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

Of all the individual rights which our forefathers handed down in their legacy to us, none perhaps has been greater nor more fruitful to our society than the traditional right of every American . . . to use and enjoy his individual freedom; and the incentive to develop to the highest possible degree his personal creative talents.

Source: Irving S. Olds
The Thousand Miles of Lao-Tse

Topics: Freedom

The Declaration of Independence

One hundred and fifty years ago, on July 4, 1776, the representatives of the Thirteen United American colonies, which up to that time had acknowledged allegiance to Great Britain, met in Philadelphia for the purpose of declaring those colonies free and independent. They put forth the immortal document known and revered as the Declaration of Independence, the preface to the Constitution of the United States, which the Lord has declared in our day to have been established “by the hands of wise men” whom He “raised up unto this very purpose.”

Source: Elder Orson F. Whitney
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: America, History

An Act Of Heroism

These men were not Latter-day Saints—but they deserved to be. They did not bear the Priesthood, nor did they have the fulness of the gospel, with the gifts and powers of the Holy Ghost. They were not members of the Church of Christ—they had no opportunity to be, for it was not then upon the earth. Yet there was something within them that made them willing to imperil their lives, not for personal profit, not for self-aggrandizement, but for freedom and justice and the rights of man.

Their act was heroic, thrilling. Even to read about it almost brings the tears to one’s eyes. One of those men, after signing his name and laying down the pen, said: “Now we must hang together, or we shall all hang separately.” And this was no exaggeration. Had they failed, they would have been executed as traitors and rebels. It was their success that saved them, and God gave them that success.

Source: Elder Orson F. Whitney
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: America, Heritage; America, History

American And European Ideals

“Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.” That also is God’s doctrine the doctrine of common consent, exemplified at every Church, stake or ward conference, where the names of the presiding authorities are regularly placed before the people, to see whether they will sustain them as their leaders and teachers. This they manifest by giving or withholding their consent.

Compare this doctrine with the notion once prevalent in European as in Oriental countries, that the king or hereditary ruler of a nation was the owner of that nation, the proprietor not only of the land, but of the people living upon it. They all belonged to him and he might dispose of them as he saw fit, not being accountable to any human power for his actions. When a reigning princess married the monarch of another realm, all her dominions and all her subjects went with her as part of the bridal dowry.

Source: Elder Orson F. Whitney
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: Government

Lincoln And Joseph Smith

That is the American idea, “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” as Lincoln expressed it in his famous Gettysburg speech.

And nothing proves more conclusively that Joseph Smith, God’s prophet, was a real and true American, than his reply to one who inquired of him how he managed to govern a people made up of so many different nationalities, with all their varied languages, customs and traditions. Said the Prophet: “I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves.”

Source: Elder Orson F. Whitney
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: Government, Ideal

The Mission Of America

Were I to say that the founders of this Nation builded better than they knew, few if any would question the statement. But if, in addition to that, I should voice my conviction that this great Government was established purposely to favor the coming forth of the Church of Christ in this dispensation—the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times—many would deem my declaration presumptuous and even preposterous. Great movements are generally so regarded in the beginning.

It was “presumptuous” in Columbus to pit himself against the learned ignorance of his age, and proclaim the earth round, when public opinion held it to be square and flat or shaped like a cheese. But his “presumption” led to the discovery of the Western Hemisphere and the founding of the mightiest nation of modern times. It was “presumptuous” for the American colonies to declare their independence and array themselves against the militant might of the British Empire. But they succeeded, and their “presumption” was swallowed up in victory, amid the thunders of the world’s applause. In like manner it may look presumptuous for a little handful of people, numbering only half a million all told, to claim that a nation originally of three millions and now of one hundred and ten millions, was founded for the express purpose of furthering their God- given mission of preparing the way before Messiah’s second advent. But when the Kingdom of Heaven prevails, and Christ is reigning in person over a glorified planet, sucha claim will not be considered presumptuous, preposterous, nor at all out of the way.

All great builders build better than they know. Some realize in part, but others not at all, that they are instruments of Deity, used for carving out his sublime and beneficent purposes.

Source: Elder Orson F. Whitney
General Conference, October 1926

Topics: America, Heritage

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