Latter-day Satyagraha

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled, a Message of Peace for Latter-day Saints in the Military Service - Part 3, Like unto Moroni, by Elder Lance B. Wickman of the First Quorum of the Seventy (called 01 April 2000)

This is an official LDS church video distributed to members of the LDS church serving in the military, using mormon theology to describe the nature of war and explain why Latter-day Saints participate in wars. 

“Have you ever thought about the fact that the statue of the angel that graces the spires of our temples, and whom we honor as the angel of the restoration, is the statue of a soldier? This is no quirk or coincidence. I believe that there is considerable significance in that easily overlooked fact. For one thing, it tells us that service on the battlefield in times of war does not by itself remove one from the ranks of the righteous. Mormon and Moroni saw and participated in a carnage so widespread and terrible that the experience that you and I have had pales in comparison. It is likely that many men died at their very hands in the battlefield. They were soldiers because they had to be, because their people needed them, because it was the right thing to do. Mormon’s and Moroni’s service on the battlefield not only did not disqualify them from prophetic service: it enhanced their service.”

What can I say? Well, what is the symbolism in the statue of the angel Moroni on top of the Oquirrh Mountain Temple being blackened after having been struck by lightening this week? (see story coverage here)

“The work of death. What a descriptive phrase. Only a soldier can fully appreciate the depth and the breadth of meaning in that phrase. Consider for instance this statement found in Alma 43:37 “and the work of death commenced on both sides. But it was more dreadful on the part of the lamanites because their bodies were unprotected”. Only one who knew what he was talking about could write such words. The work of death. Dreadful. Those words were written by someone who has been there. The combat soldier knows exquisitely the awful loathsome nature of the battlefield experience. The fear, the horrors, the bloodshed, the share exhaustion. There is nothing glorious about it. It really is a work, the work of death. A soldier does that work, because he has to, because it is his duty, not because he wants to, or because he derives any satisfaction from the experience.”

I would probably have to comment on this, especially on the last sentence – as this does not reflect a latter day satyagraha stance on war – but I choose not to at this point and would rather hear your comments.

- mormongandhi