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Ezra Taft Benson

Ezra Taft Benson Quotes

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Famous Ezra Taft Benson Quotes

“Are we reading the Constitution and pondering it? Are we aware of its principles? Are we abiding by these principles and teaching them to others? Could we defend the Constitution? Can we recognize when a law is constitutionally unsound? Do we know what the prophets have said about the Constitution and the threats to it?”

KnowsSaidLawReadingPrinciplesTeachingConstitutionThreatProphetAbidingPondering
Book:The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson
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“I don't know how you feel, my brethren and sisters, but I'd rather be dead than to lose my liberty. I have no fear we'll ever lose it because of invasion from the outside. But I do have fear that it may slip away from us because of our own indifference, our own negligence, as citizens of this land. And so I plead with you this morning that you take an active interest in matters pertaining to the future of this country.”

KnowsFeelsMayCountryMatterInterestLosesLibertyMorningKnow HowLandCitizensActiveIndifferenceSlipsNo FearInvasionHow You FeelBrethrenHave No FearNegligence
Book:So shall ye reap: selected addresses
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“Today, with the abundance of books available, it is the mark of a truly educated man to know what not to read. … Feed only on the best. As John Wesley’s mother counseled him: ‘Avoid whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things, … increases the authority of the body over the mind.”

KnowsMenMindBookReasonBodyTodaySpiritualMotherAuthorityConscienceIncreaseMarkAvailableEducatedAbundanceTendernessRelishEducated Man
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“More than ever before, we need to learn and apply the principles of economic self-reliance. We do not know when the crisis involving sickness or unemployment may affect our own circumstances. We do know that the Lord has decreed global calamities for the future and has warned and forewarned us to be prepared. For this reason the Brethren have repeatedly stressed a 'back to basics' program for temporal and spiritual welfare.”

KnowsNeedsMaySelfReasonSpiritualSpiritualityLordPrinciplesLearningEconomicCircumstancesProgramCrisisPreparedPreparationWelfareSicknessBe PreparedUnemploymentSelf RelianceRelianceCalamityStressedInvolvingBrethrenBasicsPreparednessEmergency PreparednessBack To BasicsForewarned
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“Have you ever asked yourself why one person is honorable and another dishonorable; why one is honest, another dishonest; why one is moral, another immoral? Most individuals do not intend to be dishonest, dishonorable, or immoral. They seem to allow their characters to erode by a series of rationalizations, lies, and compromises. Then when grave temptation presents itself, they haven't the strength of character to do what they know to be right.”

KnowsPersonsCharacterSeemsLyingIndividualMoralHonestHavensHonestySeriesGravesTemptationCompromiseDeceitHonorableImmoralStrength Of CharacterErodeDishonorable
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the [Book of Mormon] to expose and combat the falsehoods in socialism, organic evolution, rationalism, humanism, and so forth.…And our nation will continue to degenerate unless we read and heed the words of the God of this land, Jesus Christ, and quit building up and upholding the secret combinations which the Book of Mormon tells us proved the downfall of both previous American civilizations.”

KnowsMayBookUseJesusNationsChristSecretKnow HowTeachingLandBuildingEvolutionCivilizationJesus ChristHumanismQuittingSocialismCombinationOur FamilyTrendsCombatFalsehoodWorldlyHeedDegeneratesDownfallRationalismBuilding Up
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“I testify to you that God's hand has been in our destiny. I testify that freedom as we know it today is being threatened as never before in our history. I further witness that this land-the Americas-must be protected, its Constitution upheld, for this is a land foreordained to be the Zion of our God. He expects us as members of the Church and bearers of His priesthood to do all we can to preserve our liberty.”

KnowsHas BeensHandsTodayChurchLibertyDestinyLandMembersConstitutionWitnessPreservesProtectedThreatenedOur DestinyPriesthoodZion
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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“We should know why paternalism, collectivism, or unnecessary federal supervision will hold our standard of living down and reduce productivity just as it has in every country where it has been tried. We should also know why the communist leaders consider socialism the highroad to communism.”

KnowsShouldHas BeensCountryLeaderStandardsConstitutionDown AndProductivitySocialismCommunismCommunistUnnecessaryCollectivismStandards Of LivingSupervisionPaternalismCommunist Leaders
Book:God, family, country: our three great loyalties
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“The world teaches birth control. Tragically, many of our sisters subscribe to its pills and practices when they could easily provide earthly tabernacles for more of our Father's children. We know that every spirit assigned to this earth will come, whether through us or someone else. There are couples in the Church who think they are getting along just fine with their limited families but who will someday suffer the pains of remorse when they meet the spirits that might have been part of their posterity.”

ThinkingKnowsWorldChildrenHas BeensMightEarthPainSpiritSufferingFatherChurchTeachPracticeFineBirthCoupleSomedayRemorseMight Have BeenPillsPosterityOur FatherBirth ControlGetting Along
Book:God, family, country: our three great loyalties
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“If we keep a goal firmly in mind, we will know when we have reached it. This gives us a sense of accomplishment and the challenge of establishing fresh, new goals - always keeping the long-range objective in mind. If we can state our goals clearly, we will gain a purpose and meaning in all our actions.”

IfsKnowsGivingMindLongStatesActionPurposeGoalChallengesGainsObjectivesGenerosityRangeAccomplishmentOur ActionsSense Of AccomplishmentNew GoalPurpose And Meaning
Author:Ezra Taft Benson
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