‘Our hearts ache’: Latter-day Saint leaders issue statement calling violence in Middle East ‘abhorrent’
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Thursday about Middle East violence.
“We are devastated by the recent eruption of violence and loss of life in the Middle East. Violence of this nature is abhorrent to us and is not in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is a gospel of peace. At such times, our hearts ache for all victims of this atrocity.
As servants of God, we affirm that He calls upon all of us to love our neighbors as ourselves, and we pray for a peaceful resolution of all conflicts.”
President Russell M. Nelson called for more peacemakers during one of his talks at the church’s April 2023 international general conference. He said, “Contention never leads to inspired solutions.”
He added, “Let us show that there is a peaceful, respectful way to resolve complex issues and an enlightened way to work out disagreements.”
Related
As Israel takes ‘mighty revenge’ on Hamas, classes continue at calm, secure BYU Jerusalem Center
BYU Jerusalem Center students safe as war is declared in Israel
A year earlier, also in general conference, he said, “Prophets have foreseen our day when there would be wars and rumors of wars, and when the whole earth would be in commotion. As followers of Jesus Christ, we plead with leaders of nations to find peaceful resolutions to their differences. We call upon people everywhere to pray for those in need, to do what they can to help the distressed, and to seek the Lord’s help in ending any major conflicts.”
The First Presidency is the highest-ranking leadership body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is led by President Nelson and his counselors, Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring.
President Nelson has been to Jerusalem multiple times. He last visited the country in 2018, soon after he became the church’s 17th president and prophet.
Related
On Friday, the BYU Jerusalem Center, which is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced that it was relocating students and staff to Greece.
Fighters backed by Hamas, the organization that governs the Gaza Strip of Palestinian territories on a sliver of land between the western border of Israel and the Mediterranean Sea, attacked Israel on Saturday, killing more than 1,200 people in Israel.
Israel has declared war and responded with daily missile strikes in Gaza. The Gazan Health Ministry said that 1,417 Palestinians have been killed and 6,268 others had been injured since Saturday, The New York Times reported.
