Gordon B. Hinckley




Articles by This Author


  God Forsaking America


Quotes by This Author


“The Book of Mormon narrative is a chronicle of nations long since gone. But in its descriptions of the problems of today's society, it is as current as the morning newspaper and much more definitive, inspired, and inspiring concerning the solutions of those problems.

“I know of no other writing which sets forth with such clarity the tragic consequences to societies that follow courses contrary to the commandments of God. Its pages trace the stories of two distinct civilizations that flourished on the Western Hemisphere. Each began as a small nation, its people walking in the fear of the Lord. But with prosperity came growing evils. The people succumbed to the wiles of ambitious and scheming leaders who oppressed them with burdensome taxes, who lulled them with hollow promises, who countenanced and even encouraged loose and lascivious living. These evil schemers led the people into terrible wars that resulted in the death of millions and the final and total extinction of two great civilizations in two different eras.(Gordon B. Hinckley, also stated verbatim in his 1981 work Be Thou an Example. First Presidency Message, Ensign, August 2005.)

“The precious boon of human liberty is really the product of the Savior's teaching of the dignity of man. He declared the precious nature of every individual soul.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, p. 70. February 2001.)

“[The Constitution] is the keystone of our nation. It is the guarantee of our liberty. That original document, with the Bill of Rights, constitutes the charter of our freedom. Through all of the years that have followed we have had some ambitious men who have sought to subvert the great principles of the Constitution...” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Keep Faith with America, May 6, 1999.)

“I invite you students of history to go back in your minds to the Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia in the hot June of 1776. There was drafted the Declaration of Independence, which concluded, ‘And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.’ Those who signed that document gave their lives, some literally, rotting away as prisoners of war. They gave their fortunes. But they kept their sacred honor.

“I take you again to Philadelphia in the muggy heat of 1787. It was May, when 55 men met together. There were differences of opinion, sharp and deep and bitter. But somehow, under the inspiration of the Almighty, there was forged the Constitution of the United States. On September 17, of that same year, 39 of the 55 signed the document which began with these remarkable words: ‘We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution of the United States of America.’” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Keep Faith with America, May 6, 1999.)

“This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Opening Remarks, April 2005.)

“Q. What is your position on prayer or meditation or moments of silence in public schools?

“A. I believe in them and will be glad to get through here so I can have a moment of meditation (laughter). Well, all of us ought to pause once in a while and think of things. We are prone to talk too much and do too little. I think it is a wonderful thing to just indulge once in a while in moments of introspection and see what we are doing with our lives and what contribution we are making and where we could do a little better than we are now doing. I feel we would all benefit from that.

“Q. Do you think it is appropriate to have this as part of the daily instruction in public school?

“A. In the public schools? I don't know whether I want to comment on that. I think we may have taken a terrible step backwards some years ago, and I don't know whether we'll recover from it.…” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Transcript: National Press Club Q&A with President Gordon B. Hinckley. Questions from Jack Cushman, The New York Times President of the National Press Club National Press Club Newsmakers Luncheon Deseret News, March 8, 2000.)

“[The war in heaven], so bitter, so intense, has never ceased. It is the war between truth and error, between agency and compulsion….His enemies have used every stratagem in that conflict. They’ve indulged in lying and deceit. They’ve employed money and wealth. They’ve tricked the minds of men. They’ve murdered and destroyed and engaged in every kind of evil practice to thwart the work of Christ.(Gordon B. Hinckley, An Unending Conflict, a Victory Assured, Ensign, June 2007.)

“Religion and the free exercise thereof, the right to worship God according to one's own conscience — how precious and treasured a boon it is. How necessary that it be safeguarded. Established religion becomes the guardian of the conscience of the people, the teacher of moral values, the defender of belief in the Almighty, the bridge between God and man. No people will live for long in freedom without it. The history of communism, whose founding father declared religion to be the opiate of the people, speaks with harshness and suffering concerning this basic matter.

“Congress shall not abridge ‘the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.’

“The history of tyrants is a history of the muzzling of free expression and the denial of assembly.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Gathering of Eagles, June 20, 1991.)