Warnings to Americans RestoredGospel Foundations Topic 6 Living

Warnings to Americans Restored-Gospel Foundations, Topic 6

Living History

Living History

Living History

�“Today we see man walking in his own way, after the image of his own god, an image that bears the stamp of worldliness, lust, greed, and power. As Abraham Lincoln pronounced during the Civil War, so now may we say, ‘We have forgotten God!’” �“The stage, the screen, the novel, casual conversation, the street discussion, and too often the fireside intimacies are punctuated with blasphemy, to which may be added, as of the same nature, coarse, ribald jokes, foul stories, and low small talk. ” “America at the Crossroads”

� “Many—too many—have almost ceased to observe the Sabbath. Not only is it a workday now, but it is a day of amusement and recreation: skiing, skating, hunting, fishing, picnicking, racing, movies, theaters, ball playing —football, baseball, basketball—dancing, and all other forms of fun-making are coming largely to be the rule among too many so-called Christians. ” � “Untold thousands of children in this nation have abandoned their parents to the care of the state. This action has brought in its wake a host of other ills: idleness, greed, covetousness, cheating, hiding property, lying about it, and the adoption by the child and parent of any device that may bring the parent within the provisions of government support. ” “America at the Crossroads”

�“We still frown on murder, but need we be reminded in what small esteem life is now held? ” �“Never in this generation have morals been so loose as now. Sex is all but deified, and yet at the same time, it is put before youth in its lowest, coarsest, and most debasing form. The curtain of modesty has been torn aside, and in play and book and movie and television, in magazine story and picture, even magazine advertisement, immorality stands out in all its vulgarity and rottenness. ” “America at the Crossroads”

�“What do our criminal court records disclose on this—records that are filled with accounts of juvenile delinquencies in numbers never before equaled in this country? When God commanded, “Thou shalt not steal, ” he thereby recognized the fundamental right of property. ” �“The violations of God’s law already dealt with tell us that false witnessing (lying) is not absent from us. ” “America at the Crossroads”

�“Covetousness has invaded our homes, our communities, the nations of the world. It has brought with it greed, and avarice, and ambition, and love of power. Men scheme, plan, overreach, cheat, and lie to get their neighbor’s heritage. Covetousness threatens the peace of the world today more than any other one element. ” “America at the Crossroads”

�“May I urge you to keep your own families strong. ” �“I would respectfully urge you to live by the fundamental principles of work, thrift, and selfreliance. ” �“May I humbly urge you to learn about the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and other basic documents of our great country. ” �“May I urge you to seek out good, wise, and honest men for public office, and then support them with your vote. ” �“I would urge you to heed strictly the commandments of God, particularly the Ten Commandments. ” “America at the Crossroads”

Seeing History Rembrandt, Moses with the Ten Commandments (in public domain from wikimedia. org)

�In “America at the Crossroads” (1978), what does President Benson (president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) say about (1) how America has cut itself from the moral moorings of the Ten Commandments and (2) what America can do to choose faith as it stands at a crossroads in its history? Be specific. Reason from the Source

�“Note that the Lord delivered His word to Moses, His prophet. The Lord knows what will bless His children, and to that end He delivers laws through His prophets to the people. If obeyed, these laws will lead us back to God. We do not determine for ourselves what those laws are. They are given from God to man” (Elder L. Tom Perry, Nov. 2003 Ensign). Relate the Words of Modern Prophets

�“We live in an age of appeasement—the sacrificing of principle. Appeasement is not the answer. It is never the right answer. ” �“It has been well said that ‘our greatest national problem is erosion. Not erosion of the soil, but erosion of the national morality. ’ The United States of America has been great because it has been free. It has been free because it has trusted in God and was founded upon the principles of freedom set forth in the word of God. ” “‘Watchman, Warn the Wicked’”

�“False thinking and false ideologies, dressed in the most pleasing forms, quietly—almost without our knowing it—seek to reduce our moral defenses and to captivate our minds. They entice with bright promises of security, cradle-to -grave guarantees of many kinds. They masquerade under various names, but all may be recognized by one thing—one thing they all have in common: to erode away character and man’s freedom to think and act for himself. ” “‘Watchman, Warn the Wicked’”

� “As a free people, we are following very closely in many respects the pattern which led to the downfall of the great Roman Empire…. In 1787 Edward Gibbon completed his noble work The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Here is the way he accounted for the fall: 1. The undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis of human society. 2. Higher and higher taxes and the spending of public monies for free bread and circuses for the populace. 3. The mad craze for pleasure, sports becoming every year more and more exciting and brutal. 4. The building of gigantic armaments when the real enemy was within the decadence of the people. 5. The decay of religion—faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, and becoming impotent to warn and guide the people. ” “‘Watchman, Warn the Wicked’”

�“As watchmen on the tower of Zion, it is our obligation and right as leaders to speak out against current evils—evils that strike at the very foundation of all we hold dear as the true church of Christ and as members of Christian nations. As one of these watchmen, with a love for humanity, I accept humbly this obligation and challenge and gratefully strive to do my duty without fear. In times as serious as these, we must not permit fear of criticism to keep us from doing our duty, even at the risk of our counsel being tabbed as political, as government becomes more and more entwined in our daily lives. ” “‘Watchman, Warn the Wicked’”

�“These warnings were given 140 years ago. The fulfillment is now. We are living witnesses, unless we are blinded by our own complacency and the craftiness of evil men. ” �“There are some of us who do not want to hear the message. It embarrasses us. The things which are threatening our lives, our welfare, our freedoms are the very things some of us have been condoning. Many do not want to be disturbed as they continue to enjoy their comfortable complacency. ” “‘Watchman, Warn the Wicked’”

Seeing History Roman Forum by Stefan Bauer of www. ferras. at (permission granted at wikimedia. org under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2. 5 Generic License)

�In “‘Watchman, Warn the Wicked’” (1973), what does Elder Benson say about (1) the sacrificing of principle, (2) the erosion of national morality, (3) false thinking and false ideologies, and (4) America taking the same steps that led to Rome’s fall? Reason from the Source

�In “‘Watchman, Warn the Wicked, ’” what does Elder Benson say about (1) the obligation and right of a watchman on the tower and (2) why some people reject his message? Reason from the Source

� “There are both moral and physical laws ‘irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world’ that cannot be changed. History demonstrates over and over again that moral standards cannot be changed by battle and cannot be changed by ballot. To legalize that which is basically wrong or evil will not prevent the pain and penalties that will follow as surely as night follows day. Regardless of the opposition, we are determined to stay on course. We will hold to the principles and laws and ordinances of the gospel. If they are misunderstood either innocently or willfully, so be it. We cannot change; we will not change the moral standard. We quickly lose our way when we disobey the laws of God” (President Boyd K. Packer, November 2010 Ensign). Relate the Words of Modern Prophets

�How do the documents relate to FACE Principle #3: America's Heritage of Christian Character: “The image of Christ engraved upon the individual within, bringing dominion and change to his external environment. The model of American Christian character is the Pilgrim character with these qualities: faith and steadfastness, brotherly love, Christian care, diligence and industry, and liberty of conscience”? Relate the FACE Seven Principles

�How do the documents relate to Ezekiel 33: 2 -6? ◦ “Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. ” Relate the Anchor Scriptures

�How do the documents relate to Ezekiel 33: 2 -6? ◦ “But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. ” Relate the Anchor Scriptures