Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen 

by H. Verlan Anderson

I picked up this book to read because it was recommended by President Ezra Taft Benson in the Ensign article "Civic Standards for Faithful Saints". This book does an amazing job of pointing out how much information the Lord has given us on the proper role of government. There is so much in the Book of Mormon on this topic (as well as the D&C). This week, my children and I were reading Alma 30...the account of Korihor, the antichrist. We have also been reading the 5000 Yr. Leap and had recently finished learning about and discussing natural law...which is the only sound basis for good government. It was wonderful to be able to recognize and point out to my children that the Nephite government was based on natural law (verses 7-11). Then here comes Korihor who wants to change this law to "survival of the fittest". (v. 17). This is only one example where principles of government are discussed and shown to us in this inspired book. One of the things the Book of Mormon teaches about is two great civilizations and their fall...and the cause of these falls. One of those civilizations had a form of government very similar to our own...which I think was also instituted by God as was our own government today (D&C 101:77,80). We see not only the causes of the fall of this nation...which are very instructive to us, but also the efforts of good men to save their nation. H. Verlan Anderson also give a warning to those of us who have this book (Book of Mormon) as to how great our responsibility must be. Knowing truth and having access to such great truths...we, of all people, must not be complacent. We must be up and doing (Alma 60:24). We must do what we can to educate others and to direct our government to its proper role. Quite a task today! Prophets have been warning us for at least decades! I believe we are at a crucial hour. This was an amazing book. It was first published in 1967. It is still...if not more...applicable today! Here are a few annotations from it...

"Thus, the central problem of government is a religious one, and anyone who assumes that he can form his political beliefs without consulting his ethics, which have their basis in religious conviction, is deceiving himself either about the true nature of government, or his moral responsibility for its actions. (p.2)


"We are easily deceived about government, because we are inclined to accept the following fallacies:
(a) Anything legal is also moral.
(b) We are not individually responsible for government action.
(c) A different moral law applies when men act in concert than it does when they act alone." (p. 2-3)

"To enable the Church to continue to exist, and to permit men to exercise their agency in this land, it is essential that this government of freedom be preserved." (p. 2)

"Next to being one in worshipping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this Church should be more united than upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States." (quote from President David O. McKay) (p.3)

"...one of the most approved and righteous of all callings is to increase freedom by disseminating truth, thereby increasing men's ability to reach their goals." (p. 10)

"But in a republic where government action is subject to control by the voting citizen, there is no other place to rest the credit or blame. If the citizen is not accountable, then who is? We are the ones who pass judgment upon candidates, platforms, and issues. The power to elect or defeat rests entirely in our hands." (p.26)

"...the greatest threat to freedom on earth is man acting through the agency of his government." (p.28)

"...those Nephite prophets who tried vainly to prevent the destruction of their nation were commanded by the Lord to warn us (italics added by Roxane). Not only did they prophesy that we would face the same threat, but they supplied us with a rather detailed history of how this criminal conspiracy operates to destroy a nation whose government is subject to the voice of the people as is ours." (p.71)

(speaking of the Nephites) "Of particular significance is the fact that They had altered and corrupted the laws God had given them and this was done with the consent of the majority of the people..." (p. 71)

"Before we can obey God's commandments regarding the laws of the land we must know what those commandments are. This means we must "search the scriptures." We must read them with the desire of finding the correct answers. We must test the philosophies of men by the revealed word of God or, according to Nephi, we will be "cursed"." (p. 79)

"One of the clearest and most recent admonitions of our prophet was given to the Priesthood of the Church at General Conference on April 9, 1966. In his "Statement concerning the position of the Church on Communism" president McKay was quite specific about our failings and responsibilities. He told us that we are "a sleeping and apathetic people"; he spoke of the "alarming conditions that are rapidly advancing about us"; he encouraged us to study the Constitution and to become informed on the subject of Communism so that we "could better appreciate what is happening and know what (we) can do about it"; he described Communism as the greatest satanical threat on earth and told us that if we, as church members and American citizens, lent "aid, encouragement, or sympathy to any of these false philosophies" they would prove snares to our feet." (p.79)

"Every Latter-day Saint should thoroughly understand the fact that Satan's great weapon today is political in nature." (p. 82)