April 1956 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints--Priesthood Session

Presented in-person at the Tabernacle at Temple Square, broadcast on radio, and circulated through papers

My brothers, not since the days of Brigham Young and our beloved prophet Joseph Smith, have we existed under such a threat as the mad warlord MacArthur exerts upon us this very day. At this very moment, his tanks are rolling towards our homes, to purge our most precious and true religion, and our American freedoms with which our creator has blessed us. I know many of you here in this tabernacle are staying awake at night, wondering whether God has, this time, forsaken his chosen people.

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Fear not, o Elders of Israel. For the scriptures tell us that while God's time is not our time, he has always come to defeat the enemies of his righteous people. Recall the days in which Jerusalem itself was under siege by an uncountable host of Assyrians, written by the hand of Isaiah and recounted by the hand of the prophet Nephi. He writes:

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24 The Lord of Hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand—

25 That I will bring the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot; then shall his ayoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.

26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all nations.

27 For the Lord of Hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

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Brethren, the lord of hosts has purposed. His hand yet reaches out to stop the armies of Babylon from reaching our doors. It is up to us, as it was in the days of Captain Moroni, to raise the Title of Liberty and lead all those who can fight to war against the depraved tyranny of MacArthur and his minions. Satan has crafted a mighty weapon, to be sure, but God does not allow challenges that we cannot meet with his help.

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I leave you tonight with a calling, a calling to all men of the church, to ready their powder and muskets, to train both their mind and body. To not indulge in the lasciviousness of the flesh that weakens it. To follow the Word of Wisdom, to run and not be weary. If we are righteous in upholding our covenants, God will allow us to prevail. But God will not spare the wicked from their punishment. I also call for a special fast, so that we may prepare for the task ahead of us...

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President David O Mckay