An LDS Perspective on Secret Combinations
"No greater immediate responsibility
rests upon members of the Church, upon all citizens of this Republic
and of neighboring
Republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution
of the United States."
-President David O. McKay
Doctrine & Covenants 101:80 "And for this purpose
have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands
of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the
land by the shedding of blood."
"To me, my brethren and sisters, that statement of the Lord, "I
have established the Constitution of this land," puts the Constitution
of the United States in the position in which it would be if it were written
in this book of D&C itself. This makes the Constitution the word
of the Lord to us. That it was given, not by oral utterance, but by
the operation
of his mind and spirit upon the minds of men, inspiring them to the
working out of this great document of human government, does not alter
its authority."
- President J. Reuben Clark, Jr
General Conference, April 1935
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints regards the constitution
of our country as given by our Founding Fathers as scripture. It is the word
of God, given to wise men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. An ancient
prophet of God that lived in the Americas by the name of Moroni, saw our
day and penned these prophetic words concerning America.
Ether 8
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come
among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because
of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it [combinations
overthrowing our freedoms], because of the blood of them who have been
slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon
those who built it up.
25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow
the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to
pass the
destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is
the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first
parents, yea, even
that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning;
who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets,
and
stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.
26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil
may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no
power upon
the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to
do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness
and
be saved.
A modern day prophet has said:
“I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding
in every segment of our society. It is more highly organized, more cleverly
disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations
lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination
that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries
is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire
world.
I testify that the church and kingdom of God is increasing
in strength. Its numbers are growing, as is the faithfulness of its faithful
members. It has never been better organized or equipped to perform its
divine mission.
I testify that as the forces of evil increase under
Lucifer’s leadership and as the forces of good increase under the
leadership of Jesus Christ, there will be growing battles between the two
until the final confrontation. As the issues become clearer and more obvious,
all mankind will eventually be required to align themselves either for
the kingdom of God or for the kingdom of the devil. As these conflicts
rage, either secretly or openly, the righteous will be tested. God’s
wrath will soon shake the nations of the earth and will be poured out on
the wicked without measure. But God will provide strength for the righteous
and the means of escape; and eventually and finally truth will triumph.”
Ezra Taft Benson, “I Testify,” Ensign, Nov.
1988, 86
LDS people regard this land of America as a choice land set aside by the
Lord for the restoration of the gospel and establishment of a latter-day
Zion that will welcome the Lord when he returns. All influences seeking to
take away the agency, or freedom of choice, of man are satanic influences
that seek to enslave us and prevent us from having the opportunity to worship
God according to our own conscience. This nation was founded upon Christian
principles and it is only through the divine protection of the Lord that
we are protected. When we completely turn away from God or allow our leaders
to be bullied into erradicating God from our society, we will lose that protection.
Again, the ancient American prophet Moroni stated in the Book of Mormon:
(Ether 2:9-12.)
9 And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that
it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall
serve
God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall
come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when
they are
ripened in iniquity.
10 For behold, this is a land which is choice above
all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall
be swept
off; for it is
the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity
among the children of the land, that they are swept off.
11 And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye
may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue
in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the
fulness of the
wrath of
God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.
12 Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation
shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from
all other
nations
under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is
Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have
written.
So how do we save our country? We keep God in it for starters. Every time
a school board cancels prayer and every time a monument is removed is one
less reminder to the source of all our blessings and freedom.
Make your voice heard. Study and learn
about the constitution and vote for it every time whether that candidate
is a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Constitution Party candidate.
Why can't we elect more courageous people from Utah that would follow the constitution better? What an indictment on Utahns.
One of the most motivating talks I have ever read is by Ezra
Taft Benson titled "Actively Engaged". In this talk
you can read about the many lies Satan uses to convince you that you don't
have the time or power to affect change in society. They are lies and you
do have power to bring about many great things. Here's a few excerpts from
the talk:
"The devil knows that if the elders
of Israel should ever wake up, they could step forth and help preserve
freedom and extend the gospel.
Therefore the devil has concentrated, and to a large extent successfully,
in neutralizing much of the priesthood. He has reduced them to sleeping
giants."
"And now as to the last neutralizer that the devil uses most
effectively-it is simply this: "Don't do anything in the fight for
freedom until the Church sets up its own specific program to save the
Constitution." This brings us right back to the scripture I opened
with today-to those slothful servants who will not do anything until
they are "compelled in all things." Maybe the Lord will
never set up a specific church program for the purpose of saving
the Constitution.
Perhaps if he set one up at this time it might split the Church asunder,
and perhaps he does not want that to happen yet for not all the wheat
and tares are fully
ripe."
"Brethren, if we had done our homework
and were faithful, we could step forward at this time and help
save this country. The fact
that most of us are unprepared to do it is an indictment we will
have to bear. The longer we wait, the heavier the chains, the deeper the
blood,
the more the persecution and the less we can carry out our God-given
mandate and world-wide mission. The war in heaven is raging on earth
today. Are
you being neutralized in the battle?"
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