The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(7/7/97)
For centuries our forefathers suffered and sacrificed that we
might be the recipients of the blessings of freedom. If they were willing to
sacrifice so much to establish us as a free people, should we not be willing to
do the same to maintain that freedom for ourselves and for future generations? -
President Ezra Taft Benson (October 1987)
(7/8/97)
To the Membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, the Constitution of the United States is as a tree of liberty under
whose cooling branches one might find a haven from the scorching sun of turmoil
and oppression and have his rights protected according to just and holy
principles. To them, the Constitution was established by the hands of wise men
whom God raised up for this very purpose, and they devoutly believe that if it
should be in danger of being overthrown, their lives, if need be, are to be
offered in defense of its principles. - Harold B. Lee (Ye Are the Light of the
World 1974)
(7/9/97)
Our freedom to choose our course of conduct does not provide
personal freedom from the consequences of our performances. - Elder Marvin J.
Ashton, General Conference, October 1990
(7/10/97)
Satan is an enemy to man and seeks to destroy his freedom and
his obedience to the Lord and to keep man from developing his divine nature and
godliness. Satan is the author of evil, sin, and wickedness, and we should not
by our thoughts or acts love or serve him. - Elder Bernard P. Brockbank, General
Conference, April 1971
(7/11/97)
Are we not now seeing in our society today the lack of a
responsiveness to teach these basic values? Are we not seeing a growing harvest
of public and private crime, irresponsibility, vandalism, shoddy work,
immorality and the lack of personal discipline? Because of our unwillingness to
get involved in the preservation of these values, small, radical, Godless groups
are literally stealing from us our rights to enjoy the freedom to choose our own
value system. - Elder L. Tom Perry, General Conference, April 1976
(7/12/97)
I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied
by Joseph Smith. But it will not be saved in Washington. It will be saved by the
citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by
enlightened members of this Church-men and women who will subscribe to and abide
by the principles of the Constitution. - Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, BYU Speeches,
16 September 1986
(7/1/98)
"All of us should ever keep in mind that there are some eternal
principles more precious than peace, dearer than life itself. Our
revolutionary fathers sensed this, and their innermost feelings were expressed
in the words of Patrick Henry: 'Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be
purchased at the price of chains and slavery?' Free agency, for example,
is a divine gift, more precious than peace, more to be desired even than
life. Any nation, any organized group of individuals that would deprive
man of this heritage should be denounced by all liberty-loving persons."—David O. McKay, General Conference, October 1951
(7/2/98)
"The only way we can keep our freedom is to work at it. Not some
of us. All of us. Not some of the time, but all of the time. So if
you value your citizenship and want to keep it for yourself and your children
and their children, give it your faith, your belief, and give it your active
support in civic affairs."—Spencer W.
Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 405
(7/3/98)
"May I cite two oft-quoted scriptures, and put some added emphasis on
them: 'Verily, I say men should be anxiously engaged in a good
cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness
(D&C 58:27, emphasis added).' Another: 'Wherefore, honest men and wise
men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe
to uphold....' (D&C 98:10) I infer from this that we have an obligation
to be active in public issues, in civic problems, and to provide honest and good
men and wise men to serve and give leadership on public affairs. We
shouldn't be sideline sitters."—Elder
Richard L. Evans, Conference Report, October 1968, p. 44
(7/4/98)
"Human liberty is the mainspring of human progress. The one great
revolution in the world is the revolution for human liberty. This was the
paramount issue in the great council in heaven before this earth life. It
has been the issue throughout the ages. It is the issue today...."—Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report,
October 1962, p. 14
(7/5/98)
"We have no right to expect a higher degree of morality from those who
represent us than what we ourselves are. In the final analysis, people
generally get the kind of government they deserve."—Ezra
Taft Benson, The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner, p. 28
(7/3/04)
"Samuel Adams, who is sometimes called the father of the American
Revolution, wrote: 'I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent
and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It
depends upon her virtue.' (Wells, The Life of Samuel Adams, 3:175.)" - M.
Russell Ballard, "Religion
in a Free Society," Ensign, October 1992, p. 68
(8/11/04)
"I think it is time we should all awaken. Our concern isn't about the
flames of freedom which burn so brightly in our generation; the concern is that
in the upcoming generation the fire has never been kindled. Our youth have never
known anything but criticism of the United States of America. We need some
faithful, free-loving patriots who will issue forth a clear, loud trumpet call.
Remember Paul's counsel: 'For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall
prepare... to the battle?' (1
Cor. 14:8.) Freedom ought to ring in the heart of every Latter-day Saint
regardless of his country." - Vaughn J. Featherstone, "But
Watchman, What of the Night?" Ensign, November 1975, p. 8
(8/12/04)
"Latter-day Saints, of all people, should stand firm in defense of freedom.
Free agency has a special meaning to us. We know that without free agency there
would be no progress. We all know that the gospel itself is based upon the
principle of free agency. Yet there are some among us who have allowed
themselves to slip to one side or the other, and they need to reorient
themselves in line with the divine revelations we have received concerning the
principle of freedom." - Mark E. Petersen, "Conference Report,"
April 1946, Afternoon Meeting, p. 168
(7/4/05)
"That means it depends on us. If we would
maintain the independence and freedom the Founding Fathers intended, we must
work to preserve and protect the moral foundation upon which they built the U.
S. government. We must stand boldly for righteousness and truth, and must defend
the cause of honor, decency, and personal freedom espoused by Washington,
Madison, Adams, Lincoln, and other leaders who acknowledged and loved God.
Otherwise, we will find ourselves in the same predicament President Lincoln
observed in 1863.
"Said Lincoln:'We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has
ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which
preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we
have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these
blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of their own.
Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel
the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God
that made us!' (A Proclamation 'to designate and set apart a day for national
prayer and humiliation.')" - M. Russell Ballard, "Religion
in a Free Society," Ensign, Oct. 1992, 68–69
7/3/08
"The
history of the people of ancient America, recorded in the Book of Mormon,
teaches that civilizations are built on moral foundations; that when people are
morally strong, they do well; that when they are morally weak, they suffer. It
teaches us that freedom cannot outlive morality and that freedom is not free—it
must be earned."
- Royden G. Derrick, "Moral Values and Rewards," Ensign (CR), May 1981, p.66