Sparks Commentary: Cicero and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Monday, January 3, 2022

Cicero and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have referenced the Roman statesman Cicero a number of times, even quoting from him. Cicero was also an orator and philosopher, who wrote extensively on a number of subjects. He wrote in his native language of Latin, but these quotations are all in English translation. These references (including quotations) are as follows:

Roman statesman Cicero, who was also an orator and philosopher

The Latter-Day Saint apostle Henry B. Eyring once said that “In praying, though a person’s words be few and awkwardly expressed, if the heart is pure before God, that prayer will avail more than the eloquence of a Cicero.” (Source: October 1997 general conference talk)

Henry B. Eyring

The Latter-Day Saint apostle L. Tom Perry once quoted Cicero as follows: “Cicero wrote this of history: ‘Not to know what has been transacted in former times is to be always a child. If no use is made of the labors of past ages, the world must remain always in the infancy of knowledge’ (The International Dictionary of Thoughts, Chicago: J. G. Ferguson Publishing Co., 1969, p. 362).” (Source: October 1987 general conference talk)

L. Tom Perry

The Latter-Day Saint apostle LeGrand Richards once said that “I like the statement by Cicero. He said that he was more interested in the long hereafter than in the brief present. I like that thinking. I think if all of us were more interested in the long hereafter, it would be a changed world in which we live today.” (Source: October 1976 general conference talk) He later used nearly identical language when he said: “I like the statement of the philosopher Cicero. He said he was much more interested in the long hereafter than he was in the brief present.” (Source: October 1981 general conference talk)

LeGrand Richards

The Latter-Day Saint apostle Howard W. Hunter once said that “One of the wisest of the ancient Romans once spoke a great gospel truth and probably never realized he had done so. Speaking of Roman naval power and the absolute imperative to control the oceans, Cicero said to a military aide, ‘He who commands the sea has command of everything.’ (See W. Gurney Benham, Putnam’s Complete Book of Quotations, New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1926, p. 505.) Of that I so testify,” added Elder Hunter – likely referring to how God has command of the sea. (Source: October 1984 general conference talk) Howard W. Hunter later became the 14th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 1994, and served in that capacity until his death in 1995.

Howard W. Hunter

Thus, it would seem that some of the church’s apostles (including one future President of the Church) have admired the words of Cicero. Some of America’s Founding Fathers were also admirers of Cicero. (But that’s a topic for another post.)