Are Mormans Pacifists

Answer 1

Pacifism is the opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes or gaining advantage. Many (but not all) pacifist point to The Bible or other Holy Books as the source of wisdom which leads them to this position. Mormons have never been pacifists. Throughout their brief history, they have never shunned war. They have taken up arms in defense of their lives and their liberty. They serve in the militaries of many different countries. There are even stories of Mormon facing each other on the battle fields as members of opposing armies.

Answer 2

No. Whilst trying to remain neutral in political affairs, they do not consider themselves to be pacifists.

Awake! magazine, printed by Jehovah's Witnesses, 1997 8th May pp. 22-23 under the heading of ''Should Christians Be Pacifists?'' says,

'The Bible's Viewpoint

Should Christians Be Pacifists?

Is it Scripturally correct, however, to describe Jehovah's Witnesses as pacifists? To clarify the matter, it may depend on what is meant by the word "pacifist."

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary says that a pacifist is someone who is "strongly and actively opposed to conflict and esp[ecially] war." It defines "pacifism" as "opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes; specif[ically]: refusal to bear arms on moral or religious grounds."

Were 'the ancient Christian doctrine and the whole spirit of the Gospel' really pacifist, however? Could early Christians truly be described as pacifists, as defined previously? No! Why not? For one thing, they recognized God's right to wage war.

God has not only a right but also an obligation on the basis of justice to remove wicked people from the earth. Many evildoers will never respond to God's patient appeals to them to mend their ways. (Isaiah 45:22; Matthew 7:13, 14) God's toleration of evil has limits. (Isaiah 61:2; Acts 17:30) Christians, therefore, recognize that in the end God will forcibly remove evil people from the earth.) Jesus Christ is rightly called the "Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6) But he is not a pacifist. He has already fought a war in heaven to clear it of all God's rebellious enemies.

True Christians [Jehovah's Witnesses] love peace. They stay completely neutral in the world's military, political, and ethnic conflicts. But, strictly speaking, they are not pacifists. Why? Because they welcome God's war that will finally enforce his will on earth-a war that will settle the great issue of universal sovereignty and rid the earth of all enemies of peace once and for all.''

Answer 3

Not exactly. While members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the 'Mormon' church) encourage peace and try to avoid contention, they also understand that at times war is necessary. War and battles occurred often in the Bible, sometimes even at God's command. Mormons encourage peace, but understand that violence is sometimes necessary to defend the good and innocent against the forces of evil. Mormons have no qualms about serving in the military and the Church has many resources to support those who choose to do so.