Mormon Chronicle EXCLUSIVE! Never before available personal writings of Elder H. Verlan Andersen.

One reason the conservative movement has not succeeded in halting the trend toward the welfare state is lack of unity and lack of a definite philosophy. Although there have been an enormous number of people over the years who have spoken out strongly against each new program and each new innovation, somehow the opposition to centralized government has not been organized well enough to bring the trend to a halt.

I have wondered if it is because of a lack of certainty which I have observed among people. I have wondered if it is because we have been fighting delaying actions and making retreats instead of coming out boldly and positively in favor of a program of our own. I have wondered if our difficulty is because we do not have a definite program, a political philosophy to which we could subscribe whole-heartedly, one which we could explain to ourselves and to anyone else, one which was simple and uncomplicated, which could be applied immediately to any action of government.

I Have Undertaken To Construct A Philosophy Which Was A Part Of My Religious And Moral Beliefs—One Which I Had Complete Faith In And Could Give My All For.

I have attempted to construct for myself a theory of government, a philosophy of political science in which I had unquestioning faith. To do this I had to first realize that I was dealing with a problem which was perhaps transcendent above all other problems of my existence, since it dealt with my free agency.

I find it impossible to keep my political beliefs and my religious beliefs separate. Being a member of the L.D.S. Church and believing as I do in the scriptures of the Church, I accept as a fact the intervention of the Lord in setting up the Constitution of the United States and the further statement that it should be established forever. I believe that free agency is first and foremost a religious question and that my own attitude toward it may be the most important belief that I hold.

Realizing the deep concern which the Lord has about this matter of free agency and that He provided us with our agency in the first place, I have assumed, and I believe rightly so, that the Lord would have given us plenty of guidance in forming a political philosophy if we would go to the right place to find it.

This is one subject about which the Lord does not desire that we become confused. He has every reason in the world to give us guidance here, if we know enough to hunt it out and believe it. Just as in our pre-earth life, we may well be divided in the next life according to the degree to which we understand and accept the Lord’s plan of freedom as set forth in our scriptures and the words of our prophets. (Ogden Speech, / /1966)

Editors note: This talk was originally given by President J. Reuben Clark Jr., 14 Nov 1947 and appeared in the Church News 22 Nov 1947.  It has been edited for space, but can be found in full in chapter 6 of “Stand Fast by the Constitution” under the chapter heading, “Let Us Have Peace”. 

Peace has been the pearl of great price, coveted, searched for, by man during all the ages.

I regret to say, indeed I am almost ashamed to say, that at the moment, our military branches seem in almost complete control of our own government.  They appear to dominate Congress, and under the circumstances, we may assume they are in sufficient control of our foreign relations to be able to set the international scene. To us who do not know, it looks clear that we are today getting the same sort of propaganda of half-truths, told in the same evasive ways, with equivalent hints and dark forebodings that preceded the last war.  We are not justified in doubting, on the facts, we have, that we of the United States are, for the first time in our history, under a real threat from our military arm, and that if the plans of the militarists carry, we shall become as thoroughly militarized as was Germany at her best, or worst.  Certain it is we are being generously dosed with that sovereign narcotic, which designing militarists have in the past always administered to their peoples, the doctrine that to ensure peace we must maintain a great army and gigantic armaments.  But this ignores, indeed conceals, the unvarying historical fact that big armies have always brought, not peace, but war which has ended in a hate that in due course brings another war.

Our militarists will no more be able to let a great army lie unused than they were able to withhold the use of the atom bomb once they had it, even though some military men are now quoted as saying the war was won before the bombs were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiromshima.  Under the threat that Germany was perfecting such a bomb, we were justified in perfecting ours.  But it may well be a disaster to civilization for us unnecessarily to have initiated its use.  Some of us think it was shameful.

All this is not the way to peace, but to war.

The international gospel of the Founding Gathers was forecast by Jefferson in 1793.  It was voiced by Washington in his farewell Address in 1796, when he declared we should have “as little political connection as possible with Europe,” because Europe had a “set of primary interests” with which we had “none or a very remote relation,” wherefore “must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concern;… why, by interweaving our destiny with that part of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?  It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”  The Monroe Doctrine declaring against the future colonization of the American continent by Europeans, against the extension therein of there political system, against interposition by European powers to control the destinies of the Latin Americas, implemented the principles of the Address.  And Jefferson, commenting in 1823 on the Monroe doctrine, and the complete political separation of Europe and the Americas, solemnly affirmed: “Our first and fundamental maxim should be, never to entangle ourselves in the broils of Europe; our second, never to suffer Europe to intermeddle with cis-Atlantic affairs.”

Nor may we overlook that great doctrine of neutrality set up under Washington himself and Jefferson and Hamilton, which was aimed at and brought about the localizing of international armed conflicts, and the preservation, under prescribed rules, of peacetime intercourse between belligerents and nonbelligerents.  War was to curse as few people as possible.  This has been jettisoned for the concept that every war should involve all nations, making all suffer the ravages of a global war.

Until the last quarter of a century, this gospel of the Fathers was the polar star by which we set our international course.  In the first hundred thirty years of our constitutional existence, we had three foreign wars, the first merely the final effort of our Revolution, which made good our independence.  During the century that followed we had two foreign wars, neither of considerable magnitude.  During the next twenty-three years, we had two global wars.  While the gospel of the Gathers guided us, we had peace.  When we forsook it, two great wars engulfed us.

What has our apostasy from peace cost us?

In spiritual values it has brought great numbers of our youth and older men to the very depths of desponding atheism.  Our whole social structure seems undermined.  We are becoming a blaspheming, unchaste, non-Christian, Godless race.  Spiritually we seem ripe for another war.

In values of government and law, these wars and the intermingling’s of men of different concepts of freedom and human rights, have brought into our own system, the despotic principles of European systems, against which the Fathers warned, though they came to us through doors the Fathers did not see.  Many and influential persons amongst us, of alien concepts and sometimes of alien birth, no longer admit that man possesses  the inalienable rights of the Declaration of Independence and the fundamental precepts of the Constitution.  Our courts no longer guarantee these rights and enforce these principles.  We have and are aping and adopting the policies and the legal theories of Europe.

It is time we returned to the political faith and work of the Fathers.  It is indispensable that we do so if we are to have peace.  I believe in the old faith and the old works, under which we had so much of peace.  I am a political isolationist in the full sense of the term and am not fearful in declaring it.

I am a political isolationist because:

I fully believe in the wisdom of the course defined by Washington, Jefferson and other ancient statesmen.  The whole history of America before and since the Revolution proves the truthfulness of their assertions.  All during our pre-Revolutionary history we were at war, we were robbed, plundered, and massacred because of European wars, in the issues and causes of which we had no concern.  History is repeating itself.

I believe American manhood is too valuable to be sacrificed on foreign soil for foreign issues and causes.

I believe that permanent peace will never come into the world from the muzzle of a gun.  Guns and bayonets will, in the future as in the past, bring truces, long or short, but never peace that endures.

I believe that moral force is far more potent than physical force in international relations.

So the light of the Master will ultimately break through the darkness of the infidel, and all men will return to freedom and free institutions and to the worship of Almighty God, for such has been the course of man since He came to this earth, and ultimately every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ, and then will come the peace of the world.

Meanwhile, let us each set his own house in order.  Let us each do a little repenting of our common sins.  Let us each recast his own life to fit th example and teachings of the Master.

EDITORS NOTE: Through Hollywood and the false philosophies of apostate Christianity, many of us have fallen for a false notion of what it is to be “possessed”.  It is our hope with the reprinting of this classic article from Apostle Willard Richards to overcome this false notion so that we can better overcome a situation we probably didn’t even know we were in.  The original title of this article was, “False and Delusive Spirits”

Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, prove them, and learn whether they be God-like, and, if so, receive those spirits, but, if not, reject them; for whatsoever is not of God is evil.  It is no uncommon thing for a false spirit to assume a more plausible appearance to a casual observer, than a true spirit would on the same subject; it was so formerly, it is so latterly.

   We were forcibly reminded of these truths when a sister remarked in a recent conversation, “What a happy thing it would be if the writings of the clairvoyants and mesmerizers were true concerning the spirit world, for then all would be saved.”  Yes, said we, just as happy a thing would it now be as it was in the councils of eternity, when the Father made proposals concerning the salvation of man, when he should sin on the earth; Jesus offered to redeem all who would repent and keep a celestial law; Lucifer, a younger brother, offered to save all; Jesus’ offer was accepted by the Father and Lucifer’s was rejected; and yet Lucifer’s proposition appeared so plausible, so much more liberal, noble, benevolent, and kind-hearted, that one-third part of the sons of God believed it and joined Lucifer’s standard. That was what made division in heaven and war followed; Lucifer, with one-third of the spirits of heaven, which he drew around him by his sophistry and false philanthropy, declared war against Jesus and the two-thirds that rallied round His standard to maintain the truth; and they fought until Lucifer and his followers were overcome and cast out of heaven, even unto the earth, and were cursed with this curse, even that they should not receive unto themselves bodies on the earth, like the two-thirds who maintained their integrity and fought by the side of Jesus.

   This curse came through imbibing and exercising a false spirit, a sympathizing spirit, a spirit that will sympathize with misery or punishment, when misery is justly due by punishment.  Lucifer made his followers believe that he was a far more tender-hearted and merciful being than Jesus, and got all he could to help him sympathize for the miseries that must follow the abominable crimes of man on the earth, and they want it for salvation anyhow, right or wrong; they were so good, so holy, and so benevolent they could not do otherwise.

   There are multitudes of just such benevolent souls on the earth at the present day.  Men may lie, steal, swear, get drunk, then murder and shed innocent blood, for which there is no forgiveness in this world nor the world to come, and for which as good a man as King David, “a man after God’s own heart,” was thrust down to hell, and there will remain till he has paid the uttermost farthing.  And yet there are men in abundance on the earth who are possessed of the same holy benevolence with their father Lucifer, who will pray over them, exhort them to repentance, petition the governor to pardon them, and do all in their power to save them from the punishment decreed by the laws of heaven.  They are so sympathetic, have so much kind-hearted feeling, so full of Christian benevolence, disinterested benevolence, they would save the rascals from punishment if possible.  They can’t bear to have their poor fellow creatures suffer so much; it is too bad.  Such conduct is the disinterested benevolence of which the world is so full and boasts so much.

   But what is the benevolence of heaven, the sympathy of the Holy Ones in such matters?  Down to hell where David went; down to hell, ye murderers, ye whose sins cannot be pardoned; ye have taken the blood of your fellows, and ye can’t restore it; therefore howl ye, for hot wrath is upon you, and he that sitteth in the heavens will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cometh.  Your destruction cometh like the whirlwind, and no power can stay it.

   Herein is the benevolence of God manifested; when there is no more hope of a man, instead of keeping him in the midst of the children of men to commit further outrages and mar the peace of His kingdom, He thrusts him down to his own place, to howl out his lamentations and work his passage to the last milestone; while the disinterested benevolence of the priests of Baal would pray him into heaven, in sprite of the decrees of heaven, with all his unpardonable sins upon his head, if they had the power.

   They are so full of sympathy, “dear spirit, sweet spirit,” they would have all men saved; as much as the sister who had read clairvoyance till she had almost forgot her God and hoped the mesmeric world of spirits was true, or that the followers of Lucifer who lost their own salvation by exercising a spirit of false sympathy; and so will it be with all who forsake the living God, and raise up gods of their own imaginations and harbor false spirits.

 False spirits are more subtle and more contagious than the small pox; their number and diversity of operations cannot be counted by man; and the first moment the Saints leave the path of duty, that moment they are subject to the influence of evil, false spirits, which once having taken possession of the soul, are difficult if not impossible to be removed, by the person so receiving them without assistance from those who have more wisdom.  The great object of evil spirits is to get bodies, and the only chance they have is to dispossess a soul of the spirit of the Lord, the light of eternal truth, and take possession of that body thus dispossessed; and when thus once in possession, it may truly be said there is a body possessed of the devil.

   Jesus and His disciples in different ages, have commanded the unclean and wicked spirits to depart out of those of whom they had taken possession, and they have departed; but there are those spirits which are not easily dispossessed and go out only by prayer and fasting.  And again, there are those spirits that will hardly go out at any price, except it is by the will of those who harbor them.  And of what class are they?  They are invited spirits.  Invited spirits?  Yes, many spirits watch their opportunity to thrust themselves into a person when and where they are not wanted, and such are much more easily cast out than those who are invited guests.

   For instance, a person for some real or supposed injury or neglect from a friend, wishes to retaliate, to be revenged, and of course opens the way and invites the spirit of jealousy to take possession; and the moment jealousy enters the breast, there is a perfect hell of happiness.  No scheme that hell itself can devise to torment, perplex, harass, disturb, vex, or mar the peace of friend, wife, or husband, is left untouched, or unmoved; and by that time the breast of the harborer is opened to all the evil spirits of Pandemonium–all have free access, and oh, what a world of glory dwells there!

   And how shall that jealous spirit be removed?  By the laying on of hands?  The Lord deliver us from such an ordinance, in such a case.  Why?  That spirit was invited to take up its abode there, and while the spirit is made welcome by that person, what right have we to dispossess it?  It would be abridging the agency of the individual who invited the spirit for any one to cause that spirit to depart, without the person’s leave; and we choose that all should exercise their own agency and responsibility, and then they are subjects of accountability.

   Other spirits, not particularly invited or desired, gain an easy access to those who are careless, heedless, and but too indifferent to the statutes, ordinances, and duties of God’s kingdom; who neglect their prayers, their assembling together, and doing as they would be done unto; and from these spirits arise contention, strife, evil thinking, evil speaking, evil surmising, detraction, revenge, law-suits, and a host of such perplexing annoyances, sufficient to disturb a nation; but the man who is obedient to his God in all things, who knows no will of his own, only to do the will of his Father in the heavens, is free from these spirits; the Devil has no power over him, for he resists him, and evil spirits are compelled to flee at his rebuke.

   Some may ask, “How shall I know when I am operated upon by a false spirit?”  There are many keys by which the door of knowledge is unlocked to the Saints in relation to spirits, as well as other things pertaining to the kingdom; but one may suffice at the present time, for we have not designed this brief notice to cover all or any considerable portion of the ground which the subject includes.

   The spirit of heaven is a spirit of peace, joy, comfort, consolation, and knowledge to its possessor, and all Saints who have enjoyed this spirit, (and all Saints have more or less) may know when this peaceful spirit dwelling within them is disturbed, that something is wrong, that some false spirit is lurking within or about them, striving to enter; and if they will resist the first impulse of their disturbed feelings and command Satan in the name of Jesus to depart, peace will instantly be restored to their souls.

   It is not the wrong doings of others that destroy that peace within ourselves which the world can neither give nor take away; it is our own wrongs which cause that peaceful spirit to leave us; and would to God that His truth were indelibly imprinted on the heart and recollection of every Saint.  It is your own wrongs or evil spirits that destroy your peace, and not the wrongs of your friend or neighbor. Know ye, all ye Saints, if the peace of heaven and a foretaste of the blessings of the celestial world are not continually with you, there is something wrong within; some foul spirit has got possession of yourself, and the quicker you dispossess it, the better.

   Carry out this principle, and what will be the result?  Every Saint will live by his creed, and “mind his own business.”  Every dear wife will look with a zealous eye towards the happiness and welfare of her dear husband, and if she is tempted to think he is doing wrong, she will say, Get thee behind me, Satan; that is none of my business.  I will do right, and that is enough for me, and I shall have peace in my soul.  And so continue to do, till he has done so wrong that forbearance is no longer a virtue, then give him a divorce and do better if you can; but while you live with him, live in peace, and keep jealousy out of doors; if you don’t, you will always have hell within, and devils enough to carry it on.  The moment you are jealous that your husband is wrong, that moment you are miserable, that misery is proof positive that you yourself are wrong, for it destroys your peace.

   Jealous husbands are quite as bad and a little less excusable (if there can be any excuse) than jealous wives.  Husbands, if your wives do wrong, teach them better if they are willing to be taught, and if they are not, keep out of their way till they are willing, and no quarreling between you.  You need not fret your soul because your dear wife does wrong.  Don’t let the devil destroy your peace and cause the Holy Ghost to depart from you, because your wife has given way to a bad spirit.  Show yourself a man of God; be at peace with yourself, pray for her, and when she has been buffeted by the devil long enough, she will get tired of him, leave him, and return to you.

   Some husbands are so mighty big because they are the head, that the wife has no room in the house; if she thinks, she thinks wrong; if she speaks, she speaks wrong; if she acts, she acts wrong; she can’t do a right thing for the life of her; and do what she will, no matter, she is as likely to get a cuffed ear as anything else, and a little more so; and if she should ask forgiveness, she would meet with the consoling retort from her dear lord, “yes, and you’ll do the same thing again next minute.”  Why all this?  Because the dear husband, the great lord of the house, has got so many devils in him, they make him so big there is not room for anybody else in that house.

   The things of which we speak are but too common among the nations of Christendom, and too much of them have been brought together among the Saints; but it is time for Saints to stop such things. Husbands, love and cherish your wives as you ought; give them their place, their rights, their dominion, that they may act upon their agency, as you do on yours; and quit your fretting, and snarling, and quarreling with them, if you ever did it.  What, a man quarrel with himself?  Yes, just as well as quarrel with his wife–’tis all the same.

   If there is one solitary case, such as we have supposed, among the Saints, we would venture a prescription.  What, are you a doctor?  We make no such pretensions, but men may say that we are. Let the husband who wants a quarrel with his wife go to some deep, remote canyon, where no human voice was ever heard or foot trod, there strip and fight till you are tired of it; then come home and behave yourself.

   Let the wife who wants to pick a quarrel with her husband, retire to some dark room or cellar, which contains nothing but bare walls and total darkness, and there fight till you are tired of fighting; then return to your family and behave yourself.  And when husband and wife have got through with their fights, they will each be willing to acknowledge that they had had as many devils in them as Mary Magdalene, or they would not have been such fools as to fight themselves at such fearful odds; and if they don’t, we’ll make another gratis prescription. (Mill. Star, vol. 14, pp. 277-280)

]]> http://www.mormonchronicle.com/you-didnt-know-you-were-possessed/feed/ 26 http://www.mormonchronicle.com/utah-moves-to-support-chastity/ http://www.mormonchronicle.com/utah-moves-to-support-chastity/#comments Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:26:29 +0000 Ezra Taylor http://www.mormonchronicle.com/?p=1715 ]]> On the 22 of February 2012, the Salt Lake Tribune reported on a proposed bill in the Utah legislature that would allow government funded schools the option of opting out of “sex education” classes and prohibiting instruction in the use of contraceptives in those schools that chose to keep the courses on “sex education”.

As I have written in the past, here and here, Church leaders have shown opposition to both government schools as well as birth control. They have also been in strong opposition to so called “sex education”.

As President J. Rueben Clark Jr., of the First Presidency said,

“All that the schools have taught sex facts on all their teachings have torn away the modesty that once clothed sex. Their discussions tend to make it sometimes seem to make sex animals out of boys and girls. The teachings do little but arouse curiosity for experience.

A word on chastity can begin in one sentence, two words: Be chaste. That tells everything. You do not need to know all the details of the reproduction processes in order to keep clean. Be chaste because God commanded it. That is all there is to it.” -Conference Report, October 1949, p. 194

An editorial in the official Church News said,

“Sex education belongs in the home. . . . Movements to place sex education in nearly all grades of public schools can end only in the same result which came to Sweden.” April 1, 1967

There are numerous statements by many different General Authorities condemning so called “sex education” in government schools, but since many only except official statements as “binding”, let’s skip right to this letter from the united voice of the First Presidency,

“We believe that serious hazards are involved in entrusting to the schools the teaching of this vital and important subject to our children. This responsibility cannot wisely be left to society, nor the schools; nor can the responsibility be shifted to the Church. It is the responsibility of parents to see that they fully perform their duty in this respect.” First Presidency, as quoted in “Policies and Procedures,” New Era, Nov 1971, p. 47

Though I hesitate to point out any specific reason beyond “because God’s servants said so”, I think one of Ezra Taft Bensons points against “sex education” is worthy of pointing out,

“When you make a close study of the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States (known as SIECUS), which is the major organization pushing sex education in the schools, and read their literature and learn of their amoral leadership, you can better appreciate why the Church is opposed to sex education in the schools, whether it is called family living program or by any other name. I commend the parents who have worked to keep it out of their schools and those who have pushed it out or are attempting to do so. They must love their children.” Conference Report, April 1969, p.11-15

Though this was said in 1969, it could very well have been said yesterday as anyone can see in this expose on Planned Parenthoods indoctrination program found here. WARNING: NOT FOR CHILDREN

Even if this bill doesn’t pass, will those among us who still feel government schools is our best and/or only option take the opportunity to be the  0.05% to take home what the leaders of the Lords Church says belongs in the home?

I was shocked and appalled when, in a recent presidential debate in South Carolina, the audience loudly booed Congressman Ron Paul for his suggestion that we should apply the Golden Rule in our international relations. I thought to myself, “What have we come to?” I thought of the cliche analogy of the frog who is placed in a pot of cold water while the heat is slowly turned up until he boils.

Today, I was reading D&C section 98. Let me quote verses 33-38:

“And again, this is the law that I gave unto mine ancients, that they should not go out unto battle against any nation, kindred, tongue or people, save I, the Lord, commanded them. And if any nation, tongue, or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift a standard of peace unto that people, nation, or tongue; and if that peole did not accept the offering of peace, neither the second nor the third time, they should bring these testimonies before the Lord; Then I, the Lord would fight their battles, and their children’s battles and their children’s children’s, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation. Behold, this is an ensample unto all people, saith the Lord your God, for justification before me.”

We, the members of the Lord’s church, are commanded to be an ensign unto the world. How many of us, (myself included), cheered when we took our own (not the Lord’s) vengeance on Iraq and Afghanistan? How many of us felt a sense of righteous release? We might say, “Well, times have changed. It’s no longer as simple as it used to be!” Really? Do we think for one minute that the Lord didn’t see our day when this scripture was written, when this commandment was given? Was the Lord so short sighted that His commandments, declared by His very word to have been in effect for His “ancients”, have lost their effect after only 150 years?

No!!!!! We must stand with the Lord, even in these difficult, complicated times. We must trust in His promise that He will fight our battles. We must “lift a standard of peace” as we have been commanded. We cannot side with those in this country, in this world, who would wage pre-emptive war against a country like Iran (only the most current example in a long list of transgressions over the past century).

If we are to truly be an ensign unto the nations, to be members of the Lord’s Zion – the pure in heart, we must seek to understand the commandments of the Lord; we must trust in them, even if conventional “modern” wisdom suggests otherwise. We must each stand as a voice of reason, a voice of obedience, a voice of peace. His commandments are eternal, they have not expired, and they are just as valid today as they were in the days of the “ancients” and in the days of Joseph Smith.

As is evident from brother Stover’s message, we can turn to the Lord, the scriptures and the prophets for answers to the issues we face in the world today. We can then discover the correct principles. And now some words from the scriptures:

“Now the people said unto Gidgiddoni: Pray unto the Lord, and let us go up upon the mountains and into the wilderness, that we may fall upon the robbers and destroy them in their own lands. But Gidgiddoni saith unto them: The Lord forbid; for if we should go up against them the Lord would deliver us into their hands; therefore we will prepare ourselves in the center of our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against them, but we will wait till they shall come against us; therefore as the Lord liveth, if we do this he will deliver them into our hands. (3 Nephi 3: 18–21)

“And it was because the armies of the Nephites went up unto the Lamanites that they began to be smitten; for were it not for that, the Lamanites could have had no power over them. But, behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed.” (Mormon 4: 4–5)

Quoting from Ezra Taft Benson with regard to United States Foreign Policy:

“Ever since World War I, when we sent American boys to Europe supposedly to ‘make the world safe for democracy’, our leaders in Washington have been acting as though the American people elected them to office for the primary purpose of leading the entire planet toward international peace, prosperity and one-world government.

“…We mistake the object of our Government… Conquest or superiority among other powers is not or ought not ever to be the object of republican systems. If they are sufficiently active & energetic to rescue us from contempt & preserve our domestic happiness & security, it is all we can expect from them… (The Records of the Federal Convention [Max Farrand, Editor], 1: 402)

“There is one and only one legitimate goal of United States foreign policy. It is a narrow goal, a nationalistic goal: the preservation of our national independence. Nothing in the Constitution grants that the President shall have the privilege of offering himself as a world leader.

“Nothing in the Constitution nor in logic grants to the President of the United States or to Congress the power to influence the political life of other countries, to ‘uplift’ their cultures, to bolster their economies, to feed their peoples or even to defend them against their enemies.

“The proper function of government must be limited to a defensive role.”

(Source: Ezra Taft Benson, “United States Foreign Policy“, Preston, Idaho, June 21, 1968)

And a message from Spencer W. Kimball:

“In spite of our delight in defining ourselves as modern, and our tendency to think we possess a sophistication that no people in the past ever had—in spite of these things, we are, on the whole, an idolatrous people—a condition most repugnant to the Lord.

“We are a warlike people, easily distracted from our assignment of preparing for the coming of the Lord. When enemies rise up, we commit vast resources to the fabrication of gods of stone and steel—ships, planes, missiles, fortifications—and depend on them for protection and deliverance. When threatened, we become antienemy instead of pro-kingdom of God; we train a man in the art of war and call him a patriot, thus, in the manner of Satan’s counterfeit of true patriotism, perverting the Savior’s teaching:

“”Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:44–45.)”

(Source: The False Gods We Worship by Spencer W. Kimball)

Other related articles:

What do the scriptures teach us about war? (Article)
United States Foreign Policy by Ezra Taft Benson
Preemptive War & The Book of Mormon As a Record of Military Strategy by Hugh Nibley (Audio)

In the Book of Mormon the Prophet Nephi exclaims: “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.” (2 Nephi 4:34)

Prophecying of our day, Nephi said, “They have all gone astray save it be a few, who are humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught the precepts of men.” (2 Nephi 28:14)

Yes, it is the precepts of men versus the revealed word of God. The more we follow the word of God the less we are deceived, while those who follow the wisdom of men are deceived the most.

Increasingly, the Latter-day Saints must choose the reasoning of men [or] the revelations of God. This is a crucial choice, for we have those within the Church today who, with their worldly wisdom, are leading some of the members astray. President J. Reuben Clark warned that, “The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership, and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep’s clothing, because they wear the habiliments of the Priesthood. . . We should be careful of them.” (Conference Report, April 1949, p. 163)

The Lord does not always give reasons for each commandment. Sometimes faithful members, like Adam of old, are called upon to obey an injunction of the Lord even though they do not know the reason why it was given. Those who trust in God will obey him, knowing full well that time will provide the reasons and vindicate their obedience.

The arm of flesh may not approve, not understand, why God has not bestowed the Priesthood on women or the seed of Cain, but God’s ways are not man’s ways. God does not have to justify all his ways for the puny mind of man. If a man gets in tune with the Lord he will know that God’s course of action is right even though he may not know all the reasons why.

The Prophet Joseph Smith understood this principle when he said,

The curse is not yet taken off from the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is affected by as great a power as caused it to come; and the people who interfere the least with the purposes of God in this matter, will come under the least condemnation before Him; and those who are determined to pursue a course, which shows an opposition, and a feverish restlessness against the decrees of the Lord, will learn, when perhaps it is too late for their own good, that God can do His own work, without the aid of those who are not dictated by His counsel. (Prophet Joseph Smith, 1836, History of the Church 2:438)

The world largely ignores the first and great commandment–to love God–but talks a lot about loving their brother. They worship at the altar of man. Would Nephi have slain Laban if he put the love of neighbor above the love of God? Would Abraham have taken Isaac up for a sacrifice if he put the second commandment first?

The attitude of the world is reflected in a phrase of falsehood which reads, “Presume not God to scan; the proper study of mankind is man.” (Alexander Pope, Essays on Man) But only those who know and love God can best love and serve his children. For only God fully understands his children and knows what is best for their welfare. Therefore, one needs to be in tune with God to best help his children. That’s why the Church, under the inspiration of the Lord, encourages its members to first look to themselves, then their family, then the Church, and if need be to other voluntary agencies to help solve the problems of poverty, unemployment, hunger, sickness and distress. Those who are not moved by that same inspiration turn instead to government. Such man-made course of action does little good compared to the Lord’s approach and often results in great harm to our Father’s children even though the intentions seem to have been noble.

Therefore, if you desire to help your fellowmen the most, then you must put the first commandment first.

When we fail to put the love of God first, we are easily deceived by crafty men, who profess a great love of humanity, while advocating programs that are not of the Lord.

In 1942, President Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, and David O. McKay warned us about the increasing threat to our Constitution, caused by the revolutionists who, the First Presidency said, were “using a technique that is as old as the human race–a fervid, but false solicitude for the unfortunate, over whom they thus gain master, and then enslave them. They suit their approaches to the particular group they seek to deceive.” (First Presidency, Conference Report, April 1942, p. 90)

That timely counsel about a “fervid, but false solicitude for the unfortunate” could have saved China and Cuba if enough people knew what the communist “master of deceit” really had in mind when they promised agrarian reform. Such timely counsel could help save our country from communism, as the same “masters of deceit” are showing the same false solicitude for the unfortunate in the name of civil rights.

Now there is nothing wrong with civil rights–it is what’s being done in the name of civil rights that is alarming. There is no doubt that the so-called Civil Rights movement as it exists today is used as a communist program for revolution in America, just as agrarian reform was used by the communists to take over China and Cuba.(2)

This shocking statement can be confirmed by an objective study of communist literature and activities and by knowledgeable Negroes and others who have worked within the communist movement.(3)

As far back as 1928, the communists declared that the cultural, economic, and social differences between the races in America could be exploited by them to create the animosity, fear, and hatred between large segments of our people that would be necessary beginning ingredients for their revolution.(4)

Briefly, the three broad objectives were–and are–as follows:

• Create Hatred
• Trigger Violence
• Overthrow Established Government

1. Create Hatred. Use any means to agitate blacks into hating whites and whites into hating blacks. Work both sides of the split. Play up and exaggerate real grievances. If necessary, don’t hesitate to manufacture false stories and rumors about injustices and brutality. Create martyrs for both sides. Play upon mass emotions until they smolder with resentment and hatred.

2. Trigger Violence. Put the emotional masses into the streets in the form of large mobs, the larger the better. It makes no difference if the mob is told to demonstrate “peacefully” so long as it is brought into direct confrontation with the antagonist. Merely bringing the two emotionally charged groups together is like mixing oxygen and hydrogen. All that is needed is one tiny spark. If the spark is not forthcoming from purely spontaneous causes, create it.(5)

3. Overthrow Established Government. Once mob violence becomes widespread and commonplace, condition those who are emotionally involved to accept violence as the only way to “settle the score” once and for all. Provide leadership and training for guerrilla warfare. Institute discipline and terrorism to insure at least passive support from the larger inactive segment of the population. Train and battle-harden leadership through sporadic riots and battles with police. Finally, at the appointed time, launch an all-out simultaneous offensive in every city.(6)

Police and national guard units will never be adequate to handle such widespread anarchy–especially if a large part of our men and equipment are drained away in fighting a foreign war. In self-defense, larger numbers are brought into fighting on both sides. The appearance of a nationwide civil war takes form. In the confusion, potential anti-communist leaders of both races are assassinated, apparently the accidental casualties of race war.

Time the attack to coincide with large-scale sabotage of water supplies, power grids, main railroad and highway arteries, communication centers, and government buildings. With fires raging in every conceivable part of town, with wanton looting going on in the darkness of a big city, without routine police protection, without water to drink, without electrical refrigeration, without transporation or radio or TV, the public will panic, lock its door in trembling fear, and make it much easier for the small but well-led and fully disciplined guerrilla bands to capture the power-centers of each community. Overthrow the government! After complete control is consolidated, (and that may take many months, as in Cuba), only then allow the people to discover that it was a communist revolution after all.

If communism comes to America, it will probably not happen quite like that. Even though this is the basic formula used in so many other countries now part of the communist empire, there is one very important difference. In China, in Cuba, and in Algeria the segment of the population which the communists used as the “battering ram” of their revolution of force and violence was the makority segment.(7) In America, though, the Negro represents only 10 percent of the population. In any all-out race war which might be triggered, there isn’t a chance in the world that communist-led Negro guerilla units could permanently hold on to the power centers of government, even if they could capture them in the first place.

It would be a terribly bloody affair, with all Americans suffering mightily, but with Negroes paying the highest toll in human life. And the communists know this better than anyone else. They do not really expect to take America with a “War of National Liberation,” (which is their term for internal conquest through force and violence), unless the aggressive revolutionary force can be broadened to include, not only the minority of Negores, but migratory farm laborers, the poor, the unemployed, those on welfare, other minority groups, students, the so-called “peace movements,” and anyone who can be propagandized into mob action against established government. But unless and until they manipulate an overwhelming majority of the population into at least sympathizing with their revolutionary activities, they will use violence, anarchy, and sabotage, not as a means of seizing power, but merely as a support operation or a catalyst to an entirely different plan.

In such countries as Czechoslovakia, the communists have used an entirely different method of internal conquest. Instead of the force and violence of a bloody revolution (a “War of National Liberation”) parliamentary and political means were used to bring about a more peaceful transition to communism. The communist sympathizers call this alternate plan a “Proletarian Revolution.”(8)

The plan is as follows: Using unidentified communist agents and non-communist sympathizers in key positions in government, in communications media, and in mass organizations–such as labor unions and civil rights groups–demand more and more government power as the solution to all civil rights problems. Total government is the objective of communism. Without calling it by name, build communism piece by piece through mass pressures for presidential decrees, court orders, and legislation which appear to be aimed at improving civil rights and other social reforms. If there is social, economic, or educational discrimination, then advocate more government programs and control.

And what if riots come? Then more government housing, government welfare, government job training, and finally, federal control over police. Thus, the essential economic and political structure of communism can be built entirely “legally” and in apparent response to the wishes of the people who have clamored for some kind of solution to the problems played-up, aggravated or created outright by communists for just that purpose. After the machinery of communism is firmly established, then allow the hidden communists one-by-one to make their identities known. Liquidate first the anti-communists and then the non-communist sympathizers who are no longer needed in government. The total state mechanism can now openly and “peacefully” be transferred into the hands of communists. Such is the so-called Proletarian Revolution. Such has happened in other once free countries. It has already started here.

The communists are not entirely certain whether force and violence or the use of government or a combination of both would be best for the internal conquest of America. At first, there was talk of splitting away the “Black Belt,” those Southern states in which the Negro held a majority, and calling that a Negro Soviet Republic. But, as conditions changed and more Negroes migrated to the Northern states, they applied this same strategy to the so-called “ghetto” areas in the North. It now seems probable that the communists are determined to use force and violence to its fullest, coupled with a weakening of the economy and military setbacks abroad, in an effort to create as much havoc as possible to weaken America internally, and to create the kind of psychological desperation in the minds of all citizens that will lead them to accept blindly government measures which actually help the communists in their take-over.

Some wonder if it can happen here. Just take a good look at what has been going on around us for the past few years. IT IS HAPPENING HERE! If it is to be prevented from running the full course, we must stop pretending that it doesn’t exist.

Let us consider some suggestions for our survival. The hour is late.

The communist program for revolution in America has been in progress for many years and is far advanced. While it can be thwarted in a fairly short period of time merely by exposure, the evil effects of what has already been accomplished cannot be removed overnight. The animosities, the hatred, the extension of government control into our daily lives–all this will take time to repair. The already-inflicted wounds will be slow in healing. But they can be healed; that is the important point.

1. First of all, we must not place the blame upon Negroes. They are merely the unfortunate group which has been selected by professional communist agitators to be used as the primary source of cannon fodder. Not one in a thousand Americans–black or white–really understands the full implications of today’s civil rights agitation. The planning, direction, and leadership come from the communists, and most of those are white men who fully intend to destroy America by spilling Negro blood, rather than their own.

2. Next, we must not participate in any so-called “backlash” activity which might tend to further intensify inter-racial friction. Anti-Negro vigilante action, or mob action, of any kind fits perfectly into the communist plan. This is one of the best ways to force the decent Negro into cooperating with militant Negro groups. The communists are just as anxious to spearhead such anti-Negro action as they are to organize demonstrations which are calculated to irritate white people.

3. We must insist that duly authorized legislative investigating committees launch an even more exhaustive study and expose the secret communists who are directing the Civil Rights movement. The same needs to be done with militant anti-Negro groups. This is an effective way for the American people of both races to find out who are the false leaders among them.(9)

4. We must support our local police in their difficult task of keeping law and order in these trying times. Police should not be encumbered by civilian review boards,(10) or asked to be social workers. They have their hands full just trying to keep the peace. Recent soft-on-crime decisions of the Supreme Court which hamper the police on protecting the innocent and bringing the criminal to justice should be reversed. Persistent cries of “police brutality”(11) should be recognized for what they are–attempts to discredit our police and discourage them from doing their job to the best of their ability. Salaries should be adequate to hold on to and attract the very finest men available for police work. But, in questions of money, great care should be taken not to accept grants from the federal government. Along with federal money, inevitably there will come federal controls and “guidelines” which not only may get local police embroiled in national politics, but may even lead to the eventual creation of a national police force.(12) Every despotism requires a national police force to hold the people in line. Communism is no exception. Our local police should remain free from federal control.

5. Further encroachment of government should be stopped and the entire process reversed. The solution to most, if not all, of the currrent problems involving civil rights is less government, not more.

6. Lastly, we need a vast awakening of the American people as to the true nature of the communist blueprint for revolution. Considering the degree to which the controlling influences of the federal government and the communications media are now furthering this communist revolution, it is unrealistic to expect our present leaders or the networks to bring about this awakening. In fact, they may be expected to resist it. That means individual citizens must stand up and assume more than their share of the responsibility. The speaker’s platform, and distribution of literature, study clubs, home discussions–all must be pressed into service. All of us should read the new book,Communist Revolution in the Streets, written by Gary Allen, with an introduction by W. Cleon Skousen.

Each of us must be willing to discuss the problem openly with our friends–especially those of the Negro race. The success or failure of Americans of all races to meet this challenge may well determine the fate of our country. If we fail, we will all lose our civil rights, black man and white man together, for we will live under perfect communist equality–the equality of slaves.

As President David O. McKay has stated, “The position of this Church on the subject of communism has never changed. We consider it the greatest Satanical threat to peace, prosperity and the spread of God’s work among men that exists on the face of the earth.” (Conference Report, April 1966, p. 109)(13) He has also counseled that, “next to being one in worshipping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this Church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States!” (President David O. McKay, The Instructor, 1956, p. 94)

May we unite behind the Prophet in opposing the communist conspiracy and preserving our freedom and our divine Constitution, I pray.

Notes

1. An address delivered on September 29, 1967, at the General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Utah, and printed in pamphlet form by Deseret Book Company.

2. “From the beginning of the so-called Negro Revolution and the insane antics identified with it. . . I had opposed all of the marches on Washington and other mob demonstrations, recognizing them as part of the Red techniques of agitation, infiltration, and subversion. That was included by the fact that invariably they were proposed, incited, managed, and led by professional collectivist agitators, whose only interest in the workers was to exploit them; backed by the proliferation of ‘liberals’ of position and influence who always run interference for them by ‘explaining’ and defending their course.” (George S. Schuyler, Negro Journalist; Black and Conservative, p. 341)

3. Manning Johnson, now deceased, spelled out this blueprint in his book, Color, Communism and Common Sense (Western Islands, Belmont, Mass.). Leonard Patterson, Mrs. Julia Brown and Mrs. Lolabelle Holmes are currently active on lecture tours carrying this unhappy truth about the Civil Rights movement to as many of the American people as they can reach.

4. The two classic communist manuals explaining this diabolic plot are American Negro Problems, by John Pepper (1928) and Negroes in a Soviet America, by James Ford and James Allen (1935). Both originally were published by the Communist party and now may be obtained as photographic reprints from American Opinion, Belmont Mass. 02178 [Note: The American Opinion magazine has been renamed, "The New American," and is published under authority of the John Birch Society, which has moved headquarters to Appleton Wisconsin]

5. “At this moment in history, the communists are ecstatic over their success in helping to retard our progress in improving racial relations in this country. . . The present dangerous decline in black-white relations in the United States could well lead us into a disastrous racial civil war, which is exactly what the communists want and are willing to gamble on at the present moment. A racial civil war in the United States could only breed one thing–anarchy. And once anarchy sweeps this country, the battle will be over to all intents and purposes. . . Certainly while the rest of the country was involved in trying to salvage itself from a civil war, the communists would remain intact as a functioning revolutionary cadre and would await the chance to seize power from a government incapable of governing or defending itself from internal tyranny.” (Phillip Abbott Luce, ex-communist; The Intelligent Student’s Guide To Survival, p. 60)

6. The Communists are counting on the premise that most Americans will discount the probability of a guerilla war in their country. The notion of a guerilla war in the United States is so outrageous and improbable to Americans that they would receive it as the product of a deranged mind. The Communists are fully aware of this and are counting heavily on the fact that most of our citizens will be mentally, as well as physically, unprepared. The shock effect of the initial onslaught will work in favor of the guerillas.” (Phillip Abbott Luce, Road to Revolution: Communist Guerilla Warfare in the U.S.A., p. 13)

7. There is nothing more odious than the majority. It consists of a few powerful men who lead the way; of accommodating rascals and submissive weaklings; and of a mass of men who trot after them without in the least knowing their own minds.” (Johann Wolfgang Goethe, 1749-1832; Great Quotations, p. 624)

8. For a detailed understanding of this phase of communist strategy, the student is urged to research the Party’s official pronouncements on the subject of Proletarian Revolution. Perhaps the easiest and best place to begin, however, is with one of the actual textbooks used to teach communist cadres in Czechoslovakia. It is entitled, About the Possible Transition to Socialism by Means of the Revolutionary Use of Parliament, written by Jan Kozak, official Historian of the Czech Communist Party and member of the National Assembly. Reprints of the pertinent parts of this textbook may be obtained from the U.S. Printing Office in the form of a government pamphlet entitled, The New Role of National Legislative Bodies in the Communist Conspiracy, published by the House Committe on Un-American Activities, December 30, 1961.

9. It is the proper duty of a representative body to look diligently into every affair of government and to talk much about what it sees. It is meant to be the eyes and the voice, and to embody the wisdom and will of its constituents. . . The informing function of Congress should be preferred even to its legislative function.” (Woodrow Wilson, quoted by Justice Frankfurter at the October 1952 Term of the Supreme Court)

10. “A questionable move currently being championed in some localities is the establishment ofcivilian review boards to hear complaints against law enforcement officers. . . When carefully considered, it is clear this drive for external boards is an ill-advised maneuver. It amounts to the usurpation of authority rightfully belonging to the police commander. It is a practice which could damage effective law enforcement and reduce the orderly processes of community life to petty bickering, suspicion, and hatred. The police executive cannot become a mere pawn of bureaucratic committees. He must have full responsibility for the performance, discipline, and control of his officers. . . Such panels represent a backward step for law enforcement toward ineptness and mediocrity. Moreover, one of the major weaknesses of these boards is their inherent political overtones.” (J. Edgar Hoover, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, January 1, 1965)

11. “We know there is a calculated and deliberate attempt by some groups to inflame hostility against law enforcement by charging ‘police brutality’ without cause. To a large degree they have succeeded. The term is bandied about in all media of communication without serious consideration as to its true meaning or its harmful effect on a profession which is charged with enforcing the basic rules of civilized living.” (J. Edgar Hoover, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, June 1, 1966)

12. “America has no place for, nor does it need, a national police force. It should be abundantly clear by now that in a democracy such as ours effective law enforcement is basically a local responsibility. In the great area of self-government reserved for States, counties, and cities, the enforcement of the laws is not only their duty but also their right. Law-abiding citizens and local officials should vigorously oppose concerted attacks against law enforcement and the devious moves to negate local authority and replace it with Federal police power. . . Since local law enforcement represents the first line of defense of our social order, it becomes a primary target of those who challenge established authority.” (J. Edgar Hoover, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, February 1, 1968)

13. Statement concerning the position of the Church on Communism, made by President David O. McKay at the general priesthood session of the 136th Annual Conference of the Church held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, Saturday, April 9, 1966

I am grateful for the call which has come to me to again preside over the European Mission, even though I leave my beloved country this time with greater anxiety for its future than ever before.

Because of the nature of the message I bring to you, I have committed most of it to writing. I shall speak to you frankly and honestly. Some of you may not agree fully with everything I say. Thank God in this blessed land we can still speak our convictions without fear. I have been in nations where this blessed privilege is no longer enjoyed.

What I shall say are my personal convictions borne out of an active life which has taken me into forty-five nations and brought me close to the insidious forces which would destroy our way of life in this choice land. I express these convictions and warnings today because of my love for you, the true Church of Christ, and our beloved country.

I am not here to tickle your ears-to entertain you. I will talk to you as one who loves this great nation. The message I bring is not a happy one but it is the truth, and time is always on the side of truth. “Truth must be repeated again and again because error is constantly being preached round about.” (Goethe, 1749-1832, quoted in The Freeman, July, 1958.)

This morning I will dispense with the usual amusing story so often told at the beginning of a speech. I do this because time is so rapidly running out that I feel I must have your ears during every moment of the time allotted to me. I do not mean that the hour is late today. I do mean that the hour is very late indeed, on the time table of national survival. As Ernst Tillich stated in his testimony as an expert witness before the House Committee on Un-American Activities several years ago: “On the clock of survival the time is now five minutes before midnight. We have but this brief interval to choose between survival or extinction.”

The events which have taken place since Mr. Tillich testified have fully supported this grave warning. We have been plunging headlong down the primrose path toward the inevitable destruction of our great country. It is quite true that while the Socialist Communist Conspiracy, of itself, does not have, as yet, the power necessary to do the job, it is nevertheless receiving vital aid and comfort from the Fabian Socialists, fellow travelers, dupes and liberals, to such a degree that the communists are jubilant at the course of events.

In less than half a century this evil system has gained control over one-third of mankind, and it is steadily pursuing its vicious goal of control over all the rest of the world. Since World War II people have been brought under the communist yoke at the rate of more that 6,000 per hour, 144,000 per day, 52,000,000 per year. Truly the Fabian Socialists in this country are rolling out the red carpet, which will, without a doubt, unless we arouse ourselves, eventually result in a complete Communist take-over of America. This is their hope, their plan and their bold prediction.

This is not to say that all those lending their support to the Fabian Socialist camp are consciously helping the Communists. Undoubtedly there are many well-meaning people who have been misled or confused. However, it makes little difference who pulls the trigger of a gun aimed at your heart. The end result is the same.

There are real dangers ahead. Why do I have anxiety and fear for the future?

I fear for the future when I realize that for some thirty years our once-free institutions, political, economic, educational and social, have been drifting into the hands of those who favor the Welfare State, and who would “centralize all power in the hands of the political apparatus in Washington. This enhancement of political power at the expense of individual rights, so often disguised as ‘democracy’ or ‘freedom’ or ‘civil rights,’ is ‘socialism,’ no matter what name tag it bears.

“Here we should recall the warning of the late Dean Inge: ‘History seems to show that the powers of evil have won their greatest triumphs by capturing the organizations which were formed to defeat them, and that when the devil has thus changed the contents of the bottles, he never alters the labels. The fort may have been captured by the enemy, but it still flies the flag of its defenders.’” (Admiral Ben Moreell, November 22, 1963.)

I fear for the future when the Central Government now owns more than one-third of the total land area within the boundaries of the fifty states.

I fear for the future when the Central Government owns and operates more than 3,000 businesses and commercial activities in competition with its own private tax-paying citizens.

I fear for the future when I realize that the functions of the Federal Government are carried on by some 2,000 major operating units.

I fear for the future when the Federal Government directly lends $1 for every $5 loaned by private banks and that much of the federal funds loaned are at rates below the cost of the money to the government.

I fear for the future when in 1913-15 a couple making $10,000, paid in federal taxes $60, but in 1956 a couple earning $10,000 paid $1,590 in federal income tax.

I fear for the future when I realize that twenty-five years ago the Federal Government received one-fourth of all taxes collected in the United States. Today the Federal Government collects not one-quarter but 68 per cent of all our taxes.

I fear for the future when foreign governments have used and are using American tax money to pay for socialism.

I fear for the future because twenty-five years ago all taxes, federal, state and local, took 14 per cent of our national income. Today taxes take 35 per cent.

I fear for the future when I see our federal debt soar well above 300 billion dollars-over $7,000 per family of four-sixteen times the combined debt of the fifty states and at the same time see no evidence that this dangerous trend will be curtailed.

I fear for the future when I see an affluent but complacent citizenry paying little or no attention to these and many other socialistic trends in America.

Dr. V. Orval Watts, noted political economist, has described this socialist system which I fear-and I have but suggested a very few evidences. Here are his words:

“Socialism… is the theory and practice of coercive collectivism. It is the evil fruit of greed for other men’s possessions and greed for control over other men’s labor.

“This greed for goods and power is as old as man and as widespread as the human race. It goes by many names, disguised in many forms, as men think up many excuses for robbing and ruling their fellows.

“Socialist theory is a modern excuse, an elaborate rationalization for this greed and for the organized looting and despotism it seeks to achieve. But its materialism, its collectivist point of view, its reliance on violence and coercion, even most of its economics, are as old and as common as sin.

“It holds out to men the hope that they may reap where they have not sown. It teaches that man is the creature of his environment, and that he may be happy and good if he gets enough wealth, regardless of how or where. All that is needed, says the Socialist Tempter, is to bow down and worship the Socialist State, turning over to it authority and power to take wealth where it finds it and to direct labor as it wills. Just a little class hatred, a little lying propaganda, a little violence on the picket lines, a little suppression of adverse critics, and a few generations of compulsory education in Socialistic thought, then surely we shall see the bright new day of equality, peace, brotherhood, and freedom! So says the Socialist.”

In 1878, the great Southern statesman, Benjamin Hill of Georgia, warned us of these dangers on the floor of the United States Senate, in these prophetic words:

“I dread nothing so much as the exercise of ungranted and doubtful powers by this Government. It is, in my opinion, the danger of dangers to the future of this country. Let us be sure that we keep it always within its limits.

“If this great, ambitious, ever-growing corporation becomes aggressive, who shall check it? If it becomes wayward, who shall control it? If it becomes unjust, who shall trust it? As sentinels of the country’s watchtower, I beseech you to watch and guard with sleepless dread that corporation which can make all property and rights, all states and people, and all liberty and hope, its playthings in an hour, and its victims forever.”

Admiral Ben Moreell, who has spoken here, has wisely declared:

“We do not place our trust in government mechanisms, formulas, affirmations or men. Our faith is in God and in the capacity of free men and women to govern themselves. There is a proper function for government in a free society. But that function does not include the power to order citizens how to live their lives. Our government was not designed to administer the affairs of men; it was devised to administer justice among men, who would administer their own affairs.”

That great and wise American, Thomas Jefferson, warned us of the danger of conferring unwarranted power upon our government administrators in these sobering words:

“It would be a dangerous delusion, were a confidence in the men of our choice, to silence our fears for the safety of our rights. Confidence is everywhere the parent of despotism. Free government is founded in jealousy, and not in confidence. It is jealousy and not confidence which prescribes limited constitutions, to bind down those whom we are obliged to trust with power; our Constitution has accordingly fixed the limits to which, and no further, our confidence may go… In questions of power, then, let not more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.”

We are now-this very day-at war with the Socialist-Communist Conspiracy. This is a point that a lot of people do not seem to realize. They think that just because we are not shooting at each other with bullets that it isn’t a real war. But, we are really at war and we must win this war if we expect to survive as a free people. The following quotations by J. Edgar Hoover point this out clearly:

“We are at war with the communists and the sooner every red-blooded American realizes this the safer we will be. . . . We are living in an age of uncertainty-an age of awesome national peril-an age when the struggle between freedom and totalitarian enslavement is drawing toward a climax.” (J. Edgar Hoover, Address, December 7, 1961.)

“The Communist Party, USA, has been and is engaged in an all-out war against American freedom. Its tactics of confusion, retreat, advance, infiltration, and hypocrisy are in full play. The attack is both legal and illegal, offensive and defensive, open and concealed.

“Above the surface a gigantic propaganda and agitation campaign is in progress, a campaign that depends for success upon the support of non-communists.” (Hoover, Masters of Deceit, p. 195.)

“Communists are committed to the destruction of our way of life and dedicated to the establishment of a world Communist society. This conflict with communism is not a struggle of our choosing. But, even though we did not start it, we cannot ignore it. We must win the struggle if freedom is to survive.” (Hoover, A Study of Communism, p. 18.)

Yes, “We are at war with this sinister conspiracy! Every communist today must be considered an enemy, wherever he may be, at home or abroad! A ‘soft’ approach toward the menace of communism can lead only to national disaster! . . .”

The communists are winning the war and building their empire largely with the help of non-communists-fellow travelers, sympathizers, dupes, liberals, etc.

Some people foolishly believe that the communists are changing, that they are “mellowing.” This is not true.

“Today’s headlines,” says Hoover, “remind us there has been no basic change in Communist imperialism. The danger which world communism presents to the free nations has not abated. If anything, it has increased.” (Hoover, A Study of Communism, Foreword.)

“In our quest for peace, we must never lose sight of the well-documented fact that every Red leader from Marx and Engels through Khrushchev, Mao and the American communist spokesman Gus Hall is dedicated to an ideology which upholds world conquest as its ultimate goal.

“The communists have never deviated from this objective.” (Hoover, Address, November 16, 1963.)

The intellectuals, liberals and dupes are so obsessed with the idea of “academic freedom” that they encourage the use of communist speakers in our colleges, at youth conventions and even high schools. This is perversion of the true meaning of academic freedom.

Again J. Edgar Hoover warns us and expresses his fear in these words:

“I do fear so long as school boards and parents tolerate conditions whereby communists and fellow travelers under the guise of academic freedom can teach our youth a way of life that eventually will destroy the sanctity of the home, that undermines faith in God, that causes them to scorn respect for constituted authority and sabotage our revered Constitution.” (Hoover, Menace of Communism, p. 11.)

“Today, the communists are engaged in an intensive campaign to control the minds and win the allegiance of American youth. . . . During the past two years, communist spokesmen have appeared on nearly 100 campuses from coast to coast. Their purpose: To create confusion, raise questions and spread doubt among our young people concerning the American way of life. . . . “They are setting a trap for the nation’s youth.

In a masterful address, “Keys to Freedom,” before the Catholic Youth Organization last month, J. Edgar Hoover issued shocking and timely warnings to complacent Americans.

“Today,” he declared, “the communists are engaged in an intensive campaign to control the minds and win the allegiance of American youth. Toward this end, a National Youth Commission has been established within the Communist Party, USA; special publications have been issued; front groups have been organized; and an ambitious speech program has been directed against our colleges and universities.

“It is indeed ironic that Communist Party speakers-whose minds and thoughts and actions are in no manner free-should demand the opportunity to parrot the Moscow line to young Americans under the guise of academic freedom!

“Academic freedom is not an instrument for the perpetuation of conspiratorial ideologies. Nor is it an agent of self-destruction-a freedom to destroy freedom. As a free-flowing channel of truth and knowledge, academic freedom is not obligated to carry along the silted tributaries of lies and distortions of known communists.

“The communists look upon students as potential sympathizers, supporters and contributors to the Party’s cause. Nor are they unmindful of the rich opportunity for infiltration presented by unwary racial and nationality groups.

“This is especially true of the intense civil rights movement within the United States-for America’s 20 million Negroes and the countless other citizens who share their objectives in the current struggle are a priority target for communist propaganda and exploitation. Every organization engaged in this struggle must constantly remain alert to this vital fact, for, once under communist domination, all freedoms and rights are lost.”

One of the dangerous present-day fallacies is the idea that we can continue with a policy of “Peaceful Coexistence.”

Here again Hoover warns us as follows:

“Key to the new Soviet strategy is the so-called ‘peaceful coexistence’ policy. It is a broad, psychological tactic cleverly devised by Khrushchev to serve a number of objectives. It is another powerful weapon in the Communist arsenal of deception, a weapon concealed behind an alluring campaign designed to provide a cover for the goal of attaining a world-wide communist society through revolutionary means.

“Through the weapon of peaceful coexistence, Soviet Communists are seeking to lull the free world-particularly the United States-into a false sense of security. It is a means of means of buying time through which they can consolidate past gains while probing for soft spots in the non-Communist world which present opportunities for future expansion.” (Hoover, A Study of Communism, p. 149.)

More is needed than merely to say that we oppose communism. We must aggressively take action to defeat it:

“It is the duty of all Americans to fully understand the true import of this threat to our heritage, to expose it, and to combat it with every weapon at our command.” (Hoover, Communist Target-Youth, p. 11.)

“It is not enough to be against communism. We must shed our complacency and aggressively meet this challenge.” (Hoover, Address, February 22, 1962.)

As the Ward Teaching Message, July, 1961, stated:

“It is the duty of freedom loving people to oppose and resist this evil with all the strength God has given us. If we do not, we stand to lose all we and our forebears have gained through the centuries.”

What is needed is more patriotism-more real “super patriots” if you will.

“A free society,” says Hoover, “depends for its vitality and strength upon the vigor and patriotism of its individual citizens.” (Hoover, A Study of Communism, Foreword.)

“Today, perhaps as never before, America has need for doers of extraordinary deeds, men and women with the moral strength and courage of our forefathers. The smoldering embers of patriotism should be fanned into a flaming spirit of loyalty so that the whole world will know Americans will stand, fight, and die for the dignity of man.” (F.B.I., Law Enforcement Bulletin, July, 1962.)

The real threat is here at home.

The seriousness of the insidious “internal” threat cannot be over-emphasized.

Again Mr. Hoover warns:

“The communist threat from without must not blind us to the communist threat from within. The latter is reaching into the very heart of America through its espionage agents and a cunning, defiant, and lawless Communist Party, which is fanatically dedicated to the Marxist cause of world enslavement and destruction of the foundations of our Republic.

“The Communist Party in this country has attempted to infiltrate and subvert every segment of our society.” (Hoover, Address, December 7, 1961.)

Unjust criticism of the anti-communists/anti-socialists helps the Conspiracy and is dangerous to our future.

In April, 1962, President David O. McKay, in his closing remarks at General Conference, quoted J. Edgar Hoover as follows:

“There is no place here in America for part-time patriots. This nation is face to face with the greatest danger ever to confront it, a sinister and deadly conspiracy which can be conquered only by an alert, informed citizenry. It is indeed appalling that some members of our society continue to deplore and criticize those who stress the communist danger. Public indifference to this threat is tantamount to national suicide. Lethargy leads only to disaster.” (F.B.I., Law Enforcement Bulletin, March, 1960.)

Yes, J. Edgar Hoover, probably the best informed man in America on the threatening Conspiracy, has repeatedly warned us that the gravest danger we face today comes from the Socialist-Communist Conspiracy-and from within.

Many people cannot see how this statement by Mr. Hoover can be true, since there are supposedly only about 10,000 or so Party members in this country. Those who doubt Mr. Hoover overlook the fact that for every member of the Communist Conspiracy there are at least ten others willing and eager to do their bidding. In addition to this, the Communists and their fellow travelers move toward key positions by which they can influence many others, just as iron filings move toward a magnet. Also, the Communists, at this stage, do not themselves intend to do much of the actual close-in fighting. Instead, they make use of non-Communists to serve their purposes. Their method of operation is to confuse the issues, divide one group against the other, and thus to conquer.

The Communist method of confusing the issues is to use pseudo-idealistic and pseudo-moral words and phrases in order to trap the unwary into following their designs. The fisherman knows that he cannot entice a fish to bite upon a raw, steel hook, so he dresses it up with a nice, juicy worm and the poor fish bites. In the same way, the pseudo-moral and pseudo-idealistic expressions trap many innocents so that they will follow out the aims of the Communist Conspirators, for example, the false appeals made by the Communists in the name of “peace” and the “brotherhood of man.” They know full well that Communism has nothing in common with these expressions as we understand them. Yet, they deliberately misuse them in order to deceive.

This has been the means by which the Communists, throughout the world, have been able to set class against class, religion against religion, race against race and group against group. The Conspiracy so enflames people against one another that they fight among themselves and thus bring about mutual destruction. The Communists then come in and take over.

The present strength of the Communist Conspiracy by itself would be insufficient to accomplish their aims in this country. However, they are being given a tremendous push and able assistance by the Fabian Socialists, their fellow travelers, dupes, liberals, etc. The name, Fabian, is derived from that of a Roman general who always avoided clear-cut contact with the enemy. Instead, he would whittle down the antagonist little by little, until the latter was so weakened that he would succumb.

The communists are eager to capitalize upon all areas of misunderstanding and unrest. Their cause is the cause of Soviet Russia, for the Communist Party, USA, is an inseparable part of the sinister international conspiracy which is financed and directed by the Kremlin. No amount of lies and duplicity can conceal this carefully documented fact.

If you want the terrifying facts about the Communist use of the Negroes, I recommend Manning Johnson’s book, Color, Communism and Common Sense, a reprint by American Opinion Magazine (Belmont 78, Massachusetts). The author, a Negro, was a Communist for ten years and served on the National Committee for the Communist Party here in America and assisted in planning the Conspiracy against his own race.

Let me pause a moment to point out some Pro-communist propaganda which has been widely circulated. It is frequently stated that Communism is on the extreme left and Fascism is on the extreme right. This is absolutely false. It is true that Communism is on the extreme left, but Nazism and Fascism are so closely allied with Communism that J. Edgar Hoover has called Communism, Red Fascism and Nazism, Black Fascism. They are all forms of Socialism. And, as has been pointed out by well-informed people in the West, they are all forms of “GOVERNMENTISM” where the government becomes lord and master and we become serfs and slaves.

The extreme right wing is composed of the anarchists who believe that people are so good at heart that no government at all is needed. Our forefathers knew that, while most people try to do the right thing, there are a few who run amuck. They, therefore, established our great constitutional Republic-a government of limited powers. They believed that we must have some government but it must be bound down by the chains of our Constitution, so that it will not slip farther and farther over into the realm of “GOVERNMENTISM” whether it be Communism, Nazism, Fascism, Welfare-Statism or some other form of Socialism.

Please note the words of George Washington, who stated:

“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence-it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master!” And, at a later date, Woodrow Wilson said that “the history of liberty is the history of limitations of government power, not the increase of it.” And at a still later day, that great spiritual leader and patriot, President David O. McKay, said this: “During the first half of the twentieth century we have traveled far into the soul-destroying land of socialism.” (Deseret News Church News Section, March 14, 1953.)

Now I want to point out just a few of the ways in which America is tripping down the primrose path. Anyone who is interested and who would care to make a careful study of the subject, will be both amazed and shocked at the progress made by the Marxian Socialists. Their tremendous influence and power can be grasped if we will read the carefully documented book by Dan Smoot, a former F.B.I. administrative supervisor and assistant to J. Edgar Hoover, entitled The Invisible Government. This book shows how the Fabians, operating through many influential organizations, have reached out their tentacles and are throttling free enterprise at the same time they are pyramiding and concentrating immense power in the Federal Government. In this way the advance of Communism is being comforted, aided and abetted by those who are not members of the Communist Conspiracy but who adhere to the same principles.

Dr. Carew Hunt, a world-wide authority on communist strategy, states: “Yet, where the ends they seek are concerned, Socialism and Communism are virtually interchangeable terms, as anyone who consults the ‘Oxford English Dictionary’ or any standard textbook will discover… Indeed, Lenin’s party continued to call itself ‘Social Democrat’ until the seventh Party Congress of March, 1918, when it substituted the term ‘Bolshevik’ as a protest against the non-revolutionary attitude of the socialist parties of the West.”

President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., expressed his conviction on this point in these significant words:

“The paths we are following, if we move forward thereon will inevitably lead us to Socialism or Communism, and these two are as like as two peas in a pod in their ultimate effect upon our liberties.

“And never forget for one moment that Communism and Socialism are state slavery. World conquest has been, is now, and ever will be its ultimate goal.”

The communists and fellow travelers have never deviated from this objective. Despite the high-pressure campaign they have insidiously directed behind Khrushchev’s phrase of “peaceful coexistence,” the communists know that this is simply a propaganda slogan. It is devised to further their own ends by stirring the hopes and emotions of those who seek an end to the turmoil, fear and sorrow that world communism itself created.

Actions continue to speak louder than words, and certainly the communists have shown no indication of a sincere quest for peace. Here are a few examples. There are many.

The take-over of Cuba and the establishment of a Communist base and island fortress in America; the ever-constant infiltration of Red Fascists into countries of Central and South America to create a Sovietized Latin America; the increase of espionage activities by Soviet and satellite agents in our country, particularly those who strive to penetrate our government processes from the protection afforded them by diplomatic assignments in New York in the United Nations and in Washington; the frantic efforts of the Communist Party, USA, to subvert our youth; and the intense drive of the Communists operating from concealed positions to wrest control of the movement for Negro rights-does all this indicate a real and sincere desire to live in “peaceful coexistence”?

To the Socialist-Communist Conspiracy there is no such thing as “peaceful coexistence” except as a tool for further conquest. Their stated objective is to “bury” us.

Since about the time of Woodrow Wilson, Fabian Socialists have been able to cuddle close to key people in our government and those who exercise influence. I will not take the time to trace their activities through the various administrations since Wilson’s time. I will be content to give you two or three examples approximating that of the Fabian Socialists.

It may shock you to learn that the first communist cell in government, so far as we know, was organized in the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the 1930′s. John Abt was there. It was John Abt whom Oswald, the accused assassin of President Kennedy, requested for his attorney. Harry Dexter White was there. Lee Pressman was there. And Alger Hiss, who was advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt at Yalta and Tehran and who was the principal architect and first Secretary General of the United Nations organizing meetings was there also.

Today, Walt Whitman Rostow, who is the chief planner for the State Department, has expressed a dangerous point of view somewhat like this: We must do everything in our power to avoid irritating and antagonizing the Communists. They are, after all, merely rough and crude Socialists and we must avoid doing anything that would escalate into a war. In fact, what we should do is to help them to develop so that they will mature and outgrow their violent impulses. In this way the Communists will move somewhat over in our direction. At the same time we must move our country over toward the left with more and more socialism until, ultimately, the two will merge. Each country will then give up its armaments and armed forces and place them in the hands of a One-World Government. (See the book, A Proposal: Key to an Effective Foreign Policy, by Wait W. Rostow and Max F. Millikan, Harper, New York, 1957. An outgrowth of the Dartmouth Conference in the fall of 1960 and the Crimea Conference of May, 1961, was the pamphlet, Freedom from War, the United States Program for General and Complete Disarmament in a Peaceful World, U.S. State Department Publication No. 7277, Disarmament Series 5, released September, 1961, U.S. Government Printing Office.)

And Arthur Schlessinger, Jr., former professor of history at Harvard and now high in the councils of government, has said: “There seems no inherent obstacle to the gradual advance of socialism in the U.S. through a series of New Deals,” and, that socialism appears quite practical as a long time proposition.

In either case the whole tendency is toward more and more GOVERNMENTISM, more and more centralization and less and less individual responsibility and freedom.

An interesting example of the socialist mind at work is the present so-called Civil Rights Bill of 1963. I am going to quote, in part, from a talk made by John C Satterfield, past president of the American Bar Association, over the Manion Forum, weekly broadcast No. 468, September 15, 1963:

“It is clothed in the name of civil rights and is called the Civil Rights Act of 1963. As a matter of fact, it is 10 per cent civil rights and it is 90 per cent extension of Federal executive power at the expense of individuals, states and municipalities-in fact, at the expense of everyone . . .

“Do you borrow money from a bank that is in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation system or the Federal Reserve system? Have you an FHA or VA loan? Have you a Small Business Administration loan? Are you a realtor, developer, home owner? Are you interested in schools and colleges? Are you a farmer who has anything to do with the Farm Credit Administration, Commodity Credit Corporation, Soil Conservation Service, Federal Crop Insurance, REA, Agricultural Research?

“If you are any of these, or participate in any of these, then under this Act the Federal Fair Employment Practices Commission will dictate to you whom you may hire, whom you may fire, whom you promote, whom you demote, and how you may handle your employees . . .

“Not only that, but it brings in almost every profession and every business-lawyers, realtors, doctors, small establishments, restaurants, gasoline stations, theaters, hotels, motels and lodging houses-and the Federal control will never end . . .

“Under the provisions of this Act, combining them all, the United States Commissioner of Education could come into a school and force the transfer of children from one school to another until there was either racial balance or religious balance . . .

“Not only that, but the next step to a complete and uncontrolled dictatorship of any government is the control of the voting and of the electoral machinery and transfer from the states to the Federal Government the right to fix qualifications for voters, contrary to the provision of the Constitution of the United States. It would also transfer, under the circumstances stated in the Act, the right of registration of voters from the state and local officers to Federal referees . . .

“You should think about this legislation because it destroys everything that we have heretofore felt protects us from a complete and absolute power of a central government. It is something that strikes home to every businessman, every home owner, and every worker in the United States . . .”

In other words, we may say that the states would be reduced to little more than subdivisions within the central government and largely subject to its control. It would be almost certain to result in an all-powerful national government with authority to intervene in the private affairs of individual citizens. It would, furthermore, control and adjust relationships between men in accordance with the dictates of those in charge.

It has been truly said by our former Chief Executive, Dwight D. Eisenhower, that, “The federal government did not create the states of this Republic. The states created the federal government. . . . If the states lose their meaning, our entire system of government loses its meaning and the next step is the rise of the centralized national state in which the seeds of autocracy can take root and grow.”

Those are strong but true words.

Never forget that history is filled with examples of men who mean to be good rulers but who nevertheless mean to rule.

With reference to the United Nations and spurious appendages, I would like to quote the Internal Security Annual Report for 1956, p. 213, as made by the Senate Internal Security Sub-Committee, as follows: “What appears, on the surface at least, to be by far the worst danger spot, from the standpoint of disloyalty and subversive activity among Americans employed by international organizations, is UNESCO-the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Among less than ninety Americans employed by UNESCO the International Organizations Employees Loyalty Board found fourteen cases of doubtful loyalty.” Then, in the footnote, we see this: “Information in the possession of the sub-committee, indicating a great deal of evidence not yet publicly adduced, points to the possibility that the parent body, the U.N., may be the worst ‘spot’ of all.” There is no indication that there has been the slightest improvement in the United Nations or its satellites since that time.

I have in my possession a copy of an unpublished manuscript on the United Nations Charter prepared in 1945 and given to me by that eminent international lawyer and former Under Secretary of State J. Reuben Clark, Jr.

President Clark’s declarations on this, as on other subjects, emphasize more and more with the passing of time his vision and statesmanship.

Commenting on the United Nations Charter and the “travesty on exhaustive consideration” as the charter was hastily approved by the Congress, under urging from the State Department, he continues with a devastating analysis and a sober warning to the American people that there will be a day of reckoning. I believe that day is near at hand. The hopes and the aspirations of the people have been betrayed. I hope this scholarly, unpublished memorandum by President Clark with its penetrating analysis will someday soon be available in full. Meantime, I urge all to read the solid volume, Stand Fast by the Constitution, which embodies much of J. Reuben Clark’s timely instruction. Meantime let us have no further blind devotion to the communist-dominated United Nations.

Today it is becoming an increasing handicap, it seems, to one’s career in government for a man or woman to take seriously his pledge of allegiance to our Constitution. Witness the firing of Mr. Otto F. Otepka, because he believed in a higher service-that service to our nation comes above service to any particular department of government.

The open and covert management of the news in this country is another case, frightening in its implications. One high government official has made the appalling statement to the effect that it is all right for the government to lie to the people if it serves the government’s purpose to lie. Certainly lies can take place by omission as well as by commission.

At this point I quote a statement by Virgil Jordan: “In these days of fear and confusion, let us remember that the endless repetition of a lie, or the multiplication of an empty promise does not make a truth. Truth is something more than the greatest common denominator of mass ignorance and greed. It is never determined or demonstrated by majorities or pluralities or popular error and appetite. Ultimately, with God’s aid, it always emerges and finally prevails, supreme in its power over the destiny of mankind, and terrible in its retribution for those who deny, defy, or betray it.”

Constantine Brown, in an article in a recent issue of the Congressional Record, told of prominent people who had defected from Communism who now fear they have joined the losing side.

They gave two reasons:

1. Communism will win because western leaders (particularly in the United States) do not want to believe that the Soviets are planning to conquer the world.

2. Khrushchev knows that the United States will offer only token opposition to the Soviets’ plan to conquer in Latin America.

Now the question arises-what can we do to preserve our Constitution, and how can we avoid being misled into doing those things that would actually help to destroy it? During last October Conference I spoke on the subject “Be not Deceived.” I said there were three keys one could use to avoid deception: first, the scriptures; second, the words of prophets, especially the President of the Church (particularly the living one); and third, the Holy Ghost.

The scriptures tell us about the war in heaven over free agency-similar to the war we are going through now, where the devil’s program was guaranteed security as opposed to the Lord’s program of letting each choose for himself even if he makes the wrong choice. Once you understand these scriptures you will understand why the Presidents of the Church have opposed Communism, Socialism, and the Welfare State and you will see why you must oppose them, too, if you are in harmony with the word of the Lord.

The scriptures also tell about our inspired Constitution. If you accept these scriptures you will automatically reject the counsel of men like Senator Fulbright and others who depreciate our Constitution. If you use the scriptures as a guide you know what the Book of Mormon has to say regarding murderous conspiracies in the last day and how we are to awake to our awful situation today. I find certain elements in the Church do not like to see the Book of Mormon and D&C so much-it has too much to say about freedom.

The second criteria is the prophets, especially the living President. Do you realize what President McKay has said about some recent decisions of our Supreme Court? Do you realize that he has called Communism the greatest threat to the Church today and has said that this country has traveled far into the soul-destroying land of Socialism? He has opposed programs of federal aid to education; he has supported right-to-work laws. Are you in harmony with the prophet’s declarations? If you accept the scriptures and the prophets, then you will automatically separate yourself from the philosophy of some Mormons and you will have to part with a number of our national leaders and their programs.

The last criteria is the Holy Ghost-the test of the spirit. You cannot use this test unless you have the spirit of the Lord with you and that only comes through righteous living-which means being in harmony with Church doctrine in addition to simply being active in Church work and attending meetings.

These are the three main keys-apply them and you will avoid pitfalls and traps which even members of the Church and some teachers may set for you. President Joseph F. Smith said that one of the three things that plagued the Church within was false educational ideas-and I am sure you will be introduced to some of these ideas somewhere along your path. Using the scriptures and the prophets and the spirit as a guide, we can eliminate a lot of the deceptions and false philosophies and cure-alls of men and discern between the wheat and the chaff.

Thus, with the scriptures and the words of the prophets for a guide line, it is easier to select our reading-for we need information out of the best books to help us in this fight for our freedom. And when it comes to the writings of men, in addition to the tests we have suggested, it is helpful to select the men who have proved most accurate over the years. On this basis may I give to you my own personal recommendation of some reading which will help you in the fight to save our Constitution.

First, for a number of years President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., served on the board of trustees of the Foundation for Economic Education while he was a member of the First Presidency. President Clark, as you probably know, was an Under Secretary of State and Ambassador to Mexico. He wrote the famous memorandum on the Monroe Doctrine. In 1923 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle he warned us of the Communist-Socialist menace and what it was going to do-and he was right. No one in the Church has shown greater insight regarding our Constitution and the Socialist-Communist threat to it. The Foundation for Economic Education with which he served puts out some of the most enlightening freedom literature available. They also put out a free monthly magazine, entitled The Freeman, which is excellent. They will be happy to send you a free catalog of their literature. May I mention some of the books which they distribute: The Federalist, written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison, three of our inspired rounding fathers, explaining why the need of a constitution; The Constitution of the United States, by Mussatti; The Clich of Socialism; The Mainspring of Human Progress, by Weaver; Economics in One Lesson, by Hazlitt; and The Admiral’s Log, by Admiral Ben Moreell, which book is also on the M.I.A. reading list. The address for the Foundation for Economic Education is simply Irvington-on-Hudson, New York.

These books and others will show you what America stands for-our free enterprise system-our Constitutional Republic-how we became the world’s greatest power. For For first you need to know what America stands for before you can realize what could be a threat to it. For as President McKay has said, the fostering of full economic freedom lies at the base of all our liberties.

The next thing we must know about is the major enemy to our way of life-Socialistic Communism. In October Conference, 1959, President McKay admonished us to read what he called an excellent book, The Naked Communist. I agree with the President of the Church. Probably no man in America knows the internal Communist threat better than J. Edgar Hoover-his two books on Communism should be must reading. They are Masters of Deceit, and A Study of Communism. You Can Trust the Communists, by Dr. Fred Schwarz, whom President McKay called a true friend of freedom, is also an enlightening book. The House Committee on Un-American Activities and the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee have both put out instructive information. A list of their publications is available free of charge from the U.S. Superintendent of Documents, Washington 25, D.C.

Once you get the facts about our American Constitutional Republic and the threats to it-then you are going to want to do something. Certainly those who are organized and have a plan and are dedicated, though they be few, will always defeat the many who are not organized and have no plan or dedication. The Communists have proved this and the fighters for freedom must realize it too. If, then, you want to have impact through an organization, make sure that organization squares with the scriptures and the prophets and the spirit. Then move forward and use your free agency to accomplish that which is virtuous and praiseworthy and let the devil and his agents and dupes howl.

Yes, the Fabian Socialists are as busy as bees rolling out the red carpet which leads inevitably to Communism. Faced with this situation our first duty is that of education. Starting with ourselves we must become familiar with the broad outlines of our movement toward destruction. We must, as President McKay has urged, become alerted and informed. After becoming informed ourselves, we must carry the word to all within hearing or seeing range, so that they, too, can become awakened. Take every opportunity to pass sound literature and books around so that your neighbors and their neighbors will awaken before it is too late. We are literally in a race against time and we must take every opportunity to spread the word.

We must not become confused over side issues. Our enemy is not the Catholic, not the Protestant, not the Negro, not the white man, not the Jew, not the Gentile, not employers, not employees, not the wealthy, not the poor, not the worker, and not the employer. Our mortal enemies are the Satanic Communists and those who prepare the path for them.

It is not, however, enough to be acquainted with the grave dangers facing these United States. We must also instruct ourselves, and others, in the great spiritual values underlying our Divinely inspired Constitution and our American free-enterprise system. One of the many sure ways of defeating our enemy is to instruct the people about the eternal verities of our own country. A mind, so enlightened, will reject Marxian Socialism whether it be in the form of Communism, Nazism, Fascism, Welfare-Statism or some other man-made monstrosity.

In this time of deadly peril we must choose men and women to represent us in our government who have attained an inner atunement of mind, heart and soul with God. Only these people have anchors firmly rooted and strong enough to withstand the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. They, only, have the inner sense of direction, stability of spirit and firmness of character essential to our survival.

We must not place in positions of trust cheap opportunists who will sell their souls for a mess of pottage. Rather we should place in public office men and women who place the love of God first in their lives and who, as a consequence, can serve their fellow men with true wisdom.

Not cheap politicians but statesmen are needed today. Not opportunists but men and women of principle must be demanded by the people. In this time of great stress and danger we must place only those dedicated to the preservation of our Constitution, our American Republic, and responsible freedom under God. “Oh God, give us men with a mandate higher than the ballot box.”

In closing let me quote Bishop Exeter:

Give us men
Strong and stalwart ones;
Men whom highest hope inspires
Men whom purest honor fires,
Men who trample Self beneath them,
Men who made their country wreath them
As her noble sons,
Men who never shame their mothers,
Men who never fail their brothers
True, however false are others:
Give us men-I say again
Give us Men!

Give us Men!
Men who, when the tempest gathers,
Grasp the standards of their fathers
In the thickest fight:
Men who strike for home and altar,
(Let the coward cringe and falter)
God defend the right:
True as truth though lorn and lonely
Tender, as the brave are only:
Men who tread where saints have trod,
Men for Country,-Home-and God:
Give us Men: I say again again-
Give us such Men!

God bless you, my brothers and sisters, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Ezra Taft Benson December 10 1963. A Race Against Time. An address given to the Brigham Young University student body.

In the Words of Mormon, we read,

 “And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake…” (Words of Mormon 1:3)

 After extensive study of the Words of Mormon – too lengthy to detail here, we learn that he is referring to the section of the Book of Mormon that was lost after the original first 116 pages were given to Martin Harris – not a portion of the record that we currently read from.  The two records match up chronologically.

These are his last words to the Gentiles:

“And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?

Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?

Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you—lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver.” (Mormon 5:22–24)

His last words to the Remnant are in Mormon, chapter 7.  It’s too long to include in this text, so I recommend you review it, before reading further, and note the vast difference in the message to the Gentiles vs. the Remnant.

Mormon chapter 8 picks up with Moroni saying he will finish the work of his father, because his father has been killed.

We now move to the portion of the Book of Mormon where Moroni has abridged the writing of Ether. This brings me to the point of this series, and the reason we are studying these things.

I turn now to the last direct words to us from Christ in the Book of Mormon.  Moroni is speaking of the great things written that are sealed up. He says:

“For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.” (Ether 4:6)

Moroni prefaces this scripture by stating that the Lord spoke to him, and continues by speaking in the first person as he quotes the Savior. He is delivering a specific message; one that he finishes by saying,

“And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me…” (Ether 5:1)

During the process of completing the last of the work of the Book of Mormon, Moroni is commanded to write a few more words directly from the Savior.  What choice words these must be!

In speaking of the Greater Things that are sealed up and hidden He says:

“… They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.

And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.” (Ether 4:6–7)

What a promise!  He says that we, the Gentiles are in iniquity. However, if we become clean and exercise faith, then we are entitled to the same offer – to see all the greater things. For those who don’t believe this promise, this warning is offered:

“And he that will contend against the word of the Lord, let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let him be accursed; for unto them will I show no greater things, saith Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh.”  (Ether 4:8)

Jumping down to verse 13, the Savior sums up the message He just gave to us by saying it AGAIN:

“Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.” (Ether 4:13)

He states twice, that if you will rend your unbelief, He will SHOW you the greater things.  Although He addresses a group here (the Gentiles), He is calling you out as an individual, and admonishing you to leave the group, and become the seed of Christ.

Next, He addresses the Remnant.

“Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.”  (Ether 4:14)

Note how Christ feels it important to address each group separately.  The primary message however, is this – addressed to all:

“Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name.

 And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen.” (Ether 4:18–19)

And this is my purpose in this series; that perhaps some, or one, may find worth in these words, and that they may find that they point them to the one who can save. Also, that we can repent, arise, shake off the dust and rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause us to remain in our awful state of wickedness, and that we may be true and faithful in all things till we converse with the Lord. Further, that we can understand both our awful state, and the glorious promises to obtain the greater things. Believe. Amen.

Download the podcast episode at this link: Mormon Chronicle Podcast – Seer Stones and the Translation of the Book of Mormon

Listen to this episode:

In this episode Brian M. and Ezra Taylor discuss how Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, as opposed to how the process is often portrayed. They also further discuss the urim and thummim, seer stones, how they work, and whether or not everyone should have a seer stone.

The prophecies in the Book of Mormon regarding us Gentiles are most sobering, even frightening (Editors note: President Boyd K. Packer says we are the Gentiles the Book of Mormon is talking about here, “and the term gentile in that place in the Book of Mormon refers to us in our generation”).

The Lord God of Israel Himself spoke to us about our fate if we failed to repent and come unto Him and understand the true points of His gospel.

In 3 Ne. 16:20 and 21 He states repeatedly that the remnant of the House of Israel, those to whom He was speaking, would go through among us as a Lion among a flock of sheep and there would be none to deliver.

Then Mormon, after recounting the horrible events attending the destruction of his own people by the Lamanites, gives us a similar warning in almost the same words as those of the Savior. (See Mormon 5:24)

Isaiah makes mention of the great blessings which will come to the House of Israel, the remnant, when they are restored to the lands of their inheritance. Christ dwells on this theme at great length as He speaks to the Nephites (and Lamanites) about the last days. But the vital message contained in the three chapters 16, 20, and 21 is to the Gentiles. It is a warning to us to repent and to keep the covenant or we will be swept off. However as many of us as do repent will be numbered with the seed of Lehi and will receive this chosen land as an eternal home.

Nephi adds his warning to us Gentiles. After quoting extensively from Isaiah, he proceeds to explain Isaiah’s prophecies. He states that all of the Gentile nations shall be drunken with iniquity and all manner of abominations. (2 Ne. 27:1, 2) He says even the humble followers of Christ will be misled by the precepts of men. (2 Ne. 28:14) But then he says that we need not suppose that all of the Gentiles are destroyed. As many as will repent are the covenant people. (2 Ne. 30:1, 2)

Mormon, after recounting the destruction of his own people by the Lamanites, warns us Gentiles that they will destroy us also unless we repent. (Mormon 5:19–22)

Moroni adds his warning but does so regarding the secret combinations, which is a much more explicit warning because it brings into focus our great national crime: the violation of the covenant by the corruption of our laws. We have adopted Satan’s laws and system of government instead. And so we have these prophets warning us Gentiles of our coming tragedy:

1. Christ; 3 Ne. 16:20, 21
2. Mormon; Moroni 5:19–22
3. Nephi; 2 Ne. 30:1, 2
4. Jacob; 2 Ne. 10:18, 19
5. Moroni; Ether 2 and Ether 8 esp.

(Personal Notes, “The Failure of the Gentiles to Obey the Covenant of the Gospel,” 10/16/1981)

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever (John 14:16).

The Prophet Joseph elaborated,

“After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God . . . then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints. . . . Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 150–51).

The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood (Doctrine and Covenants 131:5).

On this topic, Bruce R. McConkie said,

To have one’s calling and election made sure means that “there are no more conditions to be met by the obedient person”.  Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, Bookcraft, 1973, P. 335

I was sharing a hotel room with a co-worker and, during the winding down time before sleep, he told me something I’ll never forget.  He said, “Never ask for your calling and election to be made sure, unless you’re prepared for the trials that will come as a result”.  He then proceeded to run off a litany of trials that had befallen him since he had been so presumptuous as to ask such a thing of the Lord. Being a church member of only a few years, I had never even considered such a thing, but this piqued my interest as it would any prideful man. It also triggered “ol’ scratch’s” favorite tool – fear.  For the next several years, I dared not tread that ground, for fear of the trials that I might bring onto myself.

Recently, though, after reading Denver Snuffer’s book, The Second Comforter (this is not a book review), I found myself reconsidering my choice.  In the book, the author made the point clearly that, in order to qualify for a personal visit from the Lord through the veil, faith must be proven, and “trials” would be a part of my life.  Still, I couldn’t be satisfied with letting fear control my eternal existence.  I couldn’t be satisfied with being afraid to pursue these two, in my mind equally glorious, blessings.

Fear, as mentioned before, is Satan’s greatest tool.  He uses it masterfully to induce us to compromise divine values in the interest of comfort.  It is fear that motivates us to seek power with which we hope to control our lives by insulating ourselves against forces that may harm us.  Fear is the primary cause of pride, for I find that I indulge in pride when I fear the impact of others’ choices on my life.  And of course, John the Beloved tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).  In this case, fear was preventing me from receiving all the blessings that the Lord offers us.  Fear was inducing me to think of myself as unworthy.  I was playing right into Satan’s hands.

So, I began asking myself, “What exactly am I afraid of?  Why do I fear?”  We fear nothing, perhaps, more than the unknown, and these “trials” that I had been warned against were certainly unknown, somewhat akin to the boogey man who lurked under the bed or in the dark recesses of a child’s night.  And why should I fear these trials that were going to be given me by God?!! It contradicts everything I’ve learned about God to think that He Himself would deliberately introduce anything into my life that was not a blessing in one way or another.  So, my thoughts quickly boiled down to…. do I trust Him?  Do I trust His promises?  Do I trust Him to make a way for me to receive these great blessings?  Do I trust Him to give me the strength to endure whatever is required of me?  If not, if I let fear keep me from pursuing Him with “all my might, mind and strength”, then I am effectively denying Him.  I’m denying His love, His wisdom, and His power.  If I don’t trust Him, then I don’t believe His word.  If I don’t have the faith to trust Him, I am denying the power of the atonement.

Having decided for myself that I cannot continue to let fear prevent me from asking specifically to have my calling and election made sure, I learned the following:

• This cannot be about me.  My personally seeking this goal must be about glorifying God, about fulfilling the measure of my creation.
• I consider myself fortunate to have had these things revealed to me.  I am blessed, but with blessings come responsibility.  Again, to deny those responsibilities would be to reject the blessing.  Reject a blessing from God?  I think not.
• Even the pursuit of these blessings is sacred.  My former mission president, when asked during a zone conference about the ordinance of receiving one’s calling and election, said, and I paraphrase, “Well, those who know about it don’t talk about it, and anyone who talks about it….”
• This will take a long time.  I am nowhere near ready.  There are many changes that must be wrought in my life.  There are levels of obedience and consecration that I don’t even recognize yet that I must be led to.  Still I know that through the atonement all things are possible.  I must always trust in that promise.
• And finally, I may fail.  The day may come when I am on my death bed, and I have still not been granted this blessing.  This does not matter.  The trust that I have in the Lord, in His wisdom and His grace, cannot waver.  It would be a much worse failure for me not to try.

I testify, therefore, that the Lord invites us to truly seek Him, in His fullness, in this life.  I have a responsibility to fully pursue my personal relationship with Him.   John, again, quoted the Savior as saying, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). For me to fail to seek to know Him with all of my strength and desire, especially if out of fear, would undoubtedly be a failure with eternal consequences.

Throughout the scriptures we learn that there are laws that are “…irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated”  (D&C 130:20–21, D&C 128:5, D&C 132:11,28, Eph 2:10).  One of those irrevocable laws is the Plan of Salvation or as Alma calls it, “the plan of redemption”.  In Alma 42:13 we read that:

“…according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.”

Therefore, there are certain things that must be done here on Earth, preferably, during our lifetime to receive our exaltation.  If there was some way that our Father could negate that, and give us our unearned exaltation, He would lose His.  He would cease to be God.

Can God change the law to insure He is not breaking it?

The Lord said,

“For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.”  (D&C 3:2)

Moroni expounds upon this and states,

“And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles.” (Mormon 9:27–28)

God cannot violate eternal laws without losing His station, nor can He change the laws.  He is bound to what always has been, and what always will be, no matter how much we kick and scream about it.

Another popular argument claims that, “Since the Savior came to fulfill the Law of Moses, surely Gods laws change depending upon the era”.

Moroni debunks this falsehood and says:

“And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues; Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them. For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing? And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing” (Mormon 9:8–10)

The Prophet Joseph Smith also taught,

“He (God) set the ordinances to be the same forever and ever, and set Adam to watch over them, to reveal them from Heaven to man, or to send angels to reveal them.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 168)

Now you might argue, “But we are not commanded to build an ark in this day!  Surely there are different rules for different people; that is why we have continuing revelation!”  We must understand though, that there is a difference between a commandment and an eternal law.

Mormon Chronicle contributor, Jean Valjean’s article explaining the difference in more depth can be found here , but a synopsis may be found here, wherein the Prophet Joseph said,

“We have sufficient grounds to go on and prove from the Bible that the gospel has always been the same; the ordinances to fulfill its requirements, the same, and the officers to officiate, the same; and the signs and fruits resulting from the promises, the same: therefore, as Noah was a preacher of righteousness he must have been baptized and ordained to the priesthood by the laying on of the hands” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 264).

Though we are not commanded to build an ark as Noah was (a specific commandment for a specific person at a specific time), baptism is required by all, from Adam to our time.  Even our Savior had to obey – again showing that God (or any member of the Godhead) is not exempt from laws that have been around long before He reached His Celestial throne, and of which He cannot allow His children to negate if they are to follow in His footsteps.

The Prophet Joseph also explained the importance of understanding this when he said,

“But it is equally as necessary that men should have the idea that he is a God who changes not, in order to have faith in him … for without the idea of unchangeableness in the character of the Deity, doubt would take the place of faith. But with the idea that He changes not, faith lays hold upon the excellencies in His character with unshaken confidence, believing He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that His course is one eternal round.”(Lectures On Faith, 3:21-22)

 Knowing that “…the course of life which [we are] pursuing, is according to his will” is essential if we are to “exercise faith in God unto life and salvation” (LOF 3:5, 2).

“…because without this, he would not know how soon the mercy of God might change into cruelty, his long suffering into rashness, his love into hatred, and in consequence of which doubt, man would be incapable of exercising faith in him, but having the idea that he is unchangeable, man can have faith in him continually, believing that what he was yesterday he is to day, and will be forever…  for unless men have this idea they cannot place confidence in his word, and not being able to place confidence in his word, they could not have faith in him; but believing that he is a God of truth, and that his word cannot fail, their faith can rest in him without doubt.” (LOF, pg. 43)

The Book of Mormon, whose major purpose is to bring us to Christ, is THE book that reveals to us that God cannot “do whatever he wants”; that even He must obey certain laws, or He will cease to be God (Mormon 9:19, Alma 42:13, Alma 42:22, Alma 42:25).  This does not dethrone God, nor does it take away any of His power or authority, but it shows us the way to return to Him, to become like He is and as the Gods are.

When the people commence to look to the federal government for their support, and if they don’t receive what they feel they are entitled to, they will strike against the power which is withholding that to which they consider themselves entitled. Just as in times past, men have struck against the companies who gave them jobs and provided them with a livelihood when they felt they were entitled to higher wages or shorter hours.

In both cases the recipients are not grateful for what they are receiving. They are angry because it isn’t more. The difference lies in this: When the strike is against a private company there is an independent unbiased police force to maintain peace and arbitrate the case in court, but where the government is one of the parties to the dispute there is no appeal to anything except force.

The employees can come to hate the government and its officers just as they come to hate the company and its officers when the law is not based upon moral principle. When the law can no longer appeal to either reason or justice, and where it is nothing more than a power which takes what is available and dispenses it with an arbitrary hand, with no fundamental principle to guide it in saying how much is to be given to which group, people lose respect for such a law and the police power which enforces it. No appeal to justice, reason, or compassion will prove effective. The people who are the backbone of civilized nations—the thrifty, hardworking self-respecting independent honest class—cannot respect such a law.

Where the right of private property is protected man is encouraged to look to himself to supply his wants. He is even forced to this just as nature and nature’s God decreed: Thou shalt eat thy bread by the sweat of the face. But when government announces that it will now see to it that his wants are supplied, he no longer feels the need to rely upon his own brains and body. That man loses respect for the rights of others. He looks to the use of force to provide for his needs. He looks to force which takes from others what they have created, and the more he is pampered the more he demands. He comes to believe what the government tells him: That there are no property rights which may not be invaded to provide for his wants. He no longer regards it as necessary to conserve and limit his desires or to save and provide for the future. In our complex economy this is the worst possible attitude, for when it breaks down the suffering will be most intense.

When a government encourages and advocates the belief that force may be used by groups, acting together through government to despoil others of their property, the reliance upon force becomes accepted. As the reliance upon force becomes accepted and as the numbers increase who depend upon government largesse, the greater becomes the problem of restraining this group when government can no longer supply their demands. The government must resort to force to keep them in place when their demands reach that point (which they soon will), where it is impossible to give them what they ask. Civil war will occur just as it did in Rome.

There are always large numbers in any society who are industrious and thrifty and who respect the rights of others to own and control property. These people know within themselves that it is morally wrong for the government to take from them the fruits of their own labors and saving practices and give to those who won’t work and won’t save. As the immoral practice of government grows, disrespect

for law also grows. They no longer can be counted on to uphold and obey a law they know is immoral and is at variance with their conscience. The foundation of any stable government is respect and voluntary obedience by the masses of the people. When this is destroyed, free government is no longer possible and dictatorship becomes the only answer. Such a form of government must resort to a policy of foreign war to keep the people united in any respect. They must conduct a war against some real or imagined foreign government and cry danger in order to get any support.

In such a government only the corrupt will accept positions of responsibility, or those who are so blind that they are unable to see the perversion of government. Such a group will not scruple to stay in power. The love of power becomes the dominant aim in their lives. No means is too devious or too reprehensible. They will use force, lies, bribery, murder, and imprisonment to hold their opponents in check.

The loss of political and economic freedom is an inevitable consequence of socialism. Self-government becomes impossible because centralized planning displaces all local planning. As immorality grows apace, the people are unable to act in concert in sufficient numbers to put respectable and moral men in office. Each group is striving to protect its own selfish and government protected interests. Any man who stands up and says this is all wrong is vilified, maligned, and literally torn to pieces by the mobs who want government to continue to protect their labor monopoly, business monopoly, subsidy, welfare check, etc.

The moral element, seeing that it is impossible to restore government to its proper function, begins to plot its violent overthrow. This is the only recourse they have. Appeal to the ballot box is futile. Death is preferable to slavery to them. If there are no moral reference points, then government becomes nothing more than an instrument of force which treats man as if he were just another beast of burden. Not only does the government presume to own and control all land and natural resources, but it arrogates unto itself the power to treat each citizen’s labor as its own, to dispose of as it pleases, and even to direct what labor shall be performed.

(Personal Journal, / /1962)

Perhaps the federal agents went back with the neutralizer pen and flashed the people at the cannery.

There are confirmed reports of door-to-door assessments of disaster preparedness in Tennessee, which has some people concerned.

Meanwhile, those of us who do have food storage (as we’ve been counseled to do for decades by latter-day prophets), especially if you are a liberty-minded constitutionalists, are now even more likely to be labeled domestic terrorists thanks to actual federal laws. Some of us have a year or more of food storage, yet having just 7-days worth of food is enough to find yourself on the list of suspects. Don’t believe me? Get the facts from Senator Rand Paul and Judge Napolitano: youtube.com/watch?v=iD1T61oTrR8

Considering the corruption of the federal government and the reality of secret combinations, I wouldn’t be surprised if the story of federal agents demanding the LDS Cannery customer list is true. Far worse has been done on behalf of the United States government, on several occassions, including the murdering of millions of innocents.

Many of the freedoms once available in America have been destroyed. If the Constitution exists at all today for sure it is hanging by a thread. Prophets have warned us for centuries, unfortunately not enough have listened, and less have acted upon those warnings.

Things like this make me even more grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the liberty and joy that comes as a result of learning and living the truth. When considered in the eternal perspective many of these political issues seem silly, but one thing I know for sure is that it does matter what side we stand on. I’m not talking about what political party we side with, but what political principles we support. It does matter that we stand up for freedom and truth in whatever way that we can. It might be too late for the elders of Israel to save the Constitution but it’s not too late to save your soul, and hopefully others.

Additional reading:

• Federal agents raid Mormon food storage facility, demand list of customers storing emergency food
• Did Federal Agents Really Raid a Mormon Food Storage Facility?
• EVERYTHING You Wanted to Know On the “Federal Agent’s Raid on the LDS Cannery” Story
• STORY PULLED: Oath Keepers Alert: Federal Agents Demand Customer Lists From Mormon Food Storage Facility

You are part of a gospel group. The Lord uses groups to tell us what is going to happen, in general, the same way I can say the 70’s were the disco era.

The Book of Mormon uses two groups as types – Lamanites and Nephites. They WERE groups then, but have become types now. You can be either, and the gentiles are both at different times. When you read it should become apparent that individuals even changed groups, but that the general prophesies applied to the groups. Read Samuel the Laminate for a classic example of this:

And he said unto them: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; and behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over this people; and four hundred years pass not away save the sword of justice falleth upon this people. (Helaman 13:5)

Note that Samuel is from one group, speaking to another group, but that people have been dissenting and changing groups lots. It’s really key to understand this so you know how groups are addressed. The people who comprise this group will not even be alive four hundred years hence, yet the message is addressed to the Nephites as a group.

The Book of Mormon concerns itself with three main groups. The Lamanites, who are referred to as a remnant of the house of Israel, the Jews, and the Gentile.

It is written TO the remnant mainly, but also to both the Gentile and Jew who will find it convinces them that Jesus is the Christ.

If you do not understand the groups in the Book of Mormon, your understanding is so severely limited that you cannot comprehend the messages in it. Period. The Lord uses them, and He does so for a purpose. To discount this is to fail to see the purpose behind the groups.

The main group for me is the Gentiles, because that is the group that currently designates the modern Church and to whom I belong. The remnant is important because it is they who will replace my group. To go forward with a study of Nephi and the Book of Mormon we have to first come to grips with and understand how groups are used and who we are.

We are the Gentiles. I hope that was clear. I am not sure how to drive this point home. This is perhaps the biggest impediment, to understanding the gospel and the Book of Mormon, that exists in the church today.

It is understandable how we have this misconception. We read our patriarchal blessings and see we are of the house of Israel. We know our missionary efforts are to gather Israel out of the world and we know we are gathered. We sing “Israel, Israel God is calling”, not “Gentiles, Gentiles”. We teach we are Israel.

Still, we are the GROUP in the Book of Mormon called the Gentiles. It can be confusing because the group includes both the church and the nations at times. For the most part, when speaking to us, the term is used to mean the church, but it does at times expand that designation to include the nations of the Gentiles.

There are so many things that assure us that we are the Gentiles that it would be worth an entire book, except that it is also so simple that it can be covered in a single verse.

Section 109 of the D&C is the dedication of the temple at Kirtland. According to the Prophet’s written statement, this prayer was given to him by revelation. Jumping to verse 60 it says:

Now these words, O Lord, we have spoken before thee, concerning the revelations and commandments which thou hast given unto us, who are identified with the Gentiles. (D&C 109: 60)

Okay, so here we are, this is the dedicatory prayer of the first restored temple on the earth in the dispensation of the fullness of time, given by way of revelation. So who is the “we” that have spoken these words, and who is the “us” who are identified with the gentiles? Simple isn’t it. no matter how else you look at it, that is us. Go back to verse one:

For thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people. (D&C 109: 1)

Who is the “we” that did this great work through tribulation… Again, it’s simple.

Just for the sake of a couple of witnesses, let’s jump to the Title page of the Book of Mormon, as written by Moroni. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained “The title-page of the Book of Mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or book of plates, which contained the record which has been translated, the language of the whole running the same as all Hebrew writing in general; and that said title page is not by any means a modern composition, either of mine or of any other man who has lived or does live in this generation” ( History of the Church, 1:71).

And see what it has to say:

The Book of Mormon is to be… Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile…

So, simply ask, who did the Book of Mormon come forth by as that term was used by Moroni. Again, simply he did mean us.

With this knowledge, we can really go forward and see what the book has to say to us and about our group.