Topic: Voting, Matches 26 quotes.

Responsibility of Citizenship

I am going to ask you this question, and ask it in plainness, because it appears to me to be a vital one, and if I stand here and express a thought that is wrong, nevertheless believing it to be solemnly right, then I have justified myself as Ezekiel did when he went down to the house of Israel. I am asking myself this question: Is there not some responsibility resting upon the citizenship of the United States because of the indifference they have manifested, particularly during the past decade, in regard to those who are to represent them in the Congress of our nation, the legislatures of our states and the boards of direction in the municipalities of those states and counties?

I believe I will say it—I believe that in many instances we have become so accustomed to and so committed to party rule, to arrangements made by professional politicians, regardless of the real voice and desire of the people, that we have felt it our duty to follow them whether they are right or wrong. Just a word of solemn warning: I say to you regardless of party politics, regardless of your past affiliations, in this time of extremity, and it is a time of extremity, see to it that honest men, wise men, capable men are sent to represent you in the organizations of the country, the bodies which formulate our laws and appoint the men who administer them. You know that the constitution of the United States gives Congress certain privileges and rights. There are certain other sacred privileges and rights that it does not confer upon them and that they should not be permitted to overstep. They formulate and pass the laws which govern our lives, control our property, proclaim peace or war. The administration of those laws that they pass is limited. The administration goes to the administrative bodies.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1932

Topics: Citizenship; Voting

Another period has arrived when the people of the United States are to elect men who are to represent them in both legislative and administrative branches of the government, both state and national; a time when the citizenship of our country are to exercise this divine right of franchise. If reports which come to us are true, vast sums of money are being collected to be used for the purpose of influencing the vote of the people in favor of one or the other of the great parties that are striving for the control of government. We are told that the expenditures will be limited to eight millions of dollars. We are also informed that this limit may be greatly exceeded. Can it be possible that we have reached a point in our history when the ballot, this sacred heritage which has come to us from our fathers, has become a thing of barter and trade, that it can be purchased with money? Are the liberties of the American people on the auction block to be sold to the highest bidder? Have we lifted up a golden calf (as ancient Israel did) to which the American people are commanded to bow down in worship? God forbid.

To my mind the man who would sell his vote for money should forfeit his franchise forever. Is the man who sells his vote less guilty than the man who tenders money for it? Is he who tenders money less guilty than the individual who, having knowledge of the crime, enters no word of protest?’ I cannot shift the responsibility from one to the other. All are equally guilty.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1928

Topics: Voting

I appeal to you as good citizens to go to the primaries, to do your duty at the polls, and elect to office men who are concerned with the wishes and hopes of the people, not heeding the bidding of men whose principal interest is money-making.

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

Topics: Voting

One of the articles of faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, says: “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers and magistrates, in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law.” Being subject to kings and presidents? Yes. Rulers and magistrates? Yes. By reason of the franchise which is given us as citizens of these United States, we have a responsibility and a privilege; we have the electing, either directly or indirectly, of those who preside over us, who are our officers and our servants, and it is the duty of every citizen of the United States to use his franchise and his opportunities, to have men elected to office in the city, in the county, in the state, and in the nation, who will fairly represent the people. They should, themselves, be law-abiding citizens. They should have the common good of the people at heart. They should be philanthropic, unselfish, having a desire to use their talents, and if need be, their means, at least to do their part in the support of the govenment, and working for the common good of all. They should be righteous men, so that they may receive help from God, and he delights to help those who are righteous and who are engaged in a righteous cause. He has declared by his own voice that he redeemed this land by the shedding of blood, and therefore it should be regarded as a sacred and hallowed land. By men who were raised up of the Lord and inspired by him, the constitution of these United States was given to us, and all the laws enacted should be in conformity therewith.

Source: Elder George F. Richards
General Conference, October 1922

Topics: Law; Voting

A Duty In Selecting Loyal Officers and Sustaining Them

It is God’s government; he has given us an inspiration in regard to government, and it is an example to all the world. I see no reason why a senator of the United States, a governor of a state, a legislative assembly, the judges upon the bench, or other officers should not be so true, loyal, and righteous that God would give to them inspiration to guide them in their work; and if they are men of this character we will support and sustain them; and the institutions of our country, and the liberties and freedom of the people will be preserved and protected.

We have a duty in the electing of these officers, and then when they are elected, we have a duty to support and sustain them. It matters not, when the President of these United States is elected and takes the oath of office, and bears the responsibility of his administration, whether he is a Republican or a Democrat, all are bound to support him in his position. If he does not magnify his calling according to his oath of office, I suppose he may be impeached, but until he is, he is our president and we should speak well of him at home and abroad; likewise with the minor officers—the governors of states, the mayors of our municipalities, etc.

Source: Elder George F. Richards
General Conference, October 1922

Topics: Politics; Voting

Not only is it an obligation to lead a clean and virtuous life, an honest and moral life in our association as members of the Church, but also in every other association. No man is a good citizen if he leads an immoral life. No officer is a good citizen who winks at and condones the violations of law. Such men may be found who will cry themselves hoarse in lauding the “Stars and tripes,” and prate about the Constitution and the principles of human liberty, and are frequently found at the primaries and conventions seeking nominations to public office, but if they are unclean they are not good citizens. “When the wicked rule the people mourn.” Hence the obligation to choose good men and wise men for places of public trust.

Source: Elder Rulon S. Wells
General Conference, October 1921

Topics: Righteousness; Voting

The Church in all the Affairs of Life

Only the other day I was asked, in the course of conversation with an intelligent gentleman, not a member of our Church: “Is the ‘Mormon’ Church in politics?”

I answered him: “Most assuredly it is in politics, and also in business, in statesmanship, in all the affairs of life, teaching the people to do what is right so far as it possibly can.”

“Well, has the Church any candidates in the pending election?”

“Yes, indeed,” said I, “the Church has a full ticket, and is counseling its members just how to vote.”

Now, let me tell you just how you should vote, just as I told him. The Church is telling its members to look upon the franchise as a sacred gift, to exercise it according to their very best judgment before the Lord, and the Church’s ticket is the ticket of the best men, according to the best judgment of the people, to whichever party they belong. Vote the party ticket if you honestly feel that to be best, or vote for the men you think will most effectively subserve the needs of country, state, and people.

Source: Elder James E. Talmage
General Conference, October 1920

Topics: Voting

Intelligent Voting Commended

Brethren and sisters, the obligations of American citizenship are numerous and sometimes heavy. But to a genuine Latter-day Saint, diligently trying to keep the commandments of God, it is a real pleasure to bear these responsibilities. May I remind you that among the greatest of them is the duty of wise voting. Perhaps few, if any, of us fully meet this responsibility. To do so we must keep ourselves informed of the necessary pertinent facts relative to candidates, remain free from the influence of prejudice and all deceptive propaganda, give no support of any kind to demagogues and their deceptive promises, but be willing to labor and to sacrifice as much as necessary that our government and our country shall be kept free from the hands of those who would despoil them.

Source: Elder Joseph F. Merrill
General Conference, October 1940

Topics: Mass Media; Responsibility; Voting

The following taken from the Declaration (D&C 134) is a key sentence: “We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.” The Church cannot look with any degree of favor upon any proposition whatsoever that would oppose to the slightest extent this statement.

Brethren and sisters, our free America, the America of our fathers, is gravely in danger, not from enemies without but from enemies within. It is the duty of all Latter-day Saints, living under the stars and stripes, as well as of all loyal citizens, to forget their petty differences and their ignoble personal selfishness, and rally to her support. This may best be done by holding inviolate the Charter of our liberties the Constitution of the United States and all good laws made in harmony therewith. This certainly requires that we shall be careful and elect to make and administer the laws only people who are wise, patriotic and morally worthy—only men and women of high character.

Source: Elder Joseph F. Merrill
General Conference, October 1940

Topics: Character; Freedom, Threats to; Patriotism; Selfishness; Tolerance; Voting

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