Topic: Citizenship, Matches 36 quotes.

At a clear and extreme level, violations of inalienable rights by a government might excuse citizens from the performance of some obligations of citizenship. But the history of Latter-day Saints’ relations to their governments shows that any such exceptions would have to be far more extreme than anything we have experienced in this country.

Source: Elder Dallin H. Oaks
“Some Responsibilities of Citizenship”

Topics: Citizenship; Government, Loss of Freedom; Responsibility

It is suggested that, in educating themselves on the perils of Communism, members should not expect bishops and stake presidents to join with them or through their positions lend support to their efforts, since they are expected to maintain a strict neutrality as referred to. Nor should organized movements to become informed on Communism impose their ideas upon the membership of the Church in any area in a manner that may lead to division among the members. Nor should bishops, stake presidents, and other Church leaders take the lead in support of such efforts of groups in such a way as to impose such movements upon other Church members. It is the right and obligation of every citizen, and therefore every member of the Church, to be alert and to be informed about social, educational, communistic, and other political influences that would tend to undermine our free society. But it would defeat its own purposes if it were done in a manner that would tend toward division in our own membership.

Source: President David O. McKay
General Conference, April 1969

Topics: Citizenship; Responsibility

How can men of conscience ignore the teachings of the Master in their daily affairs, in business, or in government? We stand by and wink at many things because we fear to do anything about them. We may be against crime or communism, but what do we do about it? We may be against corruption in government or against juvenile delinquency, but what do we do about it? We may have a belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ, but what are we doing about it? We need to push fear into the background and come forward with a definite, positive declaration, and assume responsibility.

Source: Elder Howard W. Hunter
General Conference, October 1960

Topics: Citizenship; Responsibility

But, brethren, beware that you do not become extremists on either side. The degree of a man’s aversion to communism may not always be measured by the noise he makes in going about and calling everyone a communist who disagrees with his personal political bias. There is no excuse for members of this Church, especially men who hold the priesthood, to be opposing one another over communism; we are all unalterably opposed to it, but we must be united in our fight against it. Let us not undermine our government or accuse those who hold office of being soft on communism. Furthermore, our chapels and meetinghouses should not be made available to men who seek financial gain or political advantage by destroying faith in our elected officials under the guise of fighting communism. Let self-appointed protectors of our freedom finance their own schemes. We call upon the priesthood of the Church to stand together with a solid front against everything that would rob men of their God-given freedom.

Source: President Hugh B. Brown
General Conference, April 1962

Topics: Citizenship; Communism

However, above all else, strive to support good and conscientious candidates of either party who are aware of the great dangers inherent in communism and who are truly dedicated to the Constitution in the tradition of our founding fathers. They should also pledge their sincere fealty to our way of liberty—a liberty which aims at the preservation of both personal and property rights. Study the issues, analyze the candidates on these grounds, and then exercise your franchise as free men and women. Never be found guilty of exchanging your birthright for a mess of pottage!

Source: President David O. McKay
General Conference, October 1962

Topics: Citizenship; Voting

I am devoutly grateful that I am an American. It is a proud thing to be an American. I firmly believe that the flag that waves over you and over me is the best flag that ever waved over any land or any people—made so by the heroism of the men who founded this Republic and who have maintained it. My heart was touched with the beautiful and dignified tribute which a distinguished visitor, General Summerall, paid to this people yesterday morning. I hope we deserve it, and I believe that we do. I am sure that “Mormonism” has in it the genius of the best civilization the world has ever seen. All good Latter-day Saints are good citizens. Poor citizenship is an evidence of poor affiliation with the Church. It cannot be otherwise. I am grateful for the government that shelters us, for the opportunity which it gives to its citizens. I love this land of ours. The Almighty in his infinite kindness has established our feet in the tops of the eternal hills and given us a place where the sun shines more days in the year than in any other place, where the skies are bluer and the water clearer. We ought to be good citizens, and we ought to stand firmly for the maintenance of the principles bred in the institutions which we love and cherish.

Source: Elder Bryant S. Hinckley
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Citizenship

Good administration of government

But in any society, good government can be had only if administered by good men, selected by good citizens.

To be a good citizen, we should learn for ourselves what is set forth in the constitution. This knowledge can be obtained only through individual study of the document itself. We must not only study it, but we must also guard it. It was Daniel Webster who uttered these prophetic words: “Watchful guardianship over the Constitution is, the proper means for its support. . . .”

In addition to the love of God and the love of our neighbor and, as Jesus said, the love of our enemies, there should be found in each of us a love of our country and of the constitution which binds it together.

Source: Elder ElRay L. Christiansen
General Conference, October 1967

Topics: Citizenship; Government, Good

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

It was never intended that our life on earth would be one of ease, since this life is but an interlude between two eternities.

Is there a need in American schools to teach our young men what America should really mean to them? And what about the young men of America who are not in our schools? Who will alert them? Because these secret youth organizations will be aimed directly at America’s young people, leaders of state and city governments should investigate every new youth organization seeking to become established within their respective jurisdictions. Our danger is greatest from within. If America is to be destroyed, the enemy knows full well it will have to be weakened from within.

Young men of America, stand by the traditions of your founding fathers. Make no compromise with the enemies of your freedom. Stand for your rights. Be true to your government. Be known and remembered for your patriotism, for your contribution to the freedom with which you would bless your posterity as you have been blessed by those who have paid the price and gone before.

Young men of America! Do you labor under the illusion that you can fight only behind a gun to defend your priceless heritage? Be not deceived! We are at war right now—not a shooting war but a contention as real and deadly as any shooting war ever fought in the history of man. Think of the uncounted millions already enslaved by the enemy without the horrors of a shooting war.

Each one of us should resolve to do everything he can for his country, which has done so much for him; assist in helping the rest of the world realize what freedom is and to keep aglow the fire which can truly light the world. You share in the noblest privilege of man, which is to make God’s work your own. “Men must choose to be governed by God or they condemn themselves to be ruled by tyrants,” was the way William Penn pronounced our death sentence as a nation or expressed our hope for survival.

Source: Bishop Thorpe B. Isaacson
General Conference, April 1961

Topics: Citizenship; Duty; Responsibility

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