M* Quiz

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Guess which prominent General Authority said the following? Extra credit for indicating when he said it.

With numerous others, I am greatly disturbed at the rapid move of our government to socialism and what seems to be an approach toward dictatorship; with a controlled Supreme Court, the administration continues to impose more and more demands upon the people…Taxes are becoming back-breaking, expenditure and waste are alarming. The Church must remain independent and furnish its own funds for all its own adventures and projects. The government seems too anxious to give, give, give to the poor, to the aged, to the schools, to everyone, and blinded people feel they are getting something, whereas they pay it to the government so that the government can after great overhead expense return a part of it to the people. And every time a gift returns to the people–a so-called gift–it comes with fetters binding and tying and enslaving. For every block of funds given to the people, they lose a bigger block of liberty.

I’ll wait a few days before posting the answer and commentary. I’m guessing our intrepid commenters will find the answer soon, however.

29 thoughts on “M* Quiz”

  3. P’d Guess either Ezra Taft Benson or my Wife’s Grandfather…

    (Why doesn’t M* have it’s comments post at ldsblogs anymore?)

  9. Keep on guessing. Answer on Monday, Jan. 15. I will also give the source and some commentary.

  13. Spencer W. Kimball, 1965.

    Quoted in Edward L. Kimball’s 1977 biography, Spencer W. Kimball, chapter 18.

    The quote you gave is preceded by the following:

    Generally speaking, as an apostle Elder Kimball was nonpolitical in his approach. He always voted and tried to attend mass meetings in his neighborhood to select responsible representatives to party conventions, but he felt that General Authorities should avoid public positions on most political questions because of the potentially divisive effect. On a few occasions he spoke out on referenda, such as on sale of liquor by the drink in Utah and on Sunday closing, but these he considered to be basically moral rather than political issues.

    In 1964 the First Presidency had decided to accept $2 million in federal funds to aid in hospital construction. After further consideration, in 1965 the Presidency and the Twelve felt strongly that accepting the funds would subject the Church hospital operation to undue federal regulation, and the money therefore was not accepted. The growing impact of federal government regulation concerned Elder Kimball.

    What do I win?

  15. Mike, you win the Ezra Taft Benson award for sensible economic policies, but you probably already had one. More commentaries tomorrow. Congratulations. I knew our well-read group of readers would come up with the correct answer.

    Connor, as for the source, you are correct, there is none in the book. As you may know, the author had access to his father’s diaries and speeches. I’m guessing he is simply quoting from one of his speeches.

  16. Look up the quote in the manuscript version that comes with the CD-ROM when you buy the book. I don’t have my copy here with me, but it will have the source for the quote.

  17. J. Stapley: The CD-ROM from Lengthen Your Stride does contain a PDF version of the 1977 Spencer W. Kimball, but it, like the printed version, does not contain a reference for this quote. I suspect it was from a letter, or perhaps SWK’s diary.

    Geoff: Now that I have the ETB Award, may I state, for the record, that the American civil rights movement is a front for communism? [wink]

  18. Does the ETB Award for Sensible Economic Policies (ETBSEP) come hand in hand with the David O. McKay “Sometimes apostles write or say regrettable things” Talisman?

  19. Just a few quick comments:

    1)We are studying Spencer W Kimball this year so I thought a little-known quotation from him was in order.
    2)It is important to keep in mind that Elder Kimball, before he became the prophet, really tried to avoid contentious political issues, just like Gordon B. Hinckley. They have focused laser-like on bringing people to Christ, and for that they should be commended by all good people.
    3)This comment was a product of its time and a product of the experiences of a small businessman who made it through the Depression (just barely) and was aware that government can often get in the way of success.
    4)Having said all that, and considering the never-ending expansion of government, especially the federal government, in our lives, Elder Kimball’s comment is, in my opinion, very good advice.

  21. re: Elder Kimball’s comment is, in my opinion, very good advice. is this advice or commentary? If it is advice, what exactly are we being advised to do? What can we do? What can be done?

  22. Matt W, I guess I would say that we should a)realize that the government we have today is larger and more involved in our lives than it should be and certainly more so than the Founders ever had in mind and b)vote for politicians who have this realization and try to do something to overcome this situation by lowering taxes and decreasing the government. Unfortunately, there are few politicians today willing to take tough stands on lowering government outlays, which, in my opinion, is exactly what Elder Kimball was warning about.

    As a Republican, I’d be willing to vote for a Democrat in a second if I believed he was going to cut the size of government rather than increase it.

  23. This is one way Dem and Republicans are becoming similar, both seem to want big government that is in every part of our lives. They’re just choosing different areas of the government they want to grow.

  24. Unfortunately, there are few politicians today willing to take tough stands on lowering government outlays, which, in my opinion, is exactly what Elder Kimball was warning about.

    May I suggest Ron Paul?

    http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/ron-paul-is-runnin

    (sorry, you’ll have to copy/paste.. apparently links aren’t allowed in comments?)

  25. Geoff #22: As a Republican, I’d be willing to vote for a Democrat in a second if I believed he was going to cut the size of government rather than increase it.

    And as a Libertarian, I’d be willing to vote for a Republican in a second if I believed he was going to cut the size of government rather than increase it.

  26. Considering what Pres. Kimball said, what then are members supposed to do? He did identify the problem that govt wants to give away to the needy, an approach that solves issues temporarily but creates long-term problems. The only solution here would be to stop giving to the govt so that it doesn’t have anything to give away.

    If we wait until for our leaders to cut down govt, then we might as well wait for the sun to rise in the west. It’s not going to happen. When people in power gain more power, they are seldom willing to give it up. What then do we do about it? Wait until they come to their senses?

    Again, what do we do when Pres. Hinckley says that members have an overriding duty towards the govt? Does that duty continue even when it’s quite obvious that govt has become immoral? What do we do when our govt forces us to do things that are immoral?

  29. queuno,

    Since the operative words are “forcing” and “immoral”, what things would you say constitute force and immorality?

    Would you say the threat of imprisonment by state officials as something sufficient to force someone to do things he wouldn’t do otherwise? I would.

    Would you also say that taking what belongs to other people (“stealing”) or taking their lives (“killing”) are immoral acts? I would.

    Now, if you don’t think the threat of imprisonment is not really force, and if stealing and killing are not really immoral acts, then there’s not much to talk about. I can give you examples of how government forces people to steal and kill by threatening to imprison them, but those examples may mean nothing to you, especially if you yourself willingly participate in them.

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