--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Halls, William collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 12 number: 8 published: 1909-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'William Halls, "Peace," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 8 (June 1909): 653–657.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1208unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1208unse start_page: 653 end_page: 657 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1208unse publication_year: 1909 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Peace — — PEACE. BY WILLIAM HALLS. [The Hague Peace Conference was called by the present Czar, Nicholas II, August 1898, and held first at the Hague, Holland, in May, June and July, 1899. It was composed of representatives from all the chief powers of the world. The call or rescript issued by the Czar laid special emphasis on "the terrible and in- creasing burden of European armaments," and recommended for careful consid- eration the questions of "the maintenance of general peace and a possible reduc- tion of armaments." This universal conference has given rise to several national organizations. In this country we have the American Peace Society with at kast ten branches — open to all who desire peace on earth and good will toward men, the Utah Peace Society being one with Ex- Governor John C. Cutler, president, and J. M. Sjodahl, secretary. The society was organized two years ago, and meets annually. For some years annual peace meetings have been held in many of the wards of the Church, under the auspices of the Relief Society, in May. Editors.] Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called the children of God. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace. As all reforms must be conceived in the mind, it is quite gratifying to see such a world-wide awakening in the interest of peace. Peace can never prevail till men are prepared to receive it. No people are more interested in universal peace than the Saints; and no people more in sympathy with every intelligent move leading to that desirable condition. It is their mission to "lift up a standard of peace." They are ambassadors of th« "Prince of Peace." Peace in its broad sense means much more than the cessation of war. It means political, social, and industrial equality; also religious liberty. On entering any vital reform, a few things may well be con- sidered. 654 IMPR0VEMEN1 ERA. The scope of the movement, the good to be achieved, the evils to be overcome, the difficulties likely to be met, and the means at command to meet them. As long as cause and effect are related, efficient means must be used to accomplish our purposes. What means shall we use to make peace? Is the theory, "to secure peace prepare for war," sound? It has not proved so in the past; why should it in the future? Will not the building of fleets and training of armies encourage the spirit of war? When the ruler of one nation visits another he is welcomed by booming of cannon; he is entertained in witnessing naval displays and military parades; and great pride is taken to impress him with their pro- ficiency in the art of war. In national fairs, holidays and festivals, the war spirit is em- phasized; and in our institutions of learning, a misconception of true patriotism inculcates the spirit of war. We train pugilists to fight; horses to run; we manufacture in- toxicants that men may drink; and make cigars and cigarettes for men to smoke. But we build battle ships and train marines and soldiers to in- sure peace! "Oh consistency, thou art a jewel!" "Oh inconsis- tency, thou art man." "Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad." Under present conditions for any one nation to disarm would be unwise; that it is necessary to be able to defend ourselves against invasion is true; but that to prepare for war and encourage the military spirit on every hand will inspire sentiments of peace, is contrary to nature, to the law of environment. It is a psycho- logical absurdity. As well contend that to improve the quality and increase the quantity of meat, and put it on the market in the most attractive and appetizing manner will promote vegetarianism. If this theory were correct, it is impracticable, as there is no limit, no standard of efficiency; an army and navy of one nation are strong or weak as compared with those of other nations; and the army that is strong today may be by comparison weak to- morrow, calling for an additional levy. So that if we use 70 per cent of our revenue for defense today, we may have to use 80 per cent tomorrow to maintain a balance of power; there is no end in sight. PEACE. 655 Assuming that the primary object of government is not only to defend its territory against invasion, but also to protect its citizens in their natural rights, including liberty of conscience; a glance at the condition of mankind as far as we have authentic history without going into detail, will suffice to show that the governments of the world have not filled the purpose of their cre- ation. They have not given their people freedom and peace, especially is this true as regards liberty of conscience; intolerance has been the rule; not confined to Paganism and the dark ages of the Christian era, it has come down through modern history to our times, as witness the massacre of Jews in Russia; the Christians in Armenia; and the Latter-day Saints in America. However sincere the advocates of peace may be, it is evident that very few have a clear conception of the magnitude of the labor before them, and the radical changes that must take place before their hopes can be realized. The way the political world is at present constituted is in- compatible with peace. If there were but two men in the world, and only one woman each would want to kill the other for her sake. And as long as there are two independent nations in the world and but one world to govern, each will want to subdue the other and rule the whole world, and as nations multiply strife will increase. Before we can have universal peace we must have a universal government to which all nations, tribes and tongues will bear allegiance. As the governments of the world after several thousand years trial have failed to establish peace, the Lord is going to take away some of their power and take the reins of government into his own hands. Daniel tells of a time when the "God of heaven shalfset up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed." If the Lord could ac- complish his purposes through existing kingdoms, there would be no need setting up another kingdom; but new wine cannot be held in old bottles. If the Lord could save his children spiritually, by these man-made churches of modern Christendom, there would be no necessity for a new dispensation, and to organize another church; but new cloth cannot be put on these old garments. As to who will be king of this new kingdom and the extent of his dominion, Daniel says: "I saw in the night visions, and be- hold one like the Son of man came in the clouds of heaven; and came to the ancient of days; and they brought him near before him; and there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom that all people, nations and languages should serve him; his domin- ion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away; and his kingdom that shall not be destroyed." As to the power this king- dom will exercise, see Micah, fourth chapter: "And he shall judge among many people and rebuke strong nations afar off, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into prun- ing hooks, nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid." We see by this that instead of the Lord adopting the modern fallacy of preparing for war to secure peace, he will secure peace by taking away the means of war, every man will be protected in his political rights and also made secure in the rights of property. He may build and inhabit his own house, and plant and eat the fruits of his own vineyard, he will also enjoy religious liberty as Micah goes on to say, "for all people will walk every one in the name of his God; and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever." But before the Lord comes and peace prevails, there will be trouble such as the world has not known. These great fleets and big guns and terrible explosives will come into use; this universal fostering of the martial spirit will bear fruit. We can't sow war and reap peace. "War will be poured out on all nations" (Doc. and Cov., sec. 87). "And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee to Zion for safety, and there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven, and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another" (Doc. and Cov., sec. 45). After this great destruction among the wicked ' 'shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings." And the right- eous will go forth and grow up as calves of the stall and the wicked will be ashes under the soles of their feet" (Malachi 4). PEACE. 657 This movement in the interest of peace is inspired of the Lord and should be encouraged by all. Let the Saints cultivate peace in there hearts, in their homes, in their communities. Let them labor and pray for peacn. Let the elders go unto all nations and preach the gospel of peace, that the people may be ready to re- ' ceive the Prince of Peace when he shall come to 'reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously" (Isaiah 24). Then shall the earth lest a thousand years, and the hopes of the peace-makers be realized. Mancos, Colo. A Bit of the Wasatch Range, at Uintah, Utah.