary balance of strength to save the institutions of
constitutional government. ("The American Heritage of Freedom"
952; also in The American Heritage of Freedom 1, 3-4; TL
179-81)
64.
If the Gentiles on this land reject the word of God and conspire to
overthrow the liberty and the Constitution, then their doom is fixed, and
they "shall be cut off from among my people who are of the
covenant." (3 Nephi 21:11, 14, 21; 1 Nephi 14:6; D&C 84:114, 115,
117.) ("The American Heritage of Freedom" 952-53; also in The
American Heritage of Freedom 5; TL 181)
65.
I thank God for freedom—the right of choice. I am grateful for this
great nation. Every true Latter-day Saint throughout the world loves the
USA. The Constitution of this land is part of every Latter-day Saint's
religious faith.
This
is not just another nation, not just a member of a family of nations. This
is a great and glorious nation with a divine mission and a prophetic
history and future. It has been brought into being under the inspiration
of heaven.
It
is our firm belief, as Latter-day Saints, that the Constitution of this
land was established by men whom the God of heaven raised up unto that
very purpose. It is our conviction also that the God of heaven guided the
founding fathers in establishing it for his particular purpose.
The
founders of this republic were deeply spiritual men. They believed men are
capable of self-government and that it is the job of government to protect
freedom and foster private initiative.
Our
earliest American fathers came here with a common objective—freedom of
worship and liberty of conscience.
They
were familiar with the sacred scriptures, and they believed that liberty
is a gift of heaven. To them, man as a child of God emphasized the
sacredness of the individual and the interest of a kind Providence in the
affairs of men and nations.
These
leaders recognized the need for divine guidance and the importance of
vital religion and morality in the affairs of men and nations. ("The
Lord's Base of Operations" 454-55; also in TL 86)
66.
To achieve his purposes the Lord had to have a base of operations. Later
he revealed to a modern prophet that the Constitution of this land was
established by "wise men" whom the Lord "raised up unto
this very purpose." (See D&C 101:80.) The Lord also directed that
the constitutional laws of the land, supporting the principle of freedom,
should be upheld and that honest and wise men should be sought for and
upheld in public office [D&C 98:10]. ("The Lord's Base of
Operations" 456; also in TL 87)
67.
God, through his power has established a free people in this land as a
means of helping to carry forward his purposes. . . .
It
was here under a free government and a strong nation that protection was
provided for his restored Church.
Now
God will not permit America, his base of operations, to be destroyed. He
has promised protection to this land if we will but serve the God of the
land. He has also promised protection to the righteous even, if necessary,
to send down fire from heaven to destroy their enemies. (1 Nephi 22.)
No,
God's base of operations will not be destroyed. But it may be weakened and
made less effective. ("The Lord's Base of Operations" 456; also
in TL 88-89)
68.
We must return to a love and respect for the basic spiritual concepts upon
which this nation has been established. We must study the Constitution and
the writings of the founding fathers. ("The Lord's Base of
Operations" 457; also in TL 91)
69.
Our Constitution and Bill of Rights vouchsafe to all our people the
greatest freedom ever enjoyed by the people of any great nation. This
system safeguards freedom of individual enterprise, freedom to own
property, freedom to start one's own business and to operate it according
to one's own judgment so long as the enterprise is honorable. (RC
89-90)
70.
In the providence of God, governments were intended to be the servants,
not the masters of the people. This eternal truth needs to be emphasized
and re-emphasized. (RC 91)
71.
The men who wrote the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and
the Bill of Rights were under no illusion that their work was done. They
had carried freedom up to a new high, but had no idea that a pinnacle had
been reached, that having reached the summit there was no more to be done.
They were confident that we of succeeding generations would carry on.
Along
with the political freedom so dearly won came a climate which challenged
man's intellect and ingenuity. People began to move freedom forward along
lines possibly not envisaged by the men who drafted the Declaration of
Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Freedom from
backbreaking toil came with the invention and development of labor-saving
devices in factories and on farms. (RC 94)
72.
The Founding Fathers, it is true, with superb genius welded together the
safeguards of our freedom. It was necessary, however, for them to turn to
the scriptures, to religion, to prayer, in order to have this great
experiment make sense to them. And so our freedom is God-given. It
ante-dates the Founding Fathers.
It
is my belief that ours is not just another nation, not just a member of a
family of nations. It is a great and glorious nation with a divine mission
and it has been brought into being under the inspiration of heaven. I
thank God for the knowledge which I have regarding the prophetic history
and the prophetic future of this land of America.
It
is my firm belief that the Constitution of the land was established by men
whom the God of Heaven raised up unto that very purpose. It is my firm
belief, also, that the God of Heaven guided the Founding Fathers in
establishing it for His particular purposes. But God's purpose is to build
people of character, not physical monuments to their material
accumulations
The
founders of this republic had deeply spiritual beliefs. Their concept of
man had a solidly religious foundation. They believed "it is not
right that any man should be in bondage one to another" [D&C
101:79]. They believed that men were capable of self-government and that
it was the job of government to protect freedom and foster private
initiative. (RC 101-02)
73.
The Founding Fathers, I repeat, in order that their new
experiment—establishment of a new nation of freemen—make sense, had to
turn to religion and to the scriptures. They turned to the prophecies, the
Decalogue, the Sermon on the Mount.
Then
when time came for the establishment of the Constitution, and when the
time came for them to issue their Declaration of Independence, a sacred
document issued in white heat on the anvil of defiance, they appealed to
the Almighty. Both at the opening of that document and at its closing they
spoke of eternal truths. They spoke of the fact that men are endowed by
their Creator with certain inalienable rights. At the close they said:
".
. . with a firm reliance on Divine Providence we mutually pledge to each
other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." (RC 106)
74.
And so this great nation has come into being under the inspiration of the
Almighty to accomplish his purposes. Through modern revelation we have had
made very plain to us something of the mission of America and the
establishment of our national Constitution. (RC 109)
75.
Surely the preservation and enjoyment of the freedoms vouchsafed to us by
the Constitution of the United States will require eternal vigilance even
to the guarding of it with our lives.
.
. . We must ever be on our guard against the unsound theories that would
strike at our Constitutional freedoms.
We
must ever keep faith with our founding fathers by keeping faith with our
Constitution.
I
trust that we all have faith in the Constitution of the United States, and
that that faith is born of an assurance that this great document came into
being through the inspiration of God to wise men, embodying as it does,
eternal principles. This nation has a spiritual foundation which must be
preserved at any cost of sweat and blood. May we recognize our debt and
responsibility and be ever vigilant.
The
need for this eternal and constant vigilance is seen in some prophetic
words of Daniel Webster, given in 1802:
"Next
to correct morals and watchful guardianship over the Constitution is the
proper means for its support. No human advantage is indefensible. The
fairest productions of man have in themselves or receive from accident a
tendency to decay. Unless the Constitution be constantly fostered on the
principles which created it, its excellency will fade; and it will feel,
even in its infancy, the weakness and decrepitude of age.
"Our
form of government is superior to all others, inasmuch as it provides, in
a fair and honorable manner for its own amendment. But it requires no gift
or prophecy to foresee that this privilege may be seized on by demagogues,
to introduce wild and destructive innovations. Under the gentle name of
amendments, changes may be proposed which, if unresisted, will undermine
the national compact, mar its fairest features, and reduce it finally to a
dead letter. It abates nothing of the danger to say that alterations may
be trifling and inconsiderable. If the Constitution be picked away by
piecemeal, it is gone—and gone as effectually as if some military despot
had grasped it at once, trampled it beneath his feet, and scattered its
loose leaves in the wild winds."
If
we are to keep faith with our Constitution, we must know it. Since it is
the basis of our American way of life and our liberties every American
should be familiar with it. We should read it periodically.
How
can people who are ignorant of the principles and guarantees of American
government stand up in defense of it and our rights under the
Constitution? The fundamentals and processes of free government should be
known to every school boy—and his parents. No free people can ever
survive if they are ignorant of and fail to understand the principles of
free government! (RC 201-02)
76.
We pay lip service to the principles embodied in the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution without realizing what they are and the
danger of ignoring them. (RC 263)
77.
[Political and economic rights] are the things we are inclined to take for
granted as American citizens.
The
rights as listed included the right to worship God in one's own way,
rights to free speech and a free press, the right to assemble and freely
to speak our own minds without any fear whatever. There are many countries
of this world where you cannot do that today.
The
right to petition for grievances, the right to privacy in our homes, the
right to trial by jury, and to know that we are innocent until we are
proven guilty. The right to move freely at home and abroad, the right to
own private property, the right to free elections and personal secret
ballot. The right to work in callings and localities of our choice. The
right to bargain with our employees and employers. The right to go into
business, to compete, to make a profit. The right to bargain for goods and
services in a free market. The right to contract about our affairs.
These
are an impressive list of rights which lay at the very foundation of the
American way of life and preserve the dignity of the individual. Our
constitutional government desires to serve the people, and basic in our
beliefs is our fundamental belief in God and in the eternal principle of
free agency, the right of choice. (RC 266; also in TETB 606)
78.
"Our real enemies," said President [J. Reuben] Clark, "are communism
and its running mate, socialism. . . ."
".
. . Its purpose is to destroy the Constitution and our Constitutional
government." ("Righteousness Exalteth a Nation" 516-17;
also in TL 109-10)
79.
Every Latter-day Saint has spiritual obligations in four basic areas: his
home, his church, his job, and his citizenship responsibility. Each of
these areas should receive consistent attention although not necessarily
equal time. Are we doing our duty in these important fields? What about
our citizenship responsibility—our obligation to safeguard our freedom
and preserve the Constitution?
The
Prophet Joseph Smith said the time would come when the Constitution would
hang, as it were, by a thread. Modern-day prophets for the past several
decades have been warning us that we have been rapidly moving in that
direction. Fortunately, the Prophet Joseph Smith saw the part the elders
of Israel would play in this crisis. Will there be some of us who won't
care about saving the Constitution, others who will be blinded by the
craftiness of men, and some who will knowingly be working to destroy it?
He who has ears to hear and eyes to see can discern by the Spirit and
through the words of God's mouthpiece that our liberties are being taken.
("Righteousness Exalteth a Nation" 517; also in TL
112-13; GFC 398-99; revised in TETB 623)
80.
Teach them to love their country, and here in America to love the
Constitution and the founding fathers, and to know that this is the Lord's
base of operations in these last days, and that that operation will be
world-wide. (TL 207; from an address given at the MIA Conference,
Salt Lake City, UT, 14 Jun 1963)
81.
Freedom of choice is more to be treasured than any earthly possession. As
a United States citizen I believe it is guaranteed in our heaven-inspired
Constitution. ("Let Us Live to Keep Men Free" 2; also in TL
3)
82. I do not believe an American citizen can be patriotic and loyal to his own country and its God-inspired Constitution of freedom without being anti-communist—anti-socialist. (&quo