The Missing Chapter: Agency, Freedom, Liberty and Our Responsibility
Selected quotes from the video:
“The message I bring is not a happy one, but it is the truth”
“Truth must be repeated again and again because error is constantly being preached round about”
“George Washington stated, ‘Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains taken to bring it to light’. To bring the truth to light is our challenge”
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”
“The cause of freedom is the most basic part of our religion”
“Next to being one in worshipping God 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”
“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”
“To understand the significance of the Constitution, we must first understand some basic eternal principles… The first basic principle is agency. Christ and all who followed him stood for freedom of choice. Satan stood for coercion and force. The war that began in heaven over this issue is not over. The conflict continues on the battlefield or mortality. And one of Lucifer’s primary strategies has been to restrict our agency through the power of earthly governments”
“What are our rights, what is the source of these rights? There are only two possible sources. Rights are either God-given as part of the divine plan, or they are granted by government as part of the political plan. If we accept the premise that human rights are granted by government then we also must be willing to accept the corollary that they may be denied by government. I for one will never accept that premise.”
“Life, liberty and property do not exist because men have made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws”
“I am unalterably opposed to socialism. And regard it as an unconstitutional usurpation of power and a denial of the right of private property for government to own or operate the means of producing and distributing goods and services in competition with private enterprise or to regiment owners in the legitimate use of private property.”
“We have strayed far afield. We must return to basic concepts and principles – to eternal verities. There is no other way. The storm signals are up. They are clear and ominous.”
“We honor more than those who brought forth the constitution. We honor the Lord who revealed it”
“The Constitution of the United States is a glorious standard; It is founded in the wisdom of God. It is a heavenly banner.”
“Pride results in secret combinations which are built up to get power, gain, and glory of the world.”
“Secret combinations brought down both the Jaredite and Nephite civilizations and has been and will yet be the cause of the fall of many nations.”
“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.”
“There is no conspiracy theory in the Book of Mormon. It is a conspiracy fact.”
“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… (Ether 8:24)”
“We stand in danger of losing our liberties, and that once lost, only blood will bring them back.”
“Now, we have not been using the Book of Mormon as we should. Our homes are not as strong unless we are using it to bring our children unto Christ”
“…use the book to expose and combat the falsehoods in socialism, organic evolution, rationalism, humanism, etc.”
“Our nation will continue to degenerate unless we read and heed the words of the God of this land, Jesus Christ… and quit building up and upholding the secret combinations which the Book of Mormon tells us proved the downfall of both previous American civilizations”
“We must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the founding fathers”
“Can we recognize when a law is constitutionally unsound? Do we know what the prophets have said about the Constitution and the threats to it?”
“Now I tell you, it is time the people of the United States were waking up … if they don’t save the constitution from the dangers that threaten it, we will have a change of government”
“No nation which has kept the commandments of God has ever perished”
“Once freedom is lost only blood, human blood, will win it back. There are some things we can and must do at once… if we are to stave off a holocaust of destruction. First, we must return to worship the God of this Land who is Jesus Christ. Second, we must awaken to a sense of our awful situation, because of this secret combination which is among us.”
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light”
“May God give us the wisdom to recognize the dangers of complacency, the threat to our freedom and the strength to meet this danger courageously”
“In this mighty struggle, each of you has a part”
“Every person on the earth today chose the right side during the war in heaven. Be on the right side now. Stand up and be counted.”
“If you get discouraged, remember the words of 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!”
References and resources recommended by Benson during General Conferences:
What have the Prophets said about the constitution?
The Prophets and the Constitution – Defending Utah DVD
Secret Combinations Today – Defending Utah DVD
Book – None Dare Call it Conspiracy – Amazon or Free PDF
Book – The Naked Communist – Amazon – W. Cleon Skousen’s site
Book – Prophets, Principles and National Survival – Amazon
Book – Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen – Amazon – LDS Freedom Books: Audio CD Download
Book – The Elders of Israel and the Constitution – Amazon
