WHEN MORMONS SAVED JEWISH LIVES -- sent by my friend Ari Kaufman

by
Rafael Medoff and Yehudit Even-Haim


            Jewish-Mormon relations are back in the news.



            Mitt Romney is likely to become the Republican nominee for president -- the first Mormon to win the nomination -- and will be actively seeking Jewish votes. Meanwhile, controversy has erupted over several Mormon temples conducting proxy baptisms of Holocaust victims.



            The baptism ceremonies have understandably offended some Jews, and Mormon leaders have ordered its temples to stop doing them. The baptizers believe they are saving the Holocaust victims' souls--but a more important question to consider, especially on the eve of Yom Hashoah, April 19, is what Mormons did to help save Holocaust victims' lives.



            The best known and most influential Mormons in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s were Senators William King and Elbert Thomas, both Democrats from Utah.



            Both men were fervent Christian Zionists. Thomas had visited Jerusalem in 1912. According to his diary, he sat on the Mount of Olives and read from the writings of early Mormon leader Orson Hyde about the Jews: "Consecrate this land for the gathering together of Judah's scattered remnants, for the building up of Jerusalem again after it has been trodden down by the Gentiles so long. Restore the kingdom unto Israel, raise up Jerusalem as its capitol." King, for his part, was one of the founding members of the American Palestine Committee, an organization set up in the 1930s to rally Christian support for Jewish statehood.



            Hitler's persecution of European Jewry moved King and Thomas to action. Sen. King supported the controversial Wagner-Rogers bill of 1939, which would have permitted 20,000 German Jewish children to enter the United States outside the quota system. In 1940, King initiated legislation to open Alaska to Jewish refugees. Both bills were blocked by anti-immigration forces. Typical of the opposition was Laura Delano Houghteling, President Roosevelt's cousin, who remarked at a Washington dinner party that "Twenty thousand charming children would all too soon grow up into twenty thousand ugly adults."



            Sen. Thomas developed close ties to Benzion Netanyahu [father of Israel's prime minister], who in those days was director of the Revisionist Zionists' American division. In an interview (with one of the authors, Rafael Medoff), Prof. Netanyahu recalled how in their first meeting, he began by giving the senator a long account of the origins of Zionism, the Jews' conflict with the British in Palestine, and the persecution of European Jewry. Eventually Thomas cut in: "You've been talking for forty minutes, but you got me after the first ten." Their shared biblical heritage was sufficient for the senator: "Your heroes are my heroes," he told Netanyahu. Thomas subsequently spoke at Revisionist rallies and lent his name to their newspaper ads calling for Jewish statehood.



            Benzion Netanyahu's relationship with one of the most influential Mormons in America in those days is particularly interesting in view of this week's New York Times report about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's previously unknown longtime personal friendship with Mitt Romney, dating back to their work together at the Boston Consulting Group in the 1970s.



            Sen. Thomas was particularly active in the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe, a lobbying group led by future Knesset Member Hillel Kook (using the pseudonym "Peter Bergson"). The Bergson Group, as it was known, sponsored hundreds of newspaper ads criticizing the Allies' refugee policy. Thomas's name appeared on many of those ads, lending their cause power and prestige. He also co-chaired the Bergson Group's 1943 conference on rescue, which challenged the Roosevelt administration's claim that nothing could be done to help the Jews except winning the war. As a loyal Democrat and New Dealer, this was not an easy position for Thomas to take.
            In December 1943, Sen. Thomas played a key role in advancing a Bergson-initiated Congressional resolution calling for creation of a special government agency to rescue Jews from Hitler. At about the same time, aides to Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr. discovered the State Department was suppressing news about the genocide and obstructing opportunities to rescue Jewish refugees. Armed with this information and with congressional pressure mounting, Morgenthau convinced FDR to pre-empt Thomas and the other congressional advocates of rescue by unilaterally creating the War Refugee Board.
            During the final fifteen months of World War II, the Board played a major role in saving some 200,000 Jews. Among other things, it helped finance the life-saving work of Raoul Wallenberg. Sen. Thomas's action in the Senate was an indispensable part of the chain of events that led to Wallenberg's mission.



            The horrors of the Holocaust, combined with his Mormon faith, moved Thomas to intensify his efforts on Capitol Hill for Jewish statehood after 1945. The United States and the international community had a "moral debt" to the Jewish people, Thomas contended. As President Harry Truman wavered on whether to support creation of a Jewish state, Thomas and other members of Congress became an important source of pro-Zionist pressure on the administration.



            When Jewish voters in 2012 assess the future of Mormon-Jewish relations, they will need to take into account not only the Mormons' interest in Jews who died during the Holocaust but also the efforts by some prominent Mormons to help Jews escape from the Holocaust.

So now we're not even allowed to discuss religion in private???

Teaching the Anti-Constitution
By Resa LaRu Kirkland
December 6, 2011

So my youngest son Cody, who is a Senior at Moses Lake High School, is a budding Chef.  He joined the afterschool Culinary Team through SkillsUSA last January, and right off the bat won an alternate spot in the Washington State competition.  He has been winning ever since.  (Take THAT Charlie Sheen.)

This past summer he helped set up and work at the new Chief Academy Cafe, an off-campus student-run cafe (the only one in the nation) where kids learn how to set up a business, deal with local codes and sanitation, order supplies, wait on customers, cook the food and try recipes, etc.  It is a fantastic experience, especially for a young man who has chosen that career path.  On top of that, the Cafe makes a tidy profit for the district.  Yup, it's a bastion of Free Enterprise at work.  Other districts should take note!

The teacher, whom I'll call Mr. F, runs the cafe and teaches the students what they need to know in the restaurant business and the best ways to cook and bake.  Cody loved it so much he signed up for the Cafe for his second hour of class as preparation for his final year on the Culinary Team next semester.  He's even creating a dish with the help of Mr. F for his big Senior Project.

Creating good food but eating their words

Cody has been struggling to set up his schedule for next semester.  He knew he was going to have to cut something, but given his career path, it wasn't going to be the Cafe.

Until today.  He told me he wants to drop it next semester, which isn't a problem.  The reason for the sudden change of heart, however, most  definitely IS.

For the past few days, Cody and a friend, I'll call her "Jane," would talk as they worked about the new campaign within The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that has asked members to create their own profiles on Mormon.org describing themselves and their testimony of the Gospel (mine is linked at the upper left corner of my blog.)  They were talking about funny or touching profiles they'd read and about the ones they had compiled.  Since they are both LDS they were very excited about the new campaign, which features individual stories, pictures, and even television commercials and YouTube videos.  They also covered plans for next year, such as heading to Brigham Young University (BYU), and upcoming Especially For Youth (EFY) classes our church has for teenagers.  You know, shared activities and general LDS things that LDS people chat about when they're together.

There were no problems at all...until today.

Mr. F pulled Cody aside today and informed him that while he respected Cody and the Mormon church, there had been people who had complained that they didn't like Cody talking about his religion. 

So much for all that respect...

Cody was stunned into silence.  It was clear that Mr. F had made up his mind and anything he said would be futile, but he at least tried to explain that the only time anyone else was involved was if THEY approached HIM to ask a question.

"I understand that, but just keep things separate.  If they ask a question that requires background information, ask them to see you after class," Mr. F explained.

Cody sighed, but said respectfully, "Fine."

He spent the rest of the day up front while Jane worked on a project in the back kitchen.

Where do I begin?  Let's start with "the conversation" between two people with a common belief system.

1.  It was a chosen conversation, not forced, and was done while they worked.  This is common when people work together...it helps them get to know each other and creates a good bond necessary for a happy and cohesive working environment.

2.  It involved commonalities between two people, a tried and true staple of the socialization experience.  It is vital in developing humans if they wish to interact among people.  It's also sometimes referred to as "small talk;" that's important because all conversations between strangers start with small talk before trust is established and far deeper conversing can begin.

3.  Anyone with eyes, ears, and an IQ of at least 60 knew this was a private, AB conversation.  The person or persons who chose to eavesdrop knew that they were listening in but that the two involved in said conversation didn't know there was a third party involved.  That person, however, DID KNOW he was involved, something the other two didn't know.  That bit of knowledge means the responsibility for entering or leaving the conversation rested with the third party, who didn't even have the guts to inform the original two of his uninvited conversation crashing.  No, in true Politically Castrated fashion, he then involved a fourth party, Mr. F, who clearly believes that private conversations are now under his jurisdiction.  That is how a simple student chat became a liberal gang bang on both Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion.

4.  Finally, my son has had to listen all semester to Mr. F's nauseating pontificating on Zero population, Equal Rights Amendment, respecting other cultures (liberal code for "what's good for the goose gets the gander beheaded,") the superiority of walking the middle of the road in life, and constantly reminding the students that "I respect your right to believe in whatever you choose to believe in."

Yeah, I know.  I'll wait while you re-assemble your head.  My best time thus far is 6 minutes flat; but then, I got my degree in Education 20 years ago.  Head explosions at the convoluted mess in education is old hat to me now.

Clearly he stays focused on Cafe-related topics!

Chief Academy Cafe will have one less future chef enrolled next semester, which really upset Cody.  It’s a great idea and a successful program, he learned a lot there and enjoyed the opportunity to learn, and the experience has been mostly good...a little grating having to listen to his adviser drone on and on with talking points right out of the Big Red Book of Commie Crap, but then, Cody has had me for a mom.  He knows where to put Commie Crap:  a quick flush and it's the sewer gator's problem.  Ah, who am I kidding?  Not even THEY are dumb enough to swallow it.

Another worthy project that makes money for a school AND teaches students how to work for themselves ruined by hippy fagatronics.  And all because someone not involed in a private conversation between two Mormons couldn't handle the beliefs of two Mormons engaged in a private conversation they weren't involved in.

How's that tolerance thing working out for ya, Miss Eevz Dropper Buttinksi?

So the moral apparently is, if anyone can hear you, YOU'RE invading THEIR privacy.  Welcome to the age of "My beliefs are too delicate to handle overhearing from a distance in hushed tones some other person's beliefs who didn't KNOW I was overhearing from a distance their hushed tones."  Hey, makes about as much sense as what happened to my son at school today.  Get used to it, it's the new Education camp.

Or for short, Political Castration.  Yup, the eunuchs are in charge of your kids now parents.  And you thought pedophiles were dangerous.

Keep the faith, bros, in all things courage, and no substitute for VICTORY.

Prophecy fulfilled...Talk from 1966 was vision of America today

From a BYU Devotional, October 25, 1966.

Our Immediate Responsibility
by Ezra Taft Benson

President Wilkinson, distinguished members of the faculty, members and friends of this great student body, my brothers and sisters. This is a signal honor, a very great pleasure and a challenging responsibility. Humbly and gratefully I stand before you this morning.

Personal Convictions

Because of the nature of the message I bring to you, I have committed most of it to writing. I shall speak to you frankly and honestly. What I shall say are my personal convictions born out of an active life which has taken me into some forty-five nations and brought me close to the insidious forces that would destroy our way of life in this choice land. I express these convictions and warnings today because of my love for you and our beloved country.

A Message of Warning

The message I bring is not a happy one, but it is the truth – and time is always on the side of truth. I take as my theme the words of President David O. McKay, God’s mouthpiece on the earth today, a Prophet of God,

“The position of this church on the subject of communism has never changed. We consider it the greatest satanical threat to peace, prosperity and the spread of God’s work among men that exists on the face of this earth.” (Conference Report, April, 1966, p. 109.)

“No greater immediate responsibility rests upon the 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.” (The Instructor, August, 1953)

In the days of the Prophet Noah, men had no greater immediate responsibility than to repent and board the Ark. Now in our day, the day of the Prophet David O. McKay, he has said that we have no greater immediate responsibility than to protect the freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States.

At the last general conference of the church (October 1966), President McKay, in his opening address, said,

“Efforts are being made to deprive man of his free agency – to steal from the individual his liberty…. There has been an alarming increase in the abandoning of the ideals that constitute the foundation of the Constitution of the United States.”

Toward the close of his talk, our Prophet, quoting Paul’s letter to Timothy regarding the preaching of the word, said,

“There should be no question in the mind of any true latter day saint as to what we shall preach… the gospel plan of salvation.”

Then President McKay lists the areas our preaching should cover and admonishes us to include in our preaching what governments should or should not do in the interests of the preservation of our freedom.

Discourses on Freedom

Do we preach what governments should or should not do as a part of the gospel plan, as President McKay has urged or do we refuse to follow the Prophet by preaching a limited gospel plan of salvation? The fight for freedom cannot be divorced from the gospel – the plan of salvation.

We sing that we are thankful to “God for a Prophet to guide us in these latter days.” By commandment of the Lord we assemble in general conference twice a year to get that guidance from the Lord’s representative. Do we realize that in the last five years prior to October Conference, the Prophet has key noted three of these conferences with an opening discourse on freedom and given nine other addresses in the conferences that touched on freedom?

Do we see any patter here? Can we name any other gospel theme that has received as much emphases from the man who holds the keys as has the theme of freedom?

We do not need a prophet – we have one. What we need is a listening ear, a humble heart, and a soul that is pure enough to follow his inspired guidance.

Now why this consistent voice of warning from the Prophet?

Statistics on Communism

Consider the following: Since World War II the Communists have brought under bondage – enslaved – on the average approximately 6,000 persons per hour, 144,000 per day, 52,000,000 per year – every hour of every day of every year since 1945.

Since 1945 the Communists have murdered in one country alone enough people to wipe out the entire population of over fifteen of our states.

The Enemy Within

The communist threat from without may be serious, but it is the enemy within, warns President McKay, that is most menacing. (Jerreld L. Newquist,Prophets, principles, and National Survival (Salt Lake City, Utah, Publishers Press, 1964), p. 229.)

President McKay has said that he would not deal with a nation that treats another as Russia has treated America. (Newquist, op. cit.) Yet, the tragedy is, that one of the major reasons for the rapid growth of communism is because of the help – yes, the increasing help – which they are receiving from right within our own government.

Today our boys are dying in a war with the Communists, a war which our government has not declared – the largest undeclared war in the history of the world – and one which it is alleged our government has no intention of winning. Yet our government encourages us to buy communist goods and our government continues to give aid to the enemy.

One of the tragic results of prolonging the war in Vietnam in that it weakens our economy and gives excuses for more socialistic controls over our people. Of course within the next few days there may be some dramatic moves made in order to placate and deceive the electorate as there was during the so called Cuban missile crisis. But do not be mislead.

President McKay has said that the Supreme Court is leading this nation down the road to atheism. (Newquist, op. cit., p. 187)  Not only is the court leading this nation down the road to atheism, but in one tragic decision after another they are leading us down the road to communism. One such decision caused Dorthy Healey, Communist spokesman for the West Coast, to rejoice in these words, quote, “This is the greatest victory the Communist party ever had,” unquote. The communists have held victory rallies to honor the Supreme Court and its decisions. The Book of Mormon tells us what corrupt judges can do to freedom.

Communists dedicated to the destruction of our government are allowed to teach at our schools, to hold offices in labor unions, to run for public office. Recently an open and avowed leader of the Communist party in one of our states ran for a county office and received over 87,000 votes.

J. Edgar Hoover Statement

J. Edgar Hoover, the best informed man in government on the Socialist-Communist conspiracy stated:

“We must now face the harsh truth that the objectives of communism are being steadily advanced because many of us do not readily recognize the means used to advance them…. No one who truly understands what it really is can be taken in by it. Yet the individual is handicapped by coming face to face with a conspiracy so monstrous he cannot believe it exists. The American mind simply has not come to a realization of the evil which has been introduced into our midst.” (J. Edgar Hoover, The Elks Magazine, August 1956; quoted in Newquist, op. cit., p. 273.)

President McKay has said that this nation has “traveled far into the soul-destroying land of socialism.” (Deseret News, “Church News,” October 18, 1952, p. 2.) Now if we understand what socialism embraces, then we will realize that this present Congress has passed more socialistic legislation, recommended by a president  than probably any other Congress in the history of our Republic.

At this particular moment in history the United States is definitely threatened and every citizen should know about it. The warning of this hour should resound through the corridors of every American institution – schools, churches, the halls of Congress, press, radio and television, and so far as I am concerned, it will resound – with God’s help.

Ten Aids to Enemies of Freedom

Our Republic and Constitution are being destroyed while the enemies of freedom are being aided. How? In at least ten ways:

1. By diplomatic recognition and aid, trade and negotiations with the Communists.

2. By disarmament of our military defenses.

3. By destruction of our security laws and the promotion of atheism by decisions of the Supreme Court.

4. By loss of sovereignty and solvency through international commitments and membership in world organizations.

5. By undermining of local law enforcement agencies and Congressional investigating committees.

6. By usurpations by the executive and judicial branches of our Federal Government.

7. By lawlessness in the name of civil rights.

8. By a staggering national debt with inflation and a corruption of the currency.

9. By a multiplicity of executive orders and federal programs which greatly weaken local and state governments.

10. By the sacrifice of American manhood by engaging in wars we apparently have no intention of winning.

We should all be grateful for the patriots of both parties who are trying to withstand this tidal wave of collectivism led by “masters of deceit.”

Youth Programs

One regrettable development is the increasing number of government programs embracing our youth. President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., former under-secretary of state, former ambassador, a great constitutional statesman, and counselor to three presidents of the church put it well when he said,

“Our government with its liberty and free institutions will not long survive a government trained and supervised youth…. Such a youth can be a revolutionary machine.” (Deseret News, “Church News, “ June 15, 1940; quoted in Newquist, op. cit., p. 367.)

And let me warn you, if these programs are fully introduced here in our midst, we will suffer the tragic consequences.

Evidences to Alarm Us

Some of these things strike pretty close to home. Communists or communist-fronters have appeared on our three major university campuses in this state. An identified Communist performed in our Mormon tabernacle. Some of our newspapers have carried columnists with communist-front records or who parrot the communist line, and there are many other evidences both in this state and in our country that should alarm us.

So-called Civil Rights Movement

One of the main thrusts of the Communist drive in America today is through the so-called civil rights movement. Now there is nothing wrong with civil rights – it’s what is being done in the name of civil rights that is shocking.

The man who is generally recognized as the leader of the so-called civil rights movement today in America is a man who has lectured at a Communist training school, who has solicited funds through communist sources, who hired a Communist as a top-level aide, who has affiliated with Communist fronts, who is often praised in the Communist press and who unquestionably parallels the Communist line. This same man advocates the braking of the law and has been described by J. Edgar Hoover as “the most notorious liar in the country.” (U.S. News and World Report, November 30, 1964.)

I warn you, unless we wake up soon and do something about the Conspiracy the Communist-inspired civil rights riots of the past will pale into insignificance compared to the bloodshed and destruction that lie ahead in the near future.

Church Members Not to Escape Danger

Do not think the members of the church shall escape. The Lord has assured us that the church will still be here when he comes again. But has the Lord assured us that we can avoid fighting for freedom and still escape unscathed both temporally and spiritually? We could not escape the eternal consequences of our pre-existent position on freedom. What makes us thing we can escape it here?

Listen to President Clark’s grave warning:

“I say to you with all the soberness I can, that we stand in danger of losing our liberties, and that once lost, only blood will bring them back; and once lost, we of this church will, in order to keep the church going forward, have more sacrifices to make and more persecutions to endure than we have yet known, heavy as our sacrifices and grievous as our persecutions have been.” (J. Reuben Clark, Conference Report, April 1944, pp. 115-116; quoted in Newquist, op. cit., p. 89.)

Now that is the price we are going to have to pay unless we can help to reverse the course our country is taking. The Lord does not want us to pay that price, but we will pay it in full if we fail to fight to preserve our freedom. Often the Lord has to send persecutions in order to rebuke and try to purge the unfaithful. He has done it in the past, and He can do it again. If we deserve it – we will get it.

“Next to being one in worshiping God,” says President McKay, “there is nothing in this world upon which this church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States!.” (President David O. McKay, 1956, The Instructor 91:34; quoted in Newquist, op. cit., p. 101.)

There are some who would have us believe that the final test of the rightness of a course is whether everyone is united on it. But the church does not seek unity, simply for unitie’s sake. The unity for which the Lord prayed and which President McKay speaks is the only unity which God honors – that is, “unity in righteousness,” unity in principle.

We cannot compromise good and evil in an attempt to have peace and unity in the Church, any more than the Lord could have compromised with Satan in order to avoid the War in Heaven.

Think of the impact for good we could have if we all united behind the prophets in preserving our Constitution. Yet witness the sorry spectacle of those presently of our number who have repudiated the inspired counsel of our prophet when he has opposed federal aid to education (Newquist, op. cit., p. 192) and asked support to the right to work laws. (Newquist, op. cit., p. 415, and “Church News,” June 26, 1965.)

It is too much to suppose that all the Priesthood at this juncture will unite behind the Prophet in the fight for freedom. Yet we can pray for that day and in the meantime the faithful should strive to be in harmony with the inspired counsel given by His mouthpiece – the prophet – and thus in unity with the Lord – and hence receive peace to their souls.

The more who are united with the Lord and His prophets the greater will be our chances to preserve our families and to live in freedom.

President Clark knew how righteous unity could stop the Communists when he said:

“Now, what has business and industry done about all this revolutionary activity?… Business and industry neither planned nor did anything effective. There was no concerted effort….

A common cause with a united front would have worked salvation for us. But business officials were afraid of their stock-holders and their outcry against loss of dividends; the lawyers were afraid of getting whipped in the courts, businessmen felt strong vigorous action might further disturb business; bankers (I am a bank director) shivered at their own shadows.

So one constitutional right after another yielded without any real contest, our backs getting nearer to the wall with each retreat. It is now purposed that we retreat still further. Is not this suicide? Is there any one so naive as to think that things will right themselves without a fight? There has been no more fight in us than there is in a bunch of sheep, and we have been much like sheep. Freedom was never brought to a people on a silver platter, nor maintained with whisk brooms and lavender sprays.

And do not think that all these usurpations, intimidations, and impositions are being done to us through inadvertence or mistake; The whole course is deliberately planned and carried out; Its purpose is to destroy the Constitution and our constitutional government; then to bring chaos, out of which the new Statism with its slavery, is to arise, with a cruel, relentless, selfish, ambitious crew in the saddle, riding hard with whip and spur, a red-shrouded band of nightriders for despotism….

If we do not vigorously fight for our liberties, we shall go clear through to the end of the road and become another Russia or worse….” (J. Reuben Clark, “Church News,” September 25, 1959; quoted in Newquist, op. cit., pp. 327s328.)

According to Norman Vincent Peal, “Their was a time when the American people roared like lions for liberty; now they bleat like sheep for security.”

“But,” some say, “Shouldn’t we have confidence in our government officials – don’t we owe them allegiance?” To which we respond in the words of President Clark,

“God provided that in this land of liberty, our political allegiance shall run not to individuals, that is, to government officials… the only allegiant we owe as citizens or denizens of the United States, runs to our inspired Constitution which God Himself set up.” (J. Reuben Clark, The Improvement Era, 1940, 43:444; quoted in Newquist, op. cit., p. 198.)

Jefferson warned that we should not talk about confidence in men but that we should inhibit their power through the Constitution. In the meantime, we pray for our leaders as we have always been counseled to do.

It is the devils desire that the Lord’s priesthood stay asleep while the strings of tyranny gradually and quietly entangle us until, like Gulliver, we awake too late and find that while we could have broken each string separately as it was put upon us, our sleepiness permitted enough strings to bind us to make a rope that enslaves us.

The Role of the Elders

For years we have heard of the role the elders could play in saving the Constitution from total destruction. But how can the elders be expected to save it if they have not studied it and are not sure if it is being destroyed or what is destroying it.

An informed patriotic gentile was dumbfounded when he heard of Joseph Smith’s reported prophecy regarding the mission our elders could perform in saving the Constitution. He lived in a Mormon community with nice people who were busily engaged in other activities but had little concern in preserving their freedom. He wondered if maybe a letter should not be sent to President McKay, urging him to release some of the elders from their present Church activities so their would be a few who could help step forward to save the Constitution.

Now it is not so much a case of a man giving up all his other duties to fight for freedom, as it is a case of a man getting his life in balance so he can discharge all of his God-given responsibilities. And of all these responsibilities President McKay has said that we have “no greater immediate responsibility” than “to protect the freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States.”

There is no excuse that can compensate for the loss of liberty.

Satan’s Perverse Reasoning

Now Satan is anxious to neutralize the inspired counsel of the Prophet and hence keep the priesthood off-balance, ineffective and inert in the fight for freedom. He does this through diverse means including the use of perverse reasoning.

For example, he will argue, “There is no need to get involved in the fight for freedom – all you need to do is live the gospel.” Of course this is a contradiction, because we cannot fully live the gospel and not be involved in the fight for freedom.

We would not say to someone, “There is no need to be baptized – all you need to do is live the gospel.” That would be ridiculous because baptism is a part of the gospel.

How would you have reacted if during the War in Heaven someone had said to you, “Look, just do what’s right, there is no need to get involved in the fight for free agency.” Now it is obvious what the devil is trying to do, but it is sad to see many of us fall for his destructive line.

The cause of freedom is the most basic part of our religion.

Our position on freedom helped get us to this earth, and it can make the difference as to whether we get back home or not.

The “Title of Liberty”

General Moroni, one of the great men of the Book of Mormon, raised the “title of liberty” and on it he inscribed these words:

“In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.” (Alma 46:12.)

Why didn’t he write upon it “just live your religion, there is no need to concern yourselves about your freedom, your peace, your wives or your children.”? The reason he didn’t was because all these things were a part of his religion as they are of ours.

Listen to what The Book of Mormon had to say about the man who raised the “title of liberty”:

“And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;

“Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion even to the loss of his blood.” (Alma 48:11,13.)

And Then Moroni is paid this high tribute:

“Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been and were, and ever would be like unto Moroni, behold the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.” (Alma 48:17.)

Now part of the reason why we don’t have sufficient Priesthood bearers to save the Constitution, let alone to shake the powers of hell, is, I fear, because unlike Moroni, our souls do not joy in keeping our country free and we are not firm in the faith of Christ, nor have we sworn with an oath to defend our rights.

The Book of Mormon also tells us of some of the perverse reasoning the devil would use in our day to keep the Saints ignorant, complacent and asleep.

“And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well – and thus the devil cheateth their souls and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.” (2 Nephi 28:21.)

Now this reasoning takes several forms. For instance, “Don’t worry,” say some, “the Lord will take care of us.” This is the usual theme of those who believe in faith without works.

Brigham Young said:

“Some may say, “I have faith the Lord will turn them away.” What ground have we to hope this? Have I any good reason to say to my Father in heaven, “fight my battles,” when he has given me the sword to wield, the arm and the brain that I can fight for myself? Can I ask Him to fight my battles and sit quietly down waiting for Him to do so? I cannot. I can pray the people to harken to wisdom, to listen to counsel; but to ask God to do for me that which I can do for myself is preposterous to my mind.” (Journal of Discourses 12:241.)

“Don’t you have faith in America?” say others. But America is made up of people – and only righteous patriotic people work to preserve their freedom. The American people’s blessings are conditioned on righteousness and nothing else. We have faith in a faithful citizenry.

Need for an Educated Citizenry

“There is no need to learn about communism in order to avoid it,” Some argue. But this counsel can help keep our people in ignorance and apparently flies in the face of the inspired counsel of President McKay who said,

“I believe that only through a truly educated citizenry can the ideals that inspired the Founding Fathers of our nation be preserved and perpetuated.” (“Church News,” March 13, 1954; quoted in Newquist, op. cit., p. 178.)

And then President McKay said that one of the “four fundamental elements in such an education” was the “open and forcible teaching of the facts regarding communism as an enemy to God and to individual freedom.” (“Church News,” March 13, 1954; quoted in Newquist, op. cit., p. 181.)

Do we teach people to avoid alcohol and tobacco by pointing out its evil effects? Of course we do. Should we then avoid telling people about the evil nature and devious designs of communism – the greatest Satanical threat to the spread of God’s work?

“Just preach the gospel – that will stop communism,” is another neutralizing argument by some. Did teaching the truth stop the War in Heaven or convert Satan and his hosts? Satan himself through his earthly followers is directing the Communist conspiracy and as President Clark said, “You cannot mollify an unconvertible.” (J. Reuben Clark, Conference Report, October 1959, p. 46; quoted in Newquist, op. cit., p. 232.)

As members of the Church we have some close quarters to pass through if we are to save our souls. As the Church gets larger some men have increasing responsibility and more and more duties must be delegated. We all have stewardships for which we must account to the Lord.

Unfortunately some men who do not honor their stewardships may have an adverse affect on many people. Often the greater the man’s responsibility the more good or evil he can accomplish. The Lord usually gives a man a long enough rope and sufficient time to determine whether that man wants to pull himself into the presence of God or drop off somewhere below.

There are some regrettable things being said and done by some people in the Church today. As President Clark so well warned, “The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep’s clothing because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood…. We should be careful of them.”

Sometimes from behind the pulpit, in our classrooms, in our Council meetings and in our church publications we hear, read or witness things that do not square with the truth. This is especially true where freedom is involved. Now do not let this serve as an excuse for your own wrong-doing. The Lord is letting the wheat and the tares mature before he fully purges the Church. He is also testing you to see if you will be misled. The devil is trying to deceive the very elect.

Keep Your Eye on the Prophet

Let me give you a crucial key to help you avoid being deceived. It is this – learn to keep your eye on the Prophet. He is the Lord’s mouthpiece and the only man who can speak for the Lord today. Let his inspired counsel take precedence. Let his inspired words be a basis for evaluating the counsel of all lesser authorities. Then live close to the spirit so you may know the truth of all things.

All men are entitled to inspiration, but only one man is the Lords mouthpiece. Some lesser men have in the past, and will in the future, use their offices unrighteously. Some will, ignorantly or otherwise, use it to promote false counsel; some will use it to lead the unwary astray; some will use it to persuade us that all is well in Zion; some will use it to cover and excuse their ignorance. Keep your eye on the Prophet – for the Lord will never permit his Prophet to lead this Church astray.

This is the word of the Lord to us today regarding the President of the Church:

“Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;

For his words ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith,” (D&C 21:4-5.)

A Statement from the Prophet

Now at our last annual conference in April, President McKay issued a statement on communism. It was printed on the editorial page of the Juneimprovement Era and has recently been reprinted by the Deseret Book Company in an attractive folder entitled “Communism: A Statement of the position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” Every student and every family in America should have a copy. The cost is five cents each in lots of 100, or three for 25 cents.

Let me quote a few excerpts from that inspired statement and ye who have been misled into believing that you can somehow righteously avoid standing up for freedom – heed his counsel:

“In order that there may be no misunderstanding by bishops, stake presidents, and others regarding members of the Church participating in nonchurch meetings to study and become informed on the Constitution of the United States, Communism, etc., I wish,” said President McKay, “to make the following statements that I have been sending gout of my office for some time and that have come under question by some stake authorities, bishoprics, and others.

Church members are at perfect liberty to act according to their own conscience in matters of safeguarding our way of life. They are, of course, encouraged to honor the highest standards of the gospel and to work to preserve their own freedoms. They are free to participate in nonchurch meetings that are held to warn people of the threat of Communism or any other theory or principle that will deprive us of our free agency or individual liberties vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States.

The position of this church on the subject of Communism has never changed. We consider it the greatest satanical threat to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work among men that exists on the face of the earth.

In this connection,” President McKay continues, “we are constantly being asked to give our opinion concerning various patriotic groups or individuals who are fighting Communism and speaking up for freedom. Our immediate concern, however, is not what parties, groups, or persons, but with principles. We therefore commend and encourage every person and every group who is sincerely seeking to study constitutional principles and awaken a sleeping and apathetic people to the alarming conditions that are rapidly advancing about us. We wish all of our citizens throughout the land were participating in some type of organized self-education in order that they could better appreciate what is happening and know what they can do about it.

Supporting the FBI, the police, the congressional committees investigating Communism, and various organizations that are attempting to awaken the people through educational means is a policy we warmly endorse for all our people….” (President David O. McKay, The Improvement Era, June 1966, p. 477; Conference Report, April 1966, p. 109,)

I bear witness that this Church position given by our inspired leader – our Prophet-leader – is sound, timely and clear. The need for such counsel has never been greater.

Brethren and sisters, I have talked straight to you today. I know I will be abused by some for what I have said, but I want my skirts to be clean.

Some Questions

Watchman, what of the night?” (Isaiah 21:11) is the cry of the faithful. I have tried to warn you of the darkness that is moving over us and what we can do about it if we will only follow the Prophet.

Have you counted the cost if our countrymen and especially the body of the Priesthood continue to remain complacent, mislead through some of our news media, deceived by some of our officials, and perverted by some of our educators?

Are you prepared to see some of your loved ones murdered, your remaining liberties abridged, the Church persecuted, and your eternal reward jeopardized?

An Eyewitness

I have personally witnessed the heart-rending results of the loss of freedom. I have seen it with my own eyes. I have been close to the godless evil of the socialist-communist conspiracy on both sides of the iron curtain, particularly during my years as European Mission President at the close of the war, and today and also during my eight years in the Cabinet.

It may shock you to learn that the first communist cell in government, so far as we know, was organized in the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the 1930’s, John Abt was there. It was John Abt whom Oswald, the accused assassin of President Kennedy, requested for his attorney. Harry Dexter White was there. Lee Pressman was there. And communist Alger Hiss, who was the principle architect and first secretary of the United Nations organizing committee, was there also.

I have talked face-to-face with the godless Communist leaders. It may surprise you to learn that I was host to Mr. Khrushchev for a half day, when he visited the United States. Not that I’m proud of it – I opposed his coming then and I still feel it was a mistake to welcome this atheistic murderer as a state visitor. But according to President Eisenhower, Khrushchev had expressed a desire to learn something of American agriculture, and after seeing Russian agriculture I can understand why.

As we talked face-to-face, he indicated that my grandchildren would live under Communism. After assuring him that I expected to do all in my power to assure that his, and all other grandchildren, would live under freedom, he arrogantly declared, in substance:

You Americans are so gullible. No you won’t accept Communism outright, but we’ll keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you’ll finally wake up and you find you already have Communism. We won’t have to fight you. We’ll so weaken your economy until you fall like over-ripe fruit into our hands.

And they are ahead of schedule in their devilish scheme.

I stood in Czechoslovakia in 1946 – two citizens of that country came up to me before this meeting – I stood in Czechoslovakia in 1946 and witnessed the ebbing away of freedom resulting in the total loss of liberty to a wonderful people. I visited among the liberty-loving polish people and talked with their leaders as the insidious freedom-destroying conspiracy moved in, imposing the chains of bondage on a Christian nation.

In both of these freedom-loving nations were members of the Church, striving, as we are, to live the gospel. But did they stop the Communists? Although their numbers were relatively few, the danger to freedom seemed to be far away. Now there are, no doubt, Mormons in Communist slave labor camps.

The Power of the Priesthood

But here in America, the Lord’s base of operations – so designated by the Lord himself, though his holy prophets – we of the priesthood – members of his restored Church might well provide the balance of power to save our freedom. Indeed we might, if we go forward as General Moroni of old, and raise the standard of liberty throughout the land.

My brethren, we CAN do the job that must be done. We can, as a Priesthood, provide the balance of power to preserve our freedom and save this nation from bondage.

The Prophet Joseph Smith is reported to have prophesied the role the Priesthood might play to save our inspired Constitution. Now is the time to move forward courageously – to become alerted, informed and active. We are not just ordinary men. We bear the priesthood and authority of God. We understand the world and God’s divine purpose as no other men.

The Gospel and Freedom

The gospel and its preaching can prosper only in an atmosphere of freedom. And now in this critical period, when many pulpits are being turned into pipelines of collectivist propaganda – preaching the social gospel and denying basic principles of salvation – is the time for action.

We know, as do no other people, that the Constitution of the United States is inspired – established by men whom the Lord raised up for that very purpose. We cannot – we must not – shirk our sacred responsibility to rise up in defense of our God-given freedom.

In our day the Lord has declared to his church:

“Verily I say unto you all: arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard to 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.” (D&C 115:5–6.)

Will we of the priesthood “arise and shine”? Will we provide the “defense” and “refuge”? Now is our time and season for corrective and courageous action.

We Have Been Warned

We have been warned again and again and again. The Lords spokesman has consistently raised his voice of warning about the loss of our freedom. Now he that has ears, let him hear, and ye who praise the Lord, learn to also follow His spokesman.

I know not what course others may take, but as for me and my house, we will strive to walk with the Prophet. And the Prophet has said that:

“No greater immediate responsibility rests upon the members of the church, upon all citizens of this republic and of neighboring republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafe by the Constitution of the United States.” (The Instructor, August 1953.)

In this mighty struggle each of you has a part. Be on the right side. Stand up and be counted. If you get discouraged, remember the words of Edward Everett Hale, when he said:

“I am only one, but I am one.

I can’t do everything, but I can do something.

What I can do, that I ought to do,

And what I ought to do,

By the grace of God, I shall do!”

God bless us to heed the oft-repeated counsel of our Prophet-leader, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

(Ezra Taft Benson. Our Immediate Responsibility. BYU University. October 25, 1966.)