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Ezra Taft Benson Quotes - Page 2

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Pride... limits or stops progression. The proud are not easily taught. They won't change their minds to accept truths, because to do so implies they have been wrong.

Pride... limits or stops progression. The proud are not easily taught. They won't change their minds to accept truths, because to do so implies they have been wrong.

Ezra Taft Benson
Pride, Mind, Proud

Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. The answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways.

Ezra Taft Benson
Prayer, Heart, House
Ezra Taft Benson (1988). “The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson”, Bookcraft Pubs

For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the Second Coming of the Lord. . . . God has saved for the finalinning some of His strongest and most valiant children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly. That is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God. . . .

Ezra Taft Benson
Children, Years, Kingdoms

This nation was established by the God of heaven as a citadel of liberty. A Constitution guaranteeing those liberties was designed under the superintending influence of heaven.

Ezra Taft Benson
Heaven, Liberty, Constitution
Ezra Taft Benson (1988). “The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson”, Bookcraft Pubs

I say to you with all the fervor of my soul that God intended men to be free. Rebellion against tyranny is a righteous cause. It is an enormous evil for any man to be enslaved to any system contrary to his own will. For that reason men, 200 years ago, pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor. No nation which has kept the commandments of God has ever perished, but I say to you that once freedom is lost, only blood - human blood - will win it back.

Ezra Taft Benson
Winning, Men, Blood

It is not on the pinnacle of success and ease where men and women grow most. It is often down in the valley of heartache and disappointment and reverses where men and women grow.

Ezra Taft Benson
Disappointment, Adversity, Heartache

The more we express our gratitude to God for our blessings, the more he will bring to our mind other blessings. The more we are aware of to be grateful for, the happier we become.

Ezra Taft Benson
Happiness, Thankful, Gratitude

A man must not only stand for the right principles, but he must also fight for them. Those who fight for principle can be proud of the friends they've gained and the enemies they've earned.

Ezra Taft Benson
Fighting, Men, Enemy
Ezra Taft Benson (1974). “God, family, country: our three great loyalties”

Now, brethren, do not expect perfection in your choice of a mate. Do not be so particular that you overlook her most important qualities of having a strong testimony, living the principles of the gospel, loving home, wanting to be a mother in Zion, and supporting you in your priesthood responsibilities. Of course, she should be attractive to you.... And one good yardstick as to whether a person might be the right one for you is this: in her presence, do you think your noblest thoughts, do you aspire to your finest deeds, do you wish you were better than you are?

Ezra Taft Benson
Mother, Strong, Responsibility
Ezra Taft Benson (1988). “The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson”, Bookcraft Pubs

If America is destroyed, it may be by Americans who salute the flag, sing the national anthem, march in patriotic parades, cheer Fourth of July speakers - normally good Americans, but Americans who fail to comprehend what is required to keep our country strong and free, Americans who have been lulled away into a false security.

Ezra Taft Benson
Country, Strong, Cheer
Ezra Taft Benson (1969). “An enemy hath done this”

The Book of Mormon was written for us today. God is the author of the book. It is a record of a fallen people, compiled by inspired men for our blessing today. Those people never had the book. It was meant for us.

Ezra Taft Benson
Book, Blessing, Men

A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing in its evil influence and control over America and the entire world.

Ezra Taft Benson
Country, Land, America

Pride is characterized by "What do I want out of life?" rather than by "What would God have me do with my life?" It is self-will as opposed to God's will. It is the fear of man over the fear of God.

Ezra Taft Benson
Fear, Pride, Men

When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives.

Ezra Taft Benson
Spiritual, Fall, Priorities
Ezra Taft Benson (1988). “The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson”, Bookcraft Pubs

Could many of our ills today have resulted from our failure to train a strong citizenry from the only source we have - the boys and girls of each community? Have they grown up to believe in politics without principle, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without effort, wealth without work, business without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice?

Ezra Taft Benson
Girl, Strong, Integrity
Ezra Taft Benson (1969). “An enemy hath done this”

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.

Ezra Taft Benson
Country, Morning, Land
Ezra Taft Benson (1960). “So shall ye reap: selected addresses”

An honorable man or woman is one who is truthful; free from deceit; above cheating, lying, stealing, or any form of deception. An honorable man or woman is one who learns early that one cannot do wrong and feel right. A man's character is judged on how he keeps his word and his agreements.

Ezra Taft Benson
Cheating, Lying, Character

By deriving it's just powers from the governed, government becomes primarily a mechanism for defense against bodily harm, theft, and involuntary servitude. It cannot claim the power to redistribute money or property nor to force reluctant citizens to perform acts of charity against their will. Government is created by the people. No individual possesses the power to take another's wealth or to force others to do good, so no government has the the right to do such things either. The creature cannot exceed the creator.

Ezra Taft Benson
Government, People, Defense
Ezra Taft Benson (1986). “The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner”, Shadow Mountain

God loves us. He's watching us, he wants us to succeed, and we'll know someday that he has not left one thing undone for the eternal welfare of each of us. If we only knew it, there are heavenly hosts pulling for us -- friends in heaven that we can't rememer now, who yearn for our victory.

Ezra Taft Benson
Heaven, Victory, Want

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.

Ezra Taft Benson
Destiny, Zion, Hands

There are some who apparently feel that the fight for freedom is separate from the Gospel. They express it in several ways, but it generally boils down to this: Just live the gospel; there's no need to get involved in trying to save freedom and the Constitution or stop communism.... Should we counsel the people, 'Just live your religion - there's no need to get involved in the fight for freedom?' No we should not, because our stand for freedom is a most basic part of our religion.

Ezra Taft Benson
Fighting, People, Trying

The Declaration of Independence was to set forth the moral justification of a rebellion against a long-recognized political tradition - the divine right of kings. At issue was the fundamental question of whether men's rights were God-given or whether these rights were to be dispensed by governments to their subjects. This document proclaimed that all men have certain inalienable rights. In other words, these rights came from God.

Ezra Taft Benson
God, Kings, Men

Inspiring music may fill the soul with heavenly thoughts, move one to righteous action, or speak peace to the soul.

Ezra Taft Benson
Music, Moving, Soul
Ezra Taft Benson (1988). “The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson”, Bookcraft Pubs

Each day the forces of evil and the forces of good enlist new recruits. Each day we personally make many decisions showing the cause we support. The final outcome is certain---the forces of righteousness will win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle---and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last days and fulfill our foreordained missions?

Ezra Taft Benson
Winning, Evil, Decision

Man is at his best when complimented by the influence of a good woman.

Ezra Taft Benson
Men, Good Woman, Influence

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