Date post: | 01-Oct-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | marc-esplin |
View: | 9 times |
Download: | 2 times |
MormonsandWar:
AComparisonofU.S.ProtestantandMormonThoughtonWar
BrookeSwallow
UtahValleyUniversity
Wordcount:20,064
1
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
2
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
3
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
4
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).
5
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).
6
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.
7
"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).
8
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).
9
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)
10
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.
11
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
12
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.
13
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
14
(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
15
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
16
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
18
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.
50
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
51
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.
52
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.
53
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
54
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