Seven years have elapsed since the Presidency of the Church requested stakes, wards, and Priesthood quorums to set in motion the great Welfare Program. Well do I recall there were those among us who doubted that such a plan was necessary and feasible. For, on one hand, those in governmental positions advised and counseled the people to destroy food surpluses. Farmers were paid for crops that were not produced. And yet in the face of such counsel and advice the leadership of the Church admonished us to produce greater abundances of foods and to erect storehouses wherein this food could be stored. There have since been erected milk-processing plants, grain elevators, and sewing centers which afford sufficient food, fuel, clothing, and shelter to care for every worthy member of the Church in case of an emergency. Seven years of plenty, of abundance, are about to come to an end, and we may face seven years of leanness and the possibility of famine. The best authorities in the United States are now indicating that a food shortage for the year 1943 is not a remote possibility due to several conditions, too many to enumerate at this time. In retrospect we can all go back in our minds and consider the counsel of the brethren with reference to this matter and observe present-day conditions, which definitely prove that the Welfare Program was the mind and the will of the Lord made known through the power of inspiration and modern-day revelation to His people. With the passing of time, as was the case with the declarations given Moses on Sinai for the children of Israel, the leadership of this people will be vindicated in all of their admonishments to the people, and man will again be convinced that the Lord has and does reveal His mind and will to the prophets of modern times.

Source: Elder Joseph L. Wirthlin
General Conference, October 1942

Topics: Welfare

Unquestionably, there is progress. The average American now pays out twice as much in taxes as he formerly got in wages.

Source: H. L. Mencken

Topics: Taxes

All the taxes paid over a lifetime by the average American are spent by the government in less than a second.

Source: Jim Fiebig

Topics: Taxes

The Law Of Zion

So, brethren, I wish you to understand that when we begin to tamper with the Constitution we begin to tamper with the law of Zion which God Himself set up, and no one may trifle with the word of God with impunity.

Now, I am not caring today, for myself, anything at all about a political party tag. So far as I am concerned, I want to know what the man stands for. I want to know if he believes in the Constitution; if he believes in its free institutions; if he believes in its liberties, its freedom. I want to know if he believes in the Bill of Rights. I want to know if he believes in the separation of sovereign power into the three great divisions: the Legislative, the Judicial, the Executive. I want to know if he believes in the mutual independence of these, the one from the other. When I find out these things, then I know who it is who should receive my support, and I care not what his party tag is, because, brethren, if we are to live as a Church, and progress, and have the right to worship as we are worshipping here today, we must have the great guarantees that are set up by our Constitution. There is no other way in which we can secure these guarantees. You may look at the systems all over the world where the principles of our Constitution are not controlling and in force, and you will find there dictatorship, tyranny, oppression, and, in the last analysis, slavery.

Source: President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
General Conference, October 1942

Topics: Politics; US Constitution

Proclamation Of Christ’s Teachings

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes with the Prophet Lehi that America is a “land of promise, a land choice above all other lands”—a land of liberty unto those who keep the commandments of God. But “if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them.” The Church believes, also, that before the end of wickedness shall come, and wars shall be no more, “this gospel of the Kingdom must be preached to all the world.”

The Constitution of this government was written by men who accepted Jesus Christ as the Savior of mankind. Let men and women in these United States then continue to keep their eyes centered upon Him who ever shines as a Light to all the world. Men and women who live in America, “the land of Zion,” have a responsibility greater than that yet borne by any other people. Theirs the duty, the obligation to preserve not only the Constitution of the land but the Christian principles from which sprang that immortal document.

Source: President David O. McKay
General Conference, October 1942

Topics: America, a Choice Land; US Constitution, Inspired

. . . I . . . say that there are conditions when entrance into war is justifiable, and when a Christian nation may, without violation of principles, take up arms against an opposing force.

Such a condition, however, is not a real or fancied insult given by one nation to another. When this occurs proper reparation may be made by mutual understanding, apology, or by arbitration.

Neither is there justifiable cause found in a desire or even a need for territorial expansion. The taking of territory implies the subjugation of the weak by the strong—the application of the jungle law.

Nor is war justified in an attempt to enforce a new order of government, or even to impel others to a particular form of worship, however better the government or eternally true the principles of the enforced religion may be.

There are, however, two conditions which may justify a truly Christian man to enter—mind you, I say enter, not begin—a war: (1) An attempt to dominate and to deprive another of his free agency, and, (2) Loyalty to his country. Possibly there is a third, viz., Defense of a weak nation that is being unjustly crushed by a strong, ruthless one.

Source: President David O. McKay
General Conference, April 1942

Topics: Free Agency; War

Powerful Beast Helpless Prey

What some are calling a “New Order” follows the oldest order known. It is not unlike the practice o the powerful beast devouring its helpless prey. It is an order whose motives are prompted by envy, hatred and malice. It is an order that takes from man his freedom and makes it impossible for the individual, however righteous, trustworthy, talented, ambitious or competent, to work effectively, to rise and to make his contribution to the good of mankind by rendering the highest human service of which he is capable. This so-called new order is distinctly, yes, violently against the progress and welfare of the masses of the people. It would destroy the very foundations of free government. This plan displaces the rule of moral principle with that of selfishness, force and greed.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1941

Topics: Freedom, Loss of

Natural Ability Richly Rewarded

Our country has had an unparalleled development and growth because here in this land of freedom men and women who exhibit exceptional ability and capacity for achievement are given an opportunity to rise quickly to positions and opportunities of ever-increasing importance. President Nicholas Murray Butler says that of the chief administrative officers of twelve of the greatest railway companies in our country, five began their services as clerks, two as office boys, one as fireman, one as locomotive engineer, one as a track laborer, one as a stenographer, one as a telegraph operator, and one as a rodman in a surveying party. This indicates how in a free country opportunities and positions of the highest order are open to those who possess exceptional native ability.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1941

Topics: America

It is true the world is passing through a period of transition, of sorrow, and to many of despair. Nations are being subjected to tyranny. The four devastating Horsemen—War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death—are galloping seemingly unchecked. The daily press announced recently—“The greatest battle of annihilation in all history.” Freedom of the individual to speak, to act, and to work is being shackled. Systems of government heretofore advocated as the best and safest for mankind are being questioned. Religious truths, once held sacred, are now doubted, ridiculed, or rejected. In some parts of the world, even hell itself seems to have broken loose, spreading hatred, terror and death in its wake. Now as never before we should put our trust in God, “stand fast in the faith, quit ourselves like men, be strong.”

Source: President David O. McKay
General Conference, October 1941

Topics: Freedom, Loss of

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