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This Nation Shall Endure
Book by Benson, Ezra Taft
152 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
About the author
Ezra Taft Benson
129 books71 followersThe thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both of the administrations of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
On October 7, 1943, both Benson and Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) became members of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, filling two vacancies created by the deaths of apostles that summer. Because Kimball was the older of the two, he was given seniority over Benson in the Quorum. Succession to the presidency of the church is by chronological order of ordination to apostleship, allowing Spencer W. Kimball to become president of the church years earlier than Benson. Upon Spencer W. Kimball's death in 1985, Benson became the president of the church.
Benson suffered poor health in the last years of his life from the effects of blood clots in the brain, strokes, and heart attacks, and was rarely seen publicly. He was hospitalized in 1992 and 1993 with pneumonia.
Benson died of congestive heart failure in his Salt Lake City apartment at the age of 94. Funeral services were held June 4, 1994 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle under the direction of Gordon B. Hinckley. He was buried near his birthplace in Whitney, Idaho, at the Whitney City Cemetery.
On October 7, 1943, both Benson and Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) became members of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, filling two vacancies created by the deaths of apostles that summer. Because Kimball was the older of the two, he was given seniority over Benson in the Quorum. Succession to the presidency of the church is by chronological order of ordination to apostleship, allowing Spencer W. Kimball to become president of the church years earlier than Benson. Upon Spencer W. Kimball's death in 1985, Benson became the president of the church.
Benson suffered poor health in the last years of his life from the effects of blood clots in the brain, strokes, and heart attacks, and was rarely seen publicly. He was hospitalized in 1992 and 1993 with pneumonia.
Benson died of congestive heart failure in his Salt Lake City apartment at the age of 94. Funeral services were held June 4, 1994 in the Salt Lake Tabernacle under the direction of Gordon B. Hinckley. He was buried near his birthplace in Whitney, Idaho, at the Whitney City Cemetery.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 25, 2008
This book was the beginning of an in depth study of the Founding Fathers, the Founding Documents, the study of government and economics, and the beginning of my understanding, love, and passion for the providential truth of the founding of America. I read every book Ezra Taft Benson quoted from in this book and went on to read more than 40 books in this realm of study because of the inspiration and great overview this book was. I highly recommend it for everyone who calls him or herself an American.
Some topics covered in this book include:
*The lives and providential experiences of the Founding Fathers.
*Prophecy and revelation relating to the founding of America.
*The correct system of economics, free markets, entrepreneurship, self-reliance, etc.
*The errant problems with government (public) education--secular humanism, multiculturalism, and godlessness.
*Hope for the future in the changes we need to actively facilitate.
Some topics covered in this book include:
*The lives and providential experiences of the Founding Fathers.
*Prophecy and revelation relating to the founding of America.
*The correct system of economics, free markets, entrepreneurship, self-reliance, etc.
*The errant problems with government (public) education--secular humanism, multiculturalism, and godlessness.
*Hope for the future in the changes we need to actively facilitate.
April 15, 2026
I read this book a few months back, and I have been pondering it ever since. The central message is: Freedom is an eternal principle. As I was discussing parts of this with my daughter, she reminded me that prophecy is just history told in reverse.
“If reference is made continually to weaknesses of the private enterprise system without any effort to point out its virtues and the comparative fruits of this and other systems, the tendency in this country will be to demand that the government take over more and more of the economic and social responsibilities and make more of the decisions for the people. This can result in but one thing: slavery of the individual to the state.”
“Great nations do not fall because of external aggression; they first erode and decay inwardly, so that, like rotten fruit, they fall of themselves. The strength of a country is the sum total of the moral strength of the individuals in that country.”
“Today a contrary philosophy has come into the land. It is one that espouses that government benefits should replace the fruits of individual initiative and labor.”
“Poverty is abolished by economic growth, not by economic distribution, and economic growth requires work….The idler shall not eat the bread of the worker.” See Proverbs 31:27.
Thomas Jefferson said that the sum of good government shall leave citizens ‘free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the breads it has earned.’
“Profit is the reward for honest labor. It is the incentive that causes a man to risk his capital to build a business. If he cannot keep or invest that which he has earned, neither may he own, nor will he risk. Profit creates wealth; wealth creates more work opportunity; and more work opportunity creates greater wealth. None of this is possible without incentive.”
“Students of history know that no government in the history of mankind has ever created any wealth. People who work create wealth.”
“As Americans we have marched a long way down the soul-detroying road of socialism, atheism, and totalitarianism. It is the price we pay when we turn away from God and turn to government to do everything for us. It is the formula by which nations become enslaved by their own leaders.”
“Only a free people can be truly a happy people. Of all sad things in the world, the saddest is to see a people who have once know liberty and freedom and then lost it.”
“We need to keep before us the truth that people who do not master themselves and their appetites will soon be mastered by government.”
“No nation can rise above its homes, and no nation will long endure when the family unit is weakened or destroyed.”
Thomas Jefferson said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”
“The history of nations shows that the cycle of the body politic slowly but surely undergoes change. It progresses—from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to courage; from courage to freedom; from freedom to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to fear; from fear to dependency; from dependency to bondage. The greatest threat to the freedom of any nation is erosion—not erosion of the soil, but erosion of the national morality and character. What we have to fear is not force from without, but weakness from within.”
John Adams said, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
“No nation has ever perished that has kept the commandments of God.”
"Religious freedom cannot prosper where political freedom does not exist.”
“I say to you that the price of liberty is and always has been, blood, human blood, and if our liberties are lost, we shall never regain them except at the price of blood.”--J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
“Fear and despotism may rule for a generation or two, or three, but in time the human spirit rebels, the spirit of liberty manifests itself, and its tyrannous hand is overthrown. Yes as the offspring of God, we share a common paternity that makes us literally brothers, and thus a common destiny. When this truth sinks into the human heart, men demand their rights—life, liberty, and happiness. It is as the apostle Paul told the Corinthians, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2Cor 3:17)
Succinct, albeit unpopular, message--“Repentance is the sovereign remedy to our problems.”
“If reference is made continually to weaknesses of the private enterprise system without any effort to point out its virtues and the comparative fruits of this and other systems, the tendency in this country will be to demand that the government take over more and more of the economic and social responsibilities and make more of the decisions for the people. This can result in but one thing: slavery of the individual to the state.”
“Great nations do not fall because of external aggression; they first erode and decay inwardly, so that, like rotten fruit, they fall of themselves. The strength of a country is the sum total of the moral strength of the individuals in that country.”
“Today a contrary philosophy has come into the land. It is one that espouses that government benefits should replace the fruits of individual initiative and labor.”
“Poverty is abolished by economic growth, not by economic distribution, and economic growth requires work….The idler shall not eat the bread of the worker.” See Proverbs 31:27.
Thomas Jefferson said that the sum of good government shall leave citizens ‘free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the breads it has earned.’
“Profit is the reward for honest labor. It is the incentive that causes a man to risk his capital to build a business. If he cannot keep or invest that which he has earned, neither may he own, nor will he risk. Profit creates wealth; wealth creates more work opportunity; and more work opportunity creates greater wealth. None of this is possible without incentive.”
“Students of history know that no government in the history of mankind has ever created any wealth. People who work create wealth.”
“As Americans we have marched a long way down the soul-detroying road of socialism, atheism, and totalitarianism. It is the price we pay when we turn away from God and turn to government to do everything for us. It is the formula by which nations become enslaved by their own leaders.”
“Only a free people can be truly a happy people. Of all sad things in the world, the saddest is to see a people who have once know liberty and freedom and then lost it.”
“We need to keep before us the truth that people who do not master themselves and their appetites will soon be mastered by government.”
“No nation can rise above its homes, and no nation will long endure when the family unit is weakened or destroyed.”
Thomas Jefferson said, “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.”
“The history of nations shows that the cycle of the body politic slowly but surely undergoes change. It progresses—from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to courage; from courage to freedom; from freedom to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to fear; from fear to dependency; from dependency to bondage. The greatest threat to the freedom of any nation is erosion—not erosion of the soil, but erosion of the national morality and character. What we have to fear is not force from without, but weakness from within.”
John Adams said, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
“No nation has ever perished that has kept the commandments of God.”
"Religious freedom cannot prosper where political freedom does not exist.”
“I say to you that the price of liberty is and always has been, blood, human blood, and if our liberties are lost, we shall never regain them except at the price of blood.”--J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
“Fear and despotism may rule for a generation or two, or three, but in time the human spirit rebels, the spirit of liberty manifests itself, and its tyrannous hand is overthrown. Yes as the offspring of God, we share a common paternity that makes us literally brothers, and thus a common destiny. When this truth sinks into the human heart, men demand their rights—life, liberty, and happiness. It is as the apostle Paul told the Corinthians, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2Cor 3:17)
Succinct, albeit unpopular, message--“Repentance is the sovereign remedy to our problems.”
October 23, 2018
This book was filled with so much wisdom!!! I highly recommend it.
September 3, 2020
"What can we do to keep the light of freedom alive? Keep the commandments of God."
That is one of the major themes that the author puts forward in this book. With many arguments taken from the doctrine of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This book was published the year after I was born, yet the discussion of social issues caused by rejection of God's commandments are spot-on with what I perceive happening today.
As a member of the aforementioned church and a firm believer in God, I enjoyed the book very much. I was familiar already with the gist of much of the content, but I learned some new pieces of historical information, and there were some very interesting discussions about the kinship between my church and the Jews.
The different section of the book felt perhaps like they were written as essay at different times, because several of them repeat sections of text verbatim, and some ideas are expressed multiple times. I noticed this, but the sections were short enough that it didn't cause me any grief.
That is one of the major themes that the author puts forward in this book. With many arguments taken from the doctrine of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This book was published the year after I was born, yet the discussion of social issues caused by rejection of God's commandments are spot-on with what I perceive happening today.
As a member of the aforementioned church and a firm believer in God, I enjoyed the book very much. I was familiar already with the gist of much of the content, but I learned some new pieces of historical information, and there were some very interesting discussions about the kinship between my church and the Jews.
The different section of the book felt perhaps like they were written as essay at different times, because several of them repeat sections of text verbatim, and some ideas are expressed multiple times. I noticed this, but the sections were short enough that it didn't cause me any grief.
January 7, 2021
Fantastic. Truly inspired. President Benson does an amazing job at telling the reader all about the inspired history of our country, explaining the proper role of government, giving both political and spiritual counsel, while also testifying of the truth of the Gospel. This is a powerful book is full of some of the most amazing quotes from not only leaders of the Church, but also from our Founding Fathers. I highly recommend this book and urge people everywhere to read it, as it could not be more applicable or needed than in the times we now live.
June 23, 2021
This was really interesting. For various reasons. Especially his observations on his travels. It, like most nonfiction, makes much more sense in context (historical, audience, etc.).
August 30, 2020
An excellent book about how religion influenced the Founding Fathers, how it could influence each of us and how This Nation Shall Endure. Written in 1979, it is as relevant today as it was then.
August 12, 2014
After reading Sherry Dew's biography of President Benson, I wanted to read some of President Benson's writings and I felt like this was a good place to start. This book is a very typical example of the man that President Benson was. I love how consistent and forthright President Benson was. His faith defined everything he did and he saw all issues, political, social, and spiritual, with the same lens. He had an expansive vision of history, deeply rooted in the scriptures and he knew well his own role and the role of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the gospel it teaches. He acted as he spoke and was always true to his principles. This book is a glimpse into the mind and heart of a great man.
It is also interesting to read this book now knowing what would happen soon after this book was written. This book was written in the midst of President Jimmy Carter's presidency and the "malaise," economic and otherwise, was palpable. It is comforting to remember that the "Reagan Revolution" was just over the horizon and many of the problems that President Benson addresses were effectively dealt with, at least for a time, by Ronald Reagan, including the economic recession and inflation as well as the menace of Communism as present in the Soviet Union. Knowing that fact is just more evidence that "this nation shall" indeed "endure."
It is also interesting to read this book now knowing what would happen soon after this book was written. This book was written in the midst of President Jimmy Carter's presidency and the "malaise," economic and otherwise, was palpable. It is comforting to remember that the "Reagan Revolution" was just over the horizon and many of the problems that President Benson addresses were effectively dealt with, at least for a time, by Ronald Reagan, including the economic recession and inflation as well as the menace of Communism as present in the Soviet Union. Knowing that fact is just more evidence that "this nation shall" indeed "endure."
June 16, 2020
I've watched in recent weeks the chaos and horror happen in a country where I never thought things like that can happen. In short, I needed this book, and it delivered.
Former secretary of the agriculture under President Eisenhower and one-time head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Benson begins the book with a brief look at the lives and philosophies of the founders. He pays tribute to the British where, ironically enough, many of our freedoms were born. He reverences the constitution and explains why he holds the document in such high acclaim.
There are chapters here that look at the free market and the profit motive compared to Marxist economic theories that demand wealth redistribution. The analogies he uses are thought provoking and compelling.
While the book was written in the mid-'70s, its relevance could stamp it with a 2020 copyright date. I was astounded that he was so accurately able to depict the landscape of our day from the mid '70s. There is hope here, too. The title is self explanatory. I read this in a single sitting. I had to smile just a bit at some of the pronunciations Alexa gave to the ancient Book of Mormon writers quoted by Benson. You can see how she got there based on the spellings of their names, but they were amusing pronunciations just the same.
Former secretary of the agriculture under President Eisenhower and one-time head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Benson begins the book with a brief look at the lives and philosophies of the founders. He pays tribute to the British where, ironically enough, many of our freedoms were born. He reverences the constitution and explains why he holds the document in such high acclaim.
There are chapters here that look at the free market and the profit motive compared to Marxist economic theories that demand wealth redistribution. The analogies he uses are thought provoking and compelling.
While the book was written in the mid-'70s, its relevance could stamp it with a 2020 copyright date. I was astounded that he was so accurately able to depict the landscape of our day from the mid '70s. There is hope here, too. The title is self explanatory. I read this in a single sitting. I had to smile just a bit at some of the pronunciations Alexa gave to the ancient Book of Mormon writers quoted by Benson. You can see how she got there based on the spellings of their names, but they were amusing pronunciations just the same.
January 14, 2010
This book has been a little hard for me to get through, but I'm always enlightened and shocked at how accurate this LDS Prophet is in his words about our nation. I appreciate how he doesn't mince words, unlike some leaders today who seem to placate the masses. It is clear that a people dependent on their govenment, who feel entitled, will not succeed and eventually become our nations downfall. Hard work, responsibility of ones own life (finances, children etc.), free enterprise, the right to property, freedom and life, protected by our government, and an acknowledgement that this nation was founded under God will be the only way out of our mess. When a people are complacent under Federal Government governing all aspects of life our basic freedoms and principles are severly compromised!
February 2, 2010
I absolutely LOVED this book. The only drawback could be that the book is somewhat repetitive. However, I felt that most of the principals contained are worth repeating so I wasn't bothered by this. I feel that this is definitely a must read for anyone who truly loves America. It is interesting to read about politics from a LDS prophet's perspective. (Especially a prophet who's career was spent serving in American politics- he was the Secretary of Agriculture under Eisenhower.) It was written in the 70s but he's dead-on about pretty much everything that is going on in our country right now too. Love, love, love it!
February 4, 2014
You can't help but be patriotic after reading this book. You can tell Elder Benson lived this country and believed in the Founding Fathers. Even though he wrote this is 1977, the truths he explained are so applicable today. We need freedom and agency to keep this country strong, and we can do our part by strengthening our families. Strong families will lead to strong communities, and so forth. Great read!
April 22, 2010
Even though the book is 30 years old, all of the themes are pointedly relevant.
Interestingly, the book started out with a chapter praising Brittan... it's not often that a book written about American Independence, from an American perspective (by former US government official, no less), take such a magnanimous view of the Motherland.
Interestingly, the book started out with a chapter praising Brittan... it's not often that a book written about American Independence, from an American perspective (by former US government official, no less), take such a magnanimous view of the Motherland.
January 29, 2011
A totally amazing book! If your as concerned about the state of affairs that are currently taking hold of our country then read this book. President Benson is awesome. I have a testimony of this book and what President Benson says we need to do to save this choice nation and the inspired constitution that was written by men of God.
July 18, 2015
Fantastic book: Here is just one quote that is spot on---"Since God created man with certain inalienable rights, and man, in turn, created government to help secure and safeguard those rights, it follows that man is superior to government and should remain master over it, not the other way around."
HIghly recommend this book!
HIghly recommend this book!
January 8, 2009
This book was awesome. Another book that every American (especially every LDS American) should read. He speaks about everything that is happening NOW! I was amazed at how he covered every subject that is tearing our nation apart today; and this was written over 20 years ago. Love this book.
September 9, 2009
This was a great book for our times. It is completely relevant given the state of the current political landscape. I enjoyed reading it although it is scarey to think about where we as a country are going.
December 10, 2012
An absolutely phenomenal book. If all Americans were to read and understand this book then we would never have ended up with such an evil, socialist, subversive moron of a President (Obama).
March 19, 2015
I'm Filled With Hope!
This book is incredible. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves America and is searching for a source of hope. This nation will endure, for it has a unique and divinely ordained role and future.
This book is incredible. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves America and is searching for a source of hope. This nation will endure, for it has a unique and divinely ordained role and future.
October 10, 2007
This book is out of print, and I wish-listed for two years to find an available copy (not kidding). The best $75 I ever spent.
November 9, 2009
Everyone should read this book! If you can find a copy.
December 27, 2009
fantastic in every way it could be. If only we could get a few politicians to read this....
September 13, 2012
read it.
August 3, 2016
A great handbook for how to preserve America.
September 22, 2016
This is one of my favorite books. It was written in the 70s, but it is still relevant today. I could read this over and over again.
April 5, 2019
An inspiring book!
June 1, 2020
I'm reading it in 2020... The perspective that it's written from is definitely 1976 era. Not to say it's not a valuable perspective but there's an additional 40+ years of our nation enduring that will now bear testimony to the truths Elder Benson writes about in 1976. In the last chapter on the last few pages he states he believes in 1976 that God's protective hand is still over this land and and that He looks with favor upon this government. Is this still true today June 1 2020?
December 1, 2020
A book dealing with some of the foundational political and religious under pinning of the United States.
March 31, 2021
Should be required reading for every American.
August 24, 2012
A book written to inspire us to appreciate the United States and its Constitution
A slow read
A slow read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews