Proclamation of Peace

A Statement of Principles from the Latter-Day Saints Community

It is our divine calling to …"Sue for peace, not only to the people that have smitten you, but to all people; And lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation of peace unto the ends of the earth " (D&C 105:38-39).

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"The Church is and must be against war. It cannot regard war as a righteous means of settling international disputes; these should and could be settled--the nations agreeing--by peaceful negotiation and adjustment." (Messages of the First Presidency. James R. Clark, 6 vols. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965}

.." While recognizing the need for strength to repel any aggressor, we are enjoined by the word of God to Renounce War and Proclaim Peace! We call upon the heads of nations to sit down and reason together in good faith to resolve their differences. " (First Presidency: Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner & Marion G. Romney, Church News; 20 Dec.1980)

Nations should not to rush to war when prophet Moroni "…taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise a sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives". (Book of Mormon: Alma 48:14)

We are reminded by the remarks of President Gordon B. Hinckley when he spoke at the BYU October, 2006 Devotional "…As I have visited the various cemeteries, have reflected, first, on the terrible cost of war. What a fruitless thing it so often is, and what a terrible price it exacts."

We seek the help from our Heavenly Father as we try to solve international disputes through non-violent means. We feel we should focus on international peaceful action in the spirit of cooperation, as we try to solve the problems of war and terror, other than unilateral military aggression of various countries.

As Latter Day Saints let's make a stand for peace and not be those so called…" Warlike people...when enemies rise up, we commit vast resources to the fabrication of gods of stone and steel--ships, planes, missiles, fortifications--and depend on them for protection and deliverance. When threatened, we become anti-enemy instead of pro-kingdom of God; … perverting the Savior's teaching: "Love your enemies..." (Spencer W. Kimball: Ensign; June 1976):

Let us remove the causes of war by pressing forward in eliminating hatred, oppression, poverty, and imperial nationalism. Indeed, let us promote the teachings of Jesus Christ; for through him will the world find true peace.

This is not a publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Contact Bart Tippetts at mesjslc@hotmail.com to be more involved with this LDS peace project. Web Site Not set up yet.