An Appeal To Citizens To Uphold The Law

I appeal to good people everywhere, not to any political party, not to any particular church, but to all people, to use their influence to bring to pass righteousness in the administration of the civil affairs of our country, and I make this appeal to both the church and the state for both need it. Do men preach righteousness who themselves to violate the civil law? Ask the preachers of today for the answer. Do men standing in high places in governmental affairs violate the law? Go back to Washington and investigate. How can we expect, as this statesman from whom the president has quoted, asks, that the common people, one of whom I am, who look to their leaders for example, shall honor and obey the law when they see it constantly violated in higher callings of life? Violation of the law is an evil under any circumstance, but when the law is violated by people who are chosen to maintain and administer it, it becomes a double offense in the sight of God and man, because a man not only becomes a violator of the aw, but he breaks the trust placed in him, the trust which his fellow citizens have reposed in him and which he has sworn to discharge. He thus becomes doubly guilty.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Law

Nation’s Salvation Rests With Its Citizens

We leave this question with you. We want you to understand that the salvation of this nation rests in the hands of its citizens not in the hands of those who control its civil affairs at present, but those who hold the franchise, and are to exercise it in the future. It appears to me that if the importance of this were understood, greater care would be exercised in the selection of men for public office.

There are enough of such men, and to spare, to administer our public affairs. There are good men, honest men, in all political parties, and associated with all churches and many who are allied with neither party or church. I do not appeal to any particular group of people, but to Christian people the world over.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Politics

Latter-day Saints Must Uphold The Law

There is much being said now about the law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of liquor. Latter-day Saints should uphold that law everywhere, at socials, at banquets. Civil officers, members of clubs, who are contributing to the formation of public opinion ought to be proud to uphold that law. It is a constitutional law, and it is time that the leaders of this country, the politicians, the statesmen, the leaders in civic affairs in the state and in the cities should so speak of this law, so act towards it, that public sentiment would be turned in favor of its enforcement. Latter-day Saints, we are expected to uphold it and to uphold every other law which contributes to the advancement and peace of mankind. And these laws against the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors are such laws, and our conditions now in society, with millions of automobiles, the drivers of which must be at their very best, active mentally, quick to respond physically in emergency, make it necessary that we eliminate from sociey anything that will becloud the brain or leave the driver’s hand unsteady. We are living in a condition in which we cannot with impunity foster traffic in intoxicating liquors. God said long ago that they were not good for man. Our boys and girls, from the standpoint of integrity and consistency, should take a stand against the use thereof.

Source: Elder David O. McKay
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Prohibition

So far as the Latter-day Saints are concerned, we rejoice in every measure that seeks to preserve us from these destructive influences [alcohol], and yet I recognize that all the legislation that can be enacted will not charge the appetites of men or control their will. If it becomes necessary for us to use half the people of this country to police the other half, civilization will be in dire peril. The strength and power of the American government was in the willingness on the part of the great masses of the people to observe the constitutional law and honor and respect it. We have been changing year by year from that time until the present, and never before in the history of our government has there been such a police force in use in the nation, in the states, and in the counties and in the cities to attempt to maintain law and order. There must come an awakened respect for law and order or we shall reach the point where 51% of the people shall be lawless, and then our interests will be in danger, our constitution, or privileges and our rights will be in imminent jeopardy.

Source: Elder Melvin J. Ballard
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Law, Respect For

In time of war we know no party; all come to the defense of the country. In this hour, when Constitution and laws are being ridiculed, there ought to be no Democrats and no Republicans, no Prohibitionists and no Socialists, but only the one great party—the party of those who stand for law and order, for the Constitution of our country and the liberties for which we have paid so great a price.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Politics

And does not the world, at this minute, seem to be seeking for happiness in doing iniquity? It is character, it is honesty, it is integrity, sincerity, dependability, that will bring stable success. This Church is struggling to bring up a generation of people having these qualities. The Relief Society conference, just adjourned, was struggling to learn what to do before and after children are born, to make them young men and young women with the qualities of Abraham Lincoln, upon whose life and character no limelight has yet been turned that is strong enough to find a flaw.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Character

In all seriousness I ask if the United States, or the people thereof have partially lost the old-fashioned virtues of honesty, sincerity, sobriety, virtue, and dependability.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Character; Virtue

I appeal to you as good citizens to go to the primaries, to do your duty at the polls, and elect to office men who are concerned with the wishes and hopes of the people, not heeding the bidding of men whose principal interest is money-making.

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Voting

Are we losing respect for the Constitution, that document which Gladstone has called “the greatest State document of all the Christian ages”? Must voices be raised in the tops of these everlasting hills, calling to the people of the United States to come to the defense of the Constitution? Our forefathers and our own loved ones have spent their lives for its principles. Are we unwilling to cast our votes for those who will honor it?

Source: Elder Richard R. Lyman
General Conference, October 1927

Topics: Responsibility; US Constitution, Defend

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