1 Ne. 22:7-8; 26:8; Morm. 5:15, 19-20; Ether 12:22; Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, Ludlow, pp. 280-281; Title Page of the Book of Mormon; A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Richards, p. 179; refer in this text to 1 Ne. 13:34-38
“And one of the most important of all the requirements of the Church is that they should establish the Lord’s word among the Lamanites.” (Spencer W. Kimball, BYU Speeches of the Year, Apr. 1965, p. 7)
“That is the reason there is an America. That is the destiny of America… . Old Glory was raised up because there was to be a restoration of the gospel.” (Mark E. Petersen, BYU Speeches of the Year, 1968)
“This nation will endure. It may cost blood, but it is God-ordained for a glorious purpose. We must never forget that the gospel message we bear to the world is to go forth to the world from this nation, and that gospel message can prosper only in an atmosphere of freedom. We must maintain and strengthen our freedom in this blessed land.” (Ezra Taft Benson, This Nation Shall Endure)
“The establishment of this great Christian nation with a spiritual foundation was all in preparation for the restoration of the gospel following the long night of apostasy… .
This then becomes the Lord’s base of operations in these latter days. And this base will not be shifted out of its place—the land of America. This nation will, in a measure at least, fulfill its mission even though it may face serious and troublesome days. The degree to which it achieves its full mission depends upon the righteousness of its people.” (Ezra Taft Benson, A Nation Asleep, pp. 8,10)
“There is not another nation under heaven but this, in whose midst the Book of Mormon could have been brought forth. The Lord has been operating for centuries to prepare the way for the coming forth of the contents of that Book from the bowels of the earth… . It was the Lord who directed the discovery of this land to the nations of the Old World and its settlement, and the war for independence, and the final victory of the colonies, and the unprecedented prosperity of the American nation, up to the calling of Joseph the Prophet. The Lord has dictated and directed the whole of this, for the bringing forth and establishing of His kingdom in the last days.” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 11:17)