- Alma 24: 18…Rather than spend our days in idleness we should labor with our hands
- D&C 88: 124-126…Cease to be idle
- D&C 68: 30-31…Lord not pleased with idlers
- “Suppose a nation in some distant region, should take the BIBLE for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. Every member would be obliged in conscience to temperance and frugality and industry, to justice and kindness and charity towards his fellow men, and to piety and love, and reverence towards almighty God. In this commonwealth, no man would impair his health by gluttony, drunkenness, or lust- no man would sacrifice his most precious time to cards, or any other trifling and mean amusement- no man would steal or lie or in any way defraud his neighbor, but would live in peace and good will with all men- no man would blaspheme his Maker or profane his worship, but a rational and manly, a sincerely and unaffected piety and devotion, would reign in all hearts….What a paradise this would be.” Diary and Autobiography of John Adams (2nd President of U.S.), Val III, page 9.
- “As we administer any aspect of the welfare program, the primary purpose for which it was established must be kept before us. That stated purpose is to set up, insofar as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift, and self-respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership.” Manual, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Gordon B Hinkley, Chapter 21, Principles of Temporal and Spiritual Warfare