LDS, what did church leaders teach in General conferences in the 1960's about communism and socialism?

Question

i found two talks online from ETB
http://youtu.be/uxBcodF8Y7Q
ETB even qualified Cleon skousens book the naked communist.
i say everyone should investigate Agenda 21
this is a planned take over of american society to do away with the sport of skiing among several, and property rights. fulfilling what ETB is warning us against in the 1960s

Answer 1

In general,they warned against the evils of both practices and some compared it to how Communism is basically satan's plan in heaven on earth. Communism would have everyone forced to work together communally, Christ's plan is to allow everyone to CHOOSE to work together, not be forced to do so and therefore have no agency. Several have warned that America was on it's way to such a path of socialism under "secret combinations" like those warned about by Book of Mormon prophets. For some specific quotes, click on the link below:



http://www.latterdayconservative.com/quotes-about/communism/



Here are some conference talks from LDS.org and ldsinfobase.net you might be interested in. Ezra Taft Benson is most famous for giving talks against socialism/communism. These warnings actually can be traced al the way back to George Albert Smith and earlier, so even since the begginings of the 1900's prophets have warned against communism. The warnings continued through the 1980's, but have generally not been in talks after the 1980's. Though Thomas S Monson has warned against "political machinations"





Marion G Romney(who is actually 2nd cousin to Mitt Romney)

http://www.ldsinfobase.net/liberty/MGR_66apr.html (1966 april general conference)



Ezra Taft Benson:

http://www.ldsinfobase.net/liberty/ETB_60apr.html (1960 april general conference)

http://www.ldsinfobase.net/liberty/ETB_61oct.html (1961 october general conference)

http://www.ldsinfobase.net/liberty/ETB_62apr.html (1962 april general conference)

http://www.ldsinfobase.net/liberty/ETB_63apr.html (1963 apr gen conf)

http://www.ldsinfobase.net/liberty/ETB_65apr.html (1965 apr gen conf)

http://www.ldsinfobase.net/liberty/ETB_66oct.html (1966 oct gen conf)

http://www.ldsinfobase.net/liberty/ETB_69oct.html (1969 oct gen conf)

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1979/10/a-witness-and-a-warning?lang=eng (1979 oct gen conf)

I also suggest going to ldsinfobase.net/liberty and going to the "our awful situation" link. It provides many quotes warning and suggestive of a secret combination seeking to destroy America and fundamentally transform it.

Answer 2

That was before my time. Conference reports are available through the Church History Department. If you really want to know, you should ask to access copies of the reports, which includes all the addresses from that time.; Membership has grown many times that which existed in 1960 -- below two million members then - it is now nearing 15 million with more members living outside the U.S. than inside its borders.



Generally speaking, Ezra Taft Benson, who was President Eisenhower's Secretary of Agriculture was an outspoken critic of Communism, or so I've been told.



Skousen is considered one of the more radical of Mormon authors of the time and his works do not carry the same weight as members of the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve. I have several of his books, and whenever I refer to them, I always have to look for the "flags" in the text which indicates when he was speculating.



Regardless, you are talking about material that is fifty or so years old and really not very relevant, considering the demise of most Communist nations and the Cold War. And, since many people were not even alive in the 1950s and 1960s, very few people will have the background necessary to understand the nature of the political situation of that time.



I'm not sure what you are attempting to say in your question, but for the most part, it would take a person who is knowledgeable of that time period and an active member of the church to be able to even start to address your question. YouTube videos are essentially no better than supermarket scandal sheets in video form -- not particularly trustworthy.

Answer 3

First, I don't know what ETB is.

Second, the LDS leaders were pretty clear that communism was a Satanic counterfeit of what God outlines for His people to take care of each other. Many tried to compare the United Order with communism but the General Authorities were pretty clear that the compulsion of communism was Satanic when compared with the choice to share freely of our resources, one with the other, set forth in the United Order.

If I remember right, Agenda 21 had to do with the communist manifesto that Kruschev used to throw in our faces, talking about burying us.

Answer 4

They warned against Communism and Socialism as a great threat to our agency and our Constitution. They considered Communism and Socialism as inspired by the devil, and modern manifestations of Satan's plan proposed in the Great Council in heaven before the world was created.



Here is a link to many of Ezra Taft Benson's talks. http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=authorsearch&authorChosen=Benson%2C+Ezra+Taft



Actually, I AM old enough to well remember the sixties and Ezra Taft Benson.

Answer 5

that it was against the constitution and that it denied freedom that God desired for His children that goes hand-in-hand with free agency. ETB was very concerned with keeping the federal government small and the powers of decisions with the states.



@rac -- ETB = ezra taft benson

Answer 6

I don't know how you found out about it, but we are still going to take over.

Answer 7

I don't think I am gonna click on your link anytime soon. Au Revoir!

Answer 8

If it pays then it stays is what i see iof the everchanging mormon church.