Topic: Law, Respect For, Matches 15 quotes.

As American citizens who love freedom, we must return to a respect for national morality, respect for law and order. There is no other way of safety for us and our posterity. The hour is late, the time is short. We must begin now, in earnest, and invite God’s blessings on our efforts.

Source: Ezra Taft Benson
An Enemy Hath Done This

Topics: Law, Respect For

The Law Breaker Of Today

The law breaker of twenty years ago was a cringing, shabby, repulsive creature who shyly attempted to hide himself in alley ways and other dark places. But conditions have changed. The law breaker of today is wearing fine clothes, flashy jewelry, he owns and drives high-powered speed boats and high-powered motor cars; his pockets are bulging with money. These are the racketeers, the gangsters, the bootleggers and kidnapers, who, equipped even with machine guns, have such power, influence and financial strength that they are actually threatening the very life of our government; they are undermining the foundation of our republic. Surely the citizens of the nation should be alarmed, they should be aroused when the very existence of our government is in peril.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1932

Topics: Law, Respect For

Functions Where Law Is Broken

For many years I have sent a personal questionnaire to those for whom I have had opportunity to vote asking candidates for public office to advise me confidentially or otherwise whether or not they live in accordance with the law, whether they favor the enforcement of the law, and in addition I have urged them if elected to join me in a resolution not to participate in any function, social or otherwise, where the law is broken.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1932

Topics: Law, Respect For

The condition of our country with respect to lawlessness and anarchy is such that John J. Pershing says, “We are at war!” that the conditions confronting the United States today are more serious than those we faced in France. (American Magazine, June, 1932, p. 15.)

Vote Only For Those Who Respect The Law

I appeal to you in this serious hour, when “we are at war,” when the conditions confronting us are more serious than those we faced in France, to cast your ballots for those candidates only who are law abiding, who have real respect for the law and who want it enforced. If the people of the country generally will vote for law breakers, if they will elect such men to public office, then with certainty will government of the people, by the people and for the people vanish from the earth.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1932

Topics: Law, Respect For; Voting

God Have Mercy On Us

What strength, what value will there be in any law, even in that law which protects us in our property rights, if we degenerate to such a degree that the law breaker has to be arrested by a man who is equally guilty of breaking the law; that when he who is guilty is brought before the bar, that bar which is supposed to be a bar of justice, he has as his prosecutor a district, a city or a county attorney who is himself as guilty as the one he is to prosecute? What an unfortunate condition will prevail if we reach such a situation that the individuals who constitute the jury are as guilty of law breaking as is the man whose guilt they are expected to discover. And then finally, if in addition to all of this, the judge or the justice who occupies the exalted place upon the bench does not himself have respect enough for the law to live in accordance with its provisions, God have mercy on us, for when this condition prevails government of the people, referred to by Abraham Lincoln, will surely be perishing from the earth.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1932

Topics: Law, Respect For

Disregard For Law

It appears to me that three things are more responsible than all else for our present condition. The first is the unusual disposition upon the part of many of the citizens of our country to disregard the obligation of obedience to civil law. I do not need to quote these notes that I have here to show you that in the opinion of the best thinkers of our country, chaos hangs over it unless something can be done to restrain crime and the open violation of law which exists in the United States today. Criminals sit upon juries where their own friends are being tried, while business men and others who should be there decline or avoid such service. Murder is committed in the light of day. Murderers and thieves are released from jail or from courts by habeas corpus many times before the prisoner ever reaches the bar of justice. Lawlessness is in every city of the land. Wicked men go out in the darkness at night like animals of prey, here in our own city, seeking whom they might devour, preying upon the innocent and unrotected. The officers of the law do the best they can to prevent it. We who are citizens pay too little attention to it and give them too little support. Just as long as prominent men in our nation, bankers, merchants, business men, congressmen and legislators ignore the law themselves, how can they expect that this condition can be overcome? Do I exaggerate when I say that men are elected to office who are unworthy, and never should have been chosen? Every man who goes to the Congress of the United States holds up his hand and covenants with God that he will obey the Constitution of our country, and then frequently he goes right out and violates it. It applies to men who are sent up to our legislature. They enter into that covenant and then disregard it. I know how I should feel if I did a thing of that kind. I would know that I was a perjurer and I would expect to be impeached and sent home where I belonged. Some such method as that will have to be adopted before our house cleaning will be complete.

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

Topics: Law, Respect For

Disregard For Religion And Pursuit Of Wealth

In conclusion, let me read some quotations that I have made from this man whom we refer to as the father of our country. I said there were three things responsible for this spirit of lawlessness. Another one is the disregard of religion that is gradually but surely manifesting itself among the people. Enough has been said in this conference to satisfy you that this is not an idle statement that I am making. These sheets that I have before me are covered with statistics that corroborate the truth of what I say. The next thing to be avoided is the unbridled and unreasonable pursuit of wealth which has characterized the people of the United States ever since the World war terminated.

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

Topics: Law, Respect For

Quotes Washington

Washington in this address to which I have referred, and I wish every member of the Church would read it—not only read it but make it a part of the governing rule of his life—says:

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked—”and I ask it of you—“Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”

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

Topics: Law, Respect For; Morality

Legislators of Early Days

Oh, I remember those old legislative bodies which assembled in Utah. I knew the men that were in them. They were men of faith, men who taught me faith in a living God, that he is the same good heavenly Father that he ever was and will watch over and bless righteous people wherever they are. They taught me obedience to the laws of my country. They taught me patriotism to my country and to this government of which I am speaking; that it was dearer to me than life itself: that it should be defended; that it should be protected, not only from enemies from without, but enemies from within. They are the most dangerous enemies of all. And I have never seen a moment in my life that I did not stand ready to give it that protection. I am ready now, as old as I am, and I always have been, not only to say the thing but to do it. I will not be walked over rough shod by the lawless element that is now seeking to get control of this country.

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

Topics: Law, Respect For

•  ⟨⟨ 
•  ⟨ 
•   |  
•  ⟩ 
•  ⟩⟩