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By Covenant Communications Press Release
Saints at War Preserves a Legacy of Faith, Courage, and Sacrifice
AMERICAN FORK, UTAH -- As part of the groundbreaking Saints at War project,
more than one thousand accounts from Latter-day Saint veterans have been
gathered. Many of these accounts will be available in November with the
release of the book, Saints at War: Experiences of Latter-day Saints in
World War II. In addition, a Saints at War conference will be held at
Brigham Young University on November 10, and a KBYU Saints at War
documentary will air on Veterans Day, November 11.
Dr. Robert C. Freeman and Dr. Dennis A. Wright, professors in the Church
History department at BYU, started the Saints at War project two years ago.
"More than 1,100 American veterans are dying each day," said Dr. Freeman.
"These brave men and women will pass from our view very quickly and we felt
an urgent need to capture their stories for future generations."
Saints at War: Experiences of Latter-day Saints in World War II combines
over 200 remarkable stories from Church leaders and veterans around the
world with hundreds of images that literally capture faith in the midst of
war. Among the veterans' accounts are several general authorities of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including Thomas S. Monson,
James E. Faust, Boyd K. Packer, Neal A. Maxwell, and David B. Haight. "There
is much to be learned from the valiance of these veterans. Their stories
teach us the meaning of courage, sacrifice, and what it means to be an
American," said Wright.
William Slaughter, an archivist with The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, said the bravery and faith of LDS veterans will have
lasting value and will inspire future generations. "Saints at War is one of
the most exciting and important endeavors in the field of Mormon history,"
said Slaughter.
The Saints at War project is in partnership with The Veterans History
Project, a larger effort being undertaken by the Library of Congress.
"These projects give families the means to revive and share the memories and
preserve their stories," said Sarah Rouse, Program Officer of The Veterans
History Project. "It becomes a strengthening time for families and a
priceless gift for everyone."
Herbert Frost contributed to the Saints at War archive just four months
before he passed away. "My father was very proud of having fought in the war
and was so grateful for the opportunity to express his feelings," said
Susanne Olsen, Frostís daughter. "I was touched by his experiences,
particularly his participation in the Church during World War II."
It is the focus of faith during war that makes the Saints at War project
unique. "These men and women didn't set aside their religious convictions
even though they were carrying rifles and machine guns. They still found
time to read their scriptures, take the sacrament, pray, and share the
gospel with others," said Wright. "In the most trying of circumstances their
spiritual life did not end; in fact it became a sustaining force."
The Saints at War archive will be housed in the Harold B. Lee Library at BYU
and will include personal histories, journals, letters, period photographs,
artifacts, and first-hand accounts of war experiences both oral and written.
"We are hopeful that the book Saints at War: Experiences of Latter-day
Saints in World War II, the KBYU documentary, and the conference will alert
people to the existence of the archive so more veterans will be able to
participate," said Freeman. "The book also gives the reader a wonderful
opportunity to have a piece of the archive in their homes and share it with
their families."
Saints at War: Experiences of Latter-day Saints in World War II, by Dr.
Robert C. Freeman and Dr. Dennis A. Wright ($39.95 hardcover) is published
by Covenant Communications. The Saints at War book and video ($19.95 VHS,
$24.95 DVD) are available at bookstores everywhere. To contribute to the
Saints at War archive, visit http://www.saintsatwar.org.
Founded in 1958, Covenant Communications publishes more than 100 book,
audio, and software titles annually, and is the largest independent
publisher in the LDS market.
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Source:
Saints at War Preserves a Legacy of Faith, Courage, and Sacrifice
Covenant Communications Press Release 10Nov01 US UT Prov A2
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