This lesson from 1920 – and surely that date so soon after World I was must be significant to the lesson – was prepared for the “Advanced Senior” classes in the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association (so, young women age 17-19, or thereabouts). Given all the Gospel Doctrine talk in our Sunday Schools right now because of the “war chapters” in the Book of Mormon, as well as world conditions in general, I thought it might be interesting to read what Latter-day Saints of a century ago discussed about war.

How would a lesson about war — whether this one or any other — go over in a YW class today, do you think? And how does this lesson accord with what you’ve been talking about in Sunday School?

Crisis Conflict.

Crisis conflict means war.

War is theologically justifiable only when other means fail.

The decreed purpose of war is made plain in Section 63:33, 34. When men strive against the Spirit of the Lord, and persist in opposing it, the Lord, to keep His promise, in which He says, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man,” withdraws His Spirit and this withdrawal is a signal for the onrush of the powers of evil, which have been kept in abeyance by the Spirit of the Lord. When such conditions obtain, greed dominates over generosity, egotism crushes out altruism, and service terminates in slaughter: thus is war decreed through the decree that the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with men who oppose it, and crime becomes it sown executioner.

The decreed purpose of war is that the wicked may slay the wicked. War is permitted, and even commanded, as a means of defense against the invasion and domination of the wicked, but is only justified after all other means have failed; then, and then only, is it sanctioned by Divine edict.

Sec. 98:33-48 contains information of intrinsic value on this topic.

Zion, the home of the Saints, or the home of the holy of the latter days is the only land promised immunity from war. Sec. 45:66, 67, 68, 69.

Section 87 is a miracle of knowledge concerning war, and as such is testified to by the Prophet Joseph, and in part reiterated in Section 2130:12, 13.

The revelation bears the official stamp of divinity in its introduction, and is launched as pre-history of a series of crisis conflicts, beginning with one of the states of the Union, and terminating with universal war for the cause of liberty.

That the voice heard by Joseph, on that Christmas night in answer to his prayer, was the voice of Omniscience, the writings on the scroll of time bear witness. The details of unborn events set forth in paragraph 3, followed by such precision of fulfillments, proclaim Joseph Smith a special instrument in the hands of God, a prophet, seer, and revelator.

What sociologist would hazard the statement that a slave cause would seek support from an anti-slave nation?

Paragraph 5 provides that the remnant, the American Indian or aborigine should vex the civilized world. What mere human prognostication could see the possibility of Mexico looming up as one of the vexatious problems which the world wisdom of almost a decade has not solved?

Are the inhabitants of the earth painfully feeling the corrective power of our heavenly Father, and will this chastening process continue until the arrogance of nationalism shall be submerged in internationalism, faith, hope, and charity?

The consummation decreed does not provide for the end of all peoples, but for an end of all nations. It may provide for a time when the flag of all flags, the white flag, the color of which is the blending of all colors, shall wave over all.

Paragraph 7 points to a time coming when industrial and social oppression, and the spilling of blood, shall no longer create conditions demanding retribution under the great law of compensation.

Paragraph 8 calls upon the people of God, in the light of this prediction, to stand in holy places; that is, under the protection of God and “workfully wait” for the salvation of the Lord. The paragraph closes with the prediction that the triumph of righteousness shall come with as much speed and unexpectedness as did the wars preceding the promised peace.

Questions and Problems.

1. Discuss the fulfilment of 63:33, 34, in the light of present conditions.

2. Compare the predictions made in 45:68 with gem found in “Compendium,” page 271, on the “Coming of the son of Man”:

“On another occasion, about this time, the Prophet Joseph made the following remarks: ‘Men profess to prophesy. I will prophesy that the signs of the coming of the Son of Man are already commenced. One pestilence will desolate after another. We shall soon have war and bloodshed. The moon will be turned into blood. I testify of these things, and that the coming of the son of Man is nigh, even at your doors. If our souls, and our bodies, are not looking forth for the coming of the Son of Man, and after we are dead, if we are not looking forth, we shall be among those who are calling for the rocks to fall upon us. The time is soon coming when no man will have peace but in Zion and her stakes.

“‘I saw men hunting the lives of their own sons, and brother murdering brother, women killing their own daughters, and daughters seeking the lives of their mothers. I saw armies arrayed against armies. I saw blood, desolation, fires, etc.’”

3. Compare the Lord’s requirement for declaring war, (Sec. 98:16, 34-48.) with the steps of forbearance taken by the United States with Germany before declaring war.

4. Discuss this question: The war in heaven, a crisis conflict for peace.

5. Name the conditions under which the battle contestants may claim approval and assistance of the Lord.

6. How many years before the breaking out of the Civil War, through the rebellion of South Carolina, was the revelation and prophecy on war, recorded in Section 87, given?

7. In what month and on what day of the month was the revelation given?

8. What were the circumstances under which the revelation was given? Section 130:12-13.

9. What was the evident purpose of giving this revelation?

10. of what value has this revelation been to the Saints?

11. Of what value might it have been, and still continue to be, to the world?

12. What condition of severity is foreshadowed by the prediction: “He that will not take up arms against his neighbor (giving to the word neighbor its ordinary meaning) must needs flee to Zion for safety.

13. What effect would it have had on so called “Mormonism,” if the prophecy on war had failed in its fulfilment?

14. Why could it not fail?

15. Discuss the relative value of nationalism as a means, and nationalism as an end.

Collateral References.

“Gospel Doctrine,” Joseph F. Smith, page 523 to 537. No student of the question of War can afford to miss giving time and thought to this reference. “Pearl of Great Price.” Revelation 12:7-11.