Independence Declared

For more than a century the colonists who had come from the Old World continued to live under the governments of the countries from which they came. At the end of that time, and this too in fulfilment of the decrees of the prophets, they declared that they of right were and should be an independent people.

The Declaration of Independence was published to the world, the War of Independence was fought and won, and our ship of state was launched on a troubled sea. The hour had struck that kingcraft and priestcraft, which for ages had held the struggling masses of the world in thralldom, under perverted control both in civil and religious life, were to be stricken and the people of the world were to be emancipated from the shackles with which they had been bound.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1933

Topics: America, History; Heavenly Interest in Human Events

Opposition Of Lucifer

If this government was established by God our Father, no argument should be necessary to convince you that anti-Christ is opposed to it. Lucifer is the enemy of God and Christ his Son. His minions have always been arrayed against them. He fights to lead men away from the Redeemer of the world. Never have his emissaries been more active than at the present time. The very elements appear to combine to bring confusion and tribulation to the people of this troubled world of ours. Both physical and spiritual forces are at work to effect and accomplish if possible our ruin.

Shall Christ or Lucifer triumph in this conflict? This government of ours and all other governments need the strength of the Church. It was by Christian people under God that our government was founded and has been maintained. I have faith in the soul of the American people. They may stumble, they may waver, wicked men may for a time seize control of the affairs of government, but even though confronted by chaos, these people whom the Lord has brought here will rise in their might and with the help of God will triumph.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1933

Topics: America, Faith in

I am sure that with this combined strength, my brethren and sisters, the proper union of the Church with the State, and the proper union of the State with the Church, we shall triumph. Without it our heritage may pass into the alien hands of a godless, idolatrous people. There is real fear of that except we faithfully do our duty, both to this government of ours, the best there is in the world, with all its weaknesses, the government established by God our Father. I pledge myself to be obedient to its laws. I have always been, and to the men who have administered its affairs, notwithstanding the fact that they may have weaknesses.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1933

Topics: Obedience

God bless you, my brethren and sisters, keep us in the faith. Do not falter. The daydawn is breaking, when Christ our Lord shall come, not only to assume dominion over his Church, of which we form a part, but over the world at large. It was by church people—do not forget—that this government was founded and the foundations of it were laid. It was by church people that the War of Independence was fought. It has been by church people that it has been maintained, and it will be by church people that it shall be rescued from chaos, if it is rescued at all.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1933

Topics: America, History

Brother Grant referred, in his opening remarks, to relief from the government. I approach this subject with a great deal of feeling and strong conviction. The thought that we should get all we can from the government because everybody else is getting it, is unworthy of us as American citizens. It will debauch us. Judged by my standards it is wicked, and followed out it will destroy us. The government of the United States has not and can not supply the funds necessary to carry on relief work on that basis. We must be as careful with government funds as with our own or as with the Church’s. Patriotism, loyalty, decency, everything demands that such shall be our course.

Source: President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
General Conference, October 1933

Topics: Government, Wealth Transfer; Welfare

This government of ours was established under the inspiration of the Lord. We as a people need our government. We must have the safeguards which the Constitution throws around us—freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of conscience. It has been my opportunity during my life to stand near to some of those who are called great. It has been my opportunity to work among those who will always work in subordinate capacities in the government. I want to say to you, my brethren and sisters, in all earnestness, that I have yet to see the man, however great he was, that I would wish to see become a dictator. Dictators are not for America, and the doctrine that dictators should rule us comes from an evil source.

Source: President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
General Conference, October 1933

Topics: Government, Tyranny

Loyalty To Country

“Mormonism” was made possible, humanly speaking, by the establishment of the government of the United States, whose constitutional guarantee of religious liberty paved the way for the coming forth of this “marvelous work and wonder.”

Source: Elder Reed Smoot
General Conference, October 1933

Topics: Freedom, Religious

Destructive Agencies

We are living in trying times—international struggles are imminent—“Nation rising against Nation” for supremacy and existence. Civilized governments are threatened by internal and destructive agencies in the form of Communism. This secret organization assumes different names and forms. It is Communism in France, Socialism in Germany, Internationalism in Spain and Italy, Nihilism in Russia, and similar sentiments and principles are cloaked under a variety of titles in America and Great Britain. All these organizations are opposed in spirit to all the restraints of law and order. Now let me call your attention to the fact that in February, 1831, Joseph Smith received a revelation on this very subject, which no doubt many of you are familiar with. Reference is also made along the same lines in the Book of Mormon. Secularism and infidelity are sweeping over the world; millions are indulging in every kind of iniquity. Crime is increasing with such rapidity that the large cities of the world find it next to imposible to cope with it.

Source: Elder Reed Smoot
General Conference, April 1933

Topics: Politics, International

Lack of Political Honor

Much as I hesitate to reflect upon our government, I cannot refrain from calling attention to governmental practises which I am sure have contributed to the decline of private and public honor. The old saying that all is fair in love and war seems to be painfully applicable to politics as well. Since no campaign is in progress at the present time, one can speak without great hazard of being accused of partisan motives. False representations of persons and parties, innuendoes and half truths designed to besmirch character, and promises given with no intention of fulfilment, are all so common in our political procedure that our inclination is to suspect rather than to believe, and we seldom take a candidate, party or promise at face value. Sectionalism, trading for advantage and pork barrel legislation have degraded our politics to such an extent that real statesmanship is indeed at a premium. With hundreds of thousands of persons in the nation directly or indirectly feeding at the public crib, utilizing every available means at their disposal, either fair or foul which may escape the penalties of the law, for the retention of their positions, and with other hundreds of thousands seeking to displace them, not imbued in the main with any motives other than to put themselves in lucrative positions; will any one contend that such conditions have not tended to reduce materially the standards of public and private integrity throughout the country?

So long as public patronage continues to be the major item in public service, it cannot be otherwise. So long as we tolerate a system of political ethics which permits a man to brazenly announce his own candidacy and more brazenly still appeal and contrive for public support to win for himself an office as if it were a personal perquisite, so long as men call themselves instead of awaiting the call of country, we can scarcely hope for better days in the cause of common political honor.

Source: Elder Stephen L. Richards
General Conference, April 1933

Topics: Politics; Virtue; Welfare

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