To
the rulers and peoples of these European nations, I solemnly declare that the
God of heaven has established his latter-day kingdom upon the earth in fulfillment
of prophecies uttered by his ancient prophets and apostles. Holy angels have
again communed with men on the earth. God has again revealed himself from
heaven and restored to the earth his holy priesthood with power to administer
in all the sacred ordinances necessary for the exaltation of his children. His
Church has been reestablished among men with all the spiritual gifts enjoyed anciently.
All
this is done in preparation for Christ’s second coming. The great and dreadful
day of the Lord is near at hand. In preparation for this great event and as a
means of escaping the impending judgments, inspired messengers have gone forth
to the nations of the earth carrying this testimony and warning.
The
nations of the earth continue in their sinful and unrighteous ways. The
unbounded knowledge with which men have been blessed has been used to destroy
mankind instead of to bless the children of men as the Lord intended. Two great
world wars in the past twenty-five years, with fruitless efforts of lasting
peace, are solemn evidence that peace has been taken from the earth because of
the wickedness of the people. Nations cannot endure in sin. They will be broken
up, but the kingdom of God will endure forever.
Therefore,
as a humble servant of the Lord, I call upon the leaders of nations to humble
themselves before God, to seek his inspiration and guidance. I call upon rulers
and people alike to repent of their evil ways. Turn unto the Lord, seek his
forgiveness and unite yourselves in humility with his kingdom. There is no
other way. (“Farwell Message of President Ezra Taft Benson to the Saints and
Friends of the European Mission,” in A Labor of Love: The 1946 European Mission
of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1989], 243-44)
