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Date Posted: 15:49:44 02/27/07 Tue
Author: wanderer
Subject: Another perspective
In reply to: TastingTheBlood 's message, "I also cannot understand..." on 12:50:42 02/27/07 Tue

Here is a thought or two about why this poll came out the way it did for LDS.

Came across a interesting link from CNN a while ago. It was dated Sunday, October 6, 2002 and said

Mormon church makes anti-war statement.

The Mormon church issued a strong anti-war message at its semiannual General Conference, clearly referring to current hostilities in the Middle East, advocating patience and negotiation, and urging the faithful to be peacemakers.

"As a church, we must renounce war and proclaim peace," said Russell M. Nelson, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which acts under the direction of church President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Full text here http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/West/10/06/mormon.conference.ap/

I found it very interesting that in the very next general conference, Pres. Hinckley quoted those words and added some comments about them. First, near the beginning of his talk he says this

"In the course of history TYRANTS have arisen from time to time who have OPPRESSED THEIR OWN PEOPLE and THREATENED THE WORLD. SUCH IS ADJUDGED TO BE THE CASE PRESENTLY."

(He talks about wars and people who have had to go to war.Then this)

"The question arises, 'Where does the Church stand in all of this?'"

(This is now the full unedited text of his comments in this next part. Only the long scriptures he quoted are summarized)

"IN A DEMOCRACY WE CAN RENOUNCE WAR AND PROCLAIM PEACE. There is opportunity for dissent. Many have been speaking out and doing so emphatically. That is their privilege. That is their right, so long as they do so legally.

HOWEVER, we all must also be mindful of another OVERRIDING RESPONSIBILITY, which I may add, governs MY PERSONAL FEELINGS and dictates MY PERSONAL LOYALTIES in the PRESENT SITUATION."

(Quotes Alma 43:45-47 about Nephites and Lamanites fighting, but the Nephites were inspired by a better cause which they felt was a duty they owed to their God. Moroni raises the title of liberty, Alma 46:12-13. Now immediately to President Hinckley's unedited comments after reading these scriptures)

"It is CLEAR from these and other writings that there are TIMES AND CIRCUMSTANCES when nations are JUSTIFIED, IN FACT HAVE AN OBLIGATION, to fight for family, for liberty, AND AGAINST TYRANNY, THREAT, AND OPPRESSION.

When all is said and done, we of this Church are people of peace. We are followers of our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was the Prince of Peace. BUT EVEN HE SAID, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I CAME NOT TO SEND PEACE, BUT A SWORD." (Matthew 10:34).

This places us in the position of those who long for peace, who teach peace, who work for peace, but who also are citizens of nations and are subject to the laws of our governments. FURTHERMORE, WE ARE A FREEDOM-LOVING PEOPLE, COMMITTED TO THE DEFENSE OF LIBERTY WHEREVER IT IS IN JEOPARDY. I believe that God will not hold men and women in uniform responsible as agents of their government in carrying forward that which they are legally obligated to do.

It may even be that He will hold US RESPONSIBLE if WE TRY TO IMPEDE OR HEDGE UP THE WAY of those who are involved in a CONTEST WITH FORCES OF EVIL AND REPRESSION."

(Closing comments and scriptures.) Full text here
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-353-27,00.html

Whether you agree with what he said or not, it is my opinion that this is why LDS members feel the way they do. Without these comments from the prophet, I believe the count would be more evenly divided.

wanderer

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