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Ezra Taft Benson
“To the Humble Followers of Christ”
Conference Report, April 4, 1969, pp. 10-15.
Improvement Era, June 1969, pg. 43-47.
Thank God for that timely and the inhabitants of the earth…. And But though they grow so tall and
inspiring message from our beloved upon my house shall it go forth, saith strong,
leader, President David O. McKay. the Lord; First among those among His plan will not require them
you, saith the Lord, who have long ;
My remarks today are directed to the professed to know my name and have In harvest, when he saves his own,
humble followers of Christ. I pray that not known me….” (D&C 112:24-26.) I The tares shall into hell be thrown.
what I have to say will be of help to look forward to that cleansing; its need
them.
within the Church is becoming [O! awful thought, and is it so?
One of the grand promises which the increasingly apparent. Must all mankind the harvest
Lord made when he restored his know?
The Lord strengthened the faith of the Is every man a wheat or tare?
Church in these latter days was that early apostles by pointing out Judas as
the Church should never again be Me for the harvest, Lord, prepare.
a traitor, even before this apostle had
taken from the earth nor given to
completed his iniquitous work. So also (Chorus:)
another people. This is reassuring, for in our day the Lord has told us of the
no matter how much individual For soon the reaping time will
tares within the wheat that will come.
apostasy we may see occur among eventually be hewn down when they
Church members, the Church itself And angels shout the harvest
are fully ripe. But until they are hewn home
shall endure and remain intact. Our down, they will be with us, amongst us.
task, then, is to see that we personally And angels shout the harvest
The hymn entitled “Though in the home.]
endure to the end in faithful fellowship Outward Church Below” [no longer in
with the Church. (Hymns, No. 102.)
our hymn book] contains this thought:
The Lord distinguishes between the Yes, within the Church today there are
Though in the outward Church tares among the wheat and wolves
Church and its members. He said he below
was well pleased with the restored within the flock. As President [J.
Both wheat and tares together Reuben] Clark stated, “The ravening
Church, speaking collectively, but not grow,
individually. (D&C 1:30.) During his wolves are amongst us, from our own
Ere long will Jesus weed the crop membership, and they, more than any
ministry on earth, the Lord spoke of And pluck the tares in anger up.
the gospel net drawing in fish. The others, are clothed in sheep’s clothing
good fish, he said, were gathered into because they wear the habiliments
[Will it relieve the horror there
vessels, while the bad were cast away. [apparatus] of the priesthood…. We
To recollect their stations here? should be careful of them….” (Era,
It is important to realize that while the How much they heard, how much May 1949, pg. 268. See also
Church is made up of mortals, no they knew? Conference Report, April 1949, pg.
mortal is the Church. Judas, for a How much among the wheat they 163.)
period of time, was a member of the grew?
Church—in fact, one of its The wolves amongst our flock are more
apostles—but the Church was not No; this will aggravate their case; numerous and devious today than
Judas. They perish under means of grace; when President Clark made this
To them the word of life and faith statement.
Sometimes we hear someone refer to a Became an instrument of death.]
division in the Church. In reality, the President McKay has said the “the
Church is not divided. It simply means We seem alike when here we Church is little, if at all, injured by
that there are some who, for the time meet; persecution and calumnies
being at least, are members of the Strangers may think we are all [defamations, slander] from ignorant,
Church but not in harmony with it. The misinformed or malicious enemies. A
wheat;
people have a temporary membership But to the Lord's all-searching greater hindrance to its progress
and influence in the Church; but unless eyes, comes from faultfinders, shirkers,
they repent, they will be missing when Each heart appears without commandment-breakers, and apostate
the final membership records are cliques within its own ecclesiastical
disguise.
recorded. and quorum groups.” (Era, December
The tares are spared for various 1967, pg. 35. See also Conference
It is well that our people understand Report, October 1967, pg. 9.)
this principle, so they will not be ends,
misled by those apostates within the Some for the sake of praying Not only are there apostates within our
Church who have not yet repented or friends, midst, but there are also apostate
been cut off. But there is a cleansing Others the Lord against their will doctrines that are some-times taught
coming. The Lord says that his Employs, his counsels to fulfill. in our classes and from our pulpits and
vengeance shall be poured out “upon that appear in our publications. And
these apostate precepts of men cause
21 November, 2002 Docs: Handouts: Benson: “To Humble Followers” Page 1 of 4
our people to stumble. As the Book of Church was apostasy…. We replied peace of Adam's household by slaying
Mormon, speaking of our day, states: that we had not stated that an honest Abel. On the other hand, the whole city
“… they have all gone astray save it be difference of opinion between a of Enoch was peaceful; and it was
a few, who are the humble followers of member of the Church and the taken into heaven because it was made
Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that Authorities constituted apostasy, for up of righteous people.
in many instances they do err because we could conceive of a man honestly
they are taught by the precepts of differing in opinion from the And so far as limiting the population in
order to pro-vide plenty is concerned,
men.” (2 Ne 28:14.) Authorities of the Church and yet not
be an apostate; but we could not the Lord answered that falsehood in
Let us consider some of these precepts conceive of a man publishing those the Doctrine and Covenants when he
of men that may and do cause some of differences of opinion and seeking by said: “For the earth is full, and there is
the humble followers of Christ to err. enough and to spare; yea, I prepared
arguments, sophistry and special
pleading to enforce them upon the all things, and have given unto the
Christ taught that we should be in the children of men to be agents unto
world but not of it. Yet there are some people to produce division and strife
and to place the acts and counsels of themselves.” (D&C 104:17.)
in our midst who are not so much
concerned about taking the gospel into the Authorities of the Church, if A major reason why there is famine in
the world as they are about bringing possible, in a wrong light and not be an some parts of the world is because evil
worldliness into the gospel. They want apostate, for such conduct was men have used the vehicle of
us to be in the world and of it. They apostasy as we understood the term.” government to abridge the freedom
want us to be popular with the worldly (Deseret News, November 3, 1869.) that men need to produce abundantly.
even though a prophet has said that is
The world teaches birth control. True to form, many of the people who
impossible, for all hell would then Tragically, many of our sisters
want to join us. desire to frustrate God's purposes of
subscribe to its pills and practices giving mortal tabernacles to his spirit
Through their own reasoning and a few when they could easily provide earthly children through worldwide birth
misapplied scriptures, they try to sell tabernacles for more of our Father's control are they very same people who
us the precepts and philosophies of children. We know that every spirit support the kinds of government that
men. They do not feel the Church is assigned to this earth will come, perpetuate famine. They advocate an
progressive enough—they say that it whether through us or someone else. evil to cure the results of the
should embrace the social and socialist There are couples in the Church who wickedness they support.
gospel of apostate Christendom. think they are getting along just fine
with their limited families but who will The world worships the learning of
They are bothered that President someday suffer the pains of remorse man. They trust in the arm of flesh [see
McKay believes that “the social side of when they meet the spirits that might 2 Ne 4:34]. To them, men's reasoning
the Restored Gospel is only an incident have been part of their posterity. The is greater than God's revelations. The
of it; it is not the end thereof.” (Letter first commandment given to man was precepts of men have gone so far in
of the First Presidency to Dr. Lowry to multiply and replenish the earth subverting our educational system that
Nelson, July 17, 1947.) with children. That commandment has in many cases a higher degree today, in
never been altered, modified, or the so-called social sciences, can be
They attack the Church for not being in tantamount [identical] to a major
the fore-front of the so-called “civil cancelled. The Lord did not say to
multiply and replenish the earth if it is investment in error. Very few men
rights movement.” They are
convenient, or if you are wealthy, or build firmly enough on the rock of
embarrassed over some Church revelation to go through this kind of an
doctrine, and as Lehi foretold, the after you have gotten your schooling,
or when there is peace on earth, or indoctrination and come out un-
scoffing of the world over this and tainted. Unfortunately, of those who
other matters will cause some of them until you have four children. The Bible
says, “Lo, children are an heritage of succumb, some use their higher
to be ashamed and they shall fall away. degrees to get teaching positions even
(See 1 Ne 8:28.) the Lord:… Happy is the man that hath
his quiver full of them….” (Psa 127:3, in our Church Educational System,
Unauthorized to receive revelation for 5.) We believe God is glorified by where they spread the falsehoods they
the Church, but I fear still anxious to having numerous children and a have been taught. President Joseph F.
redirect the Church in the way they program of perfection for them. So also Smith was right when he said that false
think it should go, some of them have will God glorify that husband and wife educational ideas would be one of the
taken to publishing their differences who have a large posterity and who three threats to the Church within.
with the Church, in order to give their have tried to raise them up in (Gospel Doctrine, pg. 312-313.)
heretical views a broader and, they righteousness. Another threat, and he said it is the
hope, a more respectable platform. most serious of the three, would be
The precepts of men would have you
Along this line it would be well for all believe that by limiting the population sexual impurity. Today we have both of
of us to remember these words of of the world, we can have peace and these threats combined in the growing
President George Q. Cannon: “A friend plenty. That is the doctrine of the devil. and increasingly amoral program of
... wished to know whether we … Small numbers do not insure peace; sex education in the schools. At the last
considered an honest difference of only righteous-ness does. After all, general Relief Society conference of the
opinion between a member of the there were only a handful of men on Church, Elder Harold B. Lee quoted
Church and the Authorities of the the earth when Cain interrupted the President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., in
regard to this matter. Let us listen and
21 November, 2002 Docs: Handouts: Benson: “To Humble Followers” Page 2 of 4
learn from the following wise words of Sex Information and Education nudity sessions as a means of
this seer, President Clark: “Many Council of the United States (known as supposedly breaking down their
influences (more than ever before in SIECUS), which is the major inhibitions. They want the group to
my lifetime) are seeking to break down organization pushing sex education in know each other's vulgar thoughts and
chastity with its divinely declared the schools, and read their literature lustful ideas, their hates, envies,
sanctity…. and learn of their amoral leadership, jealousies. [The same desires that
you can better appreciate why the cause people to want to watch TV soap
“In the schoolrooms the children are
Church is opposed to sex education in operas.] But this flies in the face of the
taught what is popularly called ‘the the schools, whether it is called family counsel of the Prophet, who has said,
facts of life.’ Instead of bringing about living program or by any other name. I “All such evils you must overcome by
the alleged purpose of the teaching, commend the parents who have suppression. That is where your
that is, strengthening of the morals of
worked to keep it out of their schools control comes in. Suppress that anger!
youth, this teaching seems to have the and those who have pushed it out or Suppress that jealousy, that envy! They
opposite effect. The teaching seems are attempting to do so. They must are all injurious to the spirit....”
merely to have whetted the curiosity love their children. (President David O. McKay, Gospel
and augmented appetite….” (Relief Ideals, p. 356.)
Society Magazine, December 1952, pg. Let us consider another precept of
793.) men: One of the tragedies of the In these sensitivity sessions one’s
Korean War was the fact that the standards, religion, family, and friends
“… A mind engrossed in sex is not good enemy was able to brainwash some of may be subjected to brutal and
for much else…. our men. Those methods, highly prolonged attack by the group. And
“Already the schools have taught sex refined and deviously developed, have when it's all over, if you’ve confessed
facts ad nauseam. All their teachings been introduced on a broad scale into all and had your values and ideals
have but torn away the modesty that our own country by some behavioral smashed, you may doubt if there is
once clothed sex; their discussions scientists through a program much worth believing or defending,
tend to make, and sometimes seem to commonly called sensitivity training. and your loyalties may now have been
make, sex animals of our boys and While claiming otherwise, the overall realigned away from your family and
girls. The teachings do little but arouse effect of this training has been to break church toward the group—for on them
curiosity for experience…. down personal standards, encourage you may now feel very dependent, and
immorality, reduce respect for parents, you may be more anxious to get their
“A work on chastity can be given in one and make well minds sick. consensus on a position and their
sentence, two words: Be chaste! That approval than to find our what's right
tells everything. You do not need to As in Korea, the heart of the training and do it.
know all the details of the reproductive involves trying to get each member of a
processes in order to keep clean…” group to self-criticize and confess as When General William F. Dean was
(Era, December 1949, pg. 803. See much as possible to the group. Now released from a Korean Communist
also Conference Report, October 1949, any informed holder of the priesthood prison camp, the young Chinese
pg. 194.) knows that this is directly contrary to psychologists who had been trying to
the word of the Lord as contained in break him said: “General, don’t feel
Our Church News editorials have the Doctrine and Covenants, Section bad about leaving us. You know, we
warned us about sex education in the 42, verses 88–92. Only when a person will soon be with you. We are going to
schools. As the April 1, 1967, editorial has sinned against many people is he destroy the moral character of a
stated: to make a public confession. generation of your young Americans,
“Sex education belongs in the home…. and when we have finished you will
“If any shall offend in secret, he or she
Movements to place sex education in have nothing with which to really
shall be rebuked in secret, that he or defend yourselves against us.”
nearly all grades of public schools can she may have opportunity to confess in
end only in the same result which secret to him or her whom he or she And so the precepts of men are at work
came to Sweden.” has offended, and to God, that the on our youth in so many ways. Said
In answer to inquiries that have been church may not speak reproachfully of President [J. Reuben] Clark, “... a
received by the First Presidency about him or her.” (D&C 42:92.) tremendous amount of the modern art,
sex education in the schools, they have of the modern literature and music,
As President Brigham Young put it, “… and the drama that we have today is
made the following statement: “We if you have sinned against your God, or
believe that serious hazards are utterly demoralizing—utterly.” (Relief
against your selves, confess to God,
involved in entrusting to the schools Society Magazine, Dec 1952, p. 792.)
and keep the matter to yourselves, for I
the teaching of this vital and important do not want to know anything about Have you been listening to the music
subject to our children. This it.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. that many young folks are hearing
responsibility cannot wisely be left to 158.] today? Some of it is nerve-jamming in
the society, nor the schools: nor can nature and much of it has been
the responsibility be shifted to the But some sensitivity training doesn't
deliberately designed to promote
Church. It is the responsibility of the stop there. They usually want each revolution, dope, immorality, and a
parents to see that they fully perform person to tell the group about all of gap between parent and child. And
their duty in this respect.” their innermost feelings, their personal some of this music has invaded our
secrets, their fears, their repressed
When you make a close study of the church cultural halls.
desires. They have even conducted
21 November, 2002 Docs: Handouts: Benson: “To Humble Followers” Page 3 of 4
Have you noticed some of our Church Now hear this test proposed by
dances lately? Have they been President George Q. Cannon: “If the
praiseworthy, lovely, and of good breach is daily widening between
report? “I doubt,” said President ourselves and the world … we may be
McKay, “whether it is possible to dance assured that our progress is certain,
most of the prevalent fad dances in a however slow. On the opposite hand, if
manner to meet LDS standards.” And our feelings and affections, our
what about modesty in dress? When appetites and desires, are in union
was the last time you saw a high school with the world around us and freely
girl wearing a dress that covered her fraternize with them … we should do
knees? The courageous address of well to examine ourselves. Individuals
Elder Spencer W. Kimball a few years in such a condition might possess a
ago entitled “A Style of Our Own” is nominal position in the Church but
certainly applicable today. would be lacking the life of the work,
and, like the foolish virgins who
I want to congratulate the Tabernacle slumbered while the bridegroom
Choir for their attire. It was noted that
tarried, they would be unprepared for
in their broadcast at Constitution Hall his coming….” (Millennial Star, Oct. 5,
during the inaugural festivities, all the 1861 [Vol. 23], pg. 645-46.)
ladies seated on the front row had
dresses that covered their knees. To repeat again from the Book of
Mormon, “… they have all gone astray
Now what kind of magazines come into save it be a few, who are the humble
your home? With perhaps one or two followers of Christ; nevertheless, they
exceptions, I would not have any of the are led, that in many instances they do
major national slick magazines in my err because they are taught by the
home. As President Clark so well put it
precepts of men.” (2 Ne 28:14.)
“… take up any national magazine, look
at the ads and, if you can stand the May we cherish God’s revelations more
filth, read some of the stories—they than man’s reasoning and choose to
are, in their expressed and suggestive follow the prophets of the Lord rather
standards of life, destructive of the than the precepts of men is my humble
very foundations of our society.” prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ.
(Conference Report, April 1951, pg. Amen.
79.)
21 November, 2002 Docs: Handouts: Benson: “To Humble Followers” Page 4 of 4
