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

Responsibility of the Banker

As custodian of the savings of the depositor, the banker assumes the responsibility of investing the funds entrusted to him in a manner that will bring to the depositor a reasonable return in interest upon his savings, and at the same time compensate the banker for the responsibility be assumes as the agent of the depositor, which is very great

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

Topics: Economics

How The Depression May Be Overcome

Every intelligent person who is familiar with current events, knows that a cloud of financial depression, the like of which has never before been known, hovers over the world, so dark and ominous that the sunshine of hope can scarcely penetrate it.

Like the great World War, it has found its way into the most remote corners of the world.

If the government, the states, the counties and municipalities will exercise rigid economy in the expenditure of public funds; if citizens will loyally support and patronize the industries and business of the nation, state and community in which they reside; if bankers will carefully and wisely protect the money of depositors; if depositors will loyally cooperate with the banks to which the care of their money is entrusted; if families and individuals will live within their income and avoid debt, the clouds of adversity will roll away, and the sun of prosperity and peace will shine again upon a happy and prosperous people.

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

Topics: Debt; Economics; Government, Spending

In the Christmas edition of the Deseret News, December 19, 1931, the First Presidency of the Church published their “Christmas Greetings.” May I read some excerpts from these Greetings?

“Notwithstanding the confusion which at the present prevails in this world of ours, we have much to be thankful for, and we can look confidently to brighter days.”

“If the people of the world will turn to God, and acknowledge His Son, our Redeemer; if each citizen of our country will put away selfishness, strife and bitterness; if men who enact our laws will be governed by the necessities of all of the people, and not of a favored few; if every citizen will pledge himself to rigidly observe the laws, and uphold the men who frame and execute them—”

“The sun of prosperity will shine again, and peace and plenty will prevail from the rivers to the ends of the earth.”

“If the extravagant expenditure of money by our government, our states, our counties, and municipalities, and citizens, as it has prevailed during the past few years, is to continue; if heavier burdens of taxation are to be saddled upon the people; if murders, robberies, racketeering, the appointment or election of dishonest men to office, and other violations of the law are to go unpunished—”

Then what will be the consequences? Hear, I pray you, these fateful words of the Greetings:

“Chaos must be our inevitable heritage.”

Source: Elder Joseph F. Merrill
General Conference, April 1932

Topics: Citizenship; Government, Spending

We live in a world of plenty—there is plenty of food, plenty of clothing and shelter or the means of making them; yet there are millions of God’s children who are hungry, ragged, and cold at this very moment. And why? Many reasons can be given, but in the last analysis, they are reducible to one—selfishness. And through his servants, the Lord lays down as one condition for the return of prosperity the elimination of selfishness in our inter-relations.

Source: Elder Joseph F. Merrill
General Conference, April 1932

Topics: Economics; Selfishness

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