Smells to me like socialism.

What do you think about Hugh B. Brown and other general authorities who supported socialistic policies?

I asked you a while back what you thought about certain socialistic programs, but you never replied.

“So are you against all forms of public education, taxes, military, law enforcement, garbage removal, medicare, roads, water, parks, national forests, museums, television, and libraries? These are all socialist aspects of our government.”

I’d really like your thoughts on these.

Socialism, like communism, is a degenerate, corrupt form of the Law of Consecration, Zion, and the United Order.

I’ve already pointed out the problem with this arguement. Almost any governmental system is a “a degenerate, corrupt form of… Zion.” By reductio ad absurdem we should not have any form of government.

Some so-called socialist policies

They are called socialist policies because they are socialist policies.

I am unfamiliar with Hugh B. Brown’s socialistic policies as well as those of “other general authorities”.

Sometimes reading beyond The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson can do a person a lot of good. I suggest reading Quinn’s study case of Benson in the second volume of The Mormon Hiearchy. Actually, you could probably benefit from reading the entirety of both volumes.

I appreciate your inference that I am a closed-minded ignoramus who only reads and studies the point of view that I favor. Your prescription to suggest which books would benefit me most is also quite endearing…

You are welcome. I was giving you a reference for some of Brown’s socialist oppositions to Benson. Also, I was pointing out that your anti-socialist idealogy (in relation to Mormonism) seems to derive from a rather selective reading of Benson, Skousen, and other John Bircher (or Bircher-esque) propaganda. Another book I would highly recommend is Hugh Nibley’s Approaching Zion.

May I comment that I, too, am dabbling with contrasting ideas among church leaders and scriptorians. I will note that every prophet, starting with Joseph Smith, were aware of socialism and preached against it. Prophets in the mid 20th century (I’m especially thinking of McKay and Benson) were in utter despair over the ever-growing socialist tendencies in our own government. We all want to feel like we care, but do we realize that the so-called “welfare state” tends to harm man more than lift him. Irresponsible, exaggerated welfare programs foster ignorance, idleness, resentment, self contempt, laziness, and it gets worse from there. Indeed, the Church now struggles greatly in the numerous countries infested with socialist programs (many of which are so-called “developed” nations.) It finds difficulty in getting many of these members to become faithful, productive, and self-motivated. (And let’s not even mention what happens in communist countries!) A society can’t advance when a vast quantity decide that it’s easier and better to receive and never contribute.

While I respect that we have the right to think as we please and must choose whether to aline ourselves with the modern prophets or not, I will note that there is a great fundamental difference between our belief in “prophets, seers and revelators” and “the prophet,” and those who are simply teachers and interpreters. I will also mentions that apostles often have their own political convictions and doctrinal opinions that aren’t necessarily “Thus saith the Lord.” So again, know that EVERY PROPHET since Joseph Smith has decried socialism as satanic, contrary to the Plan of God, harmful to the spirit of man, and so forth.

P.S. I also sense that the two interlocutors are both of the same faith. I would have expected greater respect for each others opinion and less outright insults. I love to talk politics too, but when it becomes in a sense our “god” we all have to start worrying. Great site, glad I found it.