In this paper, I examine closely two events in service of creating a strong foundation for Mormon pacifism: (1) Joseph Smith’s writing of a letter from Liberty Jail, in which the Lord rebukes him for praying for vengeance on the Missourians; and (2) Smith’s assassination, toward which he went more like a lion than a lamb to the slaughter. I believe that when seen in context, these diverse texts provide important resources for understanding exactly what it means to be a peacemaker.

Dennis Clark, Michael J. Stevens