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War


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War

Overview

The Lord has said that in the last days there will be “wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:26). As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are a people of peace. We follow the Savior, who is the Prince of Peace. We look forward to His millennial reign, when wars will end and peace will be restored to the earth (see Isaiah 2:4). However, we recognize that in this world, government leaders sometimes send military troops to war to defend their nations and ideals.

Latter-day Saints in the military do not need to feel torn between their country and their God. In the Church, “we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law” (Articles of Faith 1:12). Military service shows dedication to this principle.

If Latter-day Saints are called upon to go into battle, they can look to the example of Captain Moroni, the great military leader in the Book of Mormon. Although he was a mighty warrior, he “did not delight in bloodshed” (Alma 48:11). He was “firm in the faith of Christ,” and his only reason for fighting was to “defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion” (Alma 48:13). If Latter-day Saints must go to war, they should go in a spirit of truth and righteousness, with a desire to do good. They should go with love in their hearts for all God’s children, including those on the opposing side. Then, if they are required to shed another’s blood, their action will not be counted as a sin.

Related Topics

Scriptures

Scripture References

Scripture Study Resources

  • Topical Guide, “War

  • Guide to the Scriptures, “War

Messages from Church Leaders

Videos

“Until We Meet Again”

“Sierra Leone—Civil War Response”

“Life after War and Overcoming Post-Traumatic Stress”

“Spiritual Vertigo”

“Erick Lund: Counting His Blessings”

“I’m a Mormon and Wife of a Fallen Soldier”

Learning Resources

General Resources

‘Charity Never Faileth,’Daughters in My Kingdom, chapter 5

Church Magazines

David Brent Marsh, “How Disciples of Christ Live in Times of War and Violence,” Ensign, September 2012

John L. Flade, “The Lord Was Always There,” Ensign, August 2011

Rachel Faas Trim with Danielle Nye Poulter, “Torpedoes, Typhoons, and War Stories,” New Era, July 2006

Robert K. Hillman, “Peace Amidst War,” Ensign, April 1989

Wilford Hill LeCheminant, “‘A Valiant Little Band’: LDS Soldiers in the Crimean War,” Ensign, January 1981

R. Lanier Britsch and Richard C. Holloman, Jr., “The Church’s Years in Vietnam,” Ensign, August 1980

Don A. Aslett, “My Souvenirs from World War II,” Ensign, July 1978

William G. Hartley, “War and Peace and Dutch Potatoes,” Ensign, July 1978

Eugene England, “Moroni and His Captains: Men of Peace in a Time of War,” Ensign, September 1977

Study Manuals

In the News

New BYU Exhibit Chronicles World War I,” Church News

FamilySearch Adds Civil War Military Records to Assist in Family History Work,” Church News

Military Service,” Newsroom

Mormon Battalion Fact Sheet,” Newsroom

Online Collections of Civil War Records Updated for Memorial Day,” Newsroom

War of 1812, End of Civil War 150th Anniversary Commemorated,” Newsroom

Millions of Civil War Records Now Available on FamilySearch Website,” Newsroom

Revolutionary War Records to Go Online,” Newsroom

Teachings of Presidents of the Church

Teaching Resources

Teaching Outlines

Media

Audio

The Candy Bomber—Gail Halvorsen,” Why I Believe, episode 42

Remaining Steadfast in Strife—Werner Schmidt and Margot Sadowski,” Enduring It Well, episode 16

Across Enemy Lines,” Legacy, episode 54

Quiet Hero,” Legacy, episode 82

The Mormon Battalion,” Scripture Stories—Doctrine and Covenants Stories, episode 41

The Mormon War,” The Joseph Smith Papers, episode 33

The War of 1812,” Extreme Genes: Family History Radio, episode 68

Family Stories of the Attack on Pearl Harbor,” Extreme Genes: Family History Radio, episode 69

Music

Images