I recently received an email asking “if the LDS Church has an official (or unofficial) Social Doctrine, similarly to other churches”. In this and many areas, the Church has little in the way of an official position, and this wisely allows for a rich and diverse discussion among Mormons about how the Gospel should shape our participation in society and politics. I am excited to see such a discussion of Mormon perspectives on war and peace is being planned for this spring, sponsored by Claremont Graduate University and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at Notre Dame. Paper proposals (in the form of an abstract and CV) are due next Wednesday, September 1st. The full Call for Papers, with submission details, is posted at Juvenile Instructor.
LDS Newsroom
- Upgrades to the Newsroom Site February 10, 2012
- Elder Maynes Called to Serve in the Presidency of the Seventy February 10, 2012
- 10th Anniversary of 2002 Winter Olympics Remembered February 8, 2012
- Church Representative to Address Affinity Fraud February 7, 2012
- Church Issues Statement on Appeals Court Prop 8 Ruling February 7, 2012
- Religious Freedom Series, Part 3: Why We Need Religious Freedom February 3, 2012
- Traditional Christianity and the Latter-day Saints February 3, 2012
- Mormon Missionary Experience Recounted by Journalist February 1, 2012
- Ancestry Easier to Discover Thanks to Worldwide Genealogy Volunteers January 31, 2012
- Church Representative Speaks at Poynter Institute January 27, 2012
“War and Peace in Our Time: Mormon Perspectives” Proposal Deadline Sept. 1
3 Responses to “War and Peace in Our Time: Mormon Perspectives” Proposal Deadline Sept. 1
Conferences and Events
- Exploring Mormon Conceptions of Apostasy
- Daniel C. Peterson: "Contemporary Connections between Middle Eastern Countries and the Church"
- Tammi J. Schneider: "Women in the Bible: The Past, Present and Future of Biblical Scholarship"
- LDS Tech Conference
- Newell Bringhurst and Craig Foster: "The Mormon Quest for the Presidency"
- Sunstone West
- Sunstone Kirtland
- Mormon Media Studies Symposium
- Untold Nauvoo Stories Symposium
- The Mormon Quest for the Presidency Before Romney and Huntsman
Calls for Papers
- Mormon Media Studies Symposium
- Sunstone Kirtland
- Sunstone West
- Sunstone Symposium: MORMONS AND MORMONISM AS A POLITICAL FORCE
- BYU Religious Education Student Symposium
- RESTORATION STUDIES SYMPOSIUM
- Claremont Mormon Studies Student Association
- Mormon History Association
- Church History Symposium
- Conference on the History of Mormonism in Latin America and the US-Mexico Borderlands
Yea, Ben, I think the church is pretty supportive of ward parties, but I’d call it policy rather than doctrine. ;D
The purpose of the Church is to provide for the opportunity for a [peace] or pure offering to the Lord; while we live in this world filled with ungodly abominations. The Words of Jesus in the NT are filled with the implication that social doctrines exists. His appearance before Pontius Pilate indicates that He did not want to take sides, because He spoke of the Will of God, Father in heaven to the Jerusalem Temple Priesthood.
Joseph Smith’s revelations are filled with embryonic social doctrine, especially the Articles of Faith. I believe Joseph would have lived much longer had he not expressed his interpretation of it for his political platform in his run for the US presidency. Nothing stirs the neighbors more than the knowledge that you are increasing in numbers and possibly might have a better social doctrine.
The Claremont Graduate program for Mormon studies is a good place to start. I have attended many of their presentations and this one on war and peace I certainly do not want to miss. President Hinckley during the April Conference in the year of the start of the Iraq War addressed that conference with the title “War and Peace”. It was a look at the nature of politcal power in times of war.
With Jesus, Christ at the head of our Church; Mormons are more likely to be entrepreneurs than proponents for social doctrines. When we belief that we are at the receiving end of God, our Father’s gifts; it is easier to exploit rather finding other social doctrines.
“I have attended many of their presentations and this one on war and peace I certainly do not want to miss.”
This may help me decide my conference schedule.