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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