Let Us Possess Ourselves In Patience

Now, let us take to heart the lessons of this morning, brethren and sisters. Do not, during this coming campaign,—I allude to it just simply in that way; I do not want to talk politics, or to have it said I have been talking politics—but in this coming campaign possess yourselves in patience, and do not abuse or misrepresent any other person or party. You have no right to do it. I do not care how strong a partisan you may be on your own side, you have no right to misrepresent the other. You have no right to lie about it or about them. You have no right to commit any kind of injustice. Tell the truth as you understand it before the Lord, but not the whole truth, if that truth includes abusing the other party. Do not misrepresent what other people believe, and say a certain party believes this. Do not do that. Tell them what you believe, if you want to tell them what you understand; make clear and plain the truth as it appears to you, and do not find fault with and abuse or misrepresent others, either parties or persons. Is that politics? Call it what you like, it is the truth, it is the gospel.

Source: President Charles W. Penrose
General Conference, October 1920

Topics: Politics

The Church in all the Affairs of Life

Only the other day I was asked, in the course of conversation with an intelligent gentleman, not a member of our Church: “Is the ‘Mormon’ Church in politics?”

I answered him: “Most assuredly it is in politics, and also in business, in statesmanship, in all the affairs of life, teaching the people to do what is right so far as it possibly can.”

“Well, has the Church any candidates in the pending election?”

“Yes, indeed,” said I, “the Church has a full ticket, and is counseling its members just how to vote.”

Now, let me tell you just how you should vote, just as I told him. The Church is telling its members to look upon the franchise as a sacred gift, to exercise it according to their very best judgment before the Lord, and the Church’s ticket is the ticket of the best men, according to the best judgment of the people, to whichever party they belong. Vote the party ticket if you honestly feel that to be best, or vote for the men you think will most effectively subserve the needs of country, state, and people.

Source: Elder James E. Talmage
General Conference, October 1920

Topics: Voting

Our Religion Makes For Honesty And Tolerance

You have your agency and you know that you are free; therefore do not offend the Lord, by going contrary to what you believe, honestly and after thought and prayer, to be right. But above all, do not say that because your brother does not see things just as you do in the political field, he necessarily is wrong. I was very much touched by the president’s words—that he was pained at the evidence that had come to view, that some brethren condemn their fellows because these do not look on things as those of the first class do in matters political. Our religion should purify our politics, and make us honest, tolerant, and bold, to do that which is required of citizens, and to exercise our rights at the polls. Our religion should make us honest in business, truthful in all our doings. To be so is to be in line with the keeping of the commandments of the Lord.

Source: Elder James E. Talmage
General Conference, October 1920

Topics: Politics

In our stake, when I see men that become excited over politics, I have said that they are like some patients that I have had—when the fever gets to 105, I look for them to be delirious, and I pull out my thermometer and test their temperature. When it is 105 they ofttimes say things that they do not know that they are saying. So when I meet a brother who is radical and talking upon the street too loud, I reach for my thermometer, and if his political temperature is 105, I say, “Brother, you are delirious, you ought to go home for fear that somebody else will catch the contagion.”

Source: Elder Thomas D. Rees
General Conference, October 1920

Topics: Politics

When you stop to think about it, you must conclude that this Church has been right throughout its whole history upon all of the important moral questions that have affected our welfare. In the nature of things there is not within the United States a people more patriotic than the Latter-day Saints. I know of no sect that assumes the position that the constitution of the United States was written as it were by the very finger of God. Surely that belief is an inspiration to the highest patriotism. You remember reading in the history of the Church that this people were accused in Missouri of being opposed to slavery. In that slave-holding state such an attitude became one of the reasons of our persecution and drivings. You remember that the first message that flashed across the completed telegraph line from here to the Atlantic ocean was a message of congratulation from Brigham Young to Abraham Lincoln that the Union was preserved or was in the way of preservation.

Source: President Heber J. Grant
General Conference, April 1920

Topics: Civil War; Heavenly Interest in Human Events; Morality

The world today socially and politically is rocking. It is sitting upon a volcano. God only knows what tomorrow will bring forth. And why is there so much unrest and instability all over the world? Why is every man’s hand raised against his neighbor? Why has the world with the two thoughts “money and fun” turned the world into a fool’s paradise? The answer to these questions, is found in a very short sentence:—The world has lost faith in God. With the loss of faith, it lost the sense of moral obligation.

Source: Elder Nephi Jensen
General Conference, April 1920

Topics: Morality

Although there are some uplifting exceptions, in most areas of the mass media there seems to be a declaration of war against almost everything the majority treasures most: the family, religion, and patriotism.

Source: Elder Joe J. Christensen
General Conference, October 1993

Topics: Character; Mass Media

Among the other values children should be taught are respect for others, beginning with the child’s own parents and family; respect for the symbols of faith and patriotic beliefs of others; respect for law and order; respect for the property of others; respect for authority. Paul reminds us that children should “learn first to shew piety at home” (1 Timothy 5:4).

Source: Elder James E. Faust
General Conference, October 1990

Topics: Education

Love the country in which you live. Be a good citizen. Be patriotic. Fly your country’s flag on special holidays. Pray for your country’s leaders.

Source: President Ezra Taft Benson
General Conference, April 1989

Topics: Citizenship

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