Use Politics to Influence Correctly — Willard Richards (February 21, 1843)
one thing more, political economy, our duty to concentrate all our influence to make popular that which is sound & good. & unpopular that which is unsound Tis right politically for a man who has influence to use it as well as for a man who has no influence to use his, from henceforth I will maintain all the influence I can get. in relation to politics I will speak as a man in religion in authority, if a man lift a dagger to kill me, I will lift my tongue.
Discourse, 21 February 1843, as Reported by Willard Richards, p. 210, The Joseph Smith Papers.