Reflection at War’s End – Sunday, August 19, 1945
In the observance of war’s end, feelings long pent-up have broken loose, with some relief, with some satisfaction, and with many varieties of expression, both thoughtful and hilarious. And now, we have been called to prayer and to thanksgiving—with sober reflection upon all the causes that took us where we were, that brought us where we are, and that may keep us going where we ought to go. After a war has started it seems to be much too late, for a time at least, to think how it might have been prevented.
The immediate fact of force must be met by force. But now we may well profit by looking both backward and forward—and we may well remember that essentially we are still the same people we were yesterday—even if somewhat sobered; and, being the same people, if we are forgetful, we may lapse into the same ways that twice in one generation have led us where we didn’t want to go. We have been prayerful in war.
We have sought the Lord God for His help, for the protection of our loved ones, for their safe return, for the favor of our cause, for deliverance from death and danger. War often drives men to extremes—in prayer and in other things— and some of our prayers came by fear and dire need—and of such the Lord God has given us pointed reminder: “In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me.”* It is not so difficult to be humble in trouble, but it is exceedingly difficult to be humble in triumph. And this we have need to be. Mercifully, the Lord has answered the prayers of our extremity; He has helped us to achieve the moral and the material strength to do what has been done. As a people we have been granted deliverance as real as any recorded anciently in Holy Writ. Now, the opportunity is ours to fulfil in peace some of the promises we have made to ourselves and to our God while war was breathing upon us the hot breath of necessity.
War destroys many things, but it does not destroy its own basic causes; but it multiplies the problems of peace, which were great beyond measure even before war added to them. And only by the help of God and in conformance with His ways can we hope to solve the problems and avoid the pitfalls of the future. And so with full hearts we respond this day to the proclamation of the President of the United States to remember before God those who have given their lives, and to dedicate ourselves “to follow in His ways,” praying that God “will support and guide us into the paths of peace.” It is so easy to forget—but so costly—and so stupid. Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name: May we in pence have the prayerful humility that will be deserving of the deliverance thou hast again given us.
*Doc. & Cav. 101:8.
“The Spoken Word,” heard over Radio Station K S L and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System, from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, Aug. 19, 1945. Copyright 1945.
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August 19, 1945
Broadcast Number 0,835