President Gordon B. Hinckley
"Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to
the commandments of God."
My beloved brethren and sisters, I accept this opportunity in humility.
I pray that I may be guided by the Spirit of the Lord in that which I say.
I have just been handed a note that says that a U.S. missile attack is under
way. I need not remind you that we live in perilous times. I desire to speak
concerning these times and our circumstances as members of this Church.
You are acutely aware of the events of September 11, less than a month ago.
Out of that vicious and ugly attack we are plunged into a state of war. It is
the first war of the 21st century. The last century has been described as the
most war-torn in human history. Now we are off on another dangerous undertaking,
the unfolding of which and the end thereof we do not know. For the first time
since we became a nation, the United States has been seriously attacked on its
mainland soil. But this was not an attack on the United States alone. It was
an attack on men and nations of goodwill everywhere. It was well planned, boldly
executed, and the results were disastrous. It is estimated that more than 5,000
innocent people died. Among these were many from other nations. It was cruel
and cunning, an act of consummate evil.
Recently, in company with a few national religious leaders, I was invited to
the White House to meet with the president. In talking to us he was frank and
straightforward.
That same evening he spoke to the Congress and the nation in unmistakable language
concerning the resolve of America and its friends to hunt down the terrorists
who were responsible for the planning of this terrible thing and any who harbored
such.
Now we are at war. Great forces have been mobilized and will continue to be.
Political alliances are being forged. We do not know how long this conflict
will last. We do not know what it will cost in lives and treasure. We do not
know the manner in which it will be carried out. It could impact the work of
the Church in various ways.
Our national economy has been made to suffer. It was already in trouble, and
this has compounded the problem. Many are losing their employment. Among our
own people, this could affect welfare needs and also the tithing of the Church.
It could affect our missionary program.
We are now a global organization. We have members in more than 150 nations.
Administering this vast worldwide program could conceivably become more difficult.
Those of us who are American citizens stand solidly with the president of our
nation. The terrible forces of evil must be confronted and held accountable
for their actions. This is not a matter of Christian against Muslim. I am pleased
that food is being dropped to the hungry people of a targeted nation. We value
our Muslim neighbors across the world and hope that those who live by the tenets
of their faith will not suffer. I ask particularly that our own people do not
become a party in any way to the persecution of the innocent. Rather, let us
be friendly and helpful, protective and supportive. It is the terrorist organizations
that must be ferreted out and brought down.
We of this Church know something of such groups. The Book of Mormon speaks
of the Gadianton robbers, a vicious, oath-bound, and secret organization bent
on evil and destruction. In their day they did all in their power, by whatever
means available, to bring down the Church, to woo the people with sophistry,
and to take control of the society. We see the same thing in the present situation.
We are people of peace. We are followers of the Christ who was and is the Prince
of Peace. But there are times when we must stand up for right and decency, for
freedom and civilization, just as Moroni rallied his people in his day to the
defense of their wives, their children, and the cause of liberty (see Alma
48:10).
On the Larry King television broadcast the other night, I was asked what I
think of those who, in the name of their religion, carry out such infamous activities.
I replied, "Religion offers no shield for wickedness, for evil, for those
kinds of things. The God in whom I believe does not foster this kind of action.
He is a God of mercy. He is a God of love. He is a God of peace and reassurance,
and I look to Him in times such as this as a comfort and a source of strength."
Members of the Church in this and other nations are now involved with many
others in a great international undertaking. On television we see those of the
military leaving their loved ones, knowing not whether they will return. It
is affecting the homes of our people. Unitedly, as a Church, we must get on
our knees and invoke the powers of the Almighty in behalf of those who will
carry the burdens of this campaign.
No one knows how long it will last. No one knows precisely where it will be
fought. No one knows what it may entail before it is over. We have launched
an undertaking the size and nature of which we cannot see at this time.
Occasions of this kind pull us up sharply to a realization that life is fragile,
peace is fragile, civilization itself is fragile. The economy is particularly
vulnerable. We have been counseled again and again concerning self-reliance,
concerning debt, concerning thrift. So many of our people are heavily in debt
for things that are not entirely necessary. When I was a young man, my father
counseled me to build a modest home, sufficient for the needs of my family,
and make it beautiful and attractive and pleasant and secure. He counseled me
to pay off the mortgage as quickly as I could so that, come what may, there
would be a roof over the heads of my wife and children. I was reared on that
kind of doctrine. I urge you as members of this Church to get free of debt where
possible and to have a little laid aside against a rainy day.
We cannot provide against every contingency. But we can provide against many
contingencies. Let the present situation remind us that this we should do.
As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have
some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let
us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect. And, above
all, my brothers and sisters, let us move forward with faith in the Living God
and His Beloved Son.
Great are the promises concerning this land of America. We are told unequivocally
that it "is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall
be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven,
if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ" (Ether
2:12). This is the crux of the entire matter—obedience to the commandments
of God.
The Constitution under which we live, and which has not only blessed us but
has become a model for other constitutions, is our God-inspired national safeguard
ensuring freedom and liberty, justice and equality before the law.
I do not know what the future holds. I do not wish to sound negative, but I
wish to remind you of the warnings of scripture and the teachings of the prophets
which we have had constantly before us.
I cannot forget the great lesson of Pharaoh's dream of the fat and lean kine
and of the full and withered stalks of corn.
I cannot dismiss from my mind the grim warnings of the Lord as set forth in
the 24th chapter of Matthew.
I am familiar, as are you, with the declarations of modern revelation that
the time will come when the earth will be cleansed and there will be indescribable
distress, with weeping and mourning and lamentation (see D&C
112:24).
Now, I do not wish to be an alarmist. I do not wish to be a prophet of doom.
I am optimistic. I do not believe the time is here when an all-consuming calamity
will overtake us. I earnestly pray that it may not. There is so much of the
Lord's work yet to be done. We, and our children after us, must do it.
I can assure you that we who are responsible for the management of the affairs
of the Church will be prudent and careful as we have tried to be in the past.
The tithes of the Church are sacred. They are appropriated in the manner set
forth by the Lord Himself. We have become a very large and complex organization.
We carry on many extensive and costly programs. But I can assure you that we
will not exceed our income. We will not place the Church in debt. We will tailor
what we do to the resources that are available.
How grateful I am for the law of tithing. It is the Lord's law of finance.
It is set forth in a few words in the 119th section of the Doctrine and Covenants.
It comes of His wisdom. To every man and woman, to every boy and girl, to every
child in this Church who pays an honest tithing, be it large or small, I express
gratitude for the faith that is in your hearts. I remind you, and those who
do not pay tithing but who should, that the Lord has promised marvelous blessings
(see Mal.
3:10–12). He has also promised that "he that is tithed shall not
be burned at his coming" (D&C
64:23).
I express appreciation to those who pay a fast offering. This costs the giver
nothing other than going without two meals a month. It becomes the backbone
of our welfare program, designed to assist those in distress.
Now, all of us know that war, contention, hatred, suffering of the worst kind
are not new. The conflict we see today is but another expression of the conflict
that began with the War in Heaven. I quote from the book of Revelation:
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the
dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
"And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
"And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil,
and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth,
and his angels were cast out with him.
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ" (Rev.
12:7–10).
That must have been a terrible conflict. The forces of evil were pitted against
the forces of good. The great deceiver, the son of the morning, was defeated
and banished, and took with him a third of the hosts of heaven.
The book of Moses and the book of Abraham shed further light concerning this
great contest. Satan would have taken from man his agency and taken unto himself
all credit and honor and glory. Opposed to this was the plan of the Father which
the Son said He would fulfill, under which He came to earth and gave His life
to atone for the sins of mankind.
From the day of Cain to the present, the adversary has been the great mastermind
of the terrible conflicts that have brought so much suffering.
Treachery and terrorism began with him. And they will continue until the Son
of God returns to rule and reign with peace and righteousness among the sons
and daughters of God.
Through centuries of time, men and women, so very, very many, have lived and
died. Some may die in the conflict that lies ahead. To us, and we bear solemn
testimony of this, death will not be the end. There is life beyond this as surely
as there is life here. Through the great plan which became the very essence
of the War in Heaven, men shall go on living.
Job asked, "If a man die, shall he live again?" (Job
14:14). He replied: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he
shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
"And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall
I see God:
"Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another"
(Job
19:25–27).
Now, brothers and sisters, we must do our duty, whatever that duty might be.
Peace may be denied for a season. Some of our liberties may be curtailed. We
may be inconvenienced. We may even be called on to suffer in one way or another.
But God our Eternal Father will watch over this nation and all of the civilized
world who look to Him. He has declared, "Blessed is the nation whose God
is the Lord" (Ps.
33:12). Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to
the commandments of God.
Let us be prayerful. Let us pray for righteousness. Let us pray for the forces
of good. Let us reach out to help men and women of goodwill, whatever their
religious persuasion and wherever they live. Let us stand firm against evil,
both at home and abroad. Let us live worthy of the blessings of heaven, reforming
our lives where necessary and looking to Him, the Father of us all. He has said,
"Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps.
46:10).
Are these perilous times? They are. But there is no need to fear. We can have
peace in our hearts and peace in our homes. We can be an influence for good
in this world, every one of us.
May the God of heaven, the Almighty, bless us, help us, as we walk our various
ways in the uncertain days that lie ahead. May we look to Him with unfailing
faith. May we worthily place our reliance on His Beloved Son who is our great
Redeemer, whether it be in life or in death, is my prayer in His holy name,
even the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Previous
