Birth control is wickedness. The abuse of this holy covenant has been the primary cause for the downfall of nations. When the sacred vows of marriage are broken and the real purpose of marriage abused, as we find it so prevalent in the world today, then destruction is inevitable. Joseph Fielding Smith, tenth president, Doctrines of Salvation II:86-89, 1954
I believe that there is not a freer, more independent nor a more intelligent people to be found anywhere in the world, who are more independent in choosing the course which they pursue, in the work that they perform and in everything that they have to do with, than the Latter-day Saints. There is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in good standing, anywhere in all the world today that is not such by reason of his independence of character, by reason of his intelligence, wisdom. Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of Presidents of the Church 32: Liberty through Obedience; viz also The Life of Joseph Fielding Smith p283
It was well understood by the early elders of the Church that the mark which was placed on Cain and which his posterity inherited was the black skin. The Book of Moses informs us that Cain and his descendants were black. Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection p107
I would not want you to believe that we bear any animosity toward the Negro. ‘Darkies’ are wonderful people, and they have their place in our church. Joseph Fielding Smith, Look magazine 22nd October 1963
Mormons ... are, notwithstanding our weaknesses, the best people in the world. I do not say this boastingly, for I believe that this truth is evident to all who are willing to observe for themselves. We are morally clean, in every way equal, and in many ways superior to any other people. Joseph Fielding Smith, ‘Doctrines of Salvation vol 1 p236’
My wives will be mine in eternity. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation vol 2 p67
Not only was Cain called upon to suffer, but because of his wickedness he became the father of an inferior race ... Millions of souls have come into this world cursed with a black skin ... These are the descendants of Cain. Moreover, they have been made to feel their inferiority and have been separated from the rest of mankind from the beginning. Enoch saw the people of Canaan, descendants of Cain, and he says, ‘And there was a blackness came upon all the children of Canaan, that they were despised among all people.’ Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection pp.101-102
Now, we are told in scriptures that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God in the flesh. Well, now for the benefit of the older ones, how are children begotten? I answer just as Jesus Christ was begotten of his father ... Jesus is the only person who had our Heavenly Father as the father of his body. Joseph Fielding Smith, Family Home Evening Manual 1972 @ p125
The Latter-day Saints have no animosity towards the Negro. Neither have they described him as belonging to an ‘inferior race’. Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions 4:170
The people known as Egyptians are not cursed with a black skin but have received another curse barring them from the priesthood. Egyptus was not a black woman. ibid. 173
There is a reason why one man is born black and with other disadvantages, while another is born white with great advantage. The reason is that we once had an estate before we came here, and were obedient, more or less, to the laws that were given us there. Those who were faithful in all things there received greater blessings here, and those who were not faithful received less ... There were no neutrals in the war in heaven. All took sides either with Christ or with Satan. Every man had his agency there, and men receive rewards here based upon their actions there, just as they will receive rewards hereafter for deeds done in the body. The Negro, evidently, is receiving the reward he merits. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation I:61
[There is] no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith was verily a prophet, and if he told the truth ... no man can reject that testimony without incurring the most dreadful consequences, for he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation vol 1 p190
We will never get a man into space. This earth is man’s sphere and it was never intended that he should get away from it. The moon is a superior planet to the earth and it was never intended that man should go there. You can write it down in your books that this will never happen. Joseph Fielding Smith, Honolulu stake conference 14th May 1961
We believe that God is a personal being. By a personal being, we mean that he is a man – an exalted man. Milton R Hunter, general conference October 1948
We often say, and you have heard the expression as it has already been referred to in this conference, that ‘as man now is, God once was, and as God now is, man may become’. Eldred G Smith, general conference October 1948
Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what you want. This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father in Heaven wants for you. Richard G Scott, conference report April 1996; viz also Ensign May 1996 p25
It is abundantly clear that presiding priesthood leaders are given the gift of discernment. Gene R Cook, Seek Out Your Spiritual Leader, Ensign magazine May 1978
This is not a democracy, this is not a republic; this is the kingdom of God. The President of the Church is his premier, if you will, his agent, his possessor of the keys.
Our free agency which we have does not make us any more nor less than subjects of the Kingdom and subjects we are – not citizens, Brother Mark. J Reuben Clark
Homosexuality, which it is tragic to say, is found among both sexes ... I wonder if you girls have ever reflected on the thought that was in the mind of the man who first began to praise you for your boyish figures ... I forebear to more than mention that abomination and filth and loathsomeness of the ancients – carnal knowledge with beasts. J Reuben Clark, general conference October 1952
Someone does get hurt. There is harm in homosexuality. Many homosexuals seek to introduce others into their practice, often those in their tender, impressionable years. Many studies have indicated that such early homosexual experience may interfere with normal sexual adjustment in subsequent marriage. Lindsay M Curtis, article Ensign p15 July 1974, 'I Have a Question'
For us, to ‘believe all things’ means to believe the doctrine of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as well as the words of the Latterday prophets. It means to successfully erase our doubts and reservations. It means that in making spiritual commitments, we are prepared to hold nothing back. It means we are ready to consecrate our lives to the work of the kingdom.
... We are instructed to be like children, who are willing to be taught and then to act without first demanding full knowledge.
... Obedience is a fundamental law of the gospel ... Unquestioning obedience to the Lord indicates that a person has developed faith and trust in Him to the point where he or she considers all inspired instruction – whether it be recorded scripture or the words of modern prophets – to be worthy of obedience.
... Helps for Family Home Evening: 1) Blindfold one family member. Have a parent guide him or her through a set of obstacles. Compare this activity to the doctrines presented in this article. Robert Oaks, article Ensign July 2005, ‘Believe All Things’
And then there are some soft drinks which contain harmful or habit-forming ingredients. The leaders of the Church have not attempted to add to the list of prohibitions in the Word of Wisdom to include all such items, but they teach that in the spirit of the Word of Wisdom, if not in the letter, we should avoid anything which contains ingredients which are harmful and habit forming. Mark E Petersen, A Word of Wisdom p15
Think of the Negro, cursed as to the Priesthood ... This Negro, who, in the pre-existence lived the type of life which justified the Lord in sending him to the earth in the lineage of Cain with a black skin, and possibly being born in darkest Africa – if that Negro is willing when he hears the gospel to accept it, he may have many of the blessings of the gospel. In spite of all he did in the pre-existent life, the Lord is willing, if the Negro accepts the gospel with real, sincere faith, and is really converted, to give him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. If that Negro is faithful all his days, he can and will enter the celestial kingdom. He will go there as a servant, but he will get celestial glory ...
Now let’s talk segregation again for a few moments ... When the Lord chose the nations to which the spirits were to come, determining that some would be Japanese and some would be Chinese and some Negroes and some Americans, He engaged in an act of segregation ...
Who placed the Negroes originally in darkest Africa? Was it some man, or was it God? And when He placed them there, He segregated them ... At least in the cases of the Lamanites and the Negroes we have the definite word of the Lord Himself that He placed a dark skin upon them as a curse ... He forbade intermarriage ... He certainly segregated the descendants of Cain when He cursed the Negro as to the Priesthood, and drew an absolute line. You may even say He dropped an Iron curtain there ...