I became alarmed as I reviewed what has happened in our schools under so-called “progressive education.” What about the loss of patriotism, faith in God, and the teachings of character building principles once so much a part of our education? We have all but “forced Americanism out of the classroom to make way for temporary trivialities.” (DeLove.) I remembered President Joseph F. Smith’s warning of the three dangers to the Church from within, viz., the flattery of prominent men sexual impurity, and false educational ideas. (Gospel Doctrine, p. 312.)

Source: Elder Ezra Taft Benson
General Conference, April 1963

Topics: Change; Education

. . . today government has touched our lives so intimately in all their relationships and all these governmental touchings have been so tabbed as political, that we cannot discuss anything relating to our material welfare and existence without laying ourselves liable to the charge that we are talking politics.

Source: President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
Deseret News, “Church Section,” June 16, 1945, p. 4.

Topics: Politics

I have been preaching against Communism for twenty years,” said President Clark, over twenty years ago. “I still warn you against it, and I tell you that we are drifting toward it more rapidly than some of us understand and I tell you that when Communism comes, the ownership of the things which are necessary to feed your families is going to be taken away from us. I tell you freedom of speech will go, freedom of the press will go, and freedom of religion will go.

I have warned you against propaganda and hate. We are in the midst of the greatest exhibition of propaganda that the world has ever seen, and all directed toward one end. Just do not believe all you read.

Source: President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
Conf. Rep., October 3, 1941, p. 16.

Topics: Freedom, Loss of

<       “The plain and simple issue now facing us in America is freedom or slavery....

“Our real enemies,” said President Clark, “are communism and its running mate, socialism....

“And never forget for one moment that communism and socialism are state slavery....

”. . . one thing seems sure, we will not get out of our present difficulties without trouble, serious trouble. Indeed, it may well be that our government and its free institutions will not be preserved except at the price of life and blood....

”. . . the paths we are following, if we move forward thereon, will inevitably lead us to socialism or communism, and these two are as like as two peas in a pod in their ultimate effect upon our liberties....

“We may first observe that communism and socialism—which we shall hereafter group together and dub Statism—cannot live with Christianity nor with any religion that postulates a Creator such as the Declaration of Independence recognizes. The slaves of Statism must know no power, no authority, no source of blessing, no God, but the State....

“This country faces ahead enough trouble to bring us to our knees in humble honest prayer to God for the help which He alone can give, to save us....

“Do not think that all these usurpations, intimidations, and impositions are being done to us through inadvertency or mistake, the whole course is deliberately planned and carried out; its purpose is to destroy the Constitution and our Constitutional government....

“We have largely lost the conflict so far waged. But there is time to win the final victory, if we can sense our danger, and fight.” (Deseret News, “Church Section,” Sept. 25, 1949, pp. 2, 15.)

Thus spoke the ever forthright and courageous President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.

Source: Elder Ezra Taft Benson
General Conference, April 1963

Topics: Communism; Freedom, Loss of

It is significant that 118 years ago this month the Prophet Joseph Smith, after attending lectures on socialism, made this official entry in church history: “I said I did not believe the doctrine.” (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 33.)

No true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a communist or support programs leading in that direction. These evil philosophies are incompatible with Mormonism, the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Source: Elder Ezra Taft Benson
General Conference, October 1961

Topics: Socialism

[W]e should accept the command of the Lord and treat socialistic communism as the tool of Satan. We should follow the counsel of the President of the Church and resist the influence and policies of the socialist-communist conspiracy wherever they are found—in the schools, in the churches, in governments, in unions, in businesses, in agriculture.

Source: Elder Ezra Taft Benson
General Conference, October 1961

Topics: Communism; Socialism

[W]e should help those who have been deceived or who are misinformed to find the truth. Unless each person who knows the truth will “stand up and speak up” it is difficult for the deceived or confused citizen to find his way back.

Source: Elder Ezra Taft Benson
General Conference, October 1961

Topics: Responsibility

[W]e should not make the mistake of calling people “communist” just because they happen to be helping the communist cause. Thousands of patriotic Americans, including a few Latter-day Saints, have helped the communists without realizing it. Others have knowingly helped without joining the party. The remedy is to avoid name-calling, but point out clearly and persuasively how they are helping the communists.

Source: Elder Ezra Taft Benson
General Conference, October 1961

Topics: Education; Responsibility

[E]ach member of the priesthood should set his own house in order. This should include:

1. Regular family prayer, remembering especially our government leaders.

2. Getting out of debt.

3. Seeing that each member of the family understands the importance of keeping the commandments.

4. Seeing that the truth is shared with members of the family, with neighbors, and with associates.

5. Seeing that each member is performing his duties in the priesthood, in the auxiliary organizations, in the temple, and in the civic life of the community.

6. Seeing that every wage earner in the home is a full tithepayer and fulfilling other obligations in financial support of the kingdom.

7. Providing a one-year supply of essentials.

In doing these things a member of the Church is not only making himself an opponent of the adversary, but a proponent of the Lord.

Source: Elder Ezra Taft Benson
General Conference, October 1961

Topics: Responsibility

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