Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Thus the very first thing which our fathers sought to secure for themselves and for their posterity was freedom to worship as they wished. I do not need to call to your minds the trials and persecution which this people have suffered in the past, in order to bring home to you the conviction that nothing else in the great document, the Constitution, is so important to this people as is this guarantee of religious freedom, because underneath and behind all that lies in our lives, all that we do in our lives, is our religion, our worship, our belief and faith in God. We need the Constitution and its guarantees of liberty and freedom more than any other people in the world, for, few and weak as we are, we stand naked and helpless except when clothed with its benign provisions.

Source: President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
General Conference, April 1935

Topics: Freedom, Religious

Fundamentals Of Constitution God-given

One of the most important things that we can do for the Church is to stand behind the Constitution of the United States. That does not mean, and no reasoning person would suppose that it meant, that that Constitution may not from time to time be changed as the needs of the people would seem to require. But it does mean that that Constitution should be changed only under the urge of great necessity, and then only in accordance with its great underlying concepts. It does mean that the great fundamental elements of the Constitution are God-given, for he said so. It does mean to me as an individual that the Constitution of the United States and my adherence to it and support of it is a part of my religion.

I have about the Constitution that same sort of conviction that I have about the other doctrines that we are taught, for I believe its precepts are among the doctrines of the Church, and I believe that the Lord will change and modify from time to time those details of its provisions which are ancilliary to its great principles; he will cause us—those who live under it—to modify it in accordance with our needs; but the fundamental principles of it we may not sacrifice.

Source: President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
General Conference, April 1935

Topics: US Constitution, Amendments; US Constitution, Defend; US Constitution, Inspired

Fundamental Things Enduring

Now, I would not for a moment have it understood that anything that I have in mind to say will be in conflict with anything that we have heard at this conference. I have no such intention, no such thought, nor do I believe that to be the case, for I believe that the fundamental things in our government, in the Constitution of the United States, are here to endure. Moreover, I believe that it is the business and responsibility of Latter-day Saints to uphold and sustain these sacred principles which bear the stamp of approval of God himself, and we should be loyal unto them. I am, however, going to say this, boldly—The present world civilization shall not endure, for God has said it. It is bound to pass away. May I also say I care not how soon that comes.

The Decree of The Lord Concerning the Wicked

When I say this, do not misunderstand me. I do not say nor believe that things which are good will pass away, but because man has become sensual, devilish and fallen man, and because he will not hearken to the voice of inspiration and revelation from God, and walk in righteousness, keeping his commandments, the decree has gone forth that all man-made covenants, obligations and governments shall be changed and come to an end.

Source: Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
General Conference, April 1935

Topics: US Constitution

Few people think of the discovery of America, the Revolutionary War, and the establishment of a constitutional form of government here as being steps toward the fulfillment of the Lord’s ancient covenant with Abraham. But it is a fact that they were.

The covenant was to be fulfilled through the preaching of the gospel to, and the gathering of, the house of Israel, who were scattered worldwide. Through their acceptance of the gospel, they would receive its blessings and be gathered and would thus have fulfilled upon their heads the promises to Abraham made so long ago. His sheep would recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd and would follow him.

But the true gospel had been lost through centuries of apostasy. It could not be given to Israel of today until it was restored, and the restoration could come only under favorable conditions, in a free country, where men could worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience.

Source: Mark E. Peterson
The Great Prologue, p3-4

Topics: Freedom, Religious

To the founders, a “right” was a moral imperative by which each person exercises the freedom to be what his qualities and potentials make of him, secure in his person and property, and without transgressing that same right of others. His “rights” thus impose no obligation on others except that they abstain from violating them.

Source: Lawrence W. Reed
Clichés of Politics, p13

Topics: Rights

“Sponging” On The Government

Now without mitigation in the least of our sympathies toward those unfortunate ones actually in need, the observing cannot help but note that there is an ever-growing and deeply regrettable tendency to “sponge” on the government and take every gratuity possible to obtain and this too, sometimes by representation and connivance which will not bear the light of truth. It is true also that this disposition to “sponge” on the government is not confined to those only who are on the relief rolls.

In the obtaining of benefit loans and crop allocations with other concessions so lavishly bestowed it has been manifest in such degree and in such people as to be greatly astonishing to those who have the inside information. Not infrequently does one hear in pseudo justification of these regrettable actions, expressions such as these—“Well everybody’s getting it, I might as well get my share”—or “The government brought on these conditions they should get us out.” I have been informed of men making application for home loans under representations of distress whose regular income for one month would be regarded by many families as ample support for an entire year.

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

Topics: Government, Spending; Welfare

Far-reaching Results

I am not willing to take it for granted that these abuses must be. They are too serious and their results too far reaching to go unchallenged. I fear them, not only because they are costly to the public treasury, the drain on which is a matter of deep concern to every American, but for the more important reason which I have heretofore indicated, that the practice of “sponging” on the government is perverting the finest virtues of American citizenship—self-respect, self-reliance and integrity. Furthermore, I cannot but conclude that this distortion to the morale of our people makes fertile ground for the seeds of disloyalty and anarchy which those inimical to our form of government are ever seeking to sow.

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

Topics: Government, Spending; Morality; Welfare

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

Basis Of Mutual Confidence

Common honesty is the basis of mutual confidence. If we lose confidence in each other we are lost. We can’t trust those who cheat the government. It is as dishonest as it is to cheat the Church or each other. No one can deceive and cheat and be a Christian. He may be called a Christian, but he is not one. Misrepresentation, hypocrisy and deceit are as repugnant to the Gospel as is error to truth, for the Gospel is truth.

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

Topics: Honesty; Morality

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