Perplexing Situations

Our government is now very much in the condition that it was at that early time. Demands are made upon it which are exceedingly difficult to comply with. The soldiers of our country are in an ugly mood because their requests are not granted. The resources of the country are not sufficient to meet the demands made upon it, notwithstanding the great increase in taxes which has recently been levied. The bulletin boards, while this conference has been in session, have announced that the budget of the government is still five hundred million dollars short of balance. What is the result going to be? I do not know; I do not want to assume the responsibility of indicating, but I do know that there are some things which will help. I do know that Elder Richards this afternoon has declared to you in plain terms some of the things that must be accomplished. There is about ten billions of dollars of gold in the world. Our national debt is twenty billions of dollars. What the debt of other nations of the world is I do not now, I have not taken the time to determine, but this I do know, that the World war cost about two hundred billions of dollars, and that does not take into consideration the amount which was paid for the restoration of property destroyed, nor does it take into consideration the fact that I believe nearly ten millions of men, if I remember the figures correctly, were either killed or permanently disabled and taken away from the forces which create the industries of the world. So that altogether I calculate that at least two hundred and fifty billions of dollars was the cost of that great war. Will the debt ever be paid? It never will. That goes without saying. Some part of it may be, I do not know. No one will deny the fact that the government at present is confronted with perplexing situations, questions of great import. How they are to be solved men appear not to know, and I do not know. One thing that I do know, is that the American people are capable of solving these problems if the voice of the people coud be heard. I have faith in the sold of these American people which God has brought to this land. He has said, and I am only repeating his words, that the nation shall persist, that it shall be able to meet any emergency that shall arise if it will only, as I have stated, have faith in the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ.

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

Topics: Debt; Taxes; War

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

Responsibility of Citizenship

I am going to ask you this question, and ask it in plainness, because it appears to me to be a vital one, and if I stand here and express a thought that is wrong, nevertheless believing it to be solemnly right, then I have justified myself as Ezekiel did when he went down to the house of Israel. I am asking myself this question: Is there not some responsibility resting upon the citizenship of the United States because of the indifference they have manifested, particularly during the past decade, in regard to those who are to represent them in the Congress of our nation, the legislatures of our states and the boards of direction in the municipalities of those states and counties?

I believe I will say it—I believe that in many instances we have become so accustomed to and so committed to party rule, to arrangements made by professional politicians, regardless of the real voice and desire of the people, that we have felt it our duty to follow them whether they are right or wrong. Just a word of solemn warning: I say to you regardless of party politics, regardless of your past affiliations, in this time of extremity, and it is a time of extremity, see to it that honest men, wise men, capable men are sent to represent you in the organizations of the country, the bodies which formulate our laws and appoint the men who administer them. You know that the constitution of the United States gives Congress certain privileges and rights. There are certain other sacred privileges and rights that it does not confer upon them and that they should not be permitted to overstep. They formulate and pass the laws which govern our lives, control our property, proclaim peace or war. The administration of those laws that they pass is limited. The administration goes to the administrative bodies.

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

Topics: Citizenship; Voting

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

Professions Arise

As society developed, laws became necessary for its government and protection. Men violated these laws and were punished under them. One day a man said to his neighbor, who had been adjudged guilty of an offense: You were not guilty of a violation of the law, the statute under which you were punished was not properly interpreted. If you are in trouble again come to me, and for a consideration I will defend and free you.

Thus a new profession was added to the occupations of man, which has developed until men have become so profound in their knowledge and interpretations of modern law and its proper application, that the judge himself, when criminals are arraigned before him, can scarcely determine whether they are innocent or guilty.

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

Topics: Law

Medium Of Exchange Created

In the beginning, trade was carried on by exchange of commodities, rather than by purchase and sale, with a recognized medium of exchange. In fact, in my time I have been in countries where this was almost the universal custom.

As civilization developed it became apparent that for the convenience of commerce and trade some medium of exchange, with a fixed and recognized ratio of value, must be created; and at a very early date gold and silver were used in the beginning counted by weight, as dust or in bars, as shown in the scripture which I have quoted, when Abraham weighed to Ephron, the son of Zohar, 400 shekels of silver, about $250.00, 3,800 years ago. At a later date minted coins, of specific weight, came into use.

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

Topics: Economics; Free Market

Banking System Developed

As people, by industry and economy accumulated more than was required for their personal necessities, and merchants began to penetrate new countries with their caravans, and ships to sail the seas, it was common practice for those who had a surplus of money to lend it to those engaged in trade, in order that commerce might be carried on between different peoples and nations.

The borrower was required to pay a reasonable interest on the money obtained, but excessive usury was strictly forbidden.

It was from this simple beginning that our present system of banking has developed, until it has become the most important business occupation of the world.

This may appear to be an extravagant statement, but it is nevertheless true,

The business of the banker brings him in closer contact with every field of human endeavor than that of any other occupation.

He is the custodian of the hard-earned money of the husbandman, the widow, the fatherless, the doctor, lawyer, merchant, manufacturer, and the man who has no occupation at all, of whom I sometimes think we have too many, for it was written long ago that the idler shall not eat the bread nor wear the apparel of the laborer.

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

Topics: Economics

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