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Source: Church History Vol. 3 Chapter 34 Page: 676 (~1872)

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676 not say that there was any real necessity for the shedding of blood prior to the year 1840; but from the tenor of commandments given during and subsequently to the exodus from Missouri, we are persuaded that none would have arisen after that year.

"The raising of a standard of peace was one of the duties devolving upon the saints. Military organizations among them should have been the result of state law direct, not the result of domestic primary action. The military organizations of the state were sufficient for the practical purposes of defense against invasion from without; but would have been powerless against dissension from within.

"There were three evils connected with the existence of military organizations among the saints. One of these evils was the appearance of hostility which it gave to the saints, as a religious body, crying peace unto all people. Another was, that there was an unnecessary expenditure of time and money in keeping up drill, parade, dress, equipage, and arms. But the worst evil of the three, as it appears to us, looking at it from our chosen standpoint, was the dependence upon the arm of flesh in warlike demonstration, rather than in God and the practice of holiness; and we may add another, closely connected with the last, military titles and appellations usurped the place of the plainer callings, and the higher dignities of 'elders in Israel,' 'ministers of the gospel.' Some of the publications of the church show an unmistakable tendency to foster the love of distinctive titles, and 'Captain,' 'Colonel,' and 'General,' are prefixes; where to our democratic taste, 'Mr.' and Elder,' would have looked far better, and would have served more palpably to enhance the value of church distinctive titles.

"We blame no one for this,-we cannot say where it first begun, nor that any absolute wickedness was wrought; but we regard it as an error.

"We have noted heretofore, the introduction of secret orders as a measure which obtained in the church. We have introduced it not for the purpose of finding fault with those brethren who belong to them now, nor for the purpose of railing against them all, or any

(page 676)

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