First Presidency Urges Support of President Ford

Gerald R. Ford, the new president of the United States, was hosted by the First Presidency of the Church when he visited Salt Lake City earlier this year as vice president. President Ford met informally with the First Presidency at that time and was entertained by a short concert performed by the Tabernacle Choir.

When President Ford took office in August, the First Presidency issued the following plea for support of the new president:

“We urge all Latter-day Saints, as well as all citizens of this great country, to fully support Gerald R. Ford as our new President, that the transition of the responsibilities of this high office may be made with utmost dispatch and tranquility for the benefit and blessing of not only the citizenry of this country but for all mankind.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints deplores all actions which are in violation of the laws of the land, and reaffirms its basic teachings of ‘obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law’ and of ‘being subject to kings, rulers, and magistrates.’ On the basis of revealed scripture, we regard the Constitution of the United States as a divinely inspired document, and express our full loyalty to those now newly sustained to uphold the laws of this land and maintain its dignity among nations of the world.

“May all of us rally together in strengthening this great nation through individual honor, integrity, concern for others, and involvement as citizens in the democratic process.”

As vice president of the United States, President Gerald R. Ford visited Salt Lake City earlier this year and met with Church President Spencer W. Kimball, at right, and President Marion G. Romney and President N. Eldon Tanner of the First Presidency.