Enjoy this FREE DOWNLOAD from the book, Saints at War World War I. You'll find our entire Saints at War collection on SALE, here. The free download is Chapter 3, The Church and World War I.
An excerpt from the chapter:
By the early spring of 1917, with the increased hostility of Germany toward American assets, including the deliberate sinking of ships, war seemed the only path forward.
America’s youth were destined to go forward in the fight. As the call up for soldiers was issued, Latter-day Saints were anxious to respond to the call of their nation resolutely. In June of 1917 during a conference organized for youth of the Church, President Charles W. Penrose of the First Presidency read a declaration authored by then Governor of Utah Simon Bamberger that called on the Latter-day Saints to enter military service. The gathering later became known as the “war conference,” as young men immediately responded to the directive. In Utah, the quota for enlistment was set at less than 900. In the end, over four thousand signed up to serve.
