Joseph F. Smith: For years it has been held that peace comes only by preparation for war; the present conflict should prove that peace comes only by preparing for peace, through training the people in righteousness and justice, and selecting rulers who respect the righteous will of the people.1

Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark & David O. McKay: [T]he 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.2

George Albert Smith, J. Reuben Clark & David O. McKay: By building a huge armed establishment, we shall belie our protestations of peace and peaceful intent and force other nations to a like course of militarism...3

Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner & Marion G. Romney: 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.4

Spencer W. Kimball: We are a 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; we train a man in the art of war and call him a patriot, thus, in the manner of Satan's counterfeit of true patriotism, perverting the Savior's teaching: "Love your enemies..."5

Spencer W. Kimball: Father, we are concerned with the political world of today and that nations seem to need only the lighting of a match to bring war and desolation and destruction. Bless, we pray thee, the leaders of nations, that they may rule wisely and righteously and give thy people freedom to worship thee in truth and righteousness. Stay the powers, our Father, that would bring us to the brink of annihilation. 5a

Marion G.Romney: When I was in the military service during the First World War, we were told that we were “making the world safe for democracy”; we were fighting a war to end all wars. When my eldest son was in the military during the Second World War, he was told that he was preserving the cause of liberty and freedom. The same rationale has continued for the past several decades. 5b

Russell M. Nelson: Because of the long history of hostility upon the earth, many feel that peace is beyond hope. I disagree. Peace is possible....Resolution of present political problems will require much patience and negotiation. The process would be enhanced greatly if pursued prayerfully.6

Eugene England: LDS theology offers a guide to better conduct. I believe its fundamental message is that "effective pacifism"--even unilateral disarmament if accompanied by massive efforts to extend intelligent, creative, tough-minded but loving help to other nations...--is the ideal solution, the only one that could make our enemies no longer enemies...7

Edwin Brown Firmage: Jesus knew that no dispute is finally solved by violence. The underlying cause usually remains, simply exacerbated by the evil progeny spawned by war: hatred of our brothers and sisters, as if they were somehow fundamentally different from ourselves; the teaching and glorification of violence; lust; ignorance; propaganda; and suffering, starvation, disease, and death.8

NOTES
1.	Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, comp. John Widtsoe (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1939), 421.
2.	In Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, comp. James R. Clark, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-75), 6:158.
3.	In Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6:241.
4.	"Christmas Message from the First Presidency," Church News (20 Dec. 1980): 3.
5.	Spencer W. Kimball, "The False Gods We Worship," Ensign (June 1976): 4.
5a	Spencer W. Kimball, Temple Dedicatory Prayer Washington DC Temple 19-22 Nov 1974
5b	Marion G. Romney, "The Price of Peace," Ensign, Oct.1983, 3
6.	Russell M. Nelson, "Blessed Are the Peacemakers," Ensign (Nov. 2002): 39.
7.	Eugene England, "Can Nations Love Their Enemies?", Dialogues With Myself (Midvale, UT: Orion Books, 1984), 148.
8.	Edwin Brown Firmage, "Violence and the Gospel: The Teachings of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Book of Mormon," BYU Studies 25 (Winter 1985):40.