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Show Page 4 April 14, 1972 The UTAH INDEPENDENT of Elder Ezra Taft Benson (The following article consists of excerpts from an address of Elder Ezra Taft Benson at the general conference of the LDS Church in the Salt Lake Tabernacle Apr. 6, 1972. Elder Benson is a member of the Council of the Twelve.) We fathers of this republic . . . God raised up these patriotic partners to perform their mission, and He called them wise men. (D&C 101:80) The First Presidency wisdom Elder Ezra Taft Benson of the when they gave us the guideline a few years ago of supporting candidates "who are truly dedicated to the Constitution in the tradition of our Founding Council of the Twelve of the LDS Church outlined standards Fathers. 4:34) ( Deseret News, 11264) That tradition has been well summarized in the book The American Tradition by understand, better than most of us, our own scripture which states that, it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority trust in man or his arm. (2 Nephi maketh flesh putteth his President J. Reuben Clark put it well when he said: God provided that in this land Clarence Carson . . . Our wise founders seemed to . . . without adding the proviso so far as he serves the Republic takes an attitude as essentially unmanly as that of any Stuart royalist who championed the doctrine that the King could do and no wrong. No intelligent free man could take ( Works such an attitude. 11:321) To vote for wicked men, it would be sin, said Hyrum Smith. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church 6:323) And the Prophet Joseph Smith said, let the people of the whole Union, like the inflexible Romans, self-respecti- ng honor our founding acknowledged that stand by the President they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. (D&C 121:39) To help prevent this the founders knew that our elected leaders should be bound by certain fixed principles. Said Thomas Jefferson: In questions of power then, let no more be heard of confidence in man hut bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution. (Thomas Jefferson, Works 9:471) These wise founders, our patriotic partner s, seemed to appreciate more than most of us, the blessings of the boundaries which the Lord set within the Constitution, for He said, and as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this cometh of evil. (D&C 98:7) In God the founders trusted and in His constitution not in the arm of flesh. 0 Lord, said Nephi, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh . . . cursed is he that whenever they find a promise made by a candidate that is not practiced as an officer, hurl the miserable sycophant from his exaltation . . . ( History 6:207) Joseph and Hyrums trust did not run to the arm of flesh but to God and correct principles. I am the greatest advocate of the Constitution of the United States there is on the earth, of liberty, our political allegiance shall run not to individuals, that is, to said the Prophet Joseph. government officials, no matter how great or how small they may be. Under His plan our allegiance and the only allegiance we owe as citizens or denizens of the United States, runs to our inspired Constitution which God Himself set up. So runs the oath of office of those who participate in government. A certain loyalty we do owe to the office which a man holds, but even here we owe, just by reason of our citizenship, no loyalty to the man himself. In other countries it is to the individual that allegiance runs. This principle of allegiance to the Constitution is basic to our freedom. It is one of the great distinguishes principles that this " land of liberty from other countries. (J. Reuben Clark in Improvement Era 43:444 July (History 6:56) The warning of President Joseph Fielding Smith is most timely: Now I tell you it is time, the people of the United States were up with waking the understanding that if they don't save the Constitution from the dangers that threaten it, we will have a change of government. (Conference Report, Apr. 1950, p. 159) Another guideline given by the First Presidency was, to support good and conscientious candidates, of either party, who are aware of the great dangers inherent in Communism. (Deseret News, . . . 11264) Some of the fine books by LDS authors attempting to awaken and inform us of our duty are Prophets, Principles and National Survival, Many Are 19401 ) Patriotism, said Theodore Roosevelt, means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President or any other public official save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. (Theodore Roosevelt, Works, Memorial Edition, 11:316) Every man, said President Roosevelt, who parrots the cry Called But Few Are Chosen, and The Elders of Israel and the overthrow the freedom of the people. And they have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, says Moroni, and also the destruction of the people of (Ether 8:21) Now Nephi. undoubtedly Moroni could have pointed out many factors that led to the destruction of the people, but notice how he than we have yet known. (Conference Report, Apr. 1844, p. 116) . . . Said Brigham Young: am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him . . . Let every man and woman know, by the whisperings of the I spirit of singled out the secret is God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking no combinations . . . There conspiracy theory in the Book in the path the Lord dictates or it is a conspiracy not. (Journal of Discourses of Mormon 9:149-50- ) fact. And along this line I would A number of years ago, highly recommend to you the book None Dare Call It because of a statement which appeared to represent the policy Conspiracy by Gary Allen. Then Moroni speaks to us in of the Church, a faithful this day and says, Wherefore, member feared he was the Lord commandeth you, supporting the wrong candidate when ye shall see these things for public office. Humble, he come among you that ye shall took the matter up with the awake to a sense of your awful Lord. Through the Spirit of the situation, because of this secret Lord, he gained the conviction combination which shall be of the course he should follow and he dropped his support of among you. (Ether 8:24) The Book of Mormon warns this particular candidate . . . We live in an age of deceit. that, whatsoever nation shall such secret Oh my people, said Isaiah in combinations, to get power and the Book of Mormon, they gain, until they shall spread over who lead thee cause thee to err the nation, behold they shall be and destroy the ways of thy paths. (2 Nephi 13:12) Even destroyed. (Ether 8:22) That scripture should alert us within the Church we have been to whats ahead unless we warned that the ravening wolves are amongst us, from our repent . . . Now we are assured that the own membership, and they, Church will remain on the earth more than any others, are until the Lord comes again clothed in sheeps clothing, but at what price? The Saints in because they wear the the early days were assured that habiliments of the priesthood. Zion would be established in (J. Reuben Clark Jr. in Jackson County, but look what Conference Report, Apr. 1949, their unfaithfulness cost them in p. 163) bloodshed and delay. . . . Four great civic standards President Clark warned us, for the faithful Saints are first, that we stand in danger of the Constitution ordained by losing our liberties, and that God through wise men; second, once lost,' only blood will bring the scriptures, particularly the them back; and once lost, we of Book of Mormon; third, the this Church will, in order to inspired counsel of the prophets, keep the Church going forward, especially the living president; have more sacrifices to make and and fourth, the guidance of the more persecutions to endure Holy Spirit. uphold Constitution. The greatest handbook for freedom in this fight against Communism is the Book of Support Mormon . . . This most correct book on earth states that the downfall of two great American civilizations came as a result of secret conspiracies whose desire was to Our k'k'kirk A it it it tefc A UTAH FORUM for the AMERICAS IDEA presents JV1 IM el OCannp Sat., April 22 speaking on The Power Behind Chavez and Chicanoism - Sat., May 13 ALAN STANG speaking on Our Schools Under Assault" Granite Park Junior High. 450 E. 3700 South - Salt Lake City, Utah Time: 8:00 p.m. Each ticket good for any single lecture. Adults $2.00 at the door, Series $5.00 Students $1.50 at the door, series $4.00 A A A A A A AAAA A A I I 1I I I I I I I I I I I I L I I J |