I am decidedly of the opinion we should take no part in European quarrels, but cultivate peace and commerce with all, yet who can avoid seeing the source of war, in the tyranny of those nations who deprive us of the natural right of trading with our neighbors? . . . If the new government wears the front which I hope it will, I see no impossibility in the availing ourselves of the wars of others to open the other ports of America to our commerce, as the price of our neutrality.

Source: Thomas Jefferson
writing to George Washington

Topics: Politics, International

Glorious day approaches

He purposes that the earth shall rest and that its inhabitants shall dwell in peace. Such a glorious day approaches. It is even now at our doors. The righteousness which will bring it in and sustain it shall come in one of two ways: as a result of the predicted destruction of the wicked, or by men’s repenting and taking upon themselves in the prescribed manner the name of Jesus Christ, “the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men. . . .” (Moses 6:52.)

Source: Elder Marion G. Romney
General Conference - April 1968

Topics: Peace

I have a feeling in my heart that the United States has a glorious destiny to fulfil, and that part of that glorious destiny is to extend liberty to the oppressed, as far as it is possible to all nations, to all people.

Source: President Joseph F. Smith
General Conference, October 1916

Topics: America, Destiny

Panic of Fear

You youth of the Church! With these God-given promises and prophecies before you, do not let yourselves be stampeded into this panic of fear that is now sweeping over the country, deliberately propagated by those who wish to get us into the war on any pretext—this fear that if we do not enter this war we face subjugation by a foreign foe. If subjugation shall come, it will come because we have reached a “fulness of iniquity,” and not because we fail to take on the horrors of this war. It is righteousness, not the hates of human slaughter, of which this nation stands now in need.

Source: J. Reuben Clark
Stand Fast by our Constitution, p. 184

Topics: Fear; War

Perilous Danger in Government

Men are so ready and willing to be deceived in regard to that which will produce their destruction, that they put off the day of dread.

Although Joseph Smith and the Elders of this Church have proclaimed, both by their own voice and by publications, the downfall of this government, and set forth things so plainly to those that would look at them, yet the people have closed their eyes and have pressed forward in their own way; and they will so continue until every word shall be fulfilled. (Sept. 9, 1860, JD 8:301)

We cannot took forward with any very bright hope for the future of this nation, unless there is heartfelt repentance on the part of the people. Affairs will grow worse and worse, and all the evils that have befallen and are befalling other nations will come upon this. (July 15, 1881, JI 16:162)

Source: George Q. Cannon
Gospel Truth - Discourses and Writings of George Q. Cannon, p. 542

Topics: America, Future

Party Above Country?

Why do men place party above country? One of the answers is obvious, namely, for selfish personal interest and the emoluments of office. The other answer is not quite so apparent. It is, so it seems to me, a lack of an adequate concept of the place and function of government in human affairs. Now the only remedy I know for the eradication of the misconception is in the inculcation of the Savior’s doctrine of altruistic service. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matt. 16:25.) This unselfish doctrine is the true foundation for neighborliness and friendliness among men and for the great principles of charity and love. Contraction of the heart is perhaps the most malignant malady afflicting the world. I know of no prescription nearly so effective as that of giving—giving one’s substance and giving one’s self. You may well measure the patriotism and real devotion of citizens of this country to its institutions and lofty ideals by the extent to which selfish ends are subordinated to the common good. It is a very definite perversion of the rightful place and concept of party organization and procedure in our government to subordinate the nation’s prestige and welfare to partisan preferment and personal aggrandizement. I am pleased to observe that there are indications which point to better conditions in this respect.

Source: Elder Stephen L. Richards
Where is Wisdom?, p. 283 - 284

Topics: Politics

I am pro-Constitution, pro-Government, as it was established under the Constitution, pro-free institutions, as they have been developed under and through the Constitution, pro-liberty, pro-freedom, pro-full and complete independence and sovereignty, pro-local self-government, and pro-everything else that has made us the free country we had grown to be in the first 130 years of our national existence.

It necessarily follows that I am anti-internationalist, anti-interventionist, anti-meddlesome-busybodiness in our international affairs. In the domestic field, I am anti-socialist, anti-Communist, anti-Welfare State. I am what the kindlier ones of all these latter people with whom I am denying any association or sympathy, would call a rabid reactionary (I am not, in fact, that). Some of the unkindly ones will shrug their shoulders and say, “He is just a doddering ‘old fogy.’” I admit the age, but deny the rest of the allegation—the doddering and fogyness. Some will join issue with me on this personal estimate and conclusion; but so be it.

As I proceed, some will say, “Oh, he is talking about the past; but this is a new world, new conditions, new problems,” and so on. To this I will content myself with answering—human nature does not change; in its basic elements it now is as it was at the dawn of history, as our present tragic plight shows. Even savages inflict no greater inhumanities than are going on in the world today.

In the mad thrusting of ourselves, with a batch of curative political nostrums, into the turmoil and tragedy of today’s world, we are like a physician called in to treat a virulent case of smallpox, and whose treatment consists in getting into bed with his patient. That is not the way to cure smallpox.

Source: J. Reuben Clark
Stand Fast by Our Constitution, pp. 96-7

Topics: Politics

Hemispheric Solidarity

When our government shall be sufficiently strong, pure, and honorable, islands, states, and dynasties will seek shelter under its wings; the Canadas, the Central American States, Mexico, . . . . Bolivia, Peru, Chili, Brazil, and all of South America will naturally follow. They will need no coercion. They will seek to be one with us.

Source: John Taylor
The Mormon, October 6, 1855, Vol. 1, No. 33.

Topics: America, Destiny

The prospect now before us in America ought . . . to engage the attention of every man of learning to matters of power and of right, that we may be neither led nor driven blindfolded to irretrievable destruction.

Source: John Adams
1765, A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law

Topics: Responsibility

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