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The War in Iraq
A common question for an LDS democrat to be asked goes something like this: “How can you reconcile your religious beliefs with the teachings of the Democratic Party?” But in the case of the war in Iraq, I think it would be fair to turn that question back upon the inquirers. How do you reconcile your religious beliefs with the Republican position on the war in Iraq? There should be no question about the position of the Church on the issue of war. It seems the Lord has made His voice clear with regards to preemptive war and spreading democracy. Following are some important statements made by the Lord’s mouthpieces over the years:
"Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace . . . " (D&C 98:16) Thus the Church is and must be against war. The Church itself cannot wage war, unless and until the Lord shall issue new commands. 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.”
--Message from the First Presidency, published in Conference Report, Apr. 1942, 88-97
“…I still say that there are conditions when entrance into war is justifiable, and when a Christian nation may, without violation of principles, take up arms against an opposing force. Such a condition, however, is not a real or fancied insult given by one nation to another. When this occurs proper reparation may be made by mutual understanding, apology, or by arbitration. Neither is there justifiable cause found in a desire or even a need for territorial expansion. The taking of territory implies the subjugation of the weak by the strong-the application of the jungle law. Nor is war justified in an attempt to enforce a new order of government, or even to impel others to a particular form of worship, however better the government or eternally true the principles of the enforced religion may be. There are, however, two conditions which may justify a truly Christian man to enter-mind you, I say enter, not begin-a war: (1) An attempt to dominate and to deprive another of his free agency, and, (2) Loyalty to his country. Possibly there is a third, viz., Defense of a weak nation that is being unjustly crushed by a strong, ruthless one.”
--President David O. McKay as quoted in Hard Questions, Prophetic Answers by Daniel K. Judd
“So fundamental in man's eternal progress is his inherent right to choose, that the Lord would defend it even at the price of war. Without freedom of thought, freedom of choice, freedom of action within lawful bounds, man cannot progress.
"It was in that spirit, in fact, that the righteous Nephite military leaders led their people into war. First of all, they entered war to protect their families and their civil and religious liberties, feeling that this was an obligation they owed to God, as well as their people. Theirs was never an offensive war. They understood that offensive war would not entitle them to the blessings of heaven (Alma 43:9-10, 44-47; 48:14-15; 3 Nephi 3:20-21; compare D&C 98:23-36).”
--Robert L. Millet, I Will Fear No Evil
In addition to the quotes above, the scriptures are replete with counsel from the Lord concerning offensive, or preemptive wars. We learn in section 98 of the Doctrine and Covenants that we are bear offense from “any nation, tongue, or people” three times, lifting a “standard of peace unto that people (vs.34).” If they don’t accept, then the Lord will “justify” us in going out to battle against them. The Lord said to the Nephites that “…Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies (Alma 43:46).” We also read that they were “taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives (Alma 48:14).” There has been much effort made over the last four years to tie 9/11 to Iraq. We know, of course, that no such link ever existed. In what way did they offend us?
So, to summarize, the Lord has taught us that war is never a righteous means to settle international disputes, that war should not be used as a means to enforce a new order of government, and that we should never be guilty of beginning a war, or of giving the first (or second) offense. If these things are true, then how can we even attempt to righteously justify the war in Iraq? One might say, “But see what the war has done, the Priesthood is in Iraq now!” That may be true, but I believe it is because the Lord puts as much good as He is able into any situation we create. President Brigham Young stated “Of one thing I am sure: God never institutes war; God is not the author of confusion or of war; they are the results of the acts of the children of men. Confusion and war necessarily come as the results of the foolish acts and policy of men; but they do not come because God desires they should come (Discourses of Brigham Young).” The very idea that our loving Father in Heaven has somehow instituted this war is, to me, terribly offensive and ignorant.
One final distressing thought: there seems to be in the history of the Nephites an action that constitutes their final act of rebellion against the Lord, the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. In Mormon, chapter three, we learn that the Nephites win a great battle against the Lamanites because of the righteous leadership of Mormon. He tries to persuade them to repent, but they harden their hearts, boast in their own strength, and swear by the heavens that they will avenge their brethren by going up to battle against the Lamanites. This is, by my reading, the first time the Nephites decide to go up against the Lamanites offensively. As a result, Mormon utterly refuses from that time forward to be their commander and leader. We read “And when they had sworn by all that had been forbidden them by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that they would go up unto their enemies to battle, and avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren, behold the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Vengeance is mine, and I will repay; and because this people repented not after I had delivered them, behold, they shall be cut off from the face of the earth (vs.15-16).” Mormon follows this by telling us that he is speaking to us. He is telling us this story for a reason. We see time and time again the Lord forgiving the Nephites of their pride and all of the other sins they commit. But when they finally decide to go up to war against the Lamanites for a reason besides protecting their freedoms and their families, the Lord says that they shall be cut off from the face of the earth. In nearly every other case the Lord qualifies that phrase with some form of an “unless” clause. But for the Nephites, the decision to wage an offensive war was the decision that finally cut them off from the Lord.
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