Do Mormons want their prophets to keep still on politics?
In a First Presidency Message published in the Church's international magazine, Ezra Taft Benson said: "The world prefers that prophets either be dead or worry about their own affairs. Some so-called experts of political science want the prophet to keep still on politics. Some would-be authorities on evolution want the prophet to keep still on evolution. And so the list goes on and on." (Liahona, June, 1981.) Do Mormons want their prophets to keep still on politics? No, not all of their prophets, just the one who was most uniquely and thoroughly prepared by God to be His spokesman on politics and on the U.S. Constitution (see "Ezra Taft Benson, A Uniquely Prepared Prophet").
Thomas S. Monson has highlighted the special connection that existed between Ezra Taft Benson and the U.S. Constitution:
"I think it is the inspiration of Almighty God that at this particular time [1989] we have serving as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Ezra Taft Benson, one of the greatest advocates of freedom, and one of those who loves most the Constitution of this land." (Church News, Dec. 30, 1989.) Ezra Taft Benson was called to general Church leadership in 1943, became Church President in 1985, and died in 1994. A persistent theme throughout his 51-year ministry as apostle and prophet was our individual responsibility to defend and preserve the United States Constitution.
Ezra Taft Benson saw significance in verses 77 and 80 of section 101 in the Doctrine and Covenants. Over the years, Ezra Taft Benson quoted these two verses of scripture again and again as he urged the Saints to defend and preserve the U.S. Constitution.
This year’s Teachings of Presidents manual notes:
"In April 1948, Elder Benson gave his first of many general conference addresses focusing on ‘the prophetic mission’ of the United States of America and the importance of freedom." (p.21.) In that "first of many" addresses, Ezra Taft Benson cited D&C 101:77, 80, something he did repeatedly throughout the remainder of his ministry.
Please listen to the audio while you read the following paragraph from a 1973 speech Ezra Taft Benson gave to the students at BYU. Notice how he emphasizes one particular word.
This year’s Teachings of Presidents manual points out that Ezra Taft Benson "observed the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States by speaking on the subject in the October 1987 general conference of the Church." (p.32.)
In that general conference, Ezra Taft Benson spoke as God’s mouthpiece to the Church and to the world as he emphasized that the U.S. Constitution "'belongs to all mankind' (D&C 98:5) 'and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh' (D&C 101:77)." (Ensign, Nov. 1987; italics Benson’s.)
Then, in the last talk he was able to personally deliver in general conference (see Teachings of Presidents, p.xi), he cited D&C 101:77, 80 one more time as he testified that God Himself established the U.S. Constitution:
"God raised up the founding fathers of the United States of America and established the inspired Constitution. (See D&C 101:77–80.)" ("I Testify," Ensign, Nov. 1988.) Harold B. Lee, a boyhood friend and apostolic associate, lauded Ezra Taft Benson's loyalty to the U.S. Constitution:
"The two ruling passions of his life might be said to be, first, his unshakable faith in the intervention of an Omnipotent Power in the affairs of men; and second, his certainty that the Constitution of the United States was divinely inspired." (So Shall Ye Reap, p.viii.) Regarding the U.S. Constitution, there are no surprises in this year's Teachings of Presidents manual. Ezra Taft Benson was President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he spoke to the students at Brigham Young University and made this prophetic statement:
"We must learn the principles of the Constitution and then abide by its precepts.... The Church will not tell us how to do this, but we are admonished to do it." ("The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner," Sep. 16, 1986; emphasis added.) What Ezra Taft Benson taught about the U.S. Constitution was grounded in the standard works. Throughout his life, he referred repeatedly to verses 77 and 80 from section 101 in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Do Mormons want their prophets to keep still on politics? No, not all of their prophets, just the one who traveled the world as a political leader and conducted official Government business with the kings and rulers of this world—just the one who was most uniquely and thoroughly prepared by God to be His spokesman on politics and on the U.S. Constitution (see "Ezra Taft Benson, A Uniquely Prepared Prophet").
"I am grateful that the God of heaven saw fit to put his stamp of approval upon the Constitution and to indicate that it had come into being through wise men whom he raised up unto this very purpose. He asked the Saints, even in the dark days of their persecution and hardship, to continue to seek for redress from their enemies 'according,' he said, 'to the laws and constitution ... which I have suffered [or caused] to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh' (D&C 101 :77). And then he made this most impressive declaration: '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' (Ibid., 101:80)." ("This Nation Shall Endure," BYU Speeches, 1973; see also Conference Report, Oct. 1954.)
posted by R. Gary on 1/03/2015 04:13:00 PM
6 Comments:
A continuation of your post from last month. Very nicely put together. The question remains though -- did ETB believe in NDBF?
Anonymous: No such question remains. You clearly don't know what you're talking about. And NDBF isn't the topic on this thread anyway. But thank you for taking the time to read this post and the one from last month.
From a U.S. Constitutional perspective the principles of freedom and liberty resonate (mostly) with an international church membership. However, it appears, at least from my limited perspective that these are loaded words in a U.S. Perspective?? It sometimes has the connotation of minimal government involvement? Which has little relevance outside the U.S. Also when prophets speak of US political concerns like prop 8, etc it does not find relevance in an international church. I wonder if this is why the U.S. Political rhetoric has toned down over the last decades??
AussieMormonGuy: Your comment is interesting, but at the same time it strikes me as almost disrespectful and scornful of my original post. First, you have managed to completely sidestep the stated context of this post (see "Prepared Prophet") and second, you've responded to the question asked by this post in a way that doesn't even acknowledge the reality of modern prophets who are called by and speak for God.
What a prophet says is not determined by whether any given person or group of persons can "find relevance" in the message. The prophet is God's messenger and, therefore, what he says is determined by God. In other words, and especially in the case of Ezra Taft Benson, prophets do not preach those things "which are pleasing unto the world ... but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world." (1 Nephi 6:5.)
Again, do Mormons want their prophets to keep still on politics?
Certainly no disrespect intend. I'll try and answer your question a little more directly. No, I don't want our Prophets to keep still on politics. My problem is that the US constitution, although inspired, has little or no application on how I apply the gospel of Jesus Christ in Australia. It is an important fact of history of which i am grateful as I see a correlation between the US constitution and the ability for the restoration to occur. If the Prophets are willing to engage in political discourse here in Australia then I am willing to listen and apply it as I am capable. Pres. Benson was certainly capable and did speak about political ideals as you articulated in your article, I just find it hard to (1) relate to the message, and (2) find an application of it.
AussieMormonGuy: According to Ezra Taft Benson, "Every Latter-day Saint should love the inspired Constitution of the United States." (Ensign, May 1976.)
Did you know that "the United States Constitution was the first written constitution in the world"? (Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Feb. 1992.)
Did you know that the Constitution "has become the United States' most important export"? (Ibid.)
Did you know that "every nation in the world except six have adopted written constitutions and the U.S. Constitution was a model for all of them"? (Ibid.) The fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution as implemented in the Constitutions of other nations, have made in possible for Church members to meet in peace in those nations.
By contrast, the People's Republic of China has rejected the fundamental principles of the U.S. Constitution and LDS members there do not meet in peace in chapels as we do. The Church reports no missions, no proselyting, no congregations, and no temples in the People's Republic of China (see my earlier post on Communism in China, click here).
The scriptures say the Constitution "belongs to all mankind" (D&C 98:5; emphasis added) "and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh" (D&C 101:77; emphasis added). It is assumed that those same verses are found in copies of LDS scripture in Australia.
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