Books for Teaching/Learning Government

I recently read the book, "10 Books Every Conservative Must Read: Plus Four Not to Miss and One Impostor" by Benjamin Wiker, Ph.D. Dr. Wiker presents a book list that would be worthy reads for those pursing further study in government. I appreciated his list of four extra reads-which are fictional literature-that portray the values of conservatism. One book shows women embracing the role of marriage and nurturing and another book shows men acting in courage to protect their family and their lands. The correlation between living strong moral values and having limited government were intertwined. I understood more deeply the importance of moral character in public life. We have slipped from this.

With each book he presents a short biography on the author, information about the work itself that he choose and why the author's message should still be impactful today. Dr. Wiker's writing may provide help as a mentor of sorts to wade through difficult readings. His thoughts were particularly helpful to me recently as I reread "The Abolition of Man." Perhaps you will find this list helpful. Here is his book list:

1. "The Politics" by Aristotle
2. "Orthodoxy" by Gilbert Keith Chesterton
3. "The New Science of Politics" by Eric Voegelin
4. "The Abolition of Man" by C.S. Lewis
5. "Reflections on the Revolution in France" by Edmund Burke
6. "Democracy in America" by Alexis de Tocqueville
7. "The Federalist Papers" by Hamilton, Madison, Jay
8. "The Anti-Federalist"
9. "The Servile State" by Hilaire Belloc
10. "The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich August Von Hayek

Here are is four not to miss:

1. "The Tempest" by Shakespeare
2. "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austen
3. "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
4. "The Jerusalem Bible"

I will let you discover his imposter for yourselves. He makes a great case against its use to teach conservatism. Besides the fact that is devoid of all moral codes.

Walking to Zion: Rejecting My Enemy

Satan is my enemy. In the Pre-mortal existence his plan for forced salvation and personal glory were rejected. Christ's plan of agency and the glory being given to our Heavenly Father was chosen. Satan was offended and convinced one third of God's children to follow him. They left the presence of God. They have claimed earth as their playground to seek for the souls of men who kept their first estate. They seek us.

How do they plan to do it? Satan's plan hasn't changed. He still wants the glory. He still wants forced subjection. They seek to stand opposite of Christ in everything. Faith/Fear Peace/War Light/Darkness Righteousness/Wickedness

The Book of Mormon was written for our day. Two great civilizations were destroyed the same way. It is a pattern we must look to and learn from. They both were destroyed because of wickedness. They were both destroyed from secret societies that destroyed them from the inside out.

Mormon gives us a huge discourse on these secret societies in Heleman chapter 6. I quote from versus 21-32.

"But behold, Satan did stir up the hearts of the more part of the hearts of the Nephities, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should not suffer for their murders and their pluderings, and their stealings…

"And thus they might murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God.


"And whosoever of those who belonged to their band should reveal unto the world of their wickedness and their abominations, should be tried, not according to the laws of their country, but according to the laws of their wickedness…

"Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto Helaman; but behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton by that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit-

"Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world. And he did plot with Cain and his followers from that time forth.


"And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to heaven. And it was the same being who led on the people who came from that towers into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell.

"Yeah, it is that same being who put it into the heart of Gadianton to still carry on the work of darkness and of secret murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man even down to this time.

"And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men.

"And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephities; yeah insomuch that they had become exceedingly wicked; yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver.

"And it came to pass that all these iniquities did come unto them in the space of not many years."

Satan influenced and led the secret societies of the Nephites and the Lamanites. Their creed included no moral code, no accountability to the law of the land, and the rejection of God.

This last dispensation is a gathering of all the good the world has ever know (the restoration of all things) and it is also a gathering of all the evil the world has ever know. While God has been raising up His prophets, Satan has also been raising his army.

Nephi and Moroni both testified of this latter-day built up. Nephi said,

"And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.

"And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malife.

"And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for his the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and the works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cord forever." (2 Nephi

26:20-22)

And Moroni testified about when the Book of Mormon come,

"Yea, it shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of darkness.
"Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them belong to their churches….

"Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations; when there shall be many who will say, Do this, or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day. But wo unto such at the last day. But wo unto such, for they are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity.

"Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins." (Mormon 8:27-32)

Satan's plan for the last day: no moral code, no accountability and the rejection of God. It's the same plan he's always had. Interesting point though is that many of the secret combinations will be in the form of an open religion.

Fast forward to today. Do we see that? Is there a rejection of God? Is there a rejection of moral codes? Is there the belief that no one is accountable?

Here are some modern day definitions:

Moral relativism is the view that ethical standards, morality, and positions of right or wrong are culturally based and therefore subject to a person's individual choice. We can all decide what is right for ourselves. You decide what's right for you, and I'll decide what's right for me. Moral relativism says, "It's true for me, if I believe it." http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/Secular-Humanism.htm

Secular Humanism is an attempt to function as a civilized society with the exclusion of God and His moral principles. During the last several decades, Humanists have been very successful in propagating their beliefs. Their primary approach is to target the youth through the public school system. Humanist Charles F. Potter writes, "Education is thus a most powerful ally of humanism, and every American school is a school of humanism. What can a theistic Sunday school's meeting for an hour once a week and teaching only a fraction of the children do to stem the tide of the five-day program of humanistic teaching?" (Charles F. Potter, "Humanism: A New Religion," 1930)

Secular Humanism - Main Tool is Evolutionary Thought
Secular Humanism is manifested in Evolutionary Theory. To satisfy the fundamental question of "Where did we come from?" children are taught the doctrine of Evolution. The first plank of the Humanist Manifesto states: "Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created." The second plank states: "Humanism believes that man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as a result of a continuous process." Certainly, the public school system propagates the Humanist doctrine (clearly an atheistic "religion"), and thus, condemns the concept of God. This is an amazing irony. Creation Science has been successfully kept out of the public schools by organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (A.C.L.U.) on the grounds that Creation is religious, and the government should not support religion in any fashion. "In fact, evolution became in a sense a scientific religion; almost all scientists have accepted it, and many are prepared to 'bend' their observations to fit with it." (H. S. Lipson, FRS, Professor of Physics, University of Manchester, UK, "A Physicist Looks at Evolution", Physics Bulletin, vol. 31, May 1980, pg. 138).

Humanism: A Belief with no Purpose or Objective Values
Humanism holds that the universe exists for no purpose. We are the result of a blind and random process that does not necessitate any kind of meaning. Humanism differs from the more extreme philosophy of nihilism, in that life can have a meaning if we assign a meaning to it. Life is only worth living if we ourselves make it worthwhile and enjoyable. Humanism maintains that no objective or universal values exist. A person may be moral if he or she creates a system of values and lives according them. A humanist would maintain that no one is obligated to be moral. Therefore, humanism fails to provide moral objections to immoral behavior. Obviously, if no moral absolutes exist, you can't demonstrate that anything is wrong or evil. Thus, in a humanist society, no one can really judge or condemn the choices or actions of others.( http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/humanism.htm)

 

Humanism: Life Without Real Meaning
Humanism is fostered by the teaching of evolutionary science, materialism and moral relativism in our popular media and public school system. We've removed God from the equations. Without God, we lose any transcendent purpose for the universe in which we live. Without God, we lose any transcendent purpose to give meaning to our individual lives. We are nothing more than bugs struggling with survival until we die. All the achievements, the sacrifices, the good and beautiful acts of some people, the ugly and dark acts of others, are ultimately futile efforts of life. Without God, we lose any possibility for life after death. When you remove the hope of heaven, you remove the ultimate value and purpose of life. What difference would it really make whether we lived like a Billy Graham or an Osama Bin Laden? Everyone's fate would be the same anyway. This is the ultimate outlook of those who base their belief system on humanism. Eat, drink and be merry – for tomorrow we die. (http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/humanism.htm)

I strongly encourage you to read the "Humanist Manifesto." Here are some of their ten planks:

FIRST: Religious humanists regard the universe as self-existing and not created.
SECOND: Humanism believes that man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as a result of a continuous process.
THIRD: Holding an organic view of life, humanists find that the traditional dualism of mind and body must be rejected.
FOURTH: Humanism recognizes that man's religious culture and civilization, as clearly depicted by anthropology and history, are the product of a gradual development due to his interaction with his natural environment and with his social heritage. The individual born into a particular culture is largely molded by that culture.
FIFTH: Humanism asserts that the nature of the universe depicted by modern science makes unacceptable any supernatural or cosmic guarantees of human values. Obviously humanism does not deny the possibility of realities as yet undiscovered, but it does insist that the way to determine the existence and value of any and all realities is by means of intelligent inquiry and by the assessment of their relations to human needs. Religion must formulate its hopes and plans in the light of the scientific spirit and method.
EIGHTH: Religious Humanism considers the complete realization of human personality to be the end of man's life and seeks its development and fulfillment in the here and now. This is the explanation of the humanist's social passion.
NINTH: In the place of the old attitudes involved in worship and prayer the humanist finds his religious emotions expressed in a heightened sense of personal life and in a cooperative effort to promote social well-being.
TENTH: It follows that there will be no uniquely religious emotions and attitudes of the kind hitherto associated with belief in the supernatural.
FINAL PARAGRAPH: So stand the theses of religious humanism. Though we consider the religious forms and ideas of our fathers no longer adequate, the quest for the good life is still the central task for mankind. Man is at last becoming aware that he alone is responsible for the realization of the world of his dreams, that he has within himself the power for its achievement. He must set intelligence and will to the task. You may not know that Secular Humanism has been ruled a religion since June 19, 1961 in Torcaso v. Watkins (see Understanding the Times by David A. Noebel pg.33 and A Christian Manifesto by Francis A. Shaeffer pg. 55)

Our enemy, Satan, is knocking on our doors. He is all around us. Have we seen him? Do we realize that our society is controlled by his influence? Communism is the political party and humanism is the religion. They are interconnected. Everything they stand for is in exact opposition to Jesus Christ and His plan. I believe that this is the great and abominable church spoken of in the scriptures. Remember everything against Christ is Satan's teachings.  Humanism is the exact opposite of Jesus Christ.

Captain Moroni as taught us how to fight them. He raised the standard of liberty to protect their religion, their lands and their families. This is the opposite plan of Communism and Humanism.

We are in the greatest battle the world has seen so far. Are we fighting in this war as if it was the greatest war? Are we preparing for battles? Are we parrying the blows of the adversary? Sometimes I worry that I am tolerant and apathetic. I realize that there are many days I am being led down to hell by Satan's flaxen cord.

There is great hope for us however. We know that Christ will prevail. It remains though which side will we be found on?

Recovering the Lost Arts

I am repeatedly hearing that the homemaking arts of sewing, crocheting, quilting, canning, gardening, etc. are dying out because they have not been passed on by the previous two or so generations. This knowledge was once held by virtually everyone. Not only did everyone know these skills three generations ago, but all were experts in these arts.

I have spoken at length to older members of my community (over 80 years old) about this and found that there was indeed a universal knowledge of all of these arts. "Of course I know how to do that, everyone in my generation did," seems to be the universal response among the people I have visited with.

As I have pondered on this through the years I have made an effort to teach my daughter these arts that are disappearing from the earth. I am far from proficient in them and some I don't even know. I have been seeking out older mentors not only for my daughter but also for me; that way I can help teach the next generation including my grandchildren. This requires a conscious effort.

In reflecting on this I've also realized that the basic arts for men are also fast fleeing our society as well. These arts would be: handling a gun, auto repair, animal husbandry (chickens, livestock, etc), home repairs and maintenance, farming, landscaping (fruit and ornamental trees), changing water, building and carpentry, woodworking, leatherworking, carving, etc. There are many things that go on this list. I've noticed that as a general rule more and more men are either not doing the above things or are outsourcing it when there is a problem in the home. These arts must be reclaimed as well.

I believe that these arts that are necessary, whether in the role of man or woman, have been downplayed and carefully removed by socialists from our society in an effort to reduce the impact made by those correctly living their gender role. This is done through the media and the feminist movement. The strong protector is now a "chauvinist pig" and the feminine female is now a "victim of white man supremacy who should take her 'rightful place' among the men in the workforce." Remember the goal of socialists is an amoral society. That means that not only do they remove morals but they create a society where there are not males and females, but a society that becomes "its." I believe that this goes back to Satan wanting us to be "miserable like unto himself." President Packer recently stated that "Satan is impotent." Therefore he doesn't want us to fulfill our gender roles since he cannot either.

Some thoughts from Joseph F. Smith from Gospel Doctrine page 344-347:

"And here, also, a word to parents who have daughters. Are you fitting them for the practical duties of mother and wife, that they may in due time go out and make homes what they should be? Or are you training your daughter to play the lady by making them accomplished in flourishes, and expert in ostentatious embellishments?....We should not fail to insist that they shall to do the practical things, and they do not despise the common labors of life. Any other course toward them is an injustice to the boys and girls, as well as to ourselves and the community in general.

"I believe the morals of the people will improve as skill in workmanship and productive labors is acquired. Parents, too, will find it easier to govern and control their children, if these are trained in usual manual labor…

"There are but a few of our boys who take the hammer to the anvil and to those pursuits of labor that are essential to the permanence of any community in the world and that are necessary to build up the country…

"I would like to say to this congregation, and to the world, that if I possessed millions of dollars I would not be satisfied or content in my mind unless my boys knew how to do something that would bring them in a living, how to handle a pitchfork, or to run a mowing machine or reaper, or how to plow the ground and sow the seed; nor would I be satisfied if my daughters did not know how to keep a house. I would be ashamed of my children if they did know something of these things. We need manual training in schools instead of so much booklearning and the stuffing of fairy tales and fables which are contained in many of our school books of today. If we would devote more money and time, more energy and attention to teaching our children manual labor in our schools than we do, it would be a better thing for the rising generation."

I am making a greater effort to recover the lost arts in our society by learning them myself and passing them on to my children. In this way I believe we will live fuller lives as we embrace and reclaim our inheritance.

More Information from our Prophets, Seers and Revelators on Socialism and the Constitution

As I mentioned previously the quote by President McKay which reads that parents need to include in the teaching of their children the "Open and forcible teaching of facts regarding communism as an enemy to God and to individual freedom," has caused my husband and I to reflect deeply.  It is not enough for us to simply know and understand communism/socialism but we must know it enough to teach and articulate it to our children.  Below I present some information that may help you begin to know more about it that so you may teach those in your stewardship.

Here is a YouTube video contrasting President Benson's message against socialism and President Obama's message today. It is almost 11 minutes long. At least watch from about 7:30 on...

This is also a YouTube video that is part of a talk by President Benson about "The Book of Mormon" and the secret combinations.  He correlates how these secret societs exist today in the form of socialism.  He references a book to read, "None Dare to Call it a Conspiracy" by Gary Allen. This book is amazing!  Here is a link to an on-line copy of the book.

Elder Romney gave a talk called, "Is Socialism the United Order?"  He actually gave this talk twice.  The first time at BYU (link here) and the second at the April 1966 Conference.  Here is a link and here is another link. I highly recommend reading this as this is a very good base to start with.

Elder Oaks gave a talk called, "The Divinely Inspired Constitution" that appeared in Ensign Feb 1992. Here is the the link from lds.org.

Communist Manifesto

I recently read the Communist Manifesto.  It is deeply disturbing.  I felt, as I was reading it, that Satan himself had penned it.  It is extremely well written and very manipulating.  I think that it is an important read to recognize what is going on in our world today.  Here is an online copy of the "devilous scheme" (President Benson).

The stated goals in the Communist Manifesto are:

1. Destroy our belief in God or "the opiate of religion."
2. Destroy the family unit and institute "free love."
3. Destroy the ability for personal property (hence capitalism).

They plan to accomplish these goals through the use of these ten planks:

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

3. Abolition of all rights of inheritance.

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels.

5. Centralization of credit in the banks of the state, by means of a national bank with state capital and an
exclusive monopoly.

6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the state.

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the state; the bringing into cultivation of
waste lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

8. Equal obligation of all to work. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.

9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country.

10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labor in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, etc.

They are accomplishing these goals with great success.  The majority of the my district's legislatures are pushing these agendas. If these are the goals of the evil, than the opposite are Christ's goals.  I think we should copy this list and study it so that we can recognize their deceptions to us on a daily basis.

Tolerance: A Plague in America

One of the more fascinating things that I have observed in my study of Marxism through the years is the agenda of tolerance that they push. When you look around you see how well they have succeeded. We tolerate everything going on in our nation now without a second glance.

Tolerance is defined in 1828 Webster's Dictionary as: The power or capacity of enduring; or the act of enduring.

Tolerate is defined as: To suffer to be or to be done without prohibition or hinderance; to allow or permit negatively, by not preventing; not to restrain; as, to tolerate opinions or practices.

It seems that we as Christians don't dare speak out against anything anymore because we are afraid of getting people angry or offending someone. The new message for morality or no morality seem to be: don't judge others, whatever someone else does isn't my problem, they believe differently than me, we need to include everyone, even though I don't believe in that I'll just turn the other way, I don't care as long as they are happy, or I won't say anything because I don't want to offend them.

All of these passive thoughts remind me of some scriptures that prophesy of the last days (that means right now):

"Wo unto them that call evil good and good for evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" 2 Nephi 15: 20, see Moroni 7:14

"And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God-he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this;…" 2 Nephi 28:8

"It shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth…there shall be many who will say, Do this or do that, and it mattereth not, for the Lord will uphold such at the last day." Mormon 8:31

Korihor, the anti-christ, taught, "whatsoever a man did was no crime." (Alma 30:17, see Lamoni's previous beliefs in Alma 18:5)

I have thought this way for years. I have worried about saying what I believe in because I didn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable or offend them. How did I get to this point? I was carefully led to this point by fear. We hear about lawsuits, hate crime legislation and sob stories about gays or environmentalist crying because people won't accept them for who they are. It really comes down to being afraid, at least for me, of saying anything.

As I ponder on this the famous scripture comes to mind,

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." (Romans 1:16)

A simple point about judging. We are supposed to judge if things are right and wrong. A scripture mastery scripture from Moroni says,

"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for everything which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

" But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him."

I believe we are expected to judge if something is wrong and evil. This one gets all messed up in our mind sometimes. We are supposed to judge ideas and what people do so that we may not if that is what we should do. We often hear in this tolerance argument that Christ said, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." However, the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of this scripture reads, "Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged: but judge righteous judgment." (Matt 7:1) How often have we skipped the JST of this verse and allowed the world (influenced by Marx) to expound it for us?

When we watch movies I make my kids tell me what they reject and accept from the movie. The first one in most movies is that we reject the idea that a women needs to work to support her family. We reject that swearing is allowed. We reject the clothing worn as immodest and inappropriate. We reject the idea that we should make "love not war." If we consciously make no judgment than we will begin to rationalize these ideas as okay. (The point begs why are we watching movies like that, well, we aren't now).

I believe that it is imperative that we judge things. If we are not judging something of evil than we are accepting it as good.

I recently heard a statistic that only 7% of America considered themselves homosexuals. (I don't know if this is true). Supposing in theory that it is true than why are the airwaves of our lives overrun with messages for gay rights and ideology? Because they are louder than we are and we are tolerant. They blast their message and we look the other way. However, their message of accepting them is being heard by us. I recently had a conversation with a less-active, former temple recommend holding friend, who said, "Once all the legislation passes for gay marriages the church will simply have to accept it. Since we believe in honoring the laws of the land the church will have no choice but to marry gay couples in the temple." Are you serious? I, by the way, am ashamed to admit that I said nothing. I was worried about offending her. Perhaps a simple testimony would have reminded her to what she once believed in.

Our moral laws must NEVER be determined by legislation. President Packer recently said,

"History demonstrates over and over again that moral standards cannot be changed by battle and cannot be changed by ballot…We cannot change; we will not change the moral standard. We quickly lose our way when we disobey the laws of God. If we do not protect and foster the family, civilization and our liberties must needs perish." ("Cleansing the Inner Vessel," Ensign, November 2010, page76)

Another challenge we face is that somewhere along the way we have become tolerant of our children's misbehavior. We may allow them to participate in media that does not meet the guidelines in "For the Strength of Youth." Oftimes we allow infractions (until they simply become normal and part of life) for a couple of reasons. One may be that we may incorrectly believe that we have to "pick our battles" or that we are too tired to "fight" them on it. Even in the home school realm we allow our youth to participate in things of questionable nature because we feel bad that they don't fit in since they don't go to school. By allowing some leniency we hope that our children won't feel "too left out" or "backward."

Elder Lawerence gave a great talk this past conference entitled "Courageous Parenting." He says this,

"Challenges and temptations are coming at our teenagers with the speed and power of a freight train. As we are reminded in the family proclamation, parents are responsible for the protection of their children. That means spiritually as well as physically."

He quoted Elder Robert D. Hales by saying,

 "Sometimes we are afraid of our children-afraid to counsel with them for fear of offending them."

Elder Lawrence continues by saying,

 "It is vital that parents have the courage to speak up and intervene before Satan succeeds. President Packer has taught that 'When morality is involved, we have both the right and the obligation to raise a warning voice.'"

He concludes by saying,

 "Parenting teenagers in the latter days is a very humbling assignment. Satan and his followers are striving to bring this generation down; the Lord is counting on valiant parents to bring them up."

We must learn to recognize how we are tolerant. Thought questions: Do we watch shows that have gay people in them and just accept it? Do we allow our children to be taught sex ed in school? Do we remain silent when our legislature votes to allow girls to get an abortion without parental consent? Do we remain silent when our government takes money from someone who has earned it through the free-market and then let them give it to someone who has not worked? Do we lower our modesty because there's nothing modest in the store? Do we remain silent when our schools teach evolution and give no air time to any other theories? Do we allow our children to watch professional sports and sigh and wish that all the pornography and beer advertisements were not on there but still do nothing? Do we watch movies that have messages against what are in "For the Strength of Youth" by saying at least this movie is better than the other's. Do we allow our children to play violent video games and say, "I shouldn't let them, but all their friends play it, at least their home instead of at someone else's house." Do we allow our children to read sexually charged books? Do we allow our family to listen to the radio and accept the messages of drinking, drugs, promiscuity, and killing? (My favorite for most ridiculous song that I once heard had this line, "Earl's gotta die," from the Dixie Chicks or whatever they are called. I am very clueless when it comes to music). Do we allow ourselves or our children to be friends with people on facebook who blast their messages that are anti-our beliefs but we do nothing because we just don't want to make anyone mad or offend them?

Our lives are saturated in tolerance. I think at one time I have been guilty of most of the above ideas. It makes me really irritated at myself. I must choose to make a stand. I must pray to allow God to teach me where I am being deceived. Remember the scripture that even the very elect will be deceived? We must break our bonds of tolerance because if we accept their messages and do nothing we will face two problems. The first is that our nation will be stripped of everything wholesome and decent that it has-as President Packer taught in the above quote, (and it will be destroyed because this is the promised land and only the righteous can dwell here). The second reason is that the more we tolerate these messages we will then start accepting the ideas and we will find ourselves led carefully down to hell. We will have been "poision{ed} by degrees" (Alma 47:18) and we won't even know it until it is too late.

Let us all make a stand.

Quotes about Education and Marxism

I copied these quotes from http://www.homeschoolinginca.org/ . Lots of good morsels to think about.

President David O McKay

 I believe that four fundamental elements in such an education are: 1. The basic essentials of oral and written composition—arithmetic, social studies and science. 2. Loyal leadership as found in men who "cannot be bought or sold, men who will scorn to violate truth, genuine gold." 3. Open and forcible teaching of facts regarding communism as an enemy to God and to individual freedom. 4. More emphasis upon moral and spiritual values. May our educational system from grade school to university ever seek and merit His divine guidance! (Pathways to Happiness, p. 71) My husband and I were very impressed with this quote.  We found that the book is available on line.  Here is the link, click education to the chapter this quote is in.

President Boyd K. Packer

I am restless over the possibility, ever present, that education may fail to achieve a righteous purpose and be perversely used. We have many examples in the world where the misuse of this power has degraded men rather than exalted them... The voice of atheism, of corruption, of faithlessness, of dissention resounds from a thousand platforms. It is subsidized from public funds. It is invited to the forum in public institutions, tolerated by most, and encouraged by many. The voice of faith, on the other hand, is fading. Few places are left where it might speak. (BYU Speeches of the Year, 29 April 1969, p.3)

In many places it is literally not safe physically for youngsters to go to school. And in many schools - and it's becoming almost generally true - it is spiritually unsafe to attend public schools. Look back over the history of education to the turn of the century and the beginning of the educational philosophies, pragmatism and humanism were the early ones, and they branched out into a number of other philosophies which have led us now into a circumstance where our schools are producing the problems that we face. (Charge to the David O. McKay School of Education at BYU, October 9, 1996) 

 Elder Verlan H. Anderson

The institution of public education is so universally accepted today that many readers are apt to scoff at the idea that the control of education by government and the use of public funds for its support is contrary to moral law. Before rejecting the idea as absurd, one might ponder these facts... 1) Point number ten of the Communist Manifesto contains the following proposal: Free education for all children in public schools.
2) When public education was first proposed in the state of Utah, the leadership of the Church was unalterably opposed to it. (The Book of Mormon and the Constitution, p. 181)

Not only do the scriptures instruct us on when teaching is best done (see D&C 68:25-32; Deut. 8:5-9) but also on what should and should not be taught (see Moroni 7:14-19; 2 Nephi 9:28-29) and who should and should not do the teaching (see 2 Nephi 28:14, 31; Mosiah 23:14). The early teaching of children by parents offers the solution to many problems which otherwise would not afflict our lives. Is not this the ounce of prevention which will eliminate the need for many pounds of cure with respect to our youth? ...The proper teaching of children is truly one of the most essential parts of God's plan for our happiness." (Ensign, 10/91 p. 81.)

President Ezra Taft Benson

I feel to warn you that one of the chief means of misleading our youth and destroying the family unit is our educational institutions. There is more than one reason why the Church is advising our youth to attend colleges close to their homes where institutes of religion are available. It gives the parents the opportunity to stay close to their children, and if they become alerted and informed, these parents can help expose the deceptions of men like Sigmund Freud, Charles Darwin, John Dewey, John Keynes and others. There are much worse things today that can happen to a child than not getting a full education. In fact, some of the worst things have happened to our children while attending colleges led by administrators who wink at subversion and amorality. Said Karl G. Maeser, "I would rather have my child exposed to smallpox, typhus fever, cholera or other malignant and deadly diseases than to the degrading influence of a corrupt teacher." (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 307.) 

There is absolutely nothing in the Constitution which authorizes the federal government to enter into the field of education. Furthermore, the Tenth Amendment says: "The powers not delegated to the United States Government are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Nothing could be more clear. It is unconstitutional for the federal government to exercise any powers over education. (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 298.) 

 From the 5th grade through the 4th year of college, our young people are being indoctrinated with a Marxist philosophy and I am fearful of the harvest. The younger generation is further to the left than most adults realize. The old concepts of our Founding Fathers are scoffed and jeered at by young moderns whose goals appear to be the destruction of integrity and virtue, and the glorification of pleasure, thrills, and self-indulgence. (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p 321) 

The tenth plank in Karl Marx's Manifesto for destroying our kind of civilization advocated the establishment of "free education for all children in public schools." There were several reasons why Marx wanted government to run the schools. Dr. A. A. Hodge pointed out one of them when he said, "It is capable of exact demonstration that if every party in the State has the right of excluding from public schools whatever he does not believe to be true, then he that believes most must give way to him that believes least, and then he that believes least must give way to him that believes absolutely nothing, no matter in how small a minority the atheists or agnostics may be. It is self-evident that on this scheme, if it is consistently and persistently carried out in all parts of the country, the United States system of national popular education will be the most efficient and widespread instrument for the propagation of atheism which the world has ever seen." (in Conference Report, October 1970, p. 25)

Elder Horacio A. Tenorio

Parents have the responsibility to educate their children. No inappropriate outsider should be allowed to dictate our family's values nor what our children are being taught... In medieval times, great fortresses were built around castles or cities to protect them from enemy attacks. In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites built fortresses to defend their families against the enemies. We must make of our homes fortresses to protect our families against the constant attacks of the adversary. (Ensign, Nov. 1994 p. 23.)   

Marxism

Through the years I have made a study of Marxism. I have read several books about this subject, including a study of Marx himself. I have also read the writings of the followers of Marx and have studied their movements which are: socialism, humanism, progressivism, environmentalism, communism, etc. Their objective is threefold. 1: Destroy our belief in God, 2: Destroy the Family and 3: Destroy Capitalism.

If we believe that Marxism doesn't exist in America or our lives today we are wrong, dead wrong. Christ warns us in the last days, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matt 24:4-5, see JS-M 1) Later in verses 11-12 He teaches, "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." And finally in verses 23-24 He testifies that "If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." We are the elect. He is talking about His covenant people.

With these thoughts perhaps in mind it would behoove us to study just where these false Christs and false prophets are going to come from. I challenge you to make a study of Marxism and all the evil 'isms' associated with it, for I believe that is where many of these wolves are.

Several years ago I read a book called "The Naked Communist" by Cleon Skousen. This was a powerful book that was part of my studies. The book was written many years ago. I wished at the time that I could have this book republished for our time right now. I wished Mr. Skousen could show us what the realities are TODAY. I have finally found part two! I am very pleased! However, it is sad to see just how much farther down the path we have gone since the time Mr. Skousen's book was written.

 The part two that I am speaking of is not written by Mr. Skousen, but this message of communism can be found in a new documentary called, "Agenda" by Curtis Bowers. I have heard many good reviews about this movie. By happen chance we came across the opportunity to buy this DVD. We also met the man responsible for its production as a sheer coincidence. It is an amazing message that I challenge you to hear. I have the video if some of you close to me would like to watch it. It will change how you think about many things. Here is the trailer to the documentary:




Today in my studies I came across a scripture that I thought was most fitting, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and
fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Romans 16:17-18

I hope that we are gaining strong testimonies. I hope that we are learning who is masquerading around us in sheep's' clothing set to destroy the "very elect." I hope that we will not have our hearts deceived by fair speeches.

Below I've pasted the review I wrote on Goodreads for "The Naked Communist" a couple of years ago. Perhaps you will find it interesting.

The Naked Communist by W. Cleon Skousen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars





I LOVED this book! I took my sweet time reading it and soaked up every word. This book reviews the history of communism from its rise with Marx until 1960. The only bad thing is that I would love to read "the rest of the story," meaning through to the present.

This book was extremely eye opening in regard to how communism was spread. It was frustrating reading about the lackadaisical attitude of government officials world wide who had blinders on and let the USSR run wild at the close of WWII. They never believed that the Russians were really "that bad." It was also interesting that while the world sat back and watched LDS church leaders like President Benson, J. Rueben Clark and David O. McKay were declaring from the pulpits for all to realize that communism was seeking to destroy our liberty. I wonder how many were listening? Is my family listening now?

Here are some quotes just so you know...

“The paths we are following, if we move forward thereon, will inevitably lead us to socialism or communism, and these two are as like as two peas in a pod in their ultimate effect upon our liberties......We may first observe that communism and socialism—which we shall hereafter group together and dub Satanism—cannot live with Christianity nor with any religion that postulates a creator.” J. Rueben Clark Deseret News—September 25, 1949

"During the first half of the twentieth century we have traveled far into the soul-destroying land of socialism." Pres. McKay, Deseret News Oct. 18, 1952

“The aim and purpose...was then and is now world socialism, which communism seeks to achieve through revolution and which socialists seek to achieve through evolution.” Pres. Benson Oct. 1961-General Conference

Anyway...My edition was published in 1961. Here are a sampling of some of the communist goals at that time that I thought were still interesting nearly 50 years later... (see "Witness" by Whittaker Chambers also these lists are found from pages 259-262 in the book).

*Capture one or both of the political parties in the US.

*Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

*Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

*Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

*Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

*Break down cultural standards of morality be promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio and TV.

*Present homo-sexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

*Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

*Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture-education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics,etc

*Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

*Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

Okay, so that was only about 1/3 of them. I realize there may be some anti-communist propaganda involved with this book. However, with LDS church leaders crying out against communism I guess that's okay.

I believe that our nation is in jeopardy of being over ran with socialism. Socialism is just another face to communism. I believe that it is important to study these things so you can recognize fallacy in the political machines of our age.

The reason I read this book was because it was suggested by then President of the Church, David O. McKay, during General Conference of Oct. 1959. (I couldn't find this talk on line, but I did find numerous! on-line references to the talk Pres. McKay gave calling church members to read the book).

Here's a link to an article about Skousen writing the book. http://www.latterdayconservative.com/w.-cleon-skousen/w-cleon-skousen-is-asked-to-write-the-naked-communist.html

It was interesting to learn that Pres. Monson was actually involved in the initial publishing of this book...

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