We, the undersigned citizens, who also identify ourselves as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, want to give voice to a growing number of members of our faith that are strongly opposed to any forms of torture as a government policy to be inflicted on any human being -- including those that we believe are our enemies.

Our understanding of our faith compels us to publicly denounce the practice of torture as being a repudiation of the Gospel as taught by Jesus Christ. We personally reject and refuse to support any political leader that would in any manner support what we consider crimes against the law and, most importantly, crimes against humanity such as "water boarding" and any other forms of torture used against those in custody of the United States prison systems whether domestic or foreign.

We further denounce what we consider was an unjust act of first aggression upon the nation of Iraq that has resulted and continues to result in the needless deaths of innocent victims on every side of the conflict.

We believe based on overwhelming evidence that our "pre-emptive" war of aggression on Iraq was founded on deceit and was initiated, at best, based on misguided vengeance which is wholly inconsistent with the gospel standard as revealed to us with clarity for our times (See Doctrine & Covenants, Section 98).

Facing with humility what we should have just learned from our past national sins, and the desire to denounce any further wars of aggression and/or "pre-emptive" strike. We specifically denounce any act of first aggression with any country, including Iran. It is our belief that to engage in any forms of "pre-emptive" strikes against the citizens of any nation -- no matter how evil or dangerous we may judge them to be -- is grossly inconsistent with the doctrines of our revealed faith. That is our firm belief and failure to "denounce war and proclaim peace" under these circumstances we believe would be a betrayal of our values, faith and conscience.

• This statement was issued by Mormon Peace Project members Ron Madson of Alpine, Will Van Wagenen of Provo, Joshua Madson of Highland, and BYU alumnus Bart Tippetts.