Voting guidance given us by the Church

[ktgcaptain of 100]

I know the Church currently doesn't officially endorse any candidate, and I have my beliefs as to why; however, we have been given clues by Prophets and Apostles and by the scriptures about who the Lord would have us support. I'd like to keep this thread clean of arguments and just list the scriptures and quotes of Prophets and Apostles that serve as a guide in deciding who is worthy of your vote.

[ktgcaptain of 100]

"May we be wise — prayerfully wise — in the electing of those who would lead us. May we select only those who understand and will adhere to constitutional principles…" Ezra Taft Benson

[ktgcaptain of 100]

"Let every loyal member of the Church look down with scorn upon any man or woman who would undermine [the] Constitution." - David O. McKay

[uglypitbullcaptain of 1,000]

D&C 98
5 And that alaw of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.
6 Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;
7 And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.
8 I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.
9 Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.
10 Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.

[sadie_Mormoncaptain of 1,000]

We are approaching election time, when we must choose again those persons who will represent us in positions of responsibility in our civil government—federal, state, and local.

Early in this dispensation the Lord made clear the position his restored church should take with respect to civil government. In the revelation he gave to the Prophet Joseph Smith, he said: “And now, verily I say unto you concerning the … law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, [that it] belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.

“Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you … in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land.” (D&C 98:4–6.)

In harmony with this statement, the Church later adopted as one of its Articles of Faith: “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” (A of F 1:12.)

In 1835 at a general assembly the Church adopted by unanimous vote a “Declaration of Belief regarding Governments and Laws in general,” in which it said:

“We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.” (D&C 134:3.)

In 1903 President Joseph F. Smith said, “The Church [as such] does not engage in politics; its members belong to the political parties at their own pleasure. …” (“The Probable Cause,” Improvement Era, June 1903, p. 626.)


President Spencer W. Kimball 1974

[sadie_Mormoncaptain of 1,000]

“A threat to our unity derives from unseemly personal antagonisms developed in partisan political controversy. The Church, while reserving the right to advocate principles of good government underlying equity, justice, and liberty, the political integrity of officials, and the active participation of its members, and the fulfillment of their obligations in civic affairs, exercises no constraint on the freedom of individuals to make their own choices and affiliations … any man who makes representation to the contrary does so without authority and justification in fact.” (President Stephen L Richards, Conference Report, October 1951, pp. 114–15.)

[ktgcaptain of 100]

"There is one and only one legitimate goal of United States foreign policy. It is a narrow goal, a nationalistic goal: the preservation of our national independence. Nothing in the Constitution grants that the president shall have the privilege of offering himself as a world leader. He is our executive; he is on our payroll; he is supposed to put our best interests in front of those of other nations. Nothing in the Constitution nor in logic grants to the president of the United States or to Congress the power to influence the political life of other countries, to ‘uplift’ their cultures, to bolster their economies, to feed their people, or even to defend them against their enemies." - Ezra Taft Benson

[ithinkcaptain of 1,000]

I know the Church currently doesn't officially endorse any candidate, ....

Not officially anyway, but Utah votes Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, and Republican. Now how could that be? Must be coincidence eh?

[jonesdecaptain of 1,000]

I know the Church currently doesn't officially endorse any candidate, ....

Not officially anyway, but Utah votes Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, and Republican. Now how could that be? Must be coincidence eh?

Even the very elect shall be deceived...

[uglypitbullcaptain of 1,000]

"There is one and only one legitimate goal of United States foreign policy. It is a narrow goal, a nationalistic goal: the preservation of our national independence. Nothing in the Constitution grants that the president shall have the privilege of offering himself as a world leader. He is our executive; he is on our payroll; he is supposed to put our best interests in front of those of other nations. Nothing in the Constitution nor in logic grants to the president of the United States or to Congress the power to influence the political life of other countries, to ‘uplift’ their cultures, to bolster their economies, to feed their people, or even to defend them against their enemies." - Ezra Taft Benson

Love this one!!

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

Then why are so many Mormons, including priesthood holders, set on voting for a presidential candidate who has demonstrated so much disdain for principles of the US Constitution ?

[AussieOicaptain of 1,000]

I know the Church currently doesn't officially endorse any candidate, ....

Not officially anyway, but Utah votes Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, and Republican. Now how could that be? Must be coincidence eh?

Sins of the fathers maybe?

You mean how we send 25 people, the 12, the Pres, 3 cars, 15 seminary kids and a choir to Washington to inaugerate a Republican president...............and 2 backbenchers in Overcoats to Obama's? It is obvious sometimes for sure

That said, I think its pretty clear while the members of the church are biased and myopic in their affilations, (and naive in thinking one is any different than the other) It should be acknowledged that as a church it doesnt reinforce or press any particular party anywhere- and quite rightly.

[Mittie Jcaptain of 10]

I know the Church currently doesn't officially endorse any candidate, ....

Not officially anyway, but Utah votes Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, Republican, and Republican. Now how could that be? Must be coincidence eh?

Sins of the fathers maybe?

You mean how we send 25 people, the 12, the Pres, 3 cars, 15 seminary kids and a choir to Washington to inaugerate a Republican president...............and 2 backbenchers in Overcoats to Obama's? It is obvious sometimes for sure

That said, I think its pretty clear while the members of the church are biased and myopic in their affilations, (and naive in thinking one is any different than the other) It should be acknowledged that as a church it doesnt reinforce or press any particular party anywhere- and quite rightly.

Myopic in their afflictions. Naive in thinking one is any different that the other. Dissapointing.

[ktgcaptain of 100]

"The United States should:
1. Establish and maintain a position of independence with regard to other countries.
2. Avoid political connection, involvement, or intervention in the affairs of other countries.
3. Make no permanent or entangling alliances.
4. Treat all nations impartially, neither granting nor accepting special privileges from any.
5. Promote commerce with all peoples and countries.
6. Cooperate with other countries to develop civilized rules of intercourse.
7. Act always in accordance with the "laws of nations".
8. Remedy all just claims of injury to other nations, and require just treatment from other nations, standing ready, if necessary, to punish offenders.
9. Maintain a defensive force of sufficient magnitude to deter aggressors."
Ezra Taft Benson on Foreign policy, An Enemy Hath Done This, pg 163

[ktgcaptain of 100]

“In spite of the scriptural evidence and the counsel of modern-day prophets during the past more than 100 years, there are still some who seem to feel we have no responsibility to safeguard and strengthen our precious God-given freedom. There are some who apparently feel that the fight for freedom is separate from the gospel. They express it in several ways but it generally boils down to this: Just live the gospel; there's no need to get involved in trying to save freedom and the Constitution or to stop Communism. Of course, this is dangerous reasoning, because in reality you cannot fully live the gospel without working to save freedom and the Constitution, and to stop Communism. In the war in heaven, what would have been your reaction if someone had told you just to do what is right--there's no need to get involved in the fight for freedom?” (Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, p.120. October 1966.)

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

I think we do even now get guidance from Church leadership which if followed would help us make good decisions Re. whom and what to vote for.

We were reminded by President Packer in his August 2010 Ensign article oe the commandment to awake to our awful situation and oppose the "murderous combinations". He wrote: "We live in a time of war, that spiritual war that will never end. Moroni warned us that the secret combinations begun by Gadianton ‘are had among all people. . . . Wherefore, O ye Gentiles [and the term gentile in that place in the Book of Mormon refers to us in our generation], it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you. . . . 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 8:20, 23–24].

In the October 2009 General Priesthood meeting President Uchtdorf reminded us of the commandment to educate ourselves in history, current events, prophecy, and "wars and perplexities of nations".

Compliance with these commandments should open our eyes to many of the serious political machinations occurring in our country and elsewhere and enable us to make wiser decisions than if we continue to ignore them.

[ktgcaptain of 100]

"I say to you that the price of liberty is and always has been blood, human blood, and if our liberties are lost, we shall never regain them except at the price of blood. They must not be lost!" - J. Reuben Clark, Jr

[patriotsaintcaptain of 1,000]

"Nor may we overlook that great doctrine of neutrality set up under Washington himself and Jefferson and Hamilton, which was aimed at and brought about the localizing of international armed conflicts, and the preservation , under prescribed rules, of peacetime intercourse between belligerents and nonbelligerents. War was to curse as few people as possible. This has been jettisoned for the concept that every war should involve all nations, making all suffer the ravages of a global war." J. Reuben Clark, Jr

[patriotsaintcaptain of 1,000]

"It is not clear when we began our wandering, nor is it necessary to determine the time. President Theodore Roosevelt was hinting our straying when he uttered the dictum “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” We were to force others to do our bidding. President Wilson had the full departure in mind when he declared: “Everybody’s business is our business.” Since then we have leaped ahead along the anciently forbidden path.

In our course under the new gospel of interference with everything we do not like, we have gone forward and are going forward, as if we possessed all the good of human government, of human economic concept, of human comfort, and of human welfare, all of which we are to impose on the balance of the world,— a concept born of the grossest national egotism. In human affairs no nation can say that all it practices and believes is right, and that all others have that differs from what it has is wrong. Men inflict an unholy tragedy when they proceed on that basis. No man, no society, no people, no nation is wholly right in human affairs; and none is wholly wrong. A fundamental principle of the operation of human society is to live and let live." J. Reuben Clark, Jr

[patriotsaintcaptain of 1,000]

"It is time we returned to the political faith and work of the Fathers. It is indispensable that we do so if we are to have peace. I believe in the old faith and the old works, under which we had so much of peace. I am a political isolationist in the full sense of the term and am not fearful in declaring it." J Reuben Clark, Jr

[patriotsaintcaptain of 1,000]

"I am not shaken in my convictions nor frightened by the assertion of many good people and fostered by the communists and “new thoughters,” that the doctrine of the Fathers is outmoded, and that we are in a new world. All the age old forces are still peering out at us, — greed, avarice, ambition, selfishness, the passion to rule, the desire to enslave for the sordid advantage of the enslaver. Not a single wanton face is missing and the visages of some are more hideous than ever. While radar, the radio, the telephone, the airplane have facilitated our talking and visiting with our neighbors, that have not made new beings out of us nor out of them, nor changed either our characters or theirs. We are just as we were, with the possibility of a little more back-fence gossiping and quarreling, and a little more brawling among the children. But the households remain essentially as they were. We still have oceans between us; we live on different continents, under different conditions. We can and should mind our own business and let others do the same.

In my view, our whole international course and policy is basically wrong, and must be changed if peace is to come. Our policy has brought us, and pursued, will continue to bring us, only the hatred of nations now — and we cannot thrive on that, financially or spiritually — and certain war hereafter, with a list of horrors and woes we do not now even surmise. If we really want peace, we must change our course to get it. We must honestly strive for peace and quit sparring for military advantage. We must learn and practice, as a nation and as a world, the divine principles of the Sermon on the Mount. There is no other way." J Reuben Clark, Jr

[patriotsaintcaptain of 1,000]

"In spite of our delight in defining ourselves as modern, and our tendency to think we possess a sophistication that no people in the past ever had—in spite of these things, we are, on the whole, an idolatrous people—a condition most repugnant to the Lord.

We are a warlike people, easily distracted from our assignment of preparing for the coming of the Lord. When enemies rise up, we commit vast resources to the fabrication of gods of stone and steel—ships, planes, missiles, fortifications—and depend on them for protection and deliverance. When threatened, we become antienemy instead of pro-kingdom of God; we train a man in the art of war and call him a patriot, thus, in the manner of Satan’s counterfeit of true patriotism, perverting the Savior’s teaching:

'Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.'” Spencer W. Kimball

[patriotsaintcaptain of 1,000]

"I counsel you, I urge you, I plead with you, never, so far as you have voice or influence, permit any departure from the principles of government on which this nation was founded, or any disregard of the freedoms which, by the inspiration of God our Father, were written into the Constitution of the United States." Heber J. Grant

[patriotsaintcaptain of 1,000]

"Brethren of the priesthood, if we will be united and let our light shine, and not hide our light under a bushel but exercise it righteously, and let our priesthood callings be an eternal revolution against the norms of society or against any proposals that fall below the standards as set forth in the gospel of Jesus Christ or as laid down by the Constitution of the United States written by inspired men, then we will be a force in the world that will be “the marvelous work and wonder” which the Lord said the kingdom of God was to be." Harold B. Lee

[patriotsaintcaptain of 1,000]

"Every organization of our government, the best government in the world, is crumbling to pieces. Those who have it in their hands are the ones who are destroying it. How long will it be before the words of the prophet Joseph will be fulfilled? He said if the Constitution of the United States were saved at all it must be done by this people. It will not be many years before these words come to pass." Brigham Young

[patriotsaintcaptain of 1,000]

"The Book of Mormon narrative is a chronicle of nations long since gone. But in its descriptions of the problems of today’s society, it is as current as the morning newspaper and much more definitive, inspired, and inspiring concerning the solutions of those problems.

I know of no other writing which sets forth with such clarity the tragic consequences to societies that follow courses contrary to the commandments of God. Its pages trace the stories of two distinct civilizations that flourished on the Western Hemisphere. Each began as a small nation, its people walking in the fear of the Lord. But with prosperity came growing evils. The people succumbed to the wiles of ambitious and scheming leaders who oppressed them with burdensome taxes, who lulled them with hollow promises, who countenanced and even encouraged loose and lascivious living. These evil schemers led the people into terrible wars that resulted in the death of millions and the final and total extinction of two great civilizations in two different eras.

No other written testament so clearly illustrates the fact that when men and nations walk in the fear of God and in obedience to His commandments, they prosper and grow, but when they disregard Him and His word, there comes a decay that, unless arrested by righteousness, leads to impotence and death. The Book of Mormon is an affirmation of the Old Testament proverb: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

The God of heaven spoke to these people of the Americas through prophets, telling them where true security could be found: “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” Gordon B. Hinckley

[ktgcaptain of 100]

"We believe that international difficulties can and should be settled by peaceful means, and that America’s great mission in the world is to bring this about. … We do not believe that aggression
should be carried on in the name and under the false cloak of defense."
First Presidency, Letter to the U.S. Treasury, 11 Oct 1941

[InfoWarrior82captain of 1,000]

"We believe that international difficulties can and should be settled by peaceful means, and that America’s great mission in the world is to bring this about. … We do not believe that aggression
should be carried on in the name and under the false cloak of defense."
First Presidency, Letter to the U.S. Treasury, 11 Oct 1941

FOR THE WIN! Good find KTG. I'm going to literally write that down in my journal.

[jonesdecaptain of 1,000]

"We believe that international difficulties can and should be settled by peaceful means, and that America’s great mission in the world is to bring this about. … We do not believe that aggression
should be carried on in the name and under the false cloak of defense."
First Presidency, Letter to the U.S. Treasury, 11 Oct 1941

If US involvement in WWII was characterized as "under the false cloak of defense"... what possible defensive justification is there for the military actions since then? I don't call them wars because they were never declared wars... perhaps adding to their illegitimacy and immorality.

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

A reason given for the defense of South Korea was to maintain a buffer between communist North Korea and communist China, and Japan.

A reason given for the defense of South Vietnam was to protect Thailand from communist North Vietnam.

Since then I have come to realize that communism would have never gotten off the ground, and the Soviet Union and commnunist China would never have become threats had it not been for Latter-day gadiantons within our own United States.