HERE IS MY PREMISE IN THIS ENTIRE BLOG:
Next to being one in worshiping God, there is nothing in this world in which this Church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the Unite States. If members of the Melchizedek Priesthood allow the U.S. Constitution to be destroyed, they not only forfeit their rights to the Priesthood, but to a place in this highest degree of glory as well.
(David O. McKay,The Instructor, Feb. 1956, p.34)
And a secondary premise is that the reason LDS people are not united is that the prophecies have come true that warn that in the last days, even some of the very elect will be deceived into aiding Satan in his plan to enslave us and lead us to destruction.
So, would you agree that there is great division in the Church in political matters? Why aren't we united in promoting Gospel living, and in electing the kind of leaders who will protect that freedom that is essential for our happiness, and for the continuation of the Gospel itself?
This is dangerous. Because without political, religious and economic freedom, God's plans cannot go forward, and our salvation is in jeopardy because we must have free agency to chose good or evil. That is why America was chosen and protected by the Lord to be the base of His operations in these latter days.
"I speak today as an American citizen who believes as he believes in Deity, that God inspired the framing of our Constitution and the setting up of our form of government thereunder,-an American citizen who believes that the preservation of this government under our Constitution as it now stands is necessary that liberty and free political and religious institutions may not disappear from the earth."
"I speak today as an American citizen who believes as he believes in Deity, that God inspired the framing of our Constitution and the setting up of our form of government thereunder,-an American citizen who believes that the preservation of this government under our Constitution as it now stands is necessary that liberty and free political and religious institutions may not disappear from the earth."
President J. Reuben Clark, Jr
General Conference, October 1939
General Conference, October 1939
WE ARE COMMANDED TO BE INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS
Virtually every prophet had told the Saints to be involved. We must vote for wise and able leaders, and make them support wise and good ideas, while they oppose unwise and destructive ideas. We are accountable to the Lord for our political activities. (See D&C Section 134)
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SOME LATTER-DAY SAINTS ARE SUPPORTING LEGISLATION, CANDIDATES, AND IDEAS THAT ARE DESTRUCTIVE TO FREEDOM, COME FROM EVIL?
This is because many of us are deceived. We are deceived because we have lost sight of the eternal principles God has given us to be able to discern good from evil. We have been warned about some deceptive philosophies:
We again warn our people in America of the constantly increasing threat against our inspired Constitution and our free institutions set up under it. The same political tenets and philosophies that have brought war and terror in other parts of the world are at work amongst us in America. The proponents thereof are seeking to undermine our own form of government and to set up instead one of the forms of dictatorships now flourishing in other lands. These revolutionists are using a technique that is as old as the human race,--a fervid but false solicitude for the unfortunate over Whom they thus gain mastery, and then enslave them...... Latter-day Saints cannot be true to their faith and lend aid, encouragement, or sympathy to any of these false philosophies. They will prove snares to their feet.
President J. Reuben Clark, Jr
General Conference, April 1942
General Conference, April 1942
What are these dangerous and false philosophies we are warned about? We must understand and be able to recognize them, for they have been the destruction of great civilizations, both in ancient history, and in the present day.
FREE AGENCY - THE FUNDAMENTAL PREMISE FOR EXALTATION AND FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT - AND A TOOL WHEREBY WE MAY JUDGE LEGISLATION, PROGRAMS, AND PHILOSOPHIES OF THE DAY
Agency, our ability and freedom to choose good from evil, is an essential ingredient of the plan of salvation. It is the most precious gift we receive from Heavenly Father, other than life itself.
