This is an excerpt from a talk given 34 years ago by Ezra Taft Benson, A General Authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He later became the President of the Church. It could have been given today for its appropriate applications. It resonates with our day and time perfectly.
It can be found in its entirety here. http://tinyurl.com/8o952uv
This photo was taken of Governor Romney just
moments before speaking to a large group
on the campaign trail this week.
Mitt was not aware that this picture was being taken by a staff member and perhaps the scared moment should have been kept private. However, it says a lot about the humility and the goodness of this man. He no doubt prays often to bring this country back to the principles upon which it was founded. He wants us to once again be one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. I am very weary of people that want you and me to believe that seeking after good and righteous leadership is somehow politically incorrect.
Here's that excerpt from the President Benson.
"...As righteousness will increase, so will evil. We see
evidences of this all about us. It sometimes causes members of the
Church to despair. We may be assured, however, that the Lord will take
care of this in His own time and in His own way. Hear His decree:
“I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked. …
“I
have sworn in my wrath, and decreed wars upon the face of the earth,
and the wicked shall slay the wicked, and fear shall come upon every
man;
“And the saints also shall hardly escape;
nevertheless, I, the Lord, am with them, and will come down in heaven
from the presence of my Father and consume the wicked with unquenchable
fire.” (DC 63:32–34; italics added.)
“We
may not be too far from the day prophesied by Heber C. Kimball,
grandfather of President Spencer W. Kimball and member of the First
Presidency. He said:
“The
Saints will be put to tests that will try the integrity of the best of
them. The pressure will become so great that the more righteous among
them will cry unto the Lord day and night until deliverance comes.”
(“Prophecy of Heber C. Kimball,” Deseret News, Church Section, May 23, 1931, p. 3.)
But remember the Lord has said in modern revelation, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” (DC 38:30.) Are we prepared? God help us to be so for the tests of the days ahead.
With
these prophetic warnings and assurances before us and evidences of evil
increasing, Church members are asking: “Why is not the Church doing
more to expose the evils of our society?” “Is there a great conspiracy?”
“What can I do to fight false philosophies which have crept into our
school systems and society in general?” “With the precarious political
and economic conditions, should I prepare my sons and daughters for
college and future careers?” “Is the Church (Of Jesus Christ) the only answer to the
problems about us, or are there other things we should be doing?”
It
is easy to despair when we see about us the moorings of society
slipping. We must remember, however, that the Lord sent His Saints into
the world “to be a light unto the world, and to be the saviors of men.” (DC 103:9.) This is a time when “Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments.” (DC 82:14)
The contrast between the Church and the world will be increasingly
marked in the future, which contrast, we hope, will cause the Church to
be more attractive to those in the world who desire to live according to
God’s plan for us, His children.
The Church will always stand for that which is honest, virtuous, true and praiseworthy. Such a pronounced stand for righteousness constitutes a repudiation against
every evil and all false philosophies. The First Presidency and the
Twelve are not oblivious to false philosophies and evils and will
continue to warn the world and the Saints as the Lord directs.
Yes,
there is a conspiracy of evil. The source of it all is Satan and his
hosts. He has a great power over men to “lead them captive at his will,
even as many as would not hearken” to the voice of the Lord. (Moses 4:4.)
His evil influence may be manifest through governments; through false
educational, political, economic, religious, and social philosophies;
through secret societies and organizations; and through myriads of other
forms. His power and influence are so great that, if possible, he would
deceive the very elect. As the second coming of the Lord approaches,
Satan’s work will intensify through numerous insidious deceptions.
Parents
also need to take a stand for all that is honest, virtuous, and
praiseworthy. It is the responsibility of heads of families to support
wholesome influences for their children in government, schools, in the
home, in the neighborhoods, in stores, in local theaters. Parents have
responsibility to see that freedom is preserved for their children, and
that the present generation does not burden future generations with debt
and wasteful extravagance. The gospel, the kingdom of God, can prosper
only in an atmosphere of freedom.
Every adult has responsibility in
selecting government leadership, for as the Lord has said, “I, the Lord
God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; … Nevertheless, when
the wicked rule the people mourn. Wherefore, honest men and wise men
should be sought for diligently.” (DC 98:8–10.)
There
is an urgent need for the development of a more firm and virtuous
influence in the public affairs of each community, each state or
province, and nations as a whole. A force for positive good is needed in
every facet of public life. Too
many heads of families are not involving themselves in the affairs of
their communities on the ground that they have not received specific
instructions from Church leaders.
The Lord, however, has declared:
“It
is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is
compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant. …
“Men
should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of
their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
“For the power is in them. … And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.” (DC 58:26–28.)
Joseph Smith,
the prophet of this dispensation, declared: “It is our duty to
concentrate all our influence to make popular that which is sound and
good and unpopular that which is unsound.” (History of the Church, 5:286.)
We
must ask ourselves: Are we doing all we can to actively participate in
the preservation of our freedom in building an influence for positive
good and resisting the flood of evil which threatens to inundate the
whole human family?
A
major responsibility of family heads is to help prepare youth for the
future. Gospel principles may be instilled through effective family home
evenings where youth will be fortified so that they have no need to
fear for their future. Such teaching must be done in faith, testimony,
and optimism.
The
Church’s mission is to declare the gospel of the kingdom to all the
world, to redeem our kindred dead, and to perfect the Saints of the
Church—a positive approach. Never in the history of the Church has there
been such an expenditure of time, planning, and resources to accomplish
this mission. In the final analysis, this effort (To Come Unto Christ) is the only solution to the problems of the world.
When
Jesus stood before Pilate, the Roman governor asked him whether or not
He was a king. It was a political question. The Savior replied: “My
kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36.)
His answer is apropos today: The work of His kingdom is preeminently
spiritual. The economic, political, and social problems facing this
nation, as well as other nations, will be solved only with the help of
God. The
days ahead will be sobering and will test the faith of the Saints. But
we may obtain strength from the Lord’s assurances found in modern
revelation. I quote:
“He
will preserve the righteous by his power. … Wherefore, the righteous
need not fear; … they shall be saved, even if it so be … by fire.” (1 Ne. 22:17.)
“I will fight your battles.” (DC 105:14.) “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;
… This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.” (3 Ne. 22:17.)
“Great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve.” (Moses 7:61; italics added.)
The
kingdom of God will not fail; it shall not be destroyed; it will not be
left to other people; it will stand forever until “the kingdoms of this
world [will] become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ.” (Rev. 11:15.)
Hear the prophecy of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
“No
unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may
rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the
truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has
penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country,
and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be
accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (HC, 4:540.)
Christian
denominations the world over have prayed for centuries for the kingdom
of God to come. We earnestly and publicly declare: that day is now here!
To
Latter-day Saints the world over, we say: Let not your hearts be
troubled. Keep the commandments of God. Follow the counsel of his living
prophet, taking care not to exceed the counsel with your own private
views. Teach your children to walk uprightly before the Lord. Pray in
your homes morning and evening. Pray for civil magistrates and leaders
even when you do not agree with them. Pray for the leaders of the
Church. Pray, as you have been counseled, that the doors of nations of
the world will be opened to the preaching of the gospel. Obey the laws
of your country; rebel not against civil authority. Do your duty as
citizens. “Do not yield to the bad, but always oppose it with good.”
(Virgil.)
To all who have allegiance to the kingdom of God, we say: “Seek ye … first the kingdom of God.” (Matt. 6:33.)
“Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the
nations; And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon
her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and
from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole
earth.” (DC 115:5–6.)
Yes,
“Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that
the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to
come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in
the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up
on the earth.
“Wherefore, may the kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come.” (DC 65:5–6.)..."
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I am pretty tired of all the lying, the cover-ups, the secrecy, the corruption and hidden self-serving agendas. I want our country to be better. I am voting for a righteous vision of where we should be headed. I am excited about the chance to help get a good man in office for some positive changes.
This is THAT man.
Mitt Romney will be stepping up...
November 6, 2012
Jen's pumpkin art
