Topic: Government, Spending, Matches 14 quotes.

Outlook For Coming Winter

There is little prospect that the coming winter will not present enlarged demands on our sympathies and our resources. It has been indicated from Washington that the state and local communities may be obliged to bear a larger portion of the burden. I hope we will do our utmost and I pray that no worthy person who is honest and deserving may be permitted to suffer. I pray with equal fervor that no person may become so dishonest and disloyal as to be an impostor on the generosity of our great merciful government which is seeking so diligently to relieve our distresses.

Source: Elder Stephen L. Richards
General Conference, October 1934

Topics: Government, Spending; Welfare

Seeking Government Help

But to return to our point—that of seeking help from the government, whether it be a local or national government. This search, of course, takes many forms. That governments in times like these (and in certain cases at all times) ought to give the help needful to keep people from suffering for the necessities of life. I do not question at all but think it entirely proper. I said there are many raids upon public treasuries. Do you believe this? If so, what are you going to do about it? We cry “reduce expenditures, cut down taxes.” Yes, we are all in favor of doing these very things except when it appears that doing them will adversely affect us. Then we face about, “Do it to the other fellows but not to us,” seems to be our attitude. Many illustrations might be given but thee will not permit me to do it. You can all name them yourselves.

“Soak the rich” is a popular cry, appealing to the unthinking multitudes who seldom stop to analyze it from the standpoint of right and wrong and to reason out what the consequences of such a policy would be. I refer to this cry as another propaganda that a good citizen and certainly a Latter-day Saint should carefully examine before accepting or having anything to do with it.

Source: Elder Joseph F. Merrill
General Conference, October 1932

Topics: Government, Spending; Welfare

How The Depression May Be Overcome

Every intelligent person who is familiar with current events, knows that a cloud of financial depression, the like of which has never before been known, hovers over the world, so dark and ominous that the sunshine of hope can scarcely penetrate it.

Like the great World War, it has found its way into the most remote corners of the world.

If the government, the states, the counties and municipalities will exercise rigid economy in the expenditure of public funds; if citizens will loyally support and patronize the industries and business of the nation, state and community in which they reside; if bankers will carefully and wisely protect the money of depositors; if depositors will loyally cooperate with the banks to which the care of their money is entrusted; if families and individuals will live within their income and avoid debt, the clouds of adversity will roll away, and the sun of prosperity and peace will shine again upon a happy and prosperous people.

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

Topics: Debt; Economics; Government, Spending

In the Christmas edition of the Deseret News, December 19, 1931, the First Presidency of the Church published their “Christmas Greetings.” May I read some excerpts from these Greetings?

“Notwithstanding the confusion which at the present prevails in this world of ours, we have much to be thankful for, and we can look confidently to brighter days.”

“If the people of the world will turn to God, and acknowledge His Son, our Redeemer; if each citizen of our country will put away selfishness, strife and bitterness; if men who enact our laws will be governed by the necessities of all of the people, and not of a favored few; if every citizen will pledge himself to rigidly observe the laws, and uphold the men who frame and execute them—”

“The sun of prosperity will shine again, and peace and plenty will prevail from the rivers to the ends of the earth.”

“If the extravagant expenditure of money by our government, our states, our counties, and municipalities, and citizens, as it has prevailed during the past few years, is to continue; if heavier burdens of taxation are to be saddled upon the people; if murders, robberies, racketeering, the appointment or election of dishonest men to office, and other violations of the law are to go unpunished—”

Then what will be the consequences? Hear, I pray you, these fateful words of the Greetings:

“Chaos must be our inevitable heritage.”

Source: Elder Joseph F. Merrill
General Conference, April 1932

Topics: Citizenship; Government, Spending

We demand that the federal government reduce expenses and balance the budget. And have you observed that every proposition made in Washington to reduce federal expenses in Utah meets with our violent protest? We wish the government to reduce expenses elsewhere ut to increase them in Utah. Why? Is not selfishness the answer?

And we want the budget balanced. This means the government must raise more money. How? The only way seems to be by some form of increased taxation, but we protest every suggestion to increase our taxes. Apparently we are far, very far, from a willingness to live the “Golden Rule.” We are willing for the other fellow to be taxed, but protest being taxed ourselves.

Source: Elder Joseph F. Merrill
General Conference, April 1932

Topics: Government, Spending; Taxes

•  ⟨⟨ 
•  ⟨ 
•   |  
•  ⟩ 
•  ⟩⟩