Speaking of philosophy, I must tell another little story, for I was almost buried up in it while I was in Paris. I was walking about one day in the Jardin des Plantes—a splendid garden. There they had a sort of exceedingly light cake; it was so thin and light that you could blow it away, and you could eat all day of it, and never be satisfied. Somebody asked me what the name of that was. I said, I don’t know the proper name, but in the absence of one, I can give it a name—I will call it philosophy, or fried froth, which you like. It is so light you can blow it away, eat it all day, and at night be as far from being satisfied as when you began.

There are a great many false principles in the world, and as I said before, whether you examine their religion, their philosophy, their politics, or their national policy, you will find it a mess of complete baby work, there is nothing substantial about it, nothing to take hold of.

Source: John Taylor
Journal of Discourses, Vol.1, p.27, August 22, 1852

Topics: Principles

The mission of Orson Hyde is well known to the Latter-day Saints; how, under very great difficulties, trials and hardships, he made his way to Jerusalem, went to the summit of the Mount of Olives,and there wrote out a prayer that God put into his heart, dedicating the land of Palestine for the return of the Jews, and for the renewal of their national existence. That prayer—and it is a most wonderful prayer—has been published many times in our periodicals. It is published also in the History of the Church, which is derived chiefly from the office journal of the Prophet Joseph. Orson Hyde, returning from his mission when in Alexandria, also wrote to the Millennial Star of the then current date and there made a rather wonderful prediction. He said in substance that it was by political power that Judah had been broken and scattered abroad, and that it would be by the exercise of political power that Judah would be restored; and furthermore he declared that England would be the leading national power that would befriend Judah, and aid him in the re-establishment of his people in the land of Palestine. This was published in the Millennial Star of 1842, and may be found by those curious enough to seek for he source of this information.

Source: Elder Brigham H. Roberts
General Conference, April 1927

Topics: Politics

There has been ushered into the world a new force in history, and this was accomplished a hundred years ago by a barefoot boy, a child, who hardly had enough to eat, but who had linked his life with God’s. His name was Joseph Smith. He was the “Mormon” prophet, the prophet of this new dispensation, and was born at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It was a new age of the world’s history. The government of the United States had been organized. The common man had come into his own. The government under which we live had acclaimed for the first time in all history that man is endowed with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The constitution of the United States had written large: “We, the people”! It was the common man who was speaking, the man upon whose shoulders rested the great work of the new age. So this new prophet come at an opportune time, for a new age had come; a new age for the extending of the message of Christ Jesus our Lord was to be usherd in.

Source: Elder Levi Edgar Young
General Conference, April 1927

Topics: America, History

In the time of our peace and prosperity, we may be tempted to be indulgent with ourselves. All over the world, I believe there is a growing spirit, even in the hearts of many leaders, to become careless, to become more or less accustomed to the new order of things that obtain. This, after all, is most threatening to the life, to the peace of the people and to the stability of even governments themselves.

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

Topics: Self Control

The British-Israel Movement

Another thing in which I thought you would be interested is a great movement which is just on in Great Britain, which has been of exceeding interest to me. An association is in existence there which is sponsored by many of the great scholars and statesmen of Great Britain, called the British-Israel movement. The British people are undertaking to determine who their ancestors were. They have become obsessed with the thought that they are of Israel, and are investigating and studying, going hack into the old traditions and folk-lore of Wales, of Ireland, of England and Scotland, in an endeavor to determine the origin and destiny of the British race. And this in brief is what they are finding out: In the first place that the word “British” itself is very significant. I asked a Jewish Rabbi the other day the derivation of the word “British.” He said in Hebrew it was composed of two words, “Brit”—a covenant, and “ish”—a man. A covenant man, of a man of the covenant, the covenant which God our Father made with Abaham, the covenant in which he promised him that his seed should become as numerous as the stars of heaven—a covenant in which he promised him that kings should come out of him, and that through him all of the nations of the earth should be blessed.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: Politics, International

God bless you, my brethren and sisters, keep us all from the sins of the world, keep us clean and unspotted, make us more devoted if possible to his word and more loyal and patriotic to the government of which we form a part. For without this government the Church of Christ could not exist, unless God should manifest his power in an unusual manner in our behalf. He has raised up this government and the men who direct its affairs for our protection and benefit, for the protection and benefit of the people of the world in righteousness. But whenever people depart from the way of righteousness, whenever priestcraft shall take the place of Priesthood, God’s mercy will be withdrawn.

Source: President Anthony W. Ivins
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: Heavenly Interest in Human Events

Gratitude To God For This Age And Nation

I feel very grateful for the privilege of being here. I often think what a grand thing it is to be permitted to live in the world today—this wonderful age of the world, with its marvelous developments of science and art, and the great progress that has been made from the conditions of the world as they existed two or three hundred, or even a hundred years ago. What a different world! And what a wonderful land of liberty we are living in—a choice land; under the freest and best of all governments on the face of the earth; where there is more security, more protection for the rights and liberties of the people, than there is many other nation. The hand of the Lord has guided the destinies of this great nation, for he it was that planned it. He tells us in a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith which we often quote: “I, the Lord, raised up wise men for this very purpose”; that is, to found this government; and it has had divine guidance all the way through. The people here in the United States, even those who are not so well off financially, are housed better, fed and clothed better, and better situated than the rich and well-to-do in most other nations. Never before in all the history of the world has there been a nation like this, of such commanding importance, and yet not desiring anything but what rightfully belongs to it.

Source: President Charles W. Nibley
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: America, Heritage

Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.

Source: Alexis de Tocqueville

Topics: Democracy

I return without my approval House Bill No. 10203, entitled “An Act to enable the Commissioner of Agriculture to make a special distribution of seed in the drought-stricken counties of Texas, and making an appropriation (of $10,000) therefor.”

I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the General Government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit. A prevalent tendency to disregard the limited mission of this power and duty should, I think, be steadfastly resisted, to the end that the lesson should be constantly enforced that though the people support the Government, the Government should not support the people . . . .

Source: President Cleveland’s message to the Congress, dated February 16, 1887.

Topics: Government, Wealth Transfer; Welfare

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