MormonsandWar:

AComparisonofU.S.ProtestantandMormonThoughtonWar

BrookeSwallow

UtahValleyUniversity

Wordcount:20,064

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MormonsandWar:

AComparisonofU.S.ProtestantandMormonThoughtonWar

PREFACE

BeforeIstartedmyresearchforthispaper,Iexpectedtofindsupportforjust

warintheBookofMormon(BOM)andDoctrineandCovenants(D&C).My

expectationscamefromthestereotypethatMormonswereRepublicanPartymembers

andthattheytendtobenationalisticandsupportiveofwar.IalsothoughtthatMormon

scholarswouldinterprettheBOMandD&Casbeingprojustwartheory.

Althoughthereissomediscrepancyintheteachingsandinterpretationofthe

BOMandD&C,thereareMormonscholarswhoendorsenonviolentactionasthe

overarchingthemeofthepeopleoftheBookofMormon.Furthermore,pacifismis

promotedintheD&C,whichareinstructions,givenbyGod,totheleadershipofthe

MormonChurch.IomittedanalyzingtheOldTestamentaswellasThePearlofGreat

Price(anotherbookofMormonscripture)becauseofthelengthofthispaper.Inorderto

easetheflowofreadingthispaper,IhavechosentouseMormonasshorthandfor

membersoftheChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints.IusedthetermLDSin

referencetotheChurchasanorganizationandChurchauthorities.

ThispaperisdesignedtobeacomparisonofprotestantscholarsandMormon

scholarsconcerningpeaceandconflict,withabriefbackgroundinwartheory.Ialsolay

outanoverviewofMormonhistorywithconflictandLDSleadersstatementsaboutwar.

TheresearchledmetoanunderstandingofMormonchangingfromanisolationist

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people,inatheocraticsocialisteconomytonow,anationalisticpeople,embracinga

conservativecapitalisteconomy.Iamparticularlyfascinatedbythisshiftinthepolitical

ideologywithinMormonculture,soIspendanumberofpagesoutliningtheshiftduring

theearly1960sthroughthe1980s.Themajorcatalysttowardsaconservative

membershipislikelyduetotheinfluenceofTheJohnBirchSocietyanditsstrong

advocate,EzraTaftBenson.However,Iwassurprisedatthevarietyofpoliticalviewsof

theLDSleadersprecedingBensonandinoppositiontoultraconservativeviews.

MyresearchcertainlybroadenedmyknowledgeofscholarsintheMormon

Church.IwasfortunatetofindtheessayscollectedinWar&PeaceinOurTime:

MormonPerspectives.In2011,ClaremontGraduateUniversitygatheredawidevariety

ofwritingsonMormonthoughtonpacifism.Theseessaysareanewperspectiveand

differfrommostopinionsandviewsfoundintheleadersoftheLDSChurch.These

scholarspromoteconflicttransformationandprovideanalternativeperspective,

supportingthebeliefsofMormonpacifists.

INTRODUCTION

TherearetwomaintensionsinthequestionofpeaceandwarandwhatU.S.

protestantsandMormonsbelievetheirparticipationinwarshouldbe.Thefirstpointis

thatwarasanimmoralactandunChristian.ThesecondisthattheU.S.hasaspecial

relationshiptoGodand,therefore,anattackontheU.S.isadirectattackonGodswill.

InD&C101:80,AndforthispurposehaveIestablishedtheConstitutionofthisland,

bythehandsofwisemenwhomIraisedupuntothisverypurpose,andredeemedthe

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landbythesheddingofblood.Thissecondpointmaybesharedbysomeextremist

protestantshowever,theMormonsareuniqueintheirviewoftheU.S.divineorigins.

H.RichardNiebuhr,amajorproponentofpacifismintheearlytwentiethcentury,

describesthreedifferentviewsofChristiansinhisessayWarastheJudgmentofGod.

ThefirstviewisthatthereisanactionofGodinwarandthatChristiansoughttoattend

tothebadactionsofallmenwhoaremakingwarandrespondtothelatterbyrefusalto

participateintheconflict(1992:49).ThenextviewiswarasajudgmentofGodbut

alsoasadefenseofourowncountryagainsttheenemiesnotofGodsomuchasofour

owncountryandNiebuhrexplainsfurtherthatitisadutyasacitizentodefendones

country(1992:49).ThethirdviewofChristiansmakesadistinctionbetweenthe

absolutejudgmentofGod...andtherelativejudgmentsofmenwhichrequirescontrition

forcommonsinandofconfidentassertionoftherelativerightnessofdemocracyin

oppositiontototalitarianism(1992:50).Allthreeoftheseviewsinvolvetheabove

tensionandeachChristianmustdecidewhattheirroleisinwarandrelationtoGodswill

andjudgmentconcerningwar.

JustWarTheory

Theextremesofthescaleofwarandpeacearepacifismandtherealismof

InternationalRelationstheory(IRtheory).IRtheorycameoutofthewritingsofThomas

HobbesandNicolloMachiavelliwhoproposedthatanymeansshouldbeusedtouphold

thenationalinterest(Moseley).JustWartheoryisacompromisewithIRtheoryand

onesteptowardspacifismandisthehumanitarianidealoutlinedinTheGeneva

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Conventions.InordertocompareprotestantandMormonscholars,itisimportanttosee

howtheirinterpretationofscriptureisreflectedinthejustwartradition.Thejustwar

traditionbeganinthesecondandthirdcenturies,withSt.Augustine(VanHorne

1981:45).Catholicandprotestantleadersandscholarsshapedatheorybasedontwo

assumptions.Firstitispremisedonthenotionthatwarmaybeaninstrumentofjustice

inrelationsbetweencommunitiesornationstates.Second,itispremisedontheidea

thatnotallisfairinwar,evenforthosewhosecauseinwarisjustified(Miller

1992:xiv).Justwartheorysetsoutcriteriaforwhenwarisjustifiableandwhatmethods

ofwararejust.Abriefsummationofjustwartraditionisfoundintheintroductionof

WarintheTwentiethCentury,which,insummary,is:

1. Justcause:Adefensivewariswagedforprotectionandnotforrevengeorimperialism.

2. Competentauthority:Warcannotbewagedbyindividuals.Warmustbebyalegitimatepoliticalstate.

3. Rightintention:Theintentcanonlybedefensive.4. Lastresort:Warisonlywagedwhenallothernonviolentformshave

beenexhausted.5. Relativejustice:Neithersideofthewarenactsabsolutejusticeor

possessesmoralrighteousnessinwagingwarbecauseofthechangingcircumstancesofwar.

6. Proportionality:Thecostsandaftermathofwarmustbeconsideredbeforeenteringintowar.

7. Reasonablehopeforsuccess:Whilewarcandrawattentiontoinjusticeandpreventatrocities,however,theycanbealosingagendathatresultsinmassviolence(Miller1992:xvxvi).

Thefollowingareconsideredthejustmethodsofwar:1.Discrimination:Warcannotintentionallytargetcivilians.2.Proportionality:Thisconsiderswhichmethodsofwarwillsupportthe causeandavoidunnecessarycasualtiesanddamagetoinfrastructure.3.Alltreatiesandagreementswillbehonored.4.Prisonerswillbetreatedhumanely(Miller1992:xvxvi).

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TheGenevaConventions

TheFirstGenevaConvention(1864),gavetheRedCrossjurisdictiontotreatthe

woundedandthesick(TheGenevaConventions1949:23).In1868,theSecond

Conventionestablishedprovisionsformaritimewarfare.TheThirdConventionin1929

dealtwithprisonersofwar(1949:26).TheFourthConvention(1949)wastolayout

guidelinesconcerningcivilians(31).Theseguidelineswereespeciallynecessaryasthe

weaponsofwarinWWIIwerenolongerisolatedtoabattlefield.TheFourthConvention

wasthefoundationforcontemporaryhumanitarianlaw(1949:29).

Withinthefourconventions,therearethreeheadingsthatdealwitharmed

conflict(1949:25).TheGeneralProvisionsareconcerningatimeline,agreements

betweenwarringfactions,humanrights,dutiesoftheprotectiveauthority,activitiesof

TheRedCross,andconciliationwiththewarringfactions(1949:22).TheRepressionof

BreachesoftheConventionsdealswithbreakingtherulesoftheconventionandhelpto

definewarcrimes.TheFinalProvisionsgivetheprocedureforvalidatingtheconvention

andforfutureconventions(1949:2223).ThesummaryoftheGenevaConventionsgave

thefollowingguidelinestoconflict:

Certainfundamentalhumanitarianrulesmustbeobserved,regardlessofthetypeofconflictandthestatusoforactivitiesengagedinbythepeopleaffectedbytheconflict.Thefollowingarethereforeprohibitedatanytimeandinanyplacewhatsoever:murder,torture,corporalpunishment,mutilation,outragesuponpersonaldignity,thetakingofhostages,collectivepunishments,executionwithoutregulartrial,andallcruelanddegradingtreatment(2005/2012:4).

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AMERICANPROTESTANTTHOUGHTONWAR

ReinholdNiebuhr,astaunchsupporterofthejustwartradition,startedasa

ministerandwassympathetictotheworkingclassandthelaborclassinthe1920s.For

Niebuhr,asformanymainlineliberalprotestants,WorldWarIhadleftaseverecaseof

moralnauseaandrevulsiontowardwar(Thompson2007:835).Hechangedfrom

pacifismtorealismwhenhesawthepowerforchangewasvestedineconomicissuesand

hewasalsoconcernedwiththeriseoffascism.

AccordingtoNiebuhr,humaneffortwastheanswerforchange.Howeverhe

thoughtthatChristianidealismandpacifismwereineffectiveinmattersofwar.Niebuhr

writesbetweentheidealandtherealwhichitcreatescanbemaintainedatanypointno

matterwhatthemoralandsocialachievement,becauseitsultimateidealalways

transcendseveryhistoricalfactandreality(2007:837).Theconflicthesawbetween

pacifismandChristianresponsibilityinspiredNiebuhrsalternativeapproach.

AccordingtoThompson,propheticreligion...consistedinatensionordialecticorboth

transcendenceandrelatedness(2007:837).

ThroughoutNiebuhrswritings,hewrestleswiththetensionofChristianidealism

andrealism.InTheChildrenofLightandtheChildrenofDarkness(1944),heattacked

pacifismasautopianidealandarguedthatpacifismdoesnotdealwiththerealitiesof

conflict.Hesawpacifismasaninactiontoinjusticeandcouldnotstandonthesidelines

andfindcomfortinfaith.Hesawpeaceanddemocracyasessentialinfacilitatingjustice.

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"Man'scapacityforjusticemakesdemocracypossiblebutman'sinclinationtoinjustice

makesdemocracynecessary"(1944:ix).

SomeextremistChristiansviewthecomingofArmageddonasjustificationof

warandseeitaswipingouttheeviloftheearth.Mormonshaveasimilarviewof

Armageddon.

Armageddonsignalstheendoftheworld,whichisdefinedasthedestructionofthewicked(PearlofGreatPrice,JosephSmithstranslationofMatthew1:4).ButitpreparesthewayfortheusheringinofthemillennialreignofChristandtheeraofpeacethatwillendureforathousandyears.Mankindwillenteraremarkableperiodofrighteousness,health,education,prosperity,andsecurity.

Themillennialeracouldnotbeginwithoutthewidespreaddestructionofthewicked.Therefore,whilethebattleofArmageddonisinandofitselfathinghorribletocontemplate,itisnecessarybecauseofthewickednessoftheworld,andultimatelyitwillplayanimportantpartintheLordsplanforredemptionoftheworld(TheBattleofArmageddon:APropheticView).

Inhisessay,MustWeDoNothing?,Niebuhrrepeatedlypickedatwhathesawasthe

futileaspectsofChristianidealism,TheChristianwilltrytoachievehumilityand

disinterestednessnotbecauseenoughChristianswillbeabletodosotochangethecourse

ofhistory,butbecausethiskindofspiritualattitudeisaprayertoGodforthecomingof

hiskingdom(Miller1992:15).Ofcourse,protestantsdontbelievethatwarisnecessary

tobringaboutthekingdomofGodonearth.NiebuhralsofalselyclaimsthatChristian

pacifismisadelusionalactoffaith.Thehopethatakingdomofpurelovewillemerge

outofthecatastrophesofhistoryisevenlessplausiblethanthecommunistfaiththatan

equalitariansocietywillemergefromthem(1992:16).

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ReinholdNiebuhrbecamemoresupportiveofinternationalwarasU.S.foreign

policyopposedthethreatofSovietcommunistexpansiontoothercountries(2007:848).

Hespokeagainstreligiouspacifists,callingtheirviewsnaiveandcontrarytohuman

nature.HethoughtthattheoptimismoftheSocialGospelwasnaiveandthat

conservativeChristiansinterpretedscriptureinanexclusivemannerthatdiscountedthe

varietyofbeliefsinhabitingtheworld(Thompson2007:850).

ReinholdNiebuhrsforeignpolicyrealismispresentinPaulRamseysideason

politicalethics,inTheJustWar.AccordingtoRamsey,thetensionliesinpolitical

obligation,andthatofhisnation,withinanareaofincidencebetweenthenationaland

theinternationalcommongood...astatesmanisindangerofservingatoonarrowviewof

theinternationalcommongoodandtherebyfailingtoservethebestpossiblegoodofhis

ownnation(1968/2002:10).Thedecisionsofpoliticsfollowadialecticofpowerand

justiceandlawandhumanitariangood,whichareinsomerespectsconditionaltothe

other(1968/2002:11).

ThepoliticalethicsofRamseyconcernjusticeandthepowerofpoliticsinthe

decisionsofwarandproportionality.Ramseyexplainsifthemilitaryisnecessary,there

canbenohigheraiminmilitaryaffairs,exceptofcoursethepreventionordeterrenceof

warbymeansitwouldbejusttofightwith(1968/2002:151).Alongwiththeroleofthe

military,heisconsciousofthesacrificeofindividualhumanlife,particularlyofsoldiers

andthegoalshouldbeoneofendingarmedconflictandnonviolentsourcesofconflict

transformation(1968/2002:17).

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ReinholdNiebuhrsbrother,aleadingtheologianandapacifist,arguedwithhim

inthepagesofChristianityandCrisis.H.RichardNiebuhrwroteinhisessay,The

GraceofDoingNothing,Whenwedonothingwearealsoaffectingthecourseof

historyandhegoesontoexplainthatnothingconstructivecanbedonebyinterference

butthatsomethingveryconstructivecanbedoneinpreparationforthefuture(Miller

1992:6,10).Hethoughtthatbuildingpeacematerializedthroughfaith,notthrough

violence.

AnotherscholarinoppositiontoReinholdNiebuhrspositionwasJohnHoward

Yoder.YoderwasaMennonite,andhasbeenveryinfluentialinprotestantthoughton

conflict.InThePoliticsofJesus,YoderprimarilyarguedusingtheGospelofLukeand

partsofPaul'slettertotheRomans,thatpacifismwasconsistentintheteachingsofJesus

Christ(1972:7).

LikeH.RichardNiebuhr,Yoderrenouncedanytypeofcoercivepower(1972).

YoderwasemphaticthataChristianisapacifistandthatbeingaChristianisapolitical

position,especiallyinthecontextofwar,

Thebeliever'scrossisnolongeranyandeverykindofsuffering,sickness,ortension,thebearingofwhichisdemanded.Thebeliever'scrossmustbe,likehisLord's,thepriceofhissocialnonconformity. Itisnot,likesicknessorcatastrophe,aninexplicable,unpredictablesufferingitistheendofthepathfreelychosenaftercountingthecost.Itisnot,likeLuther'sorThomasMuntzer'sorZinzendorf'sorKierkegaard'scross,aninwardwrestlingofthesensitivesoulwithselfandsinitisthesocialrealityofrepresentinginanunwillingworldtheOrdertocome.(1972:97)

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Thepacifistviewofthesacrificeoflifeforthefutureisanactoffaithorpreparingfor

thefuture.ProponentsofpacifismtrustinGodsjustice.

StanleyHauerwaswritesabouttheparallelsofthesacrificeofJesusandthe

Americansacrificethroughwarinhisbook,WarandtheAmericanDifference,

IdonotwanttoconvinceChristianstoworkfortheabolitionofwar,butratherIwantustoliverecognizingthatinthecrossofChristwarhasalreadybeenabolished.SoIamnotaskingChristianstoworktocreateaworldfreeofwar.Theworldhasalreadybeensavedfromwar.ThequestionishowChristianscanandshouldliveinaworldofwarasapeoplewhobelievethatwarhasbeenabolished(2011:xi).

LikeYoder,andallChristianpacifists,Hauerwasproposesthatfocusingonlivingthe

gospelofJesusChristwouldshapeabetterworldthanactivelychangingtheworld

througharmedresistance.

HauerwasexplainsthattheU.S.justifieswarthroughproportionalityand

reasonablenessforsuccess,Wars,Americanwars,mustbewarsinwhichthesacrifices

ofthosedoingthedyingandthekillinghaveredemptivepurposeandjustification

(2011:32).After9/11hesawanewattitudetowardwarinU.S.cultureandnotes,War

possessesourimaginations,oureverydayhabitsandscholarlyassumptions(2011:47)

Howeverheremindshisreadersthatthroughtheforgivenessmadepossiblebythecross

ofJesuswearenolongercondemnedtokill(2011:69).Thecomplexityofargumenton

bothsidesofthewardiscussionisbestunderstoodbyreadingtheNewTestament.There

isaconflictwithinChristianitybecausescholarsinterpretJesusteachingsasacallof

faithwithmanyvariationsandmayincludeacallfornonviolentactioninsteadofwar.

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NEWTESTAMENTOVERVIEW

TheargumentforpacifismissupportedbytheNewTestament.Romans12:1819

states,Ifpossible,onyourpart,liveatpeacewitheveryone.Friends,donotavenge

yourselvesinstead,leaveroomforHiswrath.Foritiswritten:Vengeancebelongsto

MeIwillrepay,saystheLord.AndinRomansthereissupportforwhatYodercalled

Christianityasapoliticalposition14:19Sothen,wemustpursuewhatpromotespeace

andwhatbuildsuponeanother.InRomans13:17Everyonemustsubmittothe

governingauthorities,forthereisnoauthorityexceptfromGod,andthosethatexistare

institutedbyGod.ObviouslyPaul,Jesusandtheapostlesdidnotsubmitfullytoany

governmentandfrequentlydisobeyedauthority.Theselasttwotextsillustratethe

tensionbetweenlivinginanationatwarandfollowingChristianpacifismandagain

pointstothesourceofthetwoaforementionedtensionsinChristianthoughtaboutwar.

TheSouthernBaptistConventionaddressesthequestionofwarinitsArticleXVI

entitledPeaceandWar:

ItisthedutyofChristianstoseekpeacewithallmenonprinciplesofrighteousness.InaccordancewiththespiritandteachingsofChristtheyshoulddoallintheirpowertoputanendtowar.

ThetrueremedyforthewarspiritisthegospelofourLord.ThesupremeneedoftheworldistheacceptanceofHisteachingsinalltheaffairsofmenandnations,andthepracticalapplicationofHislawoflove.ChristianpeoplethroughouttheworldshouldprayforthereignofthePrinceofPeace.(sbc.net)

ThewordsoftheNewTestamentreflecttheConventionsArticleabouttrustinGodand

thepowerofChristianobedienceinchangingtheworld.Isaiah2:4advisesthatGodwill

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reigninpeace,Hewillsettledisputesamongthenationsandprovidearbitrationfor

manypeoples.Theywillturntheirswordsintoplowsandtheirspearsintopruning

knives.Nationswillnottakeuptheswordagainstothernations,andtheywillneveragain

trainforwar.

AlongwithtrustinginGod,JesusasrecordedinMatthewsGospelpromotes

pacifism,

Youhaveheardthatitwassaid,Aneyeforaneyeandatoothforatooth.ButItellyou,dontresistanevildoer.Onthecontrary,ifanyoneslapsyouonyourrightcheek,turntheothertohimalso.Asfortheonewhowantstosueyouandtakeawayyourshirt,lethimhaveyourcoataswell.Andifanyoneforcesyoutogoonemile,gowithhimtwo.Givetotheonewhoasksyou,anddontturnawayfromtheonewhowantstoborrowfromyou.Youhaveheardthatitwassaid,Loveyourneighborandhateyourenemy.ButItellyou,loveyourenemiesandprayforthosewhopersecuteyou,sothatyoumaybesonsofyourFatherinheaven.ForHecausesHissuntoriseontheevilandthegood,andsendsrainontherighteousandtheunrighteous.Forifyoulovethosewholoveyou,whatrewardwillyouhave?Donteventhetaxcollectorsdothesame?Andifyougreetonlyyourbrothers,whatareyoudoingoutoftheordinary?DonteventheGentilesdothesame?Beperfect,therefore,asyourheavenlyFatherisperfect(5:3848).

MatthewrecountsJesuswordsthatthepathofpeaceisthepathtoinheritthekingdom

ofheaven5:9Thepeacemakersareblessed,fortheywillbecalledchildrenofGod.

Andin6:33ButseekfirstthekingdomofGodandHisrighteousness,andallthese

thingswillbeprovidedforyou.Thewarningthatviolencewillbegetmoreviolenceis

clearinMatthew26:52ThenJesustoldhim,Putyourswordbackinitsplacebecause

allwhotakeupaswordwillperishbyasword.

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Furthermore,thereissupportfortheideathatwarisapartofthehuman

condition,inJames4:12,Whatisthesourceofwarsandfightsamongyou?Dontthey

comefromthecravingsthatareatwarwithinyou?Youdesireanddonothave.You

murderandcovetandcannotobtain.Youfightandwar.Youdonothavebecauseyoudo

notask.ChristiantheologyteachesthatChristiansshoulddothewillofGod.

ChristianityalsoteachestotrustinthewisdomofGodandacceptthesufferingsinlifeas

partofGodsplan.

EARLYMORMONHISTORYOFCONFLICTS

EarlyMormonsproposedsimilarinterpretationsoftheNewTestament.Manyof

theMormonswereseekingtocreateapeacefulutopia.Afascinatingaspectofthe

Mormonreligionistherangeofpoliticalchangewithinthecultureandtheteachingsof

theleadershipoftheLDSChurch.IntheearlyyearsoftheChurch,JosephSmithmet

mostconflictswithpacifism,althoughsomeofhiswritingsandinstructionscontradicted

nonviolentaction.Anotherimportanthistoricalconsiderationistheisolationand

exclusivityofthesettlementsbeforetheMormonexodustoUtah,alongwiththedesireto

liveindependentlyfromtheU.S.oncetheyrelocatedtotheWest.

EarlyMormonsdesiredindependencefromtheU.S.becauseofthemilitary

actionsagainstthem.Today,Mormonstendtobehighlypatrioticandamajorityare

conservativeRepublicans.Inthe2011PewResearchCenterssummaryarticle,

MormonsinAmericaCertaininTheirBeliefs,UncertainofTheirPlaceinSociety,

66%selfidentifiedasconservativesandthreequartersofMormonregisteredvoters

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(74%)areRepublicanorleantowardtheRepublicanParty.TheevolutionofMormon

politicalideologyisdiscussedfurtherinthesectionontheLDSleaders.Thebodyof

workinMormonhistoryissoexpansivethatitcannotfullybedescribedinthispaper,

howeverachartisprovidedtoillustratethedepthofviolencethatshapedtheearly

Mormonsintoanisolationistpeople.

OverviewofArmedConflictsandPoliticalActionsinEarlyMormonHistory

MormonPressDestroyed 7/20/1833

AntiMormon Missourians destroyed a Mormon press, the Evening and Morning Star office, and tar andfeathertwoMormonleaders. 1

MormonsAgreetoLeaveJacksonCo.

7/23/1833 AntiMormon mobbing continued Mormons agreed toleaveJacksonCountybyJanuary1,1834. 2

MormonsRelocatetoClayCounty

10/31/1833

AntiMormon mobbing occurred in and around Independence, MO. About 1,200 Saints evacuated from Jackson County, Missouri and relocated in Clay County,Missouri. 3

Zion'sCampMarchBegins 5/1/1834

Zions Camp. Joseph Smith led an army of Saints from Kirtland into Missouri to redeem Zion. When the governor refused to authorize them, and cholera broke out in the army, they return to Kirtland. This armed march was an important precursor of aggressiveMormonmilitarism. 4

1SeeSmith,etal.,1930/1976,3912SeeGentry,v3SeeGentry,vi4SeeGentry,viii

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Zion'sCampDisbands 6/30/1834

Joseph Smith authorizes Lyman Wight to order the disbanding of Zion's Camp. Each marcher receives a certificateconfirmingtheirhonorableservice. 5

ClayCountyUltimatum 6/29/1836

Clay County residents formally asked Mormons to leave. 6

TheDanitesOrganized

(approx.date)6/17/1838

The Danites, a secret Mormon society, were organized in Far West to deal with internal Mormon dissenters 7

UltimatumtoDissenters 6/18/1838

Eightythree Mormons signed an ultimatum demanding that dissenters leave Far West if not, a fatalcalamityshallbefallyou. 8

DissentersFleeFarWest. 6/19/1838

Dissenters, fearing for their lives, flee from Far West. However, they influence nonMormons in surroundingtowns. 9

Rigdon'sSaltSermon 7/4/1838

Sidney Rigdons Fourth of July Salt Sermon roused Mormons, frightened dissenters and threatened antiMormonmobs. 10

TheMormonWar

(MissouriMormonWar)

8/6/1838to

11/1/1838

Starting with an election brawl and ending with the surrender at Far West. During the conflict, 22 people were killed. An unknown number of civilians died due to exposure when they were driven from their homesinMissouri. 11

GallatinBrawlonElection

Day8/6/1838

200 people attacked and blocked Mormons from voting in the County's first election. The brawl is considered the starting point of the 1838 Mormon War. 12

5SeeSherer,2312326SeeGentryvii7Smith.1992:(2)262.AlsoCorrill,318Smith,etal.1930/1976,4399Corrill,3010Corrill,3011SeeGentry,xi12Corrill,33

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DeWittSaintsUltimatum 8/20/1838

Armed antiMormons gave DeWitt Saints until October1toleave. 13

GovernorBoggsSends

Militia8/30/1838

Governor Lilburn W. Boggs ordered the state militia to quiet the conflict between the Mormons and the AntiMormons. Members of the state militia were sympathetic to the antiMormon groups and were unsuccessfulinmediatingtheconflict. 14

MormonsInterceptMunitions

9/9/1838Mormon forces intercepted munitions being transported by antiMormons. They took three men captive. 15

VigilantesAttackDeWitt 10/2/1838

Vigilantes attacked Mormons at DeWitt in Carroll County.Onthe4th,Mormonsreturnedfire. 16

BattleofCrookedRiver 10/25/1838

This battle resulted in both the extermination order and the Hauns Mill massacre Three in the 17Mormon party died from wounds received in the battleonemilitiamemberontheoppositesidedied. 18

ExterminationOrder 10/27/1838

Governor Boggs took the side of antiMormons after reports of the Battle of Crooked River and gave instructions that the Mormons must be exterminated, ordrivenfromtheState. 19

Haun'sMillMassacre 10/30/1838

17 Mormons (two boys, 9 and 10 years old) were killed and thirteen (women and children) were wounded when a nonMormon mobmilitia stages a surprise attack. The killings included executions and mutilations.NononMormonswerekilled. 20

13SeeGentry,xi14SeeGentry,xi15SeeGentry,xi16SeeGentry,xi17SeeQuinn,1994,10018SeeGentry,xii19SeeQuinn,1994,9910020SeeQuinn,1994,99100

17

SurrenderatFarWest 11/1/1838

"General Clark made the following speech to the brethren on the public square:...'The orders of the governor to me were, that you should be exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the state, and had your leaders not been given up, and the terms of the treaty complied with, before this, you and your families would have been destroyed and your houses in ashes.'" Sixty men including Joseph Smith, Jr. 21and Sidney Rigdon, were turned over for inquiry, on charges of treason, murder, arson, burglary, robbery, larcenyandperjury. 22

NauvooLegion 18401844

Militia formed and commanded by Joseph Smith to protect Nauvoo. The Legion was by far the largest single militia in Illinois By 1844 it had 3,000 23soldiers compared to the 8,500 soldiers in the U. S. army.

NauvooExpositorDestroyed

7/10/1844

William Law exposes Joseph Smiths theocratic rule of Nauvoo and Smiths practice of polygamy. The Nauvoo City Council orders the Nauvoo Expositor pressbedestroyed. 24

DeathofJosephSmith 6/27/1844

An armed mob stormed Carthage Jail, Joseph Smith andhisbrotherHyrumwerekilled. 25

MormonWarinIllinois

10/1844to12/1845

Opponents of the Mormons called for their expulsion from Illinois. of the Latter Day Saints. By the end of 1845, the Mormons felt that there was no end to the conflict with the locals. There were about 10 casualties/deathsduetoantiMormonvigilantes. 26

21SeeRobinson22SeeMissouriStateArchives,15323SeeQuinn1994,10624SeeJenson1880,55025SeeQuinn1994,14126SeeTimeline:TheEarlyHistoryoftheMormons

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TheMormonBattalion

7/1846to7/1847

The battalion served during the MexicanAmerican War, the only religiously based unit in United States military history. It was a volunteer unit of about 550 men led by Mormon officers, commanded by U.S. army officers. The battalion marched nearly 2,000 milesfromCouncilBluffs,Iowa,toSanDiego. 27

MormonExodus

4/1/1847to1868

About 70,000 people, journeyed from the Midwest, beginning with advance parties sent out by church leaders in March 1846. The wellorganized wagon train migration began in April 1847 and ended with the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in1869 28

BattleCreek,Utah 3/5/1849

The first battle between Mormon settlers in Utah and the Native American Ute Indians who lived there occurred at Battle Creek, Utah. The sleeping Indians were outnumbered and outgunned so that they did not stand a chance against the Deseret Militia who crept in and surrounded their camp before dawn, March 5, 1849. Mormon settlement of Utah Valley came on the heels of the attack at Battle Creek, Utah. There is a dispute of how many Ute men were killed, 47. As manyas20womenandchildrenwereinjured. 29

WalkerWar 7/1/1853A series of raids conducted against Mormon outposts in central and southern Utah and retaliations by organizedpioneers. 30

FountainGreen

Massacre10/1/1853

Utes of Sanpitch attacked and killed four menWilliam Reed, James Nelson, William Luke, and Thomas Clarkas they were encamped at Uinta Springs 31

27SeeBlack28SeePioneerTrek29SeeBrooks,1964,34434730SeeAlexander31SeeHistoryofSanpeteandEmeryCounties,Utah.,20

19

TheUtahWar6/29/1857

to4/12/1858

The Utah War is also known as the Utah Expedition, Utah Campaign, Buchanans Blunder, theMormonWarortheMormonRebellion. 32

U.S.declareswaragainst

UtahTerritory6/29/1857

Buchanan declared Utah territory in rebellion against the U.S. government and mobilized a regiment of the U.S.army. 33

BrighamYoung

threatensretaliation

7/5/1857

Brigham Young referenced "rumors" that the U.S. is sending 1,5002,000 troops to the Utah Territory, and he threatened them with a "Vigilance Committee" and theDanites. 34

BrighamYoungdeclaresindependencefromtheU.S.

8/2/1857

Brigham Young publicly discussed the possible secession from the U.S. and the establishment of an independent kingdom. Heber C. Kimball issued a 35curse upon President Buchanan and predicted his untimelydeath. 36

MountainMeadowsMassacre

9/11/1857

Isaac C. Haight and John D. Lee, both leaders in the LDS church, conspired to lead militiamen disguised as Native Americans along with Paiute tribesmen in an attack. The emigrants fought back and a siege ensued. The militiamen induced the emigrants to surrender, give up their weapons, and after escorting the emigrants out of their camp, they executed approx. 120 men, women, and children. 17 children (age 7 and under) were spared and later returned by theU.S.governmenttotheirrelativesinArkansas. 37

MilitaryactionagainsttheU.S. 9/15/1857

Brigham Young ordered the Nauvoo Legion to fight theU.S.TroopsiftheyenterUtahTerritory. 38

32SeeFurniss33SeeTimeline:TheEarlyHistoryoftheMormons34SeeYoung,1857,635SeeYoung,1857,9836SeeYoung,1857,5:2937SeeBrooks,1950andTheKnownVictimsofthe1857MountainMeadowsMassacre.andTheMountainMeadowsMassacre.38SeeQuinn,1997,251

20

NauvooLegionattacksU.S.

Army10/5/1857

Nauvoo Legion conducted a guerrillastyle attack on the provision wagons of the United States Army. Fiftytwowagonswereburned. 39

EvacuationofSaltLakeCity 3/23/1858

Young ordered all Mormons to move south to Provo and to prepare their homes in Salt Lake City for burning. 40

BuchanancallsforUtahtosurrender

4/6/1858Buchanan: Proclamation on the Rebellion in Utah "a free pardon for the seditions and treasons heretofore bythemcommitted." 41

Youngsurrenders 4/12/1858

The U.S. Army arrived in Salt Lake City. Young surrenderedgovernorshiptoAlfredCumming. 42

SaltCreekCanyonMassacre

6/4/1858Four Danish immigrants were ambushed and killed by Indians in Salt Creek Canyon, a winding canyon eastofNephi,Utah. 43

MorrisiteWar 6/1/1862

A militia failed to free the imprisoned men. A cannon ball fired into the fort killed two women and seriously wounded a teenage girl. As the army assaulted the fort and breached the gates, two militiamen were killed.Elevenpeopledied. 44

BlackHawkWar 186572

150 battles, skirmishes, raids, and military engagements between Mormons and other settlers in Sanpete County, Sevier County and other parts of central and southern Utah, and members of 16 Ute, Paiute, Apache and Navajo tribes, led by a local Ute war chief, Antonga Black Hawk. The conflict resulted in the abandonment of some settlements and postponedMormonexpansionintheregion. 45

39SeeFurniss40SeeYoung,185741SeeTimeline:TheEarlyHistoryoftheMormons42SeeCampbell43SeeSorensenFamilyHistoryOrganization44SeeHoward45SeePeterson

21

LDSLEADERSHIP

AsmentionedintheprevioussectiononearlyMormonconflict,JosephSmith

soughtapeacefulexistencewithMissouriansandthepeopleofIllinois.Smithsought

socialreformandseparationfromwar.AccordingtoMarkAshurstMcGee,JosephSmith

wasamoralistreformer,hesoughttoimprovesocietywithnewlaws(2012:83).

AshurstMcGeewritesthatafullunderstandingofMormonthoughtconcerningwarand

peacerequiresacarefulexaminationofsomeofSmithsrevelationsbearingthesubject,

particularlythosereflectingontheestablishmentofZionanditsrelationshiptothewars

ofthenations(2012:83).SmithsnewtranslationoftheBiblesetthemodelforSmiths

visionforaZioninMissouri(2012:84).SmithexpandedtheverserecountingEnochs

walkwithGodandaddedthatEnochbeheldinvisionthatanewZionwouldbe

establishedinthelastdays(2012:8485).

MormonsareveryinterestedinIsraelandZionismbecauseoftherevelations

giventoJosephSmithconcerningthesecondcomingofJesusChrist.Today,some

MormonsstillhopeforthedaythatthehouseofIsraelwillbegatheredtogetherin

Independence,Missouri.However,todaytheLDSChurchteachesthat,

ThephysicalgatheringofIsraelmeansthatthecovenantpeoplewillbegatheredhometothelandsoftheirinheritance,andshallbeestablishedinalltheirlandsofpromise(2Nephi9:2).ThetribesofEphraimandManassehwillbegatheredintheAmericas.ThetribeofJudahwillreturntothecityofJerusalemandtheareasurroundingit.ThetenlosttribeswillreceivefromthetribeofEphraimtheirpromisedblessings(seeD&C133:2634)(TheGatheringoftheHouseofIsrael).

22

SmithbelievedthattheSaintsweresettlingthenewZioninMissouriand

receivedinstructionsindealingwiththesettlersandNativeAmericansinMissouri,the

gloryoftheLordshallbethereandtheterroroftheLordshallbethereinsomuchthatthe

wickedwillnotcomeuntoitD&C45:67(AshurstMcGee2012:87).Smithbelieved

thatthenewZion,likethecityofEnoch,wouldbeprotectedbyGod.Unfortunatelyfor

Smith,thepeopleofJacksonCountydidnotabidethegrowingnumberofMormons,

becausetheywereapoliticalthreat.ThepeopleofMissourieventuallydrovethe

Mormonsout(2012:89).

TheformationoftheDanites,didnotnecessarilyreflectJosephSmiths

instructionsfromGod.TheDanites,asecretMormonsociety,wereorganizedinFar

WesttodealwithinternalMormondissenters.ManypassagesintheD&Ccallfor

nonviolentactiononthepartoftheMormons.Inthesummerof1838(asindicatedbythe

table)theDaniteswereorganizedtodealwiththeinternaldissent(Smith1992:(2)262).

AccordingtoJamesCorrillsaccount,Theysaidtheymeanttocleansetheirown

membersfirst,andthenthechurch(1839:31).

Someindividualswentsofarastostate,thattheywouldkillanyperson,ifthepresidencywouldsayitwasthewillofGodforthesethingswerenecessarysometimestosavethechurchfromcorruptionanddestruction.Allthewhileitwaspreachedtothemthattheymustpurifythemselvesfromallevil,forthetimewasnowathandwheneverythingthatoffendedinthekingdomofGodmustbecastout(1839:33).

TheDanitescausedmuchtensionwithinthecommunityandmanyMormonswerefearful

thatatheocracywasimminent.Corrilltriedtoconfirmtherumorsandfearssurrounding

23

theDanitesecretsocietywithSmithandRigdonbut,theybothdenieditpromptly

(1839:33)

EightythreeMormons,includingHyrumSmithandJohnSmith(JosephSmiths

uncle,laterstakepresidentinAdamondiAhman),signedanultimatumdemandingthat

dissentersleaveFarWestifnot,afatalcalamityshallbefallyou(Smith,etal.

1930/1976:439).TheordergiventoGeneralClarkwastotreattheMormonsas

enemiesandthattheymustbeexterminated,ordrivenfromtheStateifnecessaryfor

thepublicpeace(Robinson).

AccordingtoJamesCorrill,GeneralLucasproposedacompromise,...thatifwewouldgiveuptheheadsofthechurchtobepunishedsurrenderourarmsgiveupallourproperty,(thosewhohadtakenuparms,)topaythedebtsofthewholechurchandthedamagesdoneinDaviesandelsewhereandthenallleavethestate...theywouldspareourlives,andprotectusoutoftheState...WeimmediatelywentintotownandcollectedJosephSmith,jr.,SidneyRigden,LymanWight,ParleyP.Pratt,GeorgeW.Robertsontogether,andtoldthemwhattheGovernor'sorderandGeneralLucasrequired.SmithsaidifitwastheGovernor'sorder,theywouldsubmit,andtheLordwouldtakecareofthem...GeneralLucas,withthearmyandprisoners,returnedtotheircamp.Theseprisonersweretoberetainedashostagestillmorning,andthen,iftheydidnotagreetotheproposals,theyweretobesetatlibertyagain.Nextmorning,GeneralLucasmarchedhisarmyneartotown,andColonelHinklemarchedouttheMormons,whogaveuptheirarms,aboutsixhundredguns,besidesswordsandpistols,andsurrenderedthemselvesasprisoners(1839:42).

From1841to1844,theLDSleadershipcontrolledthegovernmentofNauvoo,in

fact,NauvoobecamethefirstministerialtheocracyinAmericanHistory(Quinn

1994:106).Afterthecitywaschartered,JosephSmithorganizedtheNauvooLegion.

TheNauvooLegionwasamilitiaformedandcommandedbyJosephSmithtoprotect

24

Nauvoo.By1844ithad3,000soldierscomparedtothe8,500soldiersintheU.S.army.

TheLegionwasbyfarthelargestsinglemilitiainIllinois(1994:106).Manyformer

DanitesledtheNauvooLegionandtheyfeltthattheiractionswerejustifiedbyJoseph

Smiths1833revelationNevertheless,thineenemyisinthinehandsandifthou

rewardesthimaccordingtohisworksthouartjustifiedifhehassoughtthylife,andthy

lifeisendangeredbyhim,thineenemyisinthinehandsandthouartjustified(D&C

98:31).

OrrinPorterRockwellwasapersonalbodyguardforJosephSmithandBrigham

Young.Rockwelldealtwithdissenterswithinthecommunityanditisrumoredthat

JosephSmithinstructedRockwelltokillexgovernorBoggs(Quinn1994:113).Smith

heldBoggsdirectlyresponsiblefortheexpulsionofMormonsfromJacksonCountyin

1833andforthedisastersof1838:theHaunsMillMassacre,Smithsnearexecution,

andtheMormonexpulsionfromMissouri(1994:113).Boggssurvivedtheshooting,

despiteinjuriestohisbrainandneck.RockwellwasaformerDaniteandhadpledgedto

theprophet,IfromthisdaydeclaremyselftheAvengerofthebloodofthoseinnocent

men,andtheinnocentcauseofZion(1994:113).Although,itisimpossibletoknow

whetherSmithauthorizedtheattemptonBoggs,SmithexplainedataCityCouncil

meetingthathewasagainsthanging,evenifamankillanother.Instead,Iwillshoot

him,orcutoffhishead,spillhisbloodontheground,andletthesmokethereofascend

uptoGodandifeverIhavetheprivilegeofmakingalawonthatsubject,Iwillhaveit

so(Quinn1994:112).

25

By1842,manyofthememberswereinoppositiontothesecretpracticeof

polygamy.JosephSmithtriedtojustifyhisproposaltothenineteenyearolddaughterof

SidneyRigdon,WhateverGodrequiresisright,nomatterwhatitis,althoughwemay

notseethereasonthereoftilllongaftertheeventstranspire.Ifweseekfirstthekingdom

ofGod,allgoodthingswillbeadded...eventhingswhichmaybeconsideredabominable

toallwhodonotunderstandtheorderofheaven(Quinn1994:112).In2014,after

yearsofindirectlyaddressingJosephSmithspracticeofpolygamy,theLDSChurch

releasedanessay,PluralMarriageinKirtlandandNauvoo.Theessayaddressesthe

extentandpracticeofpolygamyandpolyandry,

Duringtheerainwhichpluralmarriagewaspracticed,LatterdaySaintsdistinguishedbetweensealingsfortimeandeternityandsealingsforeternityonly.Sealingsfortimeandeternityincludedcommitmentsandrelationshipsduringthislife,generallyincludingthepossibilityofsexualrelations.Eternityonlysealingsindicatedrelationshipsinthenextlifealone.

EvidenceindicatesthatJosephSmithparticipatedinbothtypesofsealings.Theexactnumberofwomentowhomhewassealedinhislifetimeisunknownbecausetheevidenceisfragmentary.SomeofthewomenwhoweresealedtoJosephSmithlatertestifiedthattheirmarriageswerefortimeandeternity,whileothersindicatedthattheirrelationshipswereforeternityalone.

MostofthosesealedtoJosephSmithwerebetween20and40yearsofageatthetimeoftheirsealingtohim.Theoldest,FannyYoung,was56yearsold.TheyoungestwasHelenMarKimball,daughterofJosephsclosefriendsHeberC.andVilateMurrayKimball,whowassealedtoJosephseveralmonthsbeforeher15thbirthday.Marriageatsuchanage,inappropriatebytodaysstandards,waslegalinthatera,andsomewomenmarriedintheirmidteens.HelenMarKimballspokeofhersealingtoJosephasbeingforeternityalone,suggestingthattherelationshipdidnotinvolvesexualrelations.AfterJosephsdeath,Helenremarriedandbecameanarticulatedefenderofhimandofpluralmarriage.

26

FollowinghismarriagetoLouisaBeamanandbeforehemarriedothersinglewomen,JosephSmithwassealedtoanumberofwomenwhowerealreadymarried.NeitherthesewomennorJosephexplainedmuchaboutthesesealings,thoughseveralwomensaidtheywereforeternityalone.Otherwomenleftnorecords,makingitunknownwhethertheirsealingswerefortimeandeternityorwereforeternityalone.

Thereareseveralpossibleexplanationsforthispractice.ThesesealingsmayhaveprovidedawaytocreateaneternalbondorlinkbetweenJosephsfamilyandotherfamilieswithintheChurch.Thesetiesextendedbothvertically,fromparenttochild,andhorizontally,fromonefamilytoanother.Todaysucheternalbondsareachievedthroughthetemplemarriagesofindividualswhoarealsosealedtotheirownbirthfamilies,inthiswaylinkingfamiliestogether.JosephSmithssealingstowomenalreadymarriedmayhavebeenanearlyversionoflinkingonefamilytoanother.InNauvoo,mostifnotallofthefirsthusbandsseemtohavecontinuedlivinginthesamehouseholdwiththeirwivesduringJosephslifetime,andcomplaintsaboutthesesealingswithJosephSmitharevirtuallyabsentfromthedocumentaryrecord.

ThesesealingsmayalsobeexplainedbyJosephsreluctancetoenterpluralmarriagebecauseofthesorrowitwouldbringtohiswifeEmma.HemayhavebelievedthatsealingstomarriedwomenwouldcomplywiththeLordscommandwithoutrequiringhimtohavenormalmarriagerelationships.Thiscouldexplainwhy,accordingtoLorenzoSnow,theangelreprimandedJosephforhavingdemurredonpluralmarriageevenafterhehadenteredintothepractice.Afterthisrebuke,accordingtothisinterpretation,Josephreturnedprimarilytosealingswithsinglewomen.

Anotherpossibilityisthat,inanerawhenlifespanswereshorterthantheyaretoday,faithfulwomenfeltanurgencytobesealedbypriesthoodauthority.SeveralofthesewomenweremarriedeithertononMormonsorformerMormons,andmorethanoneofthewomenlaterexpressedunhappinessintheirpresentmarriages.Livinginatimewhendivorcewasdifficulttoobtain,thesewomenmayhavebelievedasealingtoJosephSmithwouldgivethemblessingstheymightnototherwisereceiveinthenextlife.

ThewomenwhounitedwithJosephSmithinpluralmarriageriskedreputationandselfrespectinbeingassociatedwithaprinciplesoforeigntotheircultureandsoeasilymisunderstoodbyothers.Imadeagreatersacrificethantogivemylife,saidZinaHuntingtonJacobs,forIneveranticipatedagaintobelookeduponasanhonorablewoman.Nevertheless,shewrote,Isearchedthescripture&byhumbleprayertomyHeavenlyFatherIobtainedatestimonyformyself.AfterJosephs

27

death,mostofthewomensealedtohimmovedtoUtahwiththeSaints,remainedfaithfulChurchmembers,anddefendedbothpluralmarriageandJoseph(lds.org).

WilliamLaw,aformercounselortoSmith,soughttoexposeSmiths

manipulationofwomentoenterintopolygamy.OnJune7,1844,Lawaddressedthe

difficultiessurroundingthepolygamyofJosephSmithintheNauvooExpositor,

theyaretold,afterhavingbeensworninoneofthemostsolemnmanners,toneverdivulgewhatisrevealedtothem,withapenaltyofdeathattached,thatGodAlmightyhasrevealedittohim,thatsheshouldbehis(Joseph's)Spiritualwife...Ourheartshavemournedandbledatthewretchedandmiserableconditionoffemalesinthisplacemanyorphanshavebeenthevictimsofmiseryandwretchedness,throughtheinfluencethathasbeenexertedoverthem,underthecloakofreligion(1844).

LawswifehadbeenproposedtobySmithandLawhadseenothersmanipulatedinto

polygamy.Alongwithpolygamy,manymemberswereconcernedwithJosephSmiths

theocraticcontrolofthecommunity.LawalsorevealedSmithsbeliefthatheshouldbe

abenevolentruler.Wewillnotacknowledgeanymanaskingorlawgivertothechurch:

forChristisouronlykingandlawgiver(Quinn1994:139).

WhenSmithlearnedaboutthepublication,hewasmoreconcernedabout

exposinghisplansforanewworldorderthanhispracticeofpolygamy(Quinn

1994:139).OnJunetenth,thecitycouncildeclaredtheNauvooExpositoranuisanceand

theorderswerecarriedoutbythecitymarshal.Heandoveronehundredmen,removed

thepress,type,printingpaperandfixturesintothestreet,anddestroyedthem(Jenson

1880:550).GovernorFordwasalarmedbythedestructionofthepressandimmediately

orderedarrestofthemeninvolved.AfterseveralattemptstolocateSmith,Josephand

28

hisbrotherHyrumsurrenderedandweretransportedtoCarthageJailtoawaittrial.On

June27,1844,themob(about250men)attackedthejail.Hyrumdiedinstantly,John

TaylorsurvivedfourbulletsandWillardRichardsescaped.JosephSmithtriedtodefend

himselfwithapistolandresortedtojumpingoutthesecondfloorwindow(Quinn

1994:141).

ThenextLDSleader,BrighamYoung,wasmetwithafewskirmisheswiththe

nativesinNebraska,butthemajorityoftheviolencecamewiththemoveintothe

territoryofUtah.AlthoughtheMormonsweremetwithresistancefromtheNative

Americans,theearlyMormonsromanticizedtheNativeAmericansbecauseoftheBOM.

Interestingly,theBOMsuggeststhattheSecondComingofChristisconditionalon

convertingLamanites.MormonsbelieveNativeAmericans,theindigenouspeopleof

SouthAmericaandthePacificislandersaredescendantsoftheLamanites(Johnson

1975).OneofthemostimportanttenetsofMormonmillenarianismwastheredemption

oftheremnantsofIsrael,includingtheIndiantribes,whichJosephSmithwroteaboutin

D&C49:24,beforethegreatdayoftheLordshallcome...theLamanitesshallblossom

astherose(Lindell2012:94)

TheconflictswiththeNativeAmericans(inNebraskaandUtah)wasmainlyover

theMormonswasteofthelandsresources.TheOmahatribewereretaliatorytowards

theMormonsandtheseclashesledtoanattitudeofselfinterestandselfpreservation,

alongwithdisdainfornatives(Lindell2012:96).BrighamYoungknewthatthesuccess

oftheMormonssettlementinUtahdependedoncoexistingwiththetribes.Althoughhe

29

condoneddefensivestrategiesagainstthetribes,healsofeltthedefensivestrategieswere

abusedandin1854,headoptedapolicyoffeedingtheIndiansratherthanfighting

them(2012:99).

BrighamYounggavepermissiontotheMormonstoparticipateinthe

MexicanAmericanWarwiththeorganizationoftheMormonBattalion.Youngblessed

thetroopsthattheywouldnothavetofightorkillenemytroopswhiletheymadethe

longestU.S.infantrymarchinU.S.history(Thomasson2012:212).Youngsawthis

opportunityasawaytoobtainfederalsubsidyfortheMormonemigration(Quinn

1997:234).ThiswasalsoamovetopreventanyfurtherconflictwithU.S.troops.

ThenextconflictwiththeU.S.gavetheLDSleadersmorereasonfordefensive

strategy.In1857,BrighamYoungcalledtheNauvooLegiontoattacktheU.S.Army

whenBuchanandeclaredwarontheresidentsofUtahandYoungthreatenedsecession

fromtheU.S.(Young1857).YoungorderedthemilitiaofeverycityandtowninUtah

toprepareforwar(Quinn1997:251).Youngswordscouldhavebeenthepushforthe

MountainMeadowsMassacre,howeverthecultureoftheDaniteswasstillstrong,

especiallyintheUtahNauvooLegion.Manyofthemilitiamemberswereformer

DanitesandwillingtodefendtheChurchwithviolence.AccordingtoRichardD.Poll,

(Young)andotherleadersoftenspokeofabandoningandburningtheirsettlementsratherthanpermittingtheiroccupationbyenemies,ashadhappenedinMissouriandIllinois.

.ThomasL.Kane,theinfluentialPennsylvanianwhohadfortenyearsbeenafriendoftheMormons....receivedBuchanan'spermissiontogotoUtah,viaPanamaandCalifornia,asanunofficialmediator.ReachingSaltLakeCitylateinFebruary,hefoundChurchleadersreadyforpeacebutdistrustful....

30

...PresidentYoungannouncedonMarch23,1858,thatallsettlementsinnorthernUtahmustbeabandonedandpreparedforburningifthearmycamein.Theevacuationstartedimmediately.about30,000peoplemovedfiftymilesormoretoProvoandothertownsincentralandsouthernUtah.TheretheyremainedinsharedandimprovisedhousinguntiltheUtahWarwasover.

WhenKaneandCummingarrivedearlyinApril,Youngsurrenderedhispoliticaltitleandsoonformedanamiableworkingrelationshipwithhissuccessor.However,theMoveSouthcontinued,probablybecausethegovernmentrepresentativesinsistedthatJohnston'stroopsmustbeadmittedbutwereunabletoguaranteethattheywouldcomeinpeacefully(Poll1992).TheMormonsparticipatedintheCivilWarandtheSpanishAmericanWarbut

notonalargescale.BrighamYoungwasneutralintheCivilWarandwelcomedthe

conscientiousobjectorstoUtah,Ithinktheyareprobablyasgoodaclassofmenashas

everpassedthroughthiscountrytheyarepersonswhowishtoliveinpeace,andtobefar

removedfromcontendingfactions(Hellebrand2012:131).

Thenextconflictemergedwiththepolygamycrisisinthe1880s.After

BuchananappointedaGovernor,theMormonswereprosecutedforcohabitationinthe

Utahterritory.

Inresistancetothis,membersofMormonsocietystrovetohidetheirfamilycircumstancesfrompublicview...PresidentJohnTaylorurgedtheSaintstoadheretocorrectprinciplesandtodoallthatwasrightwithoutresortingtoviolence.ListingthewrongsofAmericassocietyandgovernment,Taylorconcludedthatasitisnolongeralandofliberty[or]ofequalrights...wemusttakecareofourselvesasbestwemay,andavoidbeingcaughtinanyoftheirsnares...Wouldyoufightthem?No,IwouldtakecareofmyselfasbestIcan,andIwouldmybrethrentodothesame(Fulcher2012:120121).

31

ManyfamiliesrelocatedtootherpartsoftheWestandalsotoMexicotoescape

prosecution,but,thenonviolenttacticsofpreservingtheirfamilysituationsprevailed.

TheLDSChurchslowlychangedintheircooperationwiththeU.S.governments

lawonpolygamyandafterUtahsstatehood,theLDSChurchssupportoftheU.S.was

slowbutsignificant.NowU.S.MormonstendtobelongtotheRepublicanPartyand

followinanationalisticandpatrioticattitudetowardswaraswellas

Mormonsserveindisproportionatenumbersinthearmedforcesandnationalsecurityapparatus.Furthermore,LDSChurchleaderspubliclysupportedeverymajorAmericanwarinthetwentiethandtwentyfirstcenturies,whichcorrelatedwith(andperhapscaused)ahighlevelofsupportforwaramongthegeneralMormonpublic(Mason2012:xv).

TheonlyLDSleaderwithamajordissentingopinionofwarwasJ.ReubenClark,who

saidofWWIthattherearealwaysdeceit,lying,subterfuge,treachery,andsavagery,in

war,onbothsides.Therewasinthe[First]WorldWar.Itisnotalwaystheotherpower

thatcommitsatrocities(Hellebrand2012:132).

WiththeadventofWWII,theLDSleadershipcounseledChurchmembers

worldwidetobereadytorespondtotheirgovernment'scalltomilitarydutyand

exoneratedthemembers'actsofwar,thepresidentandprophetoftheMormons,David

O.McKayreassuredthemembers:Godwillnotholdtheinnocentinstrumentalitiesof

thewar,ourbrethreninarms,responsiblefortheconflict"(Oaks2014).DuringWorld

WarII,RichardL.Evans,amemberoftheQuorumofTwelveApostles,offeredthat

conscientiousobjectioncouldbearighteousoptioninsomecircumstances,whilehe

indicatedthathedidnotbelievesointhisparticularwar(Hellebrand2012:134).

32

WorldWarIIwasespeciallydifficulttospeaktoasaleaderbecausetherewere

Mormonsonbothsides.McKayadmonishedthatthoseoneithersidehavenocourse

opentothembuttosupportthatgovernmenttowhichtheyoweallegiance(Conference

Report,October1940,67)(InHellebrand2012:134).DavidO.McKaywassupportive

ofWWIIbecauseitopposedadictatorshipandhehopedsuccessfuldefeatoftheenemy

wouldexpanddemocracy.However,herecognizedthatwarwasincompatiblewith

Christsteachings,thegospelofJesusChrististhegospelofpeace(1942:7074).This

beliefofsupportinganationswarisrootedinthetwelfthArticlesofFaithwrittenby

JosephSmith,Webelieveinbeingsubjecttokings,presidents,rulers,andmagistrates,

inobeying,honoring,andsustainingthelaw(lds.org).

McKaysstatementssupportedjustwartheory,muchliketheprotestantReinhold

Neibuhr.Mckayconceded,Thereare,however,twoconditionswhichmayjustifya

trulyChristianmantoentermindyou,Isayenter,notbeginawar:(1)Anattempt

todominateandtodepriveanotherofhisfreeagency,and,(2)Loyaltytohiscountry.

Possiblythereisathird,viz.,Defenseofaweaknationthatisbeingunjustlycrushedbya

strong,ruthlessone(1942:7074).McKaywentontosay,

Eventhoughwesensethehellishoriginofwar,eventhoughwefeelconfidentthatwarwillneverendwar,yetunderexistingconditionswefindourselvesasabodycommittedtocombatthisevilthing.Withotherloyalcitizensweserveourcountryasbearersofarms,ratherthantostandalooftoenjoyafreedomforwhichothershavefoughtanddied.

Onepurposeofemphasizingthisthemeistogiveencouragementtoyoungmennowengagedinarmedconflictandtoreassurethemthattheyarefightingforaneternalprinciplefundamentaltothepeaceandprogressofmankind.(1942:7074)

33

Clarkwasveryoutspokenandleanedtowardspacifisminhisremarksafterthe

useofatomicweapons:

Thenasthecrowningsavageryofwar,weasAmericanswipedouthundredsofthousandsofcivilianpopulationwiththeatombombinJapan,fewifanyoftheordinaryciviliansbeinganymoreresponsibleforthewarthanwereweandperhapsnomoreaidingJapaninthewarthanwewereaidingAmerica.Militarymenarenowsayingthattheatombombwasamistake.Itwasmorethanthat:itwasaworldtragedy.AndtheworstoftheatomicbombtragedyisnotthatnotonlydidthepeopleoftheUnitedStatesnotriseupinprotestagainstthissavagery,notonlydiditnotshockustoreadofthiswholesaledestructionofmen,womenandchildren,...butthatitactuallydrewfromthenationatlargeapprovalofthisfiendishbutchery(InHellebrand2012:133).ThecontextoftheLDSChurchhierarchyissignificantwhenreadingthesetwo

leadersstatements.J.ReubenClarkwasthefirstcounselortotheLDSPresidentand

DavidO.McKaywassecondcounselor.TherewasdiscordbetweenClarkandMcKay

andthevarianceofbeliefwasmainlyinadvocacyforconscientiousobjectors.President

GeorgeAlbertSmithandClarkfiledacomplaintthatconscientiousobjectorsendured

conditionssimilartoprisonersofwar,

manyofthemwereusedashumanguineapigsforexperimentationinmattersrelatingtostarvation(seehowlittlefoodwouldsustainthem),inmattersofnutritionunderconditionsofextremecoldandrarifiedatmospheres,mattersrelatingtotheliceborneplagueoftyphus,thediseaseofjaundice,influenza,atypicalpneumonia,malaria,etc.Withillconcealedoutrage,theFirstPresidencyaddedthattheGovernmentrefusedtogivethemanypay,andrefusedtopayfortheirdependents,althoughtheyweretakenawayfromtheirdependentsandplacedundervirtualmilitarydiscipline,almosttheequivalentofaprisoncampeventhoughatleastoneC.O.receivedtheCongressionalMedalofHonorfortheheroismofenduringsuchtreatment.Ofthe7,724AmericancitizenswhowerethusimprisonedasconscientiousobjectorstoWorldWarII,

34

some9representedthemselvesandmembersofourChurch.SecondCounselorMcKaydidnotsignthisletterofcomplaint(Quinn2012:156157).VerylittleissaidbyLDSleadersconcerningtheKoreanWar.Clarkcontinuedto

speakoutagainstwarbutwaslesspublicaboutitlikelybecausehewasdemotedto

SecondCounselorunderPresidentMcKay(Quinn2012:159).ClarkdiedinSeptember

1961,andwithhisdeathcamesilenceamongtheLDSleadershipconcerningpacifism.

However,MormonscholarslikeHughNibleyandEugeneEnglandwouldcarryhis

pacifismforwardintheirwritingsonwar.HughB.Brownalsoheldargumentsagainst

conservativeviewsinLDSleadershipandlaterbecametheprimaryoppositiontothe

ultraconservativeviewsofEzraTaftBenson.AmonthbeforeBrownwasordainedan

apostle,hedeliveredthefollowingmessagetothestudentsatBrighamYoungUniversity

(BYU)inMarch1958.

Iadmiremenandwomenwhohavedevelopedthequestingspirit,whoareunafraidofnewideasassteppingstonestoprogress.Weshould,ofcourse,respecttheopinionsofothers,butweshouldalsobeunafraidtodissentifweareinformed.Thoughtsandexpressionscompeteinthemarketplaceofthought,andinthatcompetitiontruthemergestriumphant.Onlyerrorfearsfreedomofexpression.

Bothscienceandreligionbegethumility.Scientistsandteachersofreligiondisagreeamongthemselvesontheologicalandothersubjects.Eveninourownchurchmenandwomentakeissuewithoneanotherandcontendfortheirowninterpretations.Thisfreeexchangeofideasisnottobedeploredaslongasmenandwomenremainhumbleandteachable.Neitherfearofconsequenceoranykindofcoercionshouldeverbeusedtosecureuniformityofthoughtinthechurch.Peopleshouldexpresstheirproblemsandopinionsandbeunafraidtothinkwithoutfearofillconsequences(Firmage1988).

35

Brownspromotionofcriticalthinkingareforeigntopicsintodaysconference

talksandteachingsfromLDSleaders.Iftherewasasmokingguntoexplainthechange

inMormonculturetotodaysadmonitionsofstrictobediencetopriesthoodauthority,it

wouldbetheadventofEzraTaftBensonsinfluence.Benson,asanLDSleader,wasthe

mostoutspokenonpoliticsofthattimeandhisinfluenceislikelythereasonwhy

Mormonsleantotherightinpoliticstoday.

AccordingtoD.MichaelQuinn,EzraTaftBensonwasthecenterofconflict

withintheLDShierarchy(Quinn1997:66).Beginninginthe1960s,Bensonwas

alignedwiththeJohnBirchSociety.BensonsinfluenceamongconservativeMormons

boostedtheJohnBirchSocietyeventhoughhecouldnevergarneranofficial

endorsementoftheJohnBirchSocietyfromPresidentMcKayorPresidentLee

(1997:70).BensonendorsedtheBirchSocietyduringhistalksatstakeconferencesand

preachedBirchthemesinhisgeneralconferencesermons(1997:71).Brownoften

respondedtoBensonsanticommunistsermonsinhisowntalksatconferenceorat

BYU.

BensonproclaimedtoOctober1961generalconference:NotrueLatterdaySaintandnotrueAmericancanbesocialistorcommunistorsupportprogramsleadingtothatdirection.UponinquirybyapoliticallyliberalMormon,CounselorHughB.BrownrepliedinNovemberthataMormoncanbeaDemocratoraSocialistandstillbeagoodchurchmember(Quinn1997:69).

IftherewasaparallelwiththeessaysoftheNiebuhrbrothers,itwouldbewithBrown

andBenson,althoughitisdoubtfulthatBrownandBensonhadfeelingsofrespector

36

affectiontowardsoneanother.TheNiebuhrsdebateswereinthespiritofrespectful,

evenloving,dialoguewhereasBrownandBensonweremoreinaspiritofcontention.

TheLDSleadershipwasalsoconcernedwithBensonsplansofespionageat

BYU.InpatrioticfervorandmuchliketheDanitesofJosephSmithsera,Benson

recruitedstudentstospyonBYUprofessorswhowerecommunistsympathizers,which

wasalongtimepreoccupationoftheJohnBirchSocietyaswellasinfiltrationof

groupsharboringanycommunistagenda(Quinn1997:68).InOctoberof1962,

BensonssonReedbecamecoordinatorforTheBirchSocietyinUtah[and]Utah

membershiptripledinthenextsixmonths(1997:71).ThetensionwithintheLDS

Church,especiallythehierarchy,culminatedin1963andresultedinBensonscalltoa

EuropeanMission(1997:77).DavidO.McKayssonindicatedthatthecallwasa

censure,inmyownopinionElderBensonwouldbebetterabletoservewhenheisfree

ofBirchSocietyties(1997:77).

AnotherconcernwasTheJohnBirchSocietysexpressedracistsentimentsand

rumorsofacommunistconspiracywiththeNAACP(Quinn1997:77).InApril1965,

Bensonsincitingremarksweredeletedfromtheprintedconferencereport,

BeforeIleftforEuropeIwarnedhowthecommunistswereusingthecivilrightsmovementtopromoterevolutionandeventualtakeoverofthiscountry.Thenarewegoingtowakeup?...

Now,Brethren,theLordneverpromisedtherewouldnotbetraitorsintheChurch.Wehavetheignorant,thesleepyandthedeceivedwhoprovidetemptationsandavenuesfortheunwaryandtheunfaithful(Quinn1997:81).

37

InSeptemberof1965,ReedBensoncompoundedtheconflictwithhis

memorandumtoUtahBirchSocietychapters,

ItiscommonknowledgethattheCivilRightsMovementisCommunistcontrolled,influencedanddominated...Ourfounderandguide,MrRobertWelch,hasinstructedusthatwhennecessarywemustadoptthecommunisttechniqueinoureverpresentbattleagainstGodlesscommunism.ItisurgedthatinthecomingweekstheUtahChaptersbeginawhisperingcampaignandfosterrumorsthattheCivilRightsgroupsaregoingtoorganizedemonstrationsinSaltLakeCityinconnectionwiththeforthcomingLDSconference...Afewwellplacedcommentswillsoonmushroomoutofcontrolandbeforetheconferencebeginstherewillbesuchafeelingofunrestanddistrustthatthepopulacetillhardlyknowwhotobelieve.Thenewsmediawillplaytotheveryhilt.NomatterwhattheCivilRightsleadersmaytrytosaytodenyittheseedwillhavebeensownandagaintheCivilRightsmovementwillsufferatellingblow(Quinn1997:84).

TherumorsofTheBirchSocietyspreadthroughoutUtahandtheNAACPdeniedany

handinplanningcivilunrestandplacedtheblameonultraconservativegroups(Quinn

1997:85).TheBirchplanactuallyturnedmanyMormonsagainstthemandwiththe

OctoberissueofTheBirchSocietysmagazine,theirracistagendawassetinprint,that

allblackimmigrantstotheUnitedStatesasSavages(1997:85).TheJohnBirch

SocietyBulletinforOctober1965alsoreferredtocivilrightsactivistsandMartinLuther

Kingastheanimals(1997:85).

By1966,PresidentDavidO.McKayinstructedthatBensonshouldnotdiscuss

theBirchSocietyinanymeetingandthatheshouldnotadvocatethisgroup(Quinn

1997:89).ContrarytoMcKayswishes,Bensonrepeatedhiscensoredtalkinanaddress

38

atBYU.InhistalkentitledOurImmediateResponsibility,healludedtothedisunity

ofthehierarchyanddescribedhischurchopponentsasinspiredbySatan,

Now,SatanisanxioustoneutralizetheinspiredcounseloftheProphetandhencekeepthepriesthoodoffbalance,ineffectiveandinertinthefightforfreedom.Hedoesthisthroughdiversemeans,includingtheuseofperversereasoning.Forexample,hewillargue:Thereisnoneedtogetinvolvedinthefightforfreedom.AllyouneedislivetheGospel...ItisobviouswhatSatanistryingtodo,butitissadtoseemanyofusfallforhisdestructiveline(Quinn1997:95).

QuinnleftoutaveryviolentportionofBensonsaddress,

AndMoroniwasastrongandamightymanhewasamanofperfectunderstandingyea,amanthatdidnotdelightinbloodshedamanwhosesouldidjoyinthelibertyandthefreedomofhiscountry,andhisbrethrenfrombondageandslavery

Yea,andhewasamanwhowasfirminthefaithofChrist,andhehadswornwithanoathtodefendhispeople,hisrights,andhiscountry,andhisreligioneventothelossofhisblood.(Alma48:11,13.)...

NowpartofthereasonwhywedonthavesufficientPriesthoodbearerstosavetheConstitution,letalonetoshakethepowersofhell,is,Ifear,becauseunlikeMoroni,oursoulsdonotjoyinkeepingourcountryfreeandwearenotfirminthefaithofChrist,norhaveweswornwithanoathtodefendourrights(Benson1966).

Bensonsdisobediencewasmetagainwithcriticism.BYUprofessorMidgleycalled

BensonsaddressareallyviolentantiLeetalk,andevenproBirchWilkinsonregarded

thetalkasalittleextreme(Quinn1997:96).Thetalkwasgivenatthetimewhenthere

wereeffortsinmakingBensonacandidateforpresidentwithStromThurmondas

Bensonsrunningmate(1997:96)MckaywassupportiveofBensonscampaignand

althoughMormonprogressiveswereopposedtoThurmond,McKayfeltthattheSouth

39

knowshowtohandlethem[blackpeople]andtheydonothaveanytrouble,andthe

coloredpeoplearebetteroffdownthere(1997:97).

Astheelectioncommitteemovedforward,theyproposedBensonasa

vicepresidentialrunningmateofGeorgeWallace.InFebruary1968,McKaydenied

Bensonsrequesttobetherunningmateinthepresidentialcampaignofsegregationist

GeorgeWallace(Quinn1997:100).IntheApril1968generalconferenceBenson

remarked:IfAmericaisdestroyed,itmaybebyAmericanswhosalutetheflag,singthe

nationalanthem,marchinpatrioticparades,cheerFourthofJulyspeakersnormallygood

Americans,butAmericanswhofailtocomprehendwhatisrequiredtokeepourcountry

strongandfree(1997:102).BensoncontinuedtocriticizetheCivilRightsmovement,

[in]Mayof1968heaccusedtheU.S.SupremeCourtoftreasonandaddedthataprerequisiteforappointmentinhighgovernmentofficetodayisonespastaffiliationswithcommunistfronts...[Healso]referencestoblackMarxists.hehadwrittenawarningtothefirstPresidencyandTwelvethatincreasedracialunrestandviolencewasthefirstofthedangersheforesawtheUnitedStatesfacinginthecomingyears(Quinn1997:100).BrowncounteredBensonsalarmistracismataBYUCommencementaddress,

Bewareofthosewhofeelobligedtoprovetheirownpatriotismbycallingintoquestiontheloyaltyofothers.Beskepticalofthosewhoattempttodemonstratetheirloveofcountrybydemeaningitsinstitutions....Atatimewhenradicalsoftherightorleftwouldinflameraceagainstrace,avoidthosewhopreachevildoctrinesofracism.WhenourFatherdeclaredthatwe,Hischildren,werebrothersandsisters,Hedidnotlimitthisrelationshiponthebasisofrace.Strivetodevelopthattrueloveofcountrythatrealizesthatrealpatriotismmustincludewithinitaregardforthepeople,fortheinhabitantsoftherestoftheglobe.Patriotshaveneverdemandedofgoodmenthehatredofanothercountryasproofofonesloveforhisown.Acquiretoleranceandcompassionforothersandforthoseofadifferentpoliticalpersuasionorraceorreligion.Thisis

40

somethingdemandedbytheheavenlyparentagethatweallhaveincommon(Brown1968).

ThefollowingconferenceinOctober,Bensonblamedwelfarestateprogramsasa

Communistplannedprogramofdeception(Quinn1997:102).

AsidefromtheinternalturmoilwithBensonandtheLDShierarchy,therewere

abouttenpercentofLDSyouthwhoopposedthewarinVietnamandthepossibilityof

outwarddisplayofprotestingwarwasnotthenorminMormonculture(Quinn

2012:160).Leaderswerecarefultopresentbeliefsaboutwar,butthosetypesof

sentimentsweresubduedbystatementsinthebiannualconferences.

BoydK.Packerdissolvedanysupportofconscientiousobjectorsinhis

conferencetalkin1968,

Ihaveworntheuniformofmynativelandinthetimeoftotalconflict.Ihavesmelledthestenchofhumandeadandwepttearsforslaughteredcomrades.IhaveclimbedamidtherubbleofravagedcitiesandcontemplatedinhorrortheashesofacivilizationsacrificedtoMolochyetknowingthis,withtheissuesastheyare,wereIcalledagaintomilitaryservice,Icouldnotconscientiouslyobject!(Hellebrand2012:135)

PackersstaunchoppositionisinterestinginthecontextofrecentPresidentsavoidance

ofserviceandespeciallyMittRomneysabilitytoavoidthedraft,

In1965,asanundergraduateatStanford,RomneynotonlysupportedthewarinVietnam,heparticipatedinprowarprotests.Thatsameyear,hesoughtandreceivedhisfirstdeferment.

Ayearlater,Romneyreceivedalongerthanusual4Ddeferment,whichallowedhimtodoMormonmissionaryworkinFrance,despitethefactthatotheryoungMormonmenelsewhereweredeniedthatsamestatus,andtheMormonChurch,whichbackedthewar,limitedthenumberofchurchmissionariesallowedtodefertheirmilitaryserviceusingthereligiousexemption.

41

By1969,RomneyhadcompletedhisworkinFrance,butsoughtandreceivednewdeferments.(Maddow2012) 46

In1968,GordonB.Hinckley,amemberoftheTwelveApostles,spokeofthe

waysbywhichwarassistsinthebuildingupofthekingdom,

Imakenodefenseofthe[Vietnam]warfromthispulpit.Thereisnosimpleanswer.Theproblemsarecomplexalmostbeyondcomprehension.Iseekonlytocallyourattentiontothatsilverthread,smallbutradiantwithhope,shiningthroughthedarktapestryofwarnamely,theestablishmentofabridgehead,smallandfrailnowbutwhichsomehow,underthemysteriouswaysofGod,willbestrengthened,andfromwhichsomedayshallspringforthagreatworkaffectingforgoodthelivesoflargenumbersofourFatherschildrenwholiveinthatpartoftheworld.OfthatIhaveacertainfaith(1968).

PerhapsHinckleyisreferringtotheviewthatwarisusheringintheinevitablegreatwars

ofArmageddon.

Themillennialeracouldnotbeginwithoutthewidespreaddestructionofthewicked.Therefore,whilethebattleofArmageddonisinandofitselfathinghorribletocontemplate,itisnecessarybecauseofthewickednessoftheworld,andultimatelyitwillplayanimportantpartintheLordsplanforredemptionoftheworld.PresidentJosephFieldingSmithobserved:

Iknowtheseareunpleasantthings.ItisnotapleasantthingevenformetostandhereandtellyouthatthisiswrittenintheScriptures.IftheLordhasacontroversywiththenations,Hewillputthemtothesword.Theirbodiesshalllieunburiedlikedungupontheearth.Thatisnotnice,isit,butshouldwenotknowit?Isitnotourdutytoreadthesethingsandunderstandthem?DontyouthinktheLordhasgivenusthesethingsthatwemightknowandwemightprepareourselvesthroughhumility,throughrepentance,throughfaith,thatwemightescapefromthesedreadfulconditionsthatareportrayedbytheseancientprophets?ThatiswhyIamreadingthem.Ifeeljustaskeenlyasyoudoaboutthecondition,andIprayforittocometoanend,butIwantittocometoanendright.

46Seealsohttp://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/specials/romney/articles/part1_side_2/

42

SoIprayeverydayofmylifethattheLordwillhastenHisworkandwhileallthishastotakeplace,IhopeHewillhastenit,thatitmaysooncometoanend,thatpeacemaycomeandsoIrepeat,asIsaidinoneofthetalkssometimeago,IamprayingfortheendoftheworldbecauseIwantabetterworld.IwantthecomingofChrist.Iwantthereignofpeace.Iwantthetimetocomewheneverymancanliveinpeaceandinthespiritoffaith,humilityandprayer(TheBattleofArmageddon:APropheticView).

PresidentJosephFieldingSmithservedasChurchPresidentfrom19701972,followed

byHaroldB.Leeforninemonths.SpencerW.KimballbecamepresidentinDecember

of1973.KimballwasmoretolerantofpoliticalexpressionandmostoftheChurch

leadershipwasmoderatetoconservativeintheyearsthatfollowed(Quinn:1997).In

1974,KimballdealtwiththepoliticsofBenson.Kimballissuedastatementthatwetake

nopartisanstandtocandidatesorparties,andanypersonwhomakesrepresentationsthe

contrarydoessowithoutauthorization(1997:108).However,Bensoncontinuedto

preachthetenetsofTheBirchSociety.

TheconflictinMormonteachingsisapparentintheconferenceaddresses.The

MormonsarecounseledononehandtotrustinGodandontheother,Bensonis

counselingmemberstofightagainstevil.In1976,SpencerW.Kimballsaid,

Weareawarlikepeople,easilydistractedfromourassignmentofpreparingforthecomingoftheLord.Whenenemiesriseup,wecommitvastresourcestothefabricationofgodsofstoneandsteelships,planes,missiles,fortificationsanddependonthemforprotectionanddeliverance.Whenthreatened,webecomeantienemyinsteadofprokingdomofGodwetrainamanintheartofwarandcallhimapatriot,thus,inthemannerofSatanscounterfeitoftruepatriotism,pervertingtheSaviorsteaching:

Loveyourenemies,blessthemthatcurseyou,dogoodtothemthathateyou,andprayforthemwhichdespitefullyuseyou,and

43

persecuteyouThatyemaybethechildrenofyourFatherwhichisinheaven.(Matt.5:4445.)(Kimball1976)

BensonalsocontinuedtheespionageatBYUandin1977Kimballissueda

statementtotheBoardofTrusteesandcondemnedsurveillanceofBYUemployees

(Quinn1997:110).DespiteallthestatementsofKimballandseveralcensorships(in

print)ofBensonssermons,in1985,Bensonbecamepresident.Hewaseightysixyears

oldandalreadysuffereddizzyspells,memoryloss,anddifficultyinpublicspeaking

andhewasnolongerastandardbeareroftheantiCommunistmovement(1997:111).

By1989,theJohnBirchSocietyhaddwindledto700membersandtheconservativesof

thedayweresatisfiedwithRonaldReagan(1997:112).

Bythelate1980s,Bensonstartedmonitoringacademics,intellectuals,andothers

assumedtobecriticsoftheChurch,theStrengtheningtheMembersCommitteewhich

isanactivearmoftheLDSChurchtoday(1997:113).Thepressfirstreportedonthe

committeein1991inregardstotheLDSChurchsinvestigationofSatanicparticipation

byMormons.AleakedmemoisaddressedtotheStrengtheningChurchMembers

Committee(Henetz).InAugustof1992,theLDSChurchsspokesmantoldReligious

NewsServicethattheaimofthegroup...istopreventmembersfrommakingnegative

statementsthathindertheprogressoftheMormonchurch.In2012,JohnSweeneyinthe

BBCdocumentaryTheMormonCandidateaskedJeffreyR.Hollandaboutthe

committee,

Sweeney:WhatistheStrengtheningChurchMembersCommittee?Holland:TheStrengtheningChurchMembersCommitteewasbornsomeyearsagoto...protectpredatorypracticesofpolygamists.

44

Sweeney:Iaskedwhatisit?Holland:That'swhatitis.Sweeney:So,itdoesstillexist?Holland:Itdoesstillexist.Itdoesstillexist.Sweeney:Anditlooksout...it'stheretodefendthechurchagainstpolygamists?Holland:Principally.Thatisstilltheprincipaltask.Sweeney:And...whatisitssubsidiarytasks?Holland:Uh,Isuppose,justtobeprotectivegenerally...justtowatchandcareforuh...anyuh...anyinsidiousinfluencesbutforallintentsandpurposes,allthatIknowaboutitisprimarilytoguardagainstpolygamythatwouldbethesubstantialessentialpartoftheworkI'mnotonthatcommitteesoIcan'tspeak(BBCInterviewwithMormonApostleJeffreyR.Holland).

InanofficialstatementbyanLDSspokesmanin2014wasthatthecommitteespurpose

istopassonpublicinformationtolocalleadersaboutmembersparticipatinginabuse,

fraudandotheractivitiesthatmayendangerothers.Itoverseesprebaptismalinterviews

ofthoseformerlyassociatedwithpolygamy"(Stack).Therecentexcommunicationsof

KateKellyandJohnDehlincertainlygivesomeindicationthatthecommitteeisstill

aliveandwell.InJune2014,inTheNewYorkTimes,LaurieGoodsteinreported,

FromCaliforniatoVirginiaandstatesinbetween,morethanadozenMormons

interviewedinthepastweeksaidtheyhadrecentlybeeninformedbytheirbishopsthat

theyfacedexcommunicationorriskedlosingpermissiontoenteratemplebecauseof

commentstheyhadmadeonlineabouttheirfaith.

In1991,PresidentGeorgeBushsproclamationofaNewWorldOrderfueled

thegrowthoftheJohnBirchSocietyto1,000inUtahandMormonBirchersorganized

theAmericanStudyGroupwhichgrewto1,400memberswithintwomonths(Quinn

45

1997:114).AlthoughBensonshealthimpededhispoliticalinfluence,theleaderbuilta

cultureofstrictadherencetoLDSstandards,almostaselfrighteousperfectionism.The

anticommunistsermonsofBensonandthesurveillanceofmemberscertainly

encouragedacultureofconformityintheLDSChurch,BYUgraduates,andespecially

withtheUtahmembers.

AlthoughtheLDSChurchclaimsanapoliticalstanceonwar,thepatriotic

influenceoftheBirchersisstillpresentintheattitudesofMormonstoday.Quinnwrites

aboutthisapoliticalstanceasmoreofaninvolvementinpoliticalintrigue,butthe

groupstheyalienatedwerefirstnonMormonsandthenafter1891,theywereprimarily

Mormonswhobecamedisaffected(1997:370).ArmandL.Mauss,aMormonsociologist

writes,Officiallyandunofficially,theMormonChurchhasalwaysbeenanimportant

politicalplayerinUtahand,toamuchlesserextent,intheneighboringstates

(1994:109).ThememberstendencytovoteRepublicanisthepoweroftheMormonsin

thenationalarenaofpolitics.ThepoliticalforceoftheMormonshasbeenmost

influentialinthefightagainsttheEqualRightsAmendment,gaymarriageinHawaiiand

Prop8inCalifornia(Quinn:1997).

TheLDSChurchsimmediateresponsetotheeventsofSeptember11,2001was

toreachouttoMuslims,recognizingthatpeopleofallfaithswerecountedamongthe

victimsofthatday(Hellebrand2012:137).BeforePresidentBushaddressedthe

country,heheldanemotionalprayerfilledmeetingforanhourwith26ofthecountry's

religiousleaders,includingPresidentGordonB.Hinckley.PresidentHinckleysaid,"I

46

justwantyoutoknow,Mr.President,thatwearebehindyou.Weprayforyou.Welove

this'nationunderGod.'September24,2001(DavidsonandMoore2001).

OneyearafterSeptember11,RussellM.Nelsonaddressedthebiannual

LDSconferenceandquotedtheD&CscripturewhichcallsMormonsto

renouncewarandproclaimpeace...Nelsontaughtthattheanswertothis

violencewasthegospelofJesusChrist,andfullapplicationoftheGoldenRule

(Hellebrand2012:138),

Now,asmembersofTheChurchofJesusChristofLatterdaySaints,whatdoestheLordexpectofus?AsaChurch,wemustrenouncewarandproclaimpeace.Asindividuals,weshouldfollowafterthethingswhichmakeforpeace.Weshouldbepersonalpeacemakers.Weshouldlivepeacefullyascouples,families,andneighbors.WeshouldlivebytheGoldenRule(Nelson2002).GordonB.HinckleysstatementoftheLDSChurchsstanceonwarin

Aprilof2003arguedthattheU.S.militarywaspavingapathforliberty,

Whenallissaidanddone,weofthisChurcharepeopleofpeace.WearefollowersofourRedeemer,theLordJesusChrist,whowasthePrinceofPeace.ButevenHesaid,ThinknotthatIamcometosendpeaceonearth:Icamenottosendpeace,butasword(Matt.10:34).

Thisplacesusinthepositionofthosewholongforpeace,whoteachpeace,whoworkforpeace,butwhoalsoarecitizensofnationsandaresubjecttothelawsofourgovernments.Furthermore,weareafreedomlovingpeople,committedtothedefenseoflibertywhereveritisinjeopardy.IbelievethatGodwillnotholdmenandwomeninuniformresponsibleasagentsoftheirgovernmentincarryingforwardthatwhichtheyarelegallyobligatedtodo.ItmayevenbethatHewillholdusresponsibleifwetrytoimpedeorhedgeupthewayofthosewhoareinvolvedinacontestwithforcesofevilandrepression(Hinckley2003).

47

TheLDSChurchteachesthatlivingthegospelofJesusChrististhepathof

peace,however,contrarytomostprotestants,withinitsculturehoweveritremains

apoliticalinglobalmattersofwarandpeacebecauseitismorecommittedtoevangelism

andthesalvationofindividualsandfamiliesthanitistopeaceamongthenations

(AshurstMcgee2012:90).ThefollowingtalkwasgivenduringthewarinIraqand

reflectstheprioritiesofMormonsandtheirleadershipandtheirhopeforthespreadof

democracyinothercountriesasaresultofwar:

ThoughthepaceofmissionaryworkamongtheIraqipeopleisextremelyslowduetorestrictionsonproselytizing,IhadtheopportunitytomeetthefirstIraqiSaint,amanwithaChristianbackgroundwhohadthegospelintroducedtohimbyciviliancontractorsfromUtah.NoneofthismaysoundverydramaticunlessyouputitinthecontextofawarzoneinaMuslimcountrythatwasformerlyadictatorship.Basedonmyexperienceswiththegospelthere,IhaveastronghopethattheeventsthatweareseeingtranspiretodaysuchastheformationofanewgovernmentwilleventuallybearfruitfortheLordskingdom...butallinhisgoodtime(Cannon2006).Mormonsadoptthissameviewofwarasanagenttospreadfreedomand

democracy.Thedemocraticpeacethesisholdsthatdemocraciesdonotfight

democracies...Democraciesoftherightkind(i.e.,liberalones)arepeacefulinrelationto

oneanother(Waltz2000:6).KennethN.Waltzillustratestheproblemswiththe

democraticpeacethesis,

Andhowdoesonedefinewhattherightsortofdemocracyis?SomeAmericanscholarsthoughtthatWilhelmineGermanywastheverymodelofamoderndemocraticstatewithawidesuffrage,honestelections,alegislaturethatcontrolledthepurse,competitiveparties,afreepress,andahighlycompetentbureaucracy.ButintheFrench,British,andAmericanviewafterAugustof1914,Germanyturnedoutnottobeademocracyoftherightkind(2000:7).

48

ThedemocraticpeacethesisasdemonstratedbyU.S.foreignpolicy,theU.S.has

nottreatedsocialistdemocraciesdifferently,andasWaltzwrites,Conformityof

countriestoaprescribedpoliticalformmayeliminatesomeofthecausesofwar

itcannoteliminateallofthem(2000:8).

TheauthorityofLDSChurchleadersisemphasizedthroughvariousstatementsof

LDSleadersinconferenceaddressesaswellasLDScorrelatedteachingmanuals.

UnderthedirectionofJesusChrist,theChurchisledby15apostles,whoarealso

regardedasprophets,seers,andrevelators.Themanwhohasbeenanapostlethelongest

isthePresidentoftheChurch,andbyinspirationheselectstwootherapostlesas

counselors.ThesethreefunctionastheFirstPresidency,whichisthehighestgoverning

bodyoftheChurch(FirstPresidency).Themembersarerepeatedlyremindedthatthe

TwelveApostlesandtheProphetareamouthpieceofGod,

TheLordwillneverpermitmeoranyothermanwhostandsasPresidentofthisChurchtoleadyouastray.Itisnotintheprogram.ItisnotinthemindofGod(TeachingsofPresidentsoftheChurch:WilfordWoodruff:199).

HavinginmindthatthisChurchofoursisapracticalChurch,thatitdealswithtemporalaswellaswithspiritualaffairs,Isubmitthatwhatevercomesfromthevoicesofthosewhoholdthatauthorityisscripture,nomatterofwhattheymayspeak.Thatconclusiontomeisinevitable(J.ReubenClark1944:112).

Whattime,sincetheorganizationoftheChurch,haveanyofthebrethrenexercisingtheSpiritoftheLord,evertaughtthispeoplethatwhichwasfalse?WhenhavetheyeversaiduntoyouthatyoushoulddothatwhichwasnotrightthatwhichwouldnotmakeyoubettercitizensandbettermembersofthekingdomofGod?Youcannot,norcananyman,inrighteousness,pointtothetimewhenanyofthemhavewilfullystatedanythingthatwascontrarytotheprinciplesofrighteousness,orthatdidnot

49

tendtomakethepeoplebetterineveryway,thatdidnotbuildthemupintheirsalvation,temporallyaswellasspiritually.(JosephFieldingSmith1954:(3)297).

KeepyoureyeontheProphet,fortheLordwillneverpermithisProphettoleadthisChurchastray(EzraTaftBenson1966:123).

Followyourleaderswhohavebeendulyordainedandhavebeenpubliclysustained,andyouwillnotbeledastray(BoydK.Packer1992:73).

ContinuingrevelationandleadershipfortheChurchcomethroughthePresidentoftheChurch,andhewillnevermisleadtheSaints(JamesFaust1996:7).

Aswelooktotheprophetsforguidance,wecanbeconfidentthattheywillnotleadusastray(L.AldinPorter2002:31).

Youcanalwaystrustthelivingprophets(TruetotheFaith2004:129).

Thosewholistentoandfollowthecounseloflivingprophetsandapostleswillnotgoastray.Theteachingsoflivingprophetsprovideananchorofeternaltruthinaworldofshiftingvaluesandhelpavoidmiseryandsorrow(PreachMyGospel2004:75).

ThemostrecentLDSConference,October2014,echoedthesamemessageoffollowing

thepriesthoodleadersoftheLDSChurch.AccordingtoElderM.RussellBallard,

TheexperiencedriverguidestodaycanbelikenedtotheChurchsapostlesandprophetsandinspiredlocalpriesthoodandauxiliaryleaders.Theyhelpusarrivesafelytoourfinaldestination.

Recently,Ispokeatthenewmissionpresidentsseminarandcounseledtheseleaders:KeeptheeyesofthemissionontheleadersoftheChurch.Wewillnotandcannotlead[you]astray.

Andasyouteachyourmissionariestofocustheireyesonus,teachthemtoneverfollowthosewhothinktheyknowmoreabouthowtoadministertheaffairsoftheChurchthanHeavenlyFatherandtheLordJesusChristdothroughthepriesthoodleaderswhohavethekeystopreside.

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Ihavediscoveredinmyministrythatthosewhohavebecomelost[and]confusedaretypicallythosewhohavemostoftenforgottenthatwhentheFirstPresidencyandtheQuorumoftheTwelvespeakwithaunitedvoice,itisthevoiceoftheLordforthattime.TheLordremindsus,Whetherbymineownvoiceorbythevoiceofmyservants,itisthesame[D&C1:38].

Inotherwords,theyleavetheOldShipZiontheyfallawaytheyapostatize.Tragically,theyoftenexperienceshorttermandeventuallylongtermunintendedconsequences,notonlyforthemselvesbutalsofortheirfamilies.

OurlocalChurchleaders,likeseasonedriverguides,havebeentutoredbylifesexperienceshavebeentrainedandmentoredbyapostlesandprophetsandotherofficersoftheChurchand,mostimportant,havebeentutoredbytheLordHimself(2014).TheLDSleadershaveaprofoundimpactontheattitudesofthemembers.The

influenceofprotestantleadersisvastlydifferentthanLDSChurchleaders.Thevariation

isinexclusivityofsavingordinances(rituals),thedivisionsofcongregations,the

memberslevelofcommitment,andtheiridentityattachmenttotheChurch.By

exclusivityofsavingordinances,MormonsbelievethatthroughtheProphetJoseph

Smith,ourFatherinHeavenandHisSonJesusChristrestoredthefulnessofthegospel

andonlytheirpriesthoodauthoritycanprovidetheordinancesnecessaryforsalvation

(RestorationofthePriesthood).Concerningcongregations,protestantmembershave

freedomtofindacongregationoftheirliking,whereas,intheorganizationoftheLDS

Church,thereisarigidgeographicaldivisionofcongregations.Mormonsarenotfreeto

choosewhichlocationorwhichminister(Bishop)theylike.Mormonsarehighly

committedtotheirchurchandthelocalleadershipareunpaidlayministers.The

membersattendthreehoursofchurchmeetingsonSundayandtheirchurchassignments

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orcallingscouldrequirebetween1020hoursperweek.Churchmembersarerequiredto

give10percentoftheirincomeinordertoparticipateintempleworkandreceivetemple

ordinances.ArmandL.Maussexplains,themoretheysacrifice,themoredependent

theywillbeontherewardsandcompensatorsofferedbythereligion(2001:27).

JohnPaulLederach,oneoftheleadingscholarsinpeacestudieswrote,Atthe

deepestlevel,identityislodgedinthenarrativesofhowpeopleseethemselves,whothey

are,wheretheyhavecomefrom,andwhattheyfeartheywillbecomeorlose(1997:55).

SalvationiswhatMormonsfeartheywillbecomeorlose.Theirreligionrequires

templerituals,strictobediencetohierarchicalauthorityandaconsiderableamountof

commitmentinordertoensuretheirfamilyssalvation.AsMaussexplains,itisthe

refugeofcertainty,ofdistinctivelinesbetweenthemandus,oftheclearand

comfortingidentityofthesaved(2001:38).

MormonsstructurethisstrongsenseoftheChurch...itisanintegralcomponent

oftheself(Knowlton2007:170).ThebeliefsofalesscommittedorculturalMormon

isapttodependupontheinsightsofothersratherthanupontheirownengagementwith

LDSideas(Davies2003:161).Mormonsarepronetodefensivenessandpersecution

whenconfrontedwithanycontradictionstotheirMormonbeliefs.Thistensionisoften

experiencedasanegoattackandwillleadtodefensivereactionsagainsttheChurchinits

complexsociologicalandintrapersonalrealities(Knowlton2007:176).Knowltons

argumentsexplainwhyaMormonsidentityisstronglyattachedtoofficialstatementsof

theFirstPresidencyandwhytheirProphetswordsarestrictlyfollowed.

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PerhapstheinfluenceofLDSleaderswasdemonstratedinthechangeinapproval

ofthesecondwarinIraq.TheSaltLakeTribuneranapollinJanuaryof2006where73%

ofselfidentifiedMormonsinUtahsupportedGeorgeW.Bushsconductofthewar,

whileabout62%ofnonMormonsinthestatesaidthattheydisapproved.Ayearlater

supportamongUtahMormonsforthewarhadplummeted21points,to44%(still

considerablyabovethenationalandnonMormonUtahnnumbers)(Mason2012:xv).

ThetheoryofthisdeclineistheinfluenceofaspeechgivenbyPresidentGordonB.

HinckleyinOctober2006atBrighamYoungUniversityinwhichhereflectedonthe

terriblecostsofwar,thoughheneverspecificallymentionedIraqorpresidentBush

(Mason2012:xv).Hinckleygavemanystorieswiththethemesofthecostsofwar,

howeverthereisonestorymoresignificantthantheothers,perhapsthisisthestorythat

changedUtahMormons.Thestoryislengthybut,worthrepeating.

IhadalongrememberedmeetingwithMr.ShimonPeresofIsrael.Hewasaformerprimeminister.Hehadseenmuchofconflictandtroubleinhistime.

IaskedhimwhethertherewasanysolutiontothegreatproblemsthatconstantlyseemtodividethepeopleofIsraelandthePalestinians.Hereplied,Ofcoursethereis.

AsIrecall,hesaid,WhenwewereAdamandEve,wewereallone.Isthereanyneedforusnowtobedividedintosegmentswithhatredforoneanother?

HetoldaveryinterestingstorythathesaidhehadheardfromaMuslim.TheMuslimtoldofaJewishrabbiwhowasconversingwithtwoofhisfriends.Therabbiaskedoneofthemen,Howdoyouknowwhenthenightisoverandanewdayhasbegun?

Hisfriendreplied,Whenyoulookintotheeastandcandistinguishasheepfromagoat,thenyouknowthenightisoverandthedayhasbegun.

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Thesecondwasaskedthesamequestion.Hereplied,Whenyoulookintothedistanceandcandistinguishanolivetreefromafigtree,thenyouknowmorninghascome.

Theythenaskedtherabbihowhecouldtellwhenthenightisoverandthedayhasbegun.Hethoughtforatimeandthensaid,Whenyoulookintotheeastandseethefaceofawomanandyoucansay,Sheismysister.Andwhenyoulookintotheeastandseethefaceofamanandcansay,Heismybrother.Thenyouknowthelightofanewdayhascome.

Thinkofthatforafewmoments,mydearfriends.Howeloquentlyitspeaksofthetruemeaningofbrotherhood(Hinckley2006).VeryfewLDSChurchleadersspeakdirectlytomattersofwar,however,the

membership,especiallyinUtah,is,forthemostpartRepublican,apartythatismore

inclinedtoIRtheorywhenwagingwarandtendstojustifywaraswaytospread

democracy.Hinckleyslegacyofpreachingforpeace,ismirroredbythecurrent

President,ThomasS.Monson,anditmaybenotedthatheneverservedincombatwhile

hewasinthemilitary.AccordingtoD.MichaelQuinn,HinckleyandMonsonnever

sharedBensonsembraceofultraconservativepolitics(Quinn1997:57).Advocating

peacemayendwithThomasS.Monsonsdeath.Thepatternofleadershiphasbeensuch

thattheFirstCounselor,BoydK.Packer,willbethenextProphetoftheChurchofJesus

ChristofLatterDaySaints.Packerwasquotedaboveasemphaticallyagainst

conscientiousobjectors.PackerwasalsoeffusivelysupportiveofEzraTaftBensons

ultraconservativeexampleandleadership(1997:111).

PACIFISTMORMONSCHOLARS

AfterthedeathofJ.ReubenClark,HughNibleytookupthecallforpacifism

amongMormons.NibleyservedinWorldWarIIasanintelligenceofficerinEurope.He

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wasveryinterestedinthetheoryandpracticeofwarfareandwasacynicaboutwar

(Petersen2012).Nibleycompiledsixtruthsaboutwarfromhisexperiencein

intelligencetrainingandhisbattletraining:

1. Menonbothsidesoftheconflictwerebasicallygood.2. Menonbothsideswerecapableofgreatevil.3. Inthemilitary,careersarebuiltchieflyonthebattlefield.4. Businesseswereprofitingfromthewarbymaintaininginterestson

bothsidesoftheconflict. 5. Themilitaryisabletocontrollittle,butisalsocapableofsupreme

chaosandlargescaleblunders.6. Themostimportantlessonistheutterevilofwar

(Petersen2012:163165).

PetersenmovinglyretoldNibleysfirsthandexperiencesduringWWIIwhichtaughthim

theselessons,unfortunatelythestoriesaretoolengthytoincludeinthispaper.

Nibleyarguedthatwarisneveracaseofgoodguysversusbadguysbutthe

inevitablefruitofwickednessonbothsidesandhefelthispositionreflectedthe

messageaboutwarintheBOMasnasty,brutalizing,wasteful,dirty,degrading,

fatiguingfoolish,immoral,andaboveallunnecessary(Petersen2012:166).

In1971apostle,EzraTaftBensonstatedthattheU.S.shouldlaunchamassive

militarycampaign,toppletheHanoiregime,anddictateratherthannegotiatethepeace

term