Wars and Rumors of Wars

When War is Justified

The Israelis and Palestinians are at it again, the focus of the latest news cycle providing pundits and talking heads sensational nuggets to blab about.

There is no end in sight to the Russia and Ukraine conflict.

China continues threatening to annex Taiwan into the ChiCom fold forcibly.

Not to mention several other less notable conflicts around the globe. 

Separately or combined, any of these conflicts could ignite a global conflagration. Even armageddon. 

Currently, a world in conflict provides too much opportunity for power brokers and the multi-national military-industrial complex to allow either a standing peace or a decisive end to get in the way of profits.

Still, who knows how long the current state of international affairs can continue before someone screws up and things spin out of control?

The great battle prophesied will happen one day. I'm not losing any sleep over the prospect of something beyond my control, though. The best any of us can do is to remain vigilant and prepared. 

Since we have minuscule influence over world events, how about we do this for the sake of conversation?

Let's step back to basics, simplify, and examine the moral question of, "When is war justified?"

None of this is New.

Since the first cosmic dust-up between Lucifer and the divine, wars have continued on this side of the veil and have been part and parcel of the human experience.

War is a devastating affair; there's no way around it. 

War is often organized, systematic murder with many other evils tagging along, like robbery and sexual immorality.

The Bible clearly teaches war is born of lust and is diametrically opposed to divine will (James 4:1-4). 

If we were all righteous beings, there would be no reason for war. Peace would reign in the millennial era and beyond into eternity. 

Sounds blissful, right?

But we know that hope is not reality. At least not yet.

So, how do we as a people not offend God when it is necessary to defend ourselves?

The Simple Answer to the Question of When War is Justified

Let's cut to the chase for you readers who like to skim. 

D&C 98:33-46 provides the quick answer.

In these passages, the Lord gives instructions to His people on war. If any nation declares war on them, they should first offer peace and attempt to avoid conflict. If the offering is rejected up to three times, they are justified in defending themselves. 

The Lord will lead and fight their battles." And not only lead their battles, their children's battles, and their children's children's, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation."

These verses establish additional key principles about engaging in warfare:

• War should only be in self-defense after peace efforts fail.

• The Lord directs and justifies defensive action.

• Fighting may be necessary to protect families from enemy attacks.

• When authorized, the Lord himself will lead and fight the battles to avenge the offended to the fourth generation.

There is your answer!

But the answer also begs the question, have our leaders been justified in going to war in the previous conflicts of our history?

And to take this a step further, what if any of those wars waged were unjustified? Does that not mean we are the offenders and subject to the vengeance of the Lord? 

It's not my place to answer that question for anyone but myself. So, I will leave you to come up with your own resolution.

Keep reading if you want more content to feed your mental meandering on this topic!

The Old Testament Standard of When War is Justified

In the Old Testament, a different standard was the rule for the most part. After their years in Egypt, the Lord led his people in reclaiming their promised lands. And any people who resisted did not fair so well (Joshua 8:1-29).

In Deuteronomy 20:10-12 the Israelites were instructed first to proclaim peace before attacking a city. 

But from that point forward, there is little evidence the Israelites provided an olive branch or a warning to those they were attacking. They followed Jehovah's command and annihilated the occupants of the land and cities targeted.

I find that interesting.

Maybe any subsequent proclamations of peace were not recorded because the precedent was already established in Deuteronomy.

Or the inhabitants were considered unauthorized squatters of the promised land and not deserving of an olive branch.

Or the proclamations of peace were omitted from Old Testament text due to translation errors.

Below are references from the Book of Mormon that correlate with events in the "Old Testament" timeline. This leads me to wonder, "Would the standards of peace for those occupying the New Promised Land be different than for those Israelites in the Holy Land?   Again, I suspect the Old Testament record is missing some details.

Regardless, it is clear that having the Lord on your side is best!

The Book of Mormon Standard of When War is Justified

Throughout the Book of Mormon, the Nephites faced threats from enemy Lamanite armies. They were reluctant fighters who mourned the loss of life on both sides (Alma 48:23-24). However, they were inspired to battle for a righteous cause - to defend their families, liberties, religion, and peace (Alma 43:45). They fought because the Lord commanded them to protect their families, even at the cost of bloodshed if necessary (Alma 43:47). 

New Testament Standard of When War is Justified

I also found the Savior's counsel to His apostles interesting. 

Jesus acknowledged the reality of conflict and violence in mortality. He told them to prepare to defend themselves in perilous times, illustrated by His directive to buy a sword (Luke 22:35-38). While Christ condemned aggression and abuse of the sword, He recognized the need for protection and self-defense in a fallen world.

Modern Standard of When War is Justified According to LDS Teachings

In addition to the justification for war provided in D&C 98, the modern prophets and apostles have also chimed in. Here are a couple of references for you to consider.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie summarized what criteria make a just war:

• It must be defensive - to protect life, liberty, property, and the Church.

• The enemy must first make the aggression.

• There must be no hatred or revenge motivating the conflict.

• Warriors must conduct themselves righteously both during and after conflict.

(McConkie, Bruce R. Mormon Doctrine. Bookcraft, 1966. Pages 826-827.)

In the April 2003 General Conference, President Hinckley said, 

"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." 

He also reminded us,

"But as citizens we are all under the direction of our respective national leaders. They have access to greater political and military intelligence than do the people generally. Those in the armed services are under obligation to their respective governments to execute the will of the sovereign."

David O. McKay said this in his 1966 book, True to the Faith:

"Notwithstanding all this, I still say 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 and 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 I 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 - defense of a weak nation that is being unjustly crushed by a strong, ruthless one.

An attempt to dominate another to deprive him of his free agency, justifies armed conflict. Man's free agency is fundamental to progress. To deprive an intelligent human being of his free agency is to commit the crime of the ages."

(McKay, David O. True to the Faith. Bookcraft, 1966. Pages 278-279.)

It is clear from ancient and modern 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.

Parting Thoughts

It's possible to become so wrapped up in our own self-importance and definition of global justice. 

We lose sight of the Lord's plan and the covenants we have made with Him.

So, we seek peace whenever possible.

We also must do our best to keep our government in check.

It is essential to educate ourselves about current events and then reach our own conclusions about the justification for any armed conflict. The motivation to invade another country, occupy another country, or fund a proxy war in another country must be carefully considered before taking action.

Each of us, as the electorate, owns the duty and responsibility to hold the elected accountable.

We best not be labeled as an unprovoked aggressor and incur the unappealing risk of wrath "to the fourth generation!"

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Thanks for reading and pondering with me! 

Russell Anderson