Utahs Republic

Posts Tagged ‘socialism’

A friend emailed me and a few others a link to the new Nebo School District educational framework document entitled “Partnership for 21st Century Skills.” A while later, another friend who also received the link sent me this brief review of the document. She agreed to let me post it here.

So glad they have highlighted the 21st Century Skills!!!  Such elaboration in this document leaves little concern for the future leaders of the United States and their intellectual development which undoubtedly will prepare them for their government employment. It all falls so neatly somewhere ‘under that rainbow’.

I was greatly relieved to know that they have determined the preeminent importance of literacy!  Especially global, civic, health, and environmental literacy which may or may not fall under the MSE [BYU McKay School of Education] category of “Balanced” Literacy.  Maybe we should check on that……

They must have been reading my mind when they discerned that our American youth MUST have highly skilled knowledge of the ‘…role of the economy in society’s rights of citizenship at global levels…’ and the equally important ‘global implications of civic decisions’. What a relief to know this is covered and they will fulfill their rights as global citizens!

They will probably demand to “monitor family health goals” under “health literacy”, don’t you think?  I am curious as to how they will grade the individual student on the family goals?  Could this be problematic?

This new 21st century skill set will help revive the pining for the 60’s radicals that seems rampant today, as they will encourage the young to “create new ideas” of “radical content”.  I wonder if they were referring to the curriculum used in Tuscon schools curriculum or if they have more original radical ideas they would like to have elevated….

And for the Christian youth, they will no doubt find success as they teach them correct skills to “effectively evaluate claims and beliefs”. Of course, if the Fairness Doctrine isn’t instituted before these are taught, they will have a generation of deep thinkers who will root for ‘fairness’ in the media as they will have been diligently taught to “synthesize between information and argument.”

Then I HAD to open the document and see if it really talked about monitoring family health goals. Amazingly true. WHAT ARE Y’ALL DRINKING DOWN THERE IN NEBO? Ohhhh, that’s right, you’re part of the BYU Public School Partnership where John Goodlad’s Agenda for Education in a Democracy scholars run the show… That explains everything.

https://www.p21.org/documents/P21_Framework_Definitions.pdf

What a load of garbage. This is exactly why school board races must be made partisan. Nobody knows what agenda they are putting into office because the public at large is full of ignorant people who vote based on who had the most signs up or whose name appeared first on the ballot. Nobody looks into school board candidates and they are mostly left-wingers that put agenda ahead of arithmetic.

Looking through the document I see other fun stuff like participating in global environmental action and how population growth impacts resource consumption rates. Wow that’s fantastic! Now Nebo children can learn how evil humans are and why we need to let some nut job such as Obama’s science czar put sterilants in our water supply so we don’t overpopulate the earth. If you aren’t familiar with John Holdren, here’s a couple quotes from him (https://bit.ly/13vEnq).

“Individual rights must be balanced against the power of the government to control human reproduction.”

“The law regulates other highly personal matters. For example, no one may lawfully have more than one spouse at a time. Why should the law not be able to prevent a person from having more than two children?”

“The Planetary Regime might be given responsibility for determining the optimum population for the world and for each region and for arbitrating various countries’ shares within their regional limits. Control of population size might remain the responsibility of each government, but the Regime should have some power to enforce the agreed limits.”

Among some of Holdren’s other ideas…

• Adding a sterilant to drinking water or staple foods
• Sterilizing women after their second or third child
• Long-term sterilizing capsule … implanted at puberty and might be removable, with official permission

Did John Holdren help Nebo S.D. write their document? If you live in Nebo, you may want to look into it…

This is classic. Liberal students don’t mind finding ways to put your money to better use, but when it comes to their GPA’s, “hey I worked for that.”

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOyaJ2UI7Ss[/youtube]

John 8:31-36
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

The ultimate purpose of Christ’s mission was to make us free through his sacrifice and resurrection. Free from sin and ultimately free from power and control of others. Through him, those in bonds (spiritual and temporal) may become free.

The U.S. Constitution was divinely established by Him to assist in fulfilling this purpose. Fourth President of the LDS church Wilford Woodruff said of those that framed the Constitution, they “were the best spirits the God of heaven could find on the face of the earth. They were choice spirits. . . .” (Wilford Woodruff, CR, April 1898, p. 89). Today we face a great challenge in defending these noble and moral men. There are those who would tear down Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and others, calling them immoral and trying to expose some type of filth that they never engaged in. If they had, they would not have been selected for such a work. The false notion that so many of them were deists also propagates through our education system. A brilliant new book called “Walking in Darkness at Noon-Day | The Cunning Plan to Destroy the Agency of Man” by John C. Greene addresses some of these points. The book has a lengthy chapter on addressing the Deist issue and contains some fantastic information about our founders that I had never before seen. I encourage you to get a copy because you and your children won’t be getting this in public schools. It is an LDS oriented book, but this particular chapter (which is about 60 pages) contains so much good information on debunking the falsehoods that you may want to pick up a copy even if you’re not LDS.

Do we really value freedom? I wonder sometimes when I see the number of people who claim such, but only want it for themselves and not for others. The LDS church members in particular will someday have to account for what they did in the fight for freedom since they have a greater light and knowledge concerning the true nature of the fight. Our beliefs in a pre-mortal war in heaven that continues on earth today should serve as a clear warning of the nature of this conflict and yet far too many are willing to take the wrong side in the battle today. Clear warnings from prophets of God have served as preparation for this fight and yet they are dismissed by some as irrelevant or in the past as if that somehow erases the fact that those things were ever said.

We would never go to our neighbors and tell them when to fill their gas tank up, what to teach their children tonight, what time to turn their lights off, what occupation they should prepare for, etc… Yet far too many are willing to let government overstep the powers WE GAVE IT and tell people how to do these very things. If we can’t tell people how to do these things, we cannot allow government to do them. We delegated powers to the government so it cannot do something we cannot do.

In the beginning when Satan sought to destroy our agency (our gift from God to choose how to live), there was only a simple choice we had to make. Would we let others risk losing their eternal salvation by giving them their choice, or would we force everyone to make the right choices, destroy agency, and deny everyone the opportunity for personal growth through opposition? That same battle is raging today in the form of communism and socialism. Those who embrace those principles are in reality, listening to the wrong spirit and fighting the spirit of God. They would rather try and prevent a failure through force, than encourage success through true freedom.

I have shared this quote elsewhere but it is particularly relevant to this post. In the April 1965 General Conference of the LDS church, Elder Ezra Taft Benson, an apostle of God, quoted President David O. McKay, God’s mouthpiece and prophet on the earth at that time.

Hear his words: “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.” (Cited in Jerreld L. Newquist, Prophets, Principles and National Survival [SLC: Publishers Press, 1964], p. 157.) As important as are all other principles of the gospel, it was the freedom issue which determined whether you received a body. To have been on the wrong side of the freedom issue during the war in heaven meant eternal damnation. How then can Latter-day Saints expect to be on the wrong side in this life and escape the eternal consequences? The war in heaven is raging on earth today. The issues are the same: “Shall men be compelled to do what others claim is for their best welfare” or will they heed the counsel of the prophet and preserve their freedom?

In the Book of Mormon, a letter from Pahoran, the ousted/exiled governor of the Nephites, to Captain Moroni, the general of the armies conducting a war and dealing with both external and internal threats, expresses the truth that the Spirit of God is the spirit of freedom.

Alma 61:15 Therefore, come unto me speedily with a few of your men, and leave the remainder in the charge of Lehi and Teancum; give unto them power to conduct the war in that part of the land, according to the Spirit of God, which is also the spirit of freedom which is in them.

It may not surprise anyone that my favorite song has always been “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Even as a young child I always loved patriotic holidays because sometimes we would sing that hymn. The lyrics are particularly poignant and this third verse is the summation of my Easter message.

“In the beauty of the lilies,
Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom
That transfigures you and me.
As he died to make men holy,
let us live to make men free,
While God is marching on.”
-Julia Ward Howe (modern lyrics differ from Julia’s original wording, most particularly in this verse is her phrase “let us die to make men free”)

I’ll close with a rendition of this song I found this which contains a touching gallery of images set to this wonderful song, as well as my testimony that God lives and is returning. It is our solemn obligation to demonstrate our faithfulness to God by defending the truth and freedom he has given us, both spiritually and temporally, according to our capacity and opportunities the Lord sets before us.

Brilliant explanation of why socialism doesn’t, can’t, won’t, ain’t gonna work. I heard the audio of this on Glenn Beck’s show this morning and thought this was one of the best explanations ever. It’s a graphic depiction of the saying, “socialism always fails because sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=661pi6K-8WQ[/youtube]

After Hans Andersen (son of the late H. Verlan Andersen) spoke in Highland a couple weeks ago, I got to speaking with him and he later gave me a digital copy of his father’s book collection and permission to distribute them to anyone that wants a copy. You may download a copy, but only if you click the Facebook “Like” button to the right so I know how many people have downloaded these books. :)

H. Verlan Andersen Book Collection (Zip file contains 6 books: The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil; Many are Called but Few are Chosen; Moral Basis of a Free Society; The Proper and Improper Role of Government; The Book of Mormon and the Constitution; Life and Teachings of H Verlan Andersen)

From one Appendix in the book the Moral Basis for a Free Society, I found this great list of quotes from every prophet in the LDS church except President Monson who was not the prophet when the book was published in 1995.

---

Appendix IV
Who Opposes Socialism

At one point in my life I attempted to find justification for the position taken by members who opposed President Benson, and whose opposition to him did not slacken, one whit, even after he became the prophet.

–Hans V. Andersen, Jr.

Joseph Smith

Wednesday, 13. I attended a lecture at the Grove, by Mr. John Finch, a Socialist, from England, and said a few words in reply…

Thursday, 14. I attended a second lecture on Socialism, by Mr. Finch; and after he got through, I made a few remarks, alluding to Sidney Rigdon and Alexander Campbell getting up a community at Kirtland, and of the big fish there eating up all the little fish. I said I did not believe the doctrine. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 33)

Brigham Young

We heard Brother Taylor’s exposition of what is called Socialism this morning. What can they do?Live on each other and beg. It is a poor, unwise and very imbecile people who cannot take care of themselves. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 14, p. 21)

John Taylor

…the world have generally made great mistakes upon these points. They have started various projects to try to unite and cement the people together without God; but they could not do it. Fourierism (authors note: Francois Fourier was a French socialist and writer), Communism — another branch of the same thing and many other principles of the same kind have been introduced to try and cement the human family together. And then we have had peace societies, based upon the same principles; but all these things have failed, and they will fail, because, however philanthropic, humanitarian, benevolent, or cosmopolitan our ideas, it is impossible to produce a true and correct union without the Spirit of the living God, … (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 18, p. 137)

I was speaking, a while ago, about the people there being divided into three classes. One of them you may call infidel, under the head of socialism, fourierism, and several other isms. Communism is a specimen of the same thing, … (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 1, p. 23, August 22, 1852)

Wilford Woodruff

You may wish to know why I make these remarks. I will tell you. Because God himself grants this right to every human being upon the earth irrespective of race or color; it is part of the divine economy not to force any man to heaven, not to coerce the mind but to leave it free to act for itself.He lays before His creature man the everlasting Gospel, the principles of life and salvation, and then leaves him to choose for himself or to reject for himself, with the definite understanding that he becomes responsible to Him for the results of his acts. (Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 23, p. 77)

Lorenzo Snow

In things that pertain to celestial glory there can be no forced operations. We must do according as the Spirit of the Lord operates upon our understandings and feelings. We cannot be crowded into matters, however great might be the blessing attending such procedure. We cannot be forced into living a celestial law; we must do this ourselves, of our own free will. And whatever we do in regard to the principle of the United Order, we must do it because we desire to do it …The United Order is not French Communism. (Lorenzo Snow, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 19, p. 346, 349-350)

Joseph F Smith

…We must choose righteous men, good men to fill these positions. Hence if you will only get good men to fill these offices no one should care who they are, so that you have agreed upon them, and were one. We want you to be one both in temporal, political and religious things, in fact, in everything you put your hands to in righteousness. We want you to be one, one as God and Christ are one, seeing eye to eye. Do not try to crush anybody, or build yourselves up at the expense of your neighbor. Do not do it; it is a custom of the world, and it is a wrong principle. (Joseph F. Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 25, p. 251)

Heber J. Grant

…Among the Latter-day Saints they speak of their philosophy and their plans under it, as an ushering in of the United Order. Communism and all other similar “isms” bear no relationship whatever to the United Order. They are merely the clumsy counterfeits which Satan always devises of the gospel plan. Communism debases the individual and makes him the enslaved tool of the state to whom he must look for sustenance and religion; the United Order exalts the individual, leaves him his property, “according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs,” (D&C 51:3) and provides a system by which he helps care for his less fortunate brethren; the United Order leaves every man free to choose his own religion as his conscience directs. Communism destroys man’s God-given free agency; the United Order glorifies it. Latter-day Saints cannot be true to their faith and lend aid, encouragement, or sympathy to any of these false philosophies. They will prove snares to their feet. (Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark Jr., David O. McKay, The First Presidency, CR, April, 1942, p. 90)

George Albert Smith

Consider the condition in the world, the number who are determined to take from the rich man not what belongs to themselves, but that which belongs to the others. God has permitted men to get wealth, and if they obtained it properly, it is theirs, and he will bless them in its use if they will use it properly …

We must not fall into the bad habits of other people. We must not get into the frame of mind that we will take what the other man has. Refer back to the ten commandments, and you will find one short paragraph, “Thou shaft not covet.” That is what is the matter with a good many people today.

They are coveting what somebody else has, when as a matter of fact, many of them have been cared for and provided with means to live by those very ones from whom they would take property. (President George Albert Smith, Prophets, Principles and National Survival, p. 343 [compiled by Jay Newquist], CR-10/49:171-2)

God gave this nation the Constitution. No nation in the world has a constitution that was given to it by our Heavenly Father except the United States of America. I wonder if we appreciate that. The Lord gave us a rule of life for this great nation, and as far as we have lived up to it and taken advantage of it, the nation has grown, and the people have been blessed. But there are many people who prefer, or at least they seem to prefer something else.

As one man said to me, “Why not try what Russia has tried and what Germany has tried?” And my answer to him was, “Why try something that has already failed? Why not hold on to what the Lord has given?” (The Teachings of George Albert Smith, Bookcraft, Salt Lake City, [1996], p. 171)

David O. Mckay

We are placed on this earth to work, to live; and the earth will give us a living. It is our duty to strive to make a success of what we possess — to till the earth, subdue matter, conquer the globe, take care of the cattle, the ‘locks and the herds. It is the Government’s duty to see that you are protected in these efforts, and no other man has the right to deprive you of any of your privileges. But it is not the Government’s duty to support you. That is one reason why I shall raise my voice as long as God gives me sound or ability, against this Communistic idea that the Government will take care of us all, and everything belongs to the Government. It is wrong! No wonder, in trying to perpetuate that idea, they become anti-Christ, because that doctrine strikes directly against the doctrine of the Savior…

No government owes you a living. You get it yourself by your own acts! — never by trespassing upon the rights of a neighbor; never by cheating him. You put a blemish upon your character the moment you do. (David O. McKay, Statements on Communism and the Constitution of the United States, p. 23)

During the first half of the twentieth century we have traveled far into the soul-destroying land of socialism … (David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, p. 273)

Joseph Fielding Smith

We have all been taught the doctrine of personal free agency and that no individual is ever compelled by force or other means to comply with divine edicts and philosophy. We have been informed that a long time ago in the pre-existence there was a rebellion in heaven, and because one notable character, who had been entrusted with great authority, rebelled and led many away with him, he had to be cast out of the kingdom. However we should remember that every principle and law existing in the celestial kingdom has been proved to be perfect through the eternities through which they have come. If any individual proves himself worthy for the exaltation in that kingdom, it will be by strict obedience to every principle and covenant here existing. Therefore we may be assured that every law and principle thereunto pertaining is perfect and cannot be amended or discarded because of it perfection. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol. 4, p. 69)

The modern trend of the nations is towards dictatorship. It is taking form in two great camps, but, nevertheless, the direction is the same, although it is being reached by different routes. On the one side the direction to make an end of all nations, is through communism; … (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Progress of Man, p. 397)

Harold B. Lee

There are some things of which I am sure, and that is that contrary to the belief and mistaken ideas of some people, the United Order will not be a socialistic or communistic setup; … (Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places, p. 280)

Now, keep in mind with all the crowding in of the socialistic reform programs that are threatening the very foundation of the Church, we must never forget what the Lord said, “that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world” (D&C 78:14). Whenever we allow ourselves to become entangled and have to be subsidized from government sources — and we think that it’s the expedient way to do business in this day — or when we yield to such pressures, I warn you that government subsidies are not the Lord’s way; and if we begin to accept, we are on our way to becoming subsidized politically as well as financially. (Harold B. Lee, The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, [1996], p. 314-15)

Spencer W. Kimball

…Assume that you become the world leader of Socialism and in it have marked success, but through your devotion to it you fail to live the gospel. Where are you then? Is anything worthwhile which will estrange you from your friends, your Church membership, your family, your eternal promises, your faith? You might say that such estrangement is not necessarily a result of your political views, but truthfully hasn’t your overpowering interest in your present views already started driving a wedge? (0/0/45) (Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings, pp. 408-409)

Ezra Taft Benson

The fifth and final principle that is basic to our understanding of the Constitution is that governments should have only limited powers. The important thing to keep in mind is that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they, themselves, have in the first place. Obviously, they cannot give that which they do not possess.

By deriving its just powers from the governed, government becomes primarily a mechanism for defense against bodily harm, theft, and involuntary servitude. It cannot claim the power to redistribute money or property nor to force reluctant citizens to perform acts of charity against their will. Government is created by the people. The creature cannot exceed the creator. (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Sept. 1987, p. 8)

No true Latter-day Saint and no true American can be a socialist or a communist or support programs leading in that direction. (Ezra Taft Benson, Title of Liberty, p. 190)

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 secret combinations, … (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, July, 1988, p. 80)

We must keep the people informed that collectivism, another word for socialism, is a part of the communist strategy. Communism is essentially socialism. (Ezra Taft Benson, This Nation Shall Endure, p. 90)

Howard W. Hunter

… we know from both ancient and modern revelation that Satan wished to deny us our independence and agency in that now forgotten moment long ago, even as he wishes to deny them this very hour. Indeed, Satan violently opposed the freedom of choice offered by the other, so violently that John in the Revelation described “war in heaven” over the matter. (Rev. 12:7) Satan would have coerced us, and he would have robbed us of that most precious of gifts if he could: our freedom to choose a divine future and the exaltation we all hope to obtain …

To fully understand this gift of agency and its inestimable worth, it is imperative that we understand that God’s chief way of acting is by persuasion and patience and long-suffering, not by coercion and stark confrontation… (Howard W. Hunter, That We Might Have Joy, pp. 77-78)

Gordon B. Hinckley

I am confident that it was out of what he saw, the bitter fruit of dictatorship that he developed his strong feelings, almost hatred for communism and socialism. That distaste grew through the years as he witnessed the heavy handed oppression and suffering of the peoples of eastern europe under what he repeatedly described as godless communism. These experiences further strengthened his love for the land of his birth …

He never got over his boyhood love for freedom. Rather, it grew within him. Nurtured by what he saw of oppression in other lands, and by what he observed first hand of a growing dominance of government in this land over the lives of the people. (Gordon B. Hinckley, Talk given at the funeral of Ezra Taft Benson, June 4, 1994)

Still think John Goodlad isn’t having a negative influence in Alpine School District? Schools are sending his socialist propaganda home in newsletters. John Goodlad is a John Dewey disciple and award winner. Dewey was one of the original signatories of the Humanist Manifesto and both these men have an agenda to embed the principles of socialism in our schools. When challenged, the principal and PTA president just brush it off and dismiss it as no big deal. Isn’t it?

Read what one parent wrote after receiving this school newsletter:

 

In February, my kindergartner came home with the monthly PTA newsletter, and every month, as usual, the Principal writes a few encouraging words to all students and parents of the school.  As I read the second paragraph-I was alarmed by this statement “John Dewey, a respected educator said:  ‘What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all of its children.  Any other ideal for our schools is narrow and unlovely; acted upon, it destroys our democracy.‘”

My heart sank, and quickly I went to the school.  Newsletter in hand, I asked the Principal why she decided to put a quote from John Dewey in the newsletter.  I told her it was wrong to put any of John’s philosophies in a school newsletter.  Dewey is not a respected educator; he is a socialist progressive.  She informed me that it was only an innocent quote she happened to stumble upon and she thought it sounded nice.  She ‘respects’ John Dewey; it’s just my ‘opinion’ that he’s not respected.  She told me that next time, she’ll take out the ‘respected educator’ part.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, so that evening I called the PTA President.  I told her that the PTA newsletter was very controversial.  She knew exactly which part it was and immediately sided with the Principal.  She told me (laughing) that there are much bigger problems in this world to be worried about, and that this is not a Big Deal. I told her that my children’s educations are a huge deal.  “Yes, but Liz, I know all about John Dewey, and actually I admire him, and the things he says,” she said.  “We shouldn’t be worrying about these little things, and I hope this won’t keep you away from helping the PTA,” she said.  It certainly does, and I will never ignore the goings on in our community, especially the educational system.  I will always stand up for what is right, even if it means noticing something so ‘small’.

After playing phone tag with the District Leader of our school, I ran into her in the Lehi Elementary School Library as I was checking out the patriotic section.  She immediately asked me if I was part of the ‘Radical’ group in Alpine (I wasn’t at the time, but after our little conversation I asked around and found them and  signed their petition).  After some back and forth conversation, she asked me several times what can she possibly do to help the situation.  I told her about the newsletter, concerned parents, and teaching the 3 R’s, so on… She said she would ‘talk’ to the Principal and that “Wow! I didn’t even think that anyone ever read the front page of the newsletter! (Laughing) Oh, but I’m not saying that you’re dumb or anything like that.”

She asked me what part of the quote was so controversial.  I told her it was the Democracy part.  So she so kindly explained to me what Democracy was.  I asked her straight out if she incorporates Goodlad’s theories into our school.  It was all just a confusing blur after that as she proceeded to tiptoe around that question and squirmed in her chair.  I was treated like a dumb, ‘how dare you’ person.  Since then, I have informed friends, neighbors and family what is going on.

Liz Kuhni
Lehi, Utah

(Here’s the full page if you want to view it)

In last Sunday’s op-ed by Troy Williams entitled, “The case for Book of Mormon socialism,” (link) the author’s personal interpretation of scripture violates the principles of agency and the United Order, and in my opinion does not reflect the LDS church teachings.

The scriptures Troy refers to carry prophetic commands to take care of the poor, but those instructions are given to members of the church, not to the government. If it were forced on people through the government, then those people that did not want to take care of the poor would be forced against their will to provide for others in violation of the eternal principle of agency. In essence, this socialist line of thinking attempts to save everyone through a program of force, similar to what the LDS view as Satan’s plan in the pre-mortal life. Alma provides an example of what the Book of Mormon teaches in Alma 4 when he saw the gross inequality among the people and the oppression of the poor. He gave up the judgment-seat and began to preach the word of God to the people to pull down their pride and materialism. He did not set up a government program but he taught the people to use their agency to help the poor.

The core of the United Order is that all property belongs to God who gives man stewardship over a portion of it. He asks man to willingly give up what he does not need, and through agency, man learns how to act in doing good with that stewardship.

Socialism rewards idleness which is clearly not scripturally supported. The parable of the talents illustrates the need to work and the reward given to the laborer. In D&C 42:42 the Lord said “Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shalt not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer.” Socialism violates this law and puts man in a category of being acted upon which violates the nature of man’s existence (D&C 93:30).

Do we have mega-rich people in this country that are not generous? Certainly. Is it our place to forcibly take from them and ensure they pay their share to the poor? Absolutely not. Speaking to the rich members of the church, King Benjamin said:

“And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.

I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.” (Mosiah 4:22-23)

How can there be a just judgment unless the rich have a chance to use their wealth for good and then neglect it? We supplant God’s judgment when we enact socialist policies.

Socialism is inconsistent with the scriptural command to “be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect.” (Matt 5:48) If God does not compel individuals, no Christian can argue that forced righteousness is a principle of the gospel.

For anyone confused about the difference between socialism and the United Order, here are two excellent talks that address the subject.

J. Reuben Clark, “The United Order Vs. Communism,” General Conference, October 1942
Marion G. Romney, “Socialism is not the United Order,” General Conference, April 1966

A friend just sent me this list of a few quotes from the highly acclaimed (by educators) John Goodlad book “Developing Democratic Character in the Young.”

• “At its most basic, democracy means shared governance or shared decision making. In other words, if a decision will affect the lives of more than one individual, as most decisions do, that decision should be made by all of those affected, or by as many as possible.”  (Paul Theobald et al., in Goodad, John: Developing Democratic Character in the Young, pp. 94-110)

• “There are many ideas, everything from “computer democracy,” which would enable direct rather than representative voting at the state and even the federal level (thus eliminating the effectiveness of corporate lobbying efforts), to the creation of new state charters of incorporation.”  [he goes into some detail about why corporations are the source of injustice, and why we should essentially abolish them.]  (Paul Theobald et al., in Goodad, John: Developing Democratic Character in the Young, pp. 94-110)

• “What makes popular rule legitimate is that it is a fair process, not that it produces results that are right.” (Paul Theobald et al., in Goodad, John: Developing Democratic Character in the Young, pp. 94-110)

• In order to produce right results, he says that popular rule “must be constrained by some substantive values.” (Paul Theobald et al., in Goodad, John: Developing Democratic Character in the Young, pp. 94-110)

In other words:

1) Enculturate the young with the values the state thinks are best,
2) Promote popular rule through direct democracy, so that
3) The people will vote for themselves what the state thinks is best.

Here is some of what he has to say about John Lock, Adam Smith, and the US Constitution:

• “…we must dismiss that part of our Locke-Smith heritage that separates the social and economic life from the political sphere. This is not easily done given that so much of Smith and Locke went into the Constitution.” (Paul Theobald et al., in Goodad, John: Developing Democratic Character in the Young, pp. 94-110)t

• If the question of sustainability comes down to a struggle between those who value short-term economic gain [corporations/capitalists] and those who value long-term environmental well-being, then engaging in deliberative democracy…may be the only way to grapple with and overcome this issue in a collective manner. (Paul Theobald et al., in Goodad, John: Developing Democratic Character in the Young, pp. 94-110)

• “democratic character” that must be developed in the young is defined as a “democratic concern for social, economic, and environmental justice.” Goodlad’s organization, the NNER, advocates dispositions favorable toward redistribution of resources, promotion of GLBTQQIIAA  lifestyles, and environmentalism. (Paul Theobald et al., in Goodad, John: Developing Democratic Character in the Young, pp. 94-110)

Anyone care to argue that Goodlad isn’t looking for direct Democracy, the kind our Founding Fathers hated?

After Buffy Snell’s article exposing the indoctrination her child’s teacher engaged in in his classroom, a few emails were sent to Buffy from people expressing their feelings. Among them was one which this clip is from:

Dear Mrs. Snell
After reading your blog post on teachers at the Junior High, I would like to have you understand a few points from my opinion…

2. Karl Marx invented Communism to be the perfect government. The reason communism doesn’t work is because of selfish and corrupt leaders. If leaders did not become corrupt, but were more like King Benjamin, then communism could be the perfect government. Also have you ever noticed how similar the law of consecration and communism are?
…
Sincerely,
An American Fork City citizen

This person, obviously LDS for a couple of the references used, has fallen into the same trap that so many others do in our society because we are being enculturated into a social and political democracy.

 

I am honestly at a loss to understand how so many LDS people have the mistaken belief that communism would ever be ideal or that it is related to the law of consecration. Communism is the great deception.

I have already posted a couple times on this topic on these 2 pages, but I might as well post a few more quotes below.

https://www.utahsrepublic.org/lds/joseph-smith-on-socialism/

https://www.utahsrepublic.org/civics/socialism-is-not-the-united-order/

These quotes come out of a file I have and just to be perfectly clear, I did not look all of these up. I just looked up a couple which I have access to, but cannot validate all of them with my own resources. If anyone knows if one is incorrect, please let me know and I’ll remove it, but I think they’re all likely accurate.

David O. McKay, President of the Church, in Conference Report, April 1966, pp. 109–110:
The position of this Church on the subject of Communism has never changed. We consider it the greatest Satanical threat to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work among men that exists on the face of the earth. In this connection, we are continually being asked to give our opinion concerning various patriotic groups or individuals who are fighting Communism and speaking up for freedom. Our immediate concern, however, is not with parties, groups, or persons, but with principles. We therefore commend and encourage every person and every group who are sincerely seeking to study Constitutional principles and awaken a sleeping and apathetic people to the alarming conditions that are rapidly advancing about us. We wish all of our citizens throughout the land were participating in some type of organized self-education in order that they could better appreciate what is happening and know what they can do about it. . . . No member of this Church can be true to his faith, nor can any American be loyal to his trust, while lending aid, encouragement or sympathy to any of these false philosophies, for if he does they will prove snares to his feet.

Letter from David O. McKay’s Office, signed April 12, 1969:
By reason of his office and calling, Elder Benson is entitled to inspiration when addressing Church groups, and, since Communism is a definite threat to the eternal principles of free agency, it cannot be considered that he is “out-of-line” when discussing it in talks.

First Presidency Letter (signed by Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, and David O. McKay), written to U. S. Treasury, 30 September, 1941:
The Church has not found it possible to follow along the lines of the present general tendency in the matter of property rights, taxes, the curtailment of rights and liberties of the people, nor in general the economic policies of what is termed the “New Deal.” . . . Unless the people of America forsake the sins and the errors, political and otherwise, of which they are now guilty and return to the practice of the great fundamental principles of Christianity, and of Constitutional government, there will be no exaltation for them spiritually, and politically we shall lose our liberty and free institutions. . . . We believe that our real threat comes from within and not from without, and it comes from the underlying spirit common to Naziism, Fascism, and Communism, namely the spirit which would array class against class, which would set up a socialistic state of some sort, which would rob the people of the liberties which we possess under the Constitution, and would set up such a reign of terror as exists now in many parts of Europe. . . . We confess to you that it has not been possible for us to unify our own people even upon the necessity of such a turning about, and therefore we cannot unfortunately, and we say it regretfully, make any practical suggestion to you as to how the nation can be turned about.

David O. McKay, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Conference Report, April 1962, p. 125:
Men today are rapidly classifying themselves into two groups: believers and nonbelievers. J. Edgar Hoover, and I quote, says: “There is no place here in America for part-time patriots. This nation is face to face with the greatest danger ever to confront it, a sinister and deadly conspiracy which can be conquered only by an alert, informed citizenry. It is indeed appalling that some members of our society continue to deplore and criticize those who stress the communist danger. Public indifference to this threat is tantamount to national suicide. Lethargy leads only to disaster. Knowledge of the enemy, alertness to the danger, everyday patriotism are the brick and mortar with which we can build an impregnable fortress against communism.”

David O. McKay, President of the Church, in Conference Report, October 1959, pp. 4–9:
On the fly-leaf of the book, The Naked Communist, by W. Cleon Skousen, we find this quotation, (and I admonish everybody to read that excellent book of Chief Skousen’s): “The conflict between communism and freedom is the problem of our time. It overshadows all other problems. This conflict mirrors our age, its toils, its tensions, its troubles, and its tasks. On the outcome of this conflict depends the future of mankind.”

David O. McKay, in Conference Report, October 1962, p. 8:
Above all else, strive to support good and conscientious candidates of either party who are aware of the great dangers inherent in communism and who are truly dedicated to the Constitution in the tradition of our founding fathers. They should also pledge their sincere fealty to our way of liberty—a liberty which aims at the preservation of both personal and property rights. Study the issues, analyze the candidates on these grounds, and then exercise your franchise as free men and women. Never be found guilty of exchanging your birthright for a mess of pottage!

David O. McKay, in The Instructor, February 1856, p. 34:
Next to being one in worshiping 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! May the appeal of our Lord in His intercessory prayer for unity be realized in our homes, our wards, our stakes, and in our support of the basic principles of our Republic.

David O. McKay, in Deseret News, “Church Section,” 18 October 1952, p. 2:
During the first half of the twentieth century we have traveled far into the soul-destroying land of socialism and made strange alliances through which we have become involved in almost continuous hot and cold wars over the whole of the earth. In this retreat from freedom the voices of protesting citizens have been drowned by raucous riots of intolerance and abuse from those who led the retreat and their millions of gullible youth, who are marching merrily to their doom, carrying banners on which are emblazoned such intriguing and misapplied labels as social justice, equality, reform, patriotism, social welfare.

Joseph Fielding Smith, in Conference Report, April 1950, p. 159:
Now I tell you it is time the people of the United States were waking up with the understanding that if they don’t save the Constitution from the dangers that threaten it, we will have a change of government.

First Presidency Statement, in Improvement Era, vol. 39 (August 1936), p. 488:
With great regret we learn from credible sources, governmental and others, that a few Church members are joining directly or indirectly, the Communists and are taking part in their activities. . . . To support Communism is treasonable to our free institutions, and no patriotic American citizen may become either a Communist or supporter of Communism. . . . Communism being thus hostile to loyal American citizenship and incompatible with true Church membership, of necessity no loyal American citizen and no faithful Church member can be a Communist. We call upon all Church members completely to eschew Communism. The safety of our divinely inspired Constitutional government and the welfare of our Church imperatively demand that Communism shall have no place in America.

First Presidency Statement, in Conference Report, April 1942, p. 90; italics added:
We again warn our people in America of the constantly increasing threat against our inspired Constitution and our free institutions set up under it. The same political tenets and philosophies that have brought war and terror in other parts of the world are at work amongst us in America. The proponents thereof are seeking to undermine our own form of government and to set up instead one of the forms of dictatorship now flourishing in other lands.

President Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp. 405:

“The only way we can keep our freedom is to work at it.  Not some of us.  All of us.  Not some of the time, but all of the time.  So if you value your citizenship and want to keep it for yourself and your children and their children, give it your faith, your belief, and give it your active support in civic affairs.”

Ezra Taft Benson (do I even need to start quoting him???) :), April 1965 General Conference

“Hear his words [speaking of President David O. McKay]: “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.” (Cited in Jerreld L. Newquist, Prophets, Principles and National Survival [SLC: Publishers Press, 1964], p. 157.) As important as are all other principles of the gospel, it was the freedom issue which determined whether you received a body. To have been on the wrong side of the freedom issue during the war in heaven meant eternal damnation. How then can Latter-day Saints expect to be on the wrong side in this life and escape the eternal consequences? The war in heaven is raging on earth today. The issues are the same: “Shall men be compelled to do what others claim is for their best welfare” or will they heed the counsel of the prophet and preserve their freedom?”

My daughter somehow stumbled on this and knew I’d love it. Enjoy!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR2ipu20WBQ[/youtube]