The things that will destroy us are:

politics without principle;
pleasure without conscience;
wealth without work;
knowledge without character;
business without morality;
science without humanity,
and worship without sacrifice.

- Mahatma Gandhi

   "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.  As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."

-- Benjamin Franklin

   "A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. "

-- Samuel Adams

   "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."

-- George Orwell

   "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. "

-- Benjamin Franklin

   "What luck for rulers that men do not think."

-- Adolf Hitler

   "A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing in its evil influence and control over America and the entire world."

-- Ezra Taft Benson
LDS General Conference, October 1988
(Ensign, Nov. 1988, p. 87.)

   "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

-- Isaiah 6:9

* * * * * * * * *

-- Isaiah 52:15

   "If we are to continue to have the freedoms that came of the inspiration of the Almighty to our Founding Fathers, we must return to the God who is their true Author."

-- Gordon B. Hinckley
Standing for Something; Times Books, 2000; p. xi, Introduction, "The Secularization of America."

   "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

   "And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot."

-- Moroni 10:32,33

   "For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed."

-- Isaiah 9:16; 2 Nephi 19:16

   "Yes, within the Church today there are tares among the wheat and wolves within the flock. As President Clark stated, `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....' (CR., Apr. 1949, p. 163.) The wolves amongst our flock are more numerous and devious today than when President Clark made this statement."

-- Ezra Taft Benson
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, LDS Church
Conference Report, Apr. 1969, p. 11

   "As we have progressed, the mist has been removed, and in  relation to these matters, the Elders of Israel begin to understand that they have something to do with the world politically as well as religiously, that it is as much their duty to study correct political principles as well as religious, and to seek to know and comprehend the social and political interest of man, and to learn and be able to teach that which would be best calculated to promote the interests of the world."

-- John Taylor
1962; Journal of Discourses 9:340

   "Why are there calamities?  Does any man need to suffer these things?

   Answer:  Only as long as they have a divine purpose for him. 

   Once they have served their purpose, they will be no longer needed.

   When one comes to comprehend who he is and what these things are for, then the fear will disappear because he will see them as they are.  There will no longer be calamities nor disasters.  Only valuable experience."

-- Randall Shortridge
June 4, 2001

   "Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion."

-- Ezra Taft Benson
Conference Report, Oct. 1980 p.27

   "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth not after me, is not worthy of me."

-- Matthew 10:38

   "And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  But as for your, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

-- Genesis 50:19,20

[See comment correlating the June 1 quote
with the May 31 quote]

   "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, and he it is who now worketh, and Christ suffereth him to work, until the time is fulfilled that he shall be taken out of the way."

-- JST-II Thessalonians 2:7

   "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

-- 1 John 2:28

   "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

-- 2 Timothy 3:12

   "(from thence [Joseph] is the shepherd, the stone of Israel)"

-- Genesis 49:24

   "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

-- 1 John 4:8

   "But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble."

-- Jacob 4:14

   "Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.  Wherefore I gave them also statutes [that were] not good, and judgments whereby they should not live."

-- Ezekiel 20:25

   "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not."

-- Isaiah 66:4

   "...They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."

-- 2 Thessalonians 2:10,11

   "When many world leaders speak of 'world peace,' what they really have in mind is, 'I get this piece and you get this piece.' "

-- Sterling D. Allan
The Vision of All

   "...I told the people that if they would not believe the revelations that God had given, He would suffer the devil to give revelations that they -- priest and people -- would follow after. Have I seen this fulfilled? I have. I told the people that as true as God lived, if they would not have truth, they would have error sent unto them and they would believe it."

-- Brigham Young
(Deseret News, June 8, 1873)

   "So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house."

-- Ezekiel 43:5 [435]

   "And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them."

-- Jacob 5:72

   "A guilty verdict is expected to push polygamists further into the shadows, while a ruling in Mr. Green's favor could bring polygamists out of the closet and into the courtrooms to demand the freedom to practice their faith openly."

-- Washington Times, May 14, 2001
(regarding Tom Green court case)

   "It is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another. 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."

-- Doctrine and Covenants 101:79,80

   "Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother."

-- Oprah Winfrey

   "And the dragon prevailed not against Michael, neither the child, nor the woman which was the church of God, who had been delivered of her pains, and brought forth the kingdom of our God and his Christ."

-- JST-Revelation 12:7

   "And it came to pass that she went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people! And when she had said this, she clasped her hands, being filled with joy, speaking many words which were not understood...."

-- Alma 19:29,30

   "For it shall come to pass that the inhabitants of Zion shall judge all things pertaining to Zion.  And liars and hypocrites shall be proved by them, and they who are not apostles and prophets shall be known.  And even the bishop, who is a judge, and his counselors, if they are not faithful in their stewardships shall be condemned, and others shall be planted in their stead."

-- Doctrine and Covenants 64:38-40

   "And now, Melchizedek was a priest of this order; therefore he obtained peace in Salem, and was called the Prince of peace.  And his people wrought righteousness, and obtained heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch which God had before taken, separating it from the earth, having reserved it unto the latter days, or the end of the world; and hath said, and sworn with an oath, that the heavens and the earth should come together; and the sons of God should be tried so as by fire."

-- JST-Genesis 14:33-35

   "And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when me should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself.  And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy; and the general assembly of the church of the first-born shall come down out of heaven, and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come."

-- JST-Genesis 9:21-22

   "Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief."

-- Ether 4:13

   "And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen."

-- Mormon 7:10

   "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect."

-- Genesis 17:1

   "And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands."