Gambling |
Latter-day Counsel |
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"The Church has been and is now opposed to this practice. If you have never been involved in poker games or other forms of gambling, don't start. If you are involved, then quit now while you can do so." President Gordon B. Hinckley, April Conf, 2005 "The Church has been and now is unalterably opposed to gambling in any form whatever. It is opposed to any game of chance, occupation, or so-called business, which takes money from the person who may be possessed of it without giving value received in return. It is opposed to all practices the tendency of which is to . . . degrade or weaken the high moral standard which the members of the Church, and our community at large, have always maintained" President Heber J. Grant, Improvement Era, Sept. 1926 Imorality, alternative
life-styles, gambling, selfishness, dishonesty, unkindness, addiction
to alcohol and drugs are not part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church
is not retreating from its stand on this issue. In recent times, those
individuals and institutions that have had the courage to stand up and
speak out against adultery, dishonesty, violence, gambling, and other
forms of evil are often held up to ridicule. Many things are just plain
and simply wrong, whether they are illegal or not. Those who persist in
following after the evil things of the world cannot know the "peace
of God, which passeth all understanding" (Philippians 4:7). Elder
James E. Faust, Oct Conf 1992 "There are many evils in the world which young folks need to be guarded against. One of these is gambling. There are various forms of this evil but they are all bad and should not be indulged in" (Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon "The Church does not approve of gambling but strongly condemns it as morally wrong, and classes also with this gambling, games of chance and lottery, of all kinds, and earnestly disapproves of any of its members engaging therein" President Joseph F. Smith, 1908 Latter-day prophets have issued warnings, when inspired by the Lord, on such subjects as moral cleanliness, Sabbath observance, child and spouse abuse, homosexuality, abortion, and gambling. These statements are the word of the Lord through His prophets. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, BYU August 2, 1992 Now again, as always,
we are faced with public moral issues, this time concerning lotteries,
parimutuel betting, and other forms of gambling. The Presidents of
the Church have spoken clearly and unequivocally on these matters. These are little things,
but they are important things. They bring to mind the great contest between
the prophet Elijah and the priests of Baal. Said Elijah on that occasion:
"How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow
him: but if Baal, then follow him" (I Kings 18:21). |