Topic: Virtue, Matches 25 quotes.

How can a republican government stand? There is only one way for it to stand. It can endure; but how? It can endure, as the government of heaven endures, upon the eternal rock of truth and virtue; and that is the only basis upon which any government can endure.

Source: Brigham Young
JD 9:4.

Topics: Government, Forms of; Morality; Virtue

The foundation of a noble character is integrity. By this virtue the strength of a nation, as of an individual, may be judged. No nation will become great whose trusted officers will pass legislation for personal gain, who will take advantage of public office for personal preferment, or to gratify vain ambition or who will, through forgery, chicanery, and fraud, rob the government, or be false in office to a public trust.

Honesty, sincerity of purpose, must be the dominant traits of character in leaders of a nation that would be truly great.

“I hope,” said George Washington, “that I may ever have virtue and firmness enough to maintain what I consider to be the most enviable of all titles—the character of an honest man.”

It was Washington’s character more than his brilliancy of intellect that made him the choice of all as their natural leader when the thirteen original colonies decided to sever their connection with the mother country. As one in eulogy to the father of our country truly said: “When he appeared among the eloquent orators, the ingenious thinkers the vehement patriots of the Revolution, his modesty and temperate profession could not conceal his superiority; he at once, by the very nature of his character, was felt to be their leader.”

Let us in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as citizens of this beloved land, use our influence to see that men and women of upright character, of unimpeachable honor, are elected to office; that our homes are kept unpolluted and unbroken by infidelity; that children therein will be trained to keep the commandments of the Lord, to be honest, true, chaste benevolent, and virtuous, and to do good to all men. (See Thirteenth Article of Faith.)

Source: President David O. McKay
General Conference, April 1964

Topics: Citizenship; Virtue

Lack of Political Honor

Much as I hesitate to reflect upon our government, I cannot refrain from calling attention to governmental practises which I am sure have contributed to the decline of private and public honor. The old saying that all is fair in love and war seems to be painfully applicable to politics as well. Since no campaign is in progress at the present time, one can speak without great hazard of being accused of partisan motives. False representations of persons and parties, innuendoes and half truths designed to besmirch character, and promises given with no intention of fulfilment, are all so common in our political procedure that our inclination is to suspect rather than to believe, and we seldom take a candidate, party or promise at face value. Sectionalism, trading for advantage and pork barrel legislation have degraded our politics to such an extent that real statesmanship is indeed at a premium. With hundreds of thousands of persons in the nation directly or indirectly feeding at the public crib, utilizing every available means at their disposal, either fair or foul which may escape the penalties of the law, for the retention of their positions, and with other hundreds of thousands seeking to displace them, not imbued in the main with any motives other than to put themselves in lucrative positions; will any one contend that such conditions have not tended to reduce materially the standards of public and private integrity throughout the country?

So long as public patronage continues to be the major item in public service, it cannot be otherwise. So long as we tolerate a system of political ethics which permits a man to brazenly announce his own candidacy and more brazenly still appeal and contrive for public support to win for himself an office as if it were a personal perquisite, so long as men call themselves instead of awaiting the call of country, we can scarcely hope for better days in the cause of common political honor.

Source: Elder Stephen L. Richards
General Conference, April 1933

Topics: Politics; Virtue; Welfare

It is the truth that makes men free, free from ignorance, free to choose the right. It is the truth—the knowledge of things as they were, as they are and as they will be which gives to men vision, understanding and wisdom. It is reasonable that more should be expected of those who have the truth. Can a man who has testimony of the truth lie a little, steal a little, or malign his neighbor with impunity? Who sets the standard for a religious man? Is it the community in which he lives, the customs which have become prevalent? No. His standards are set in the revelations of God. Through his faith he hears the commandments of the Lord declared from Sinai resounding down through the ages: “Thou shalt not steal.” “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” He knows that these injunctions are unequivocal and eternal. He knows that they are the foundation of virtue and he knows that they are essential to the eternal welfare of the race. Of course, more is expected of the religious man.

Source: Elder Stephen L. Richards
General Conference, April 1933

Topics: Virtue

In all seriousness I ask if the United States, or the people thereof have partially lost the old-fashioned virtues of honesty, sincerity, sobriety, virtue, and dependability.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Character; Virtue

Obedience To Law

Now, this matter of obedience to law: The Lord has revealed to the Latter-day Saints that he, himself, raised up wise men who prepared the constitution of the United States. We believe it to be a divinely inspired document. Will it endure? Will this country of ours last indefinitely?

I heard a great historian once say that he has studied ancient history with very great care in an effort to determine whether or not the United States of America, as a republic, will endure indefinitely. He said: “The republics of the past have failed. This republic can only endure, if in it there is some element not to be found in the republics of the past.” This historian (Andrew D. White) explained further that a careful investigation shows that we have in this republic one thing only, not to be found in other republics, and that is our great educational system. If after being trained in our schools, men have the Christian spirit, if there is in their hearts some unselfishness, if they are willing to make sacrifices for the good of others, then this republic may endure.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1922

Topics: Education; Law; Virtue

My single-minded concern is for the freedom and welfare of my countrymen and my posterity, the freedom of all men.

Source: President Ezra Taft Benson
General Conference, October 1979

Topics: Virtue

Patrick Henry, a great American patriot, said:

“I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give them, and that is the Christian religion. If they had that, and I had not given them one shilling they would have been rich, and if they had not that, and I had given them all the world, they would be poor.”

Source: President Rex D. Pinegar
Become Rich Toward God
General Conference, October 1973

Topics: Virtue

Courage, honesty, loyalty, patriotism, law and order—these and other elements of the divine nature are no longer revered as virtues.

Source: Elder Marion G. Romney
General Conference, April 1969

Topics: Virtue

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