Related Information to LDS Perspective: War in Iraq

LDS Perspective: War in Iraq - Page 8

Where do you think it should be done, on American soil? Do you prefer for there to be bombs going off next to your home?

Iraq War Perspective LDS

Well I did not expect Iraqi bomb to go off on American soil. I think that it has been established by our current regime I mean administration that Iraq did not harbor terrorist. So what evidence is there that Iraq would set bombs off on American soil? With what weapons of mass destruction would they use? Your comment would imply that Iraq was sponsoring terrorism and had weapons of mass destruction when we have no proof. That is the only way that this war would stop bombs from going off in the U.S.
Where is the ethics in this? Perhaps if we took 10% of our military budget and eradicate world poverty and hunger then it would be hard to find hunger oppressed people to hide a bomb in American soil. You know it only would take 10% of our military budget to do this. This to me would be the best pre-emptive strike we would do rather then bombs and killing thousands of people, so we can have 3.00 gallon gas.

LDS Perspective: War in Iraq Studies Doctrine Mormon

Name: Blue

Comments: I have read all the comments on this post & I don't believe in war at all. I have a nephew who is part Iraq, born in uk, & with the war in the country where his half brothers / sisters / Aunts / Uncles etc are from may not know of him cause of WAR they may not be alive at all & where is the connection in being united as a family unit? Where is the history in telling him that his other half of family are dying of a bloody war? Where is the love for our fellowman & be united? Tell me that its so confusing!

The Lord has said in his commandments "Thou shalt NOT kill", simple isn't it? Further in D&C 45:48-49 states that those people who will NOT take his sword "against" his neighbour, "must flee to ZION" now the reason for this fleeing was mentioned in v69 that people who follow this advice by not making WAR with others, is the people who shall NOT be at WAR "one with another". That means we shouldn't be at war with anyone.

Page 8 Iraq War Perspective LDS

Name: Habakuk

Comments: A couple things:

The reason for war on Iraq is based on lies. The neocons in the Republican party had Iraq in their sights well before 9/11. Hussein had no WMD and the supposed intelligence used to justify the war was made so the evidence fit the desired outcome, not the other way around. Hussein and Al Qaeda are idealogical opposites that hated each other. As much as we dislike to think so, perhaps Pres. Hinckley was deceived as well as us; he was a man as well.

Second, the Book of Mormon has things to say about how wars should be fought. In all cases it only justifies defensive wars, not wars of aggression. In 3 Nephi when the Nephites were beset by the Gadianton robbers and some suggested they go into the mountains to attack them, their inspired leaders suggested instead they wait for the robbers to come to them. They did, and they won. There are other examples in the BoM as well. Hugh Nibley had a lot to say about that in no uncertain terms in a FARMS report I read.

Lastly, Joseph Smith warned the US would spend its strength going to war. So far the US has spent well in excess of a trillion dollars so far in Iraq. War profiteers are robbing us blind. We are one natural disaster away from spiraling out of control simply because we won't have the money to repair the damage because we've already spent it on bombs. We're walking a razor's edge, folks. It's interesting to see these prophecies come true.

Iraq War Perspective LDS

AMEN, Joe Public, AMEN! I was thinking of saying much the same thing, but you have done the job perfectly. Thank you.

We are never to be the aggressors. President Hinckley's comments are (he said) his opinions, other than that we must defend our freedoms, and obey the laws.

LDS Perspective: War in Iraq

Not particularly.
If read in the original Hebrew the commandment is "thou shalt not commit Murder."

One Justification for War.
D&C 98:34-36

Sometimes war is justified, but the debate on if this war is justified will never be agreed upon by the members of the Church.

LDS Perspective War Iraq - Page 8

Name: ImSmarterThanYou

Comments: Really interesting comments, Joe Public / Habakuk.

You don't believe in war. Despite our Creator commanding the Children of Israel to destroy the inhabitants of Canaan (does Jericho come to mind?). Or Nephi creating swords patterned after the sword of Laban to use to defend his people - and actually participating in wars (2Ne 5:34) less than 40 years after leaving Jerusalem.

No one I know in the LDS Church wants war. But to claim you don't believe in war - by appealing (falsely) to authority -is truly bizarre.

In your appeal, you ignored the scriptures outright, falsely interpreted the Hebrew "to murder" as "to kill," claimed Pres. Hinckley - a seer - was deceived because he's a man, then appeal to another man of lesser authority, Hugh Nibley. You parse your quotes of Captain Moroni about defensive warfare - who also said: (Alma 54:12) "And behold, if ye do not this, I will come against you with my armies; ... and I will come against you, and I will follow you even into your own land, which is the land of our first inheritance." You also conjure up an unreferenced quote attributed to Joseph Smith - who was also a man, then appeal to a FARMS report, written by men (and women for you pc types).

And the coup de grace is your insistance that the NeoCons and War Profiteers are behind it all.

I love your blanket prejudiced statements, so full of charity and knowledge flowing with the pure water of logic.

I'm sure Nephi created swords to sell at a profit and Captain Moroni who sought only for freedom and not for the glory of the world - was a profiteer.

LDS Perspective War Iraq Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 8

Reading through this thread there are many interesting opinions stated. I would like to add my 2 cents. As JB has stated the political side of the war is discussed in another forum, here on the spiritual side it seems that arguments are being made for 2 sides of the same coin.

We all agree that we hate war- that's the easy part. But the difficultly lies in supporting current US actions based on doctrine. There have been ample references cited for both sides and I will not offer more at this time only say that while we are followers of peace, that peace begins in our own lives, by not cutting each other down for our differences of opinion.

Also, arguing the beginnings of the war here will not profit us, as it is a fact we cannot change. The fact remains that God knows all, there may have been deceitful and irresponsible leaders who began the war (and I believe there were), but so what? The fact is that we are at war. I believe President Hinkleys position was that of true charity, to uphold the laws of the land, to due our civic duties by exorcizing our right to vote on the actions of government, to become involved in charitable causes benefiting those harmed by the war, but not to sanction the act of war itself. As dbackers observed, war is sometimes necessary to bring about Gods purposes, President Hinkley knew and accepted this. This war is no different, God will lead it to its rightful conclusion, we as LDS members have a responsiblity to peace between ourselves and to those within our influence.

Edited: Morgan on 25th Apr, 2008 - 3:48am