Doctrinal Book of Mormon Commentary, Millet & McConkie, 1:184; Conference Report, Oct. 1932, p. 108
“… they have come and are coming and shall come, led hither by the hand of the Lord. What, you say, these undesirable elements? Well, they are permitted to be here that the people may be tried and tested and given the experience which is so necessary to make them what the Lord intends that they shall be. And so let us not fear that our nation is going to lose its identity, or is going to lose its sovereignty or is going to be overwhelmed or overpowered by other nations. It cannot be so save through iniquity? Well, you may say, are not the people of this nation iniquitous? It is true that sin befouls and defiles the land; but in spite of it, I know not where you will find a nation with higher ideals or with plainer purposes to uphold the institutions that God has established for the government and freedom of men.” (James E. Talmage, Conference Report, Oct. 1919, pp. 97-98)