Latest Church statement on immigration

[LA Ute]

This won't make certain members of the State Legislature happy:

http://www.deseretnews.com/mobile/ar...statement.html

I am proud of the church on this one.

[KillerDog]

I think they are on the correct side of this issue and are putting pressure in the Utah State Legislature and in Arizona where the LDS people are acting like lunatics regarding this issue.

[Clark Addison]

I like it. It's fine with me if people disagree with it, as I disagreed with the Prop 8 stance, but it is amusing that some of the same crowd that were calling on Prop 8 supporters' recommends to be revoked are now either criticizing the Church or else bending over backwards to say this is just a PR move.

[Babs]

Pardon my ignorance, but why is the church making statements on immigration?

[Clark Addison]

Pardon my ignorance, but why is the church making statements on immigration?

There are those with more inside knowledge than me, but my guess would be for two reasons:

1. To try to prevent Utah from passing an Arizona type law
2. To try to soften the stance of many of the members a bit, as this is obviously a very emotional issue

Latinos, both in and out of the USA, are a huge part of the LDS church, and I think the church leaders would prefer to not have this issue divide its members.

[BigFatMeanie]

Pardon my ignorance, but why is the church making statements on immigration?

Among other reasons:

Because some hard-core nuts in Utah/Arizona are saying that being here illegally isn't being "honest in your dealings with your fellowmen" and therefore illegals who are otherwise members of the church in good standing shouldn't get temple recommends.

[LA Ute]

Among other reasons:

Because some hard-core nuts in Utah/Arizona are saying that being here illegally isn't being "honest in your dealings with your fellowmen" and therefore illegals who are otherwise members of the church in good standing shouldn't get temple recommends.

Those are probably many of the same people who have radar detectors in their cars so they can break the speed limit without being caught.

[Commando]

Pardon my ignorance, but why is the church making statements on immigration?

Well, I suspect that many people have equated the Church with Arizona's messed up Gestapo state immigration policies since the legislator who authored and spearheaded that whole thing is LDS.

Now that I'm in Arizona looking this thing in the snout, I have personally heard disparaging comments toward the Church or Mormons in general and their supposed unseemly influence on law enforcement matters in certain areas of Phoenix/Arizona within the context of an immigration conversation. I'm doing my best to undo some of the PR damage the Church has sustained as a whole due to the efforts of a few fanatics.

[frank ryan]

Well, I suspect that many people have equated the Church with Arizona's messed up Gestapo state immigration policies since the legislator who authored and spearheaded that whole thing is LDS.

Now that I'm in Arizona looking this thing in the snout, I have personally heard disparaging comments toward the Church or Mormons in general and their supposed unseemly influence on law enforcement matters in certain areas of Phoenix/Arizona within the context of an immigration conversation. I'm doing my best to undo some of the PR damage the Church has sustained as a whole due to the efforts of a few fanatics.

Russell Pearce is a prick. And he can go straight to hell.

[myboynoah]

There are those with more inside knowledge than me, but my guess would be for two reasons:

1. To try to prevent Utah from passing an Arizona type law
2. To try to soften the stance of many of the members a bit, as this is obviously a very emotional issue

Latinos, both in and out of the USA, are a huge part of the LDS church, and I think the church leaders would prefer to not have this issue divide its members.

This is very interesting to watch. Perhaps there is another, but I'm thinking this is the first social issue upon which The Church is taking a stand that is seemingly being influenced by the international nature of church membership and not just by Wasatch Front thinking.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Russell Pearce is a prick. And he can go straight to hell.

Come on, Frank. Tell us how you really feel.

[Moliere]

It's nice to see them throw the smack down on the Arizona law (and by association Frank's buddy that pushed that bill)

he Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is concerned that any state legislation that only contains enforcement provisions is likely to fall short of the high moral standard of treating each other as children of God.

[frank ryan]

Come on, Frank. Tell us how you really feel.

Yeah, and I'm the same jackass who complained about lack of civility in politics. I'll rephrase my words. I think Pearce is a mean cantankerous old guy who had a lot of help from white nationalist groups in crafting that legislation. I think he damaged the church's rep too boot.

[DU Ute]

I love that the Church didn't just issue a statement and fade away into the background on this matter. They keep pushing on it, but I think some people will never get the hint.

[Eddie]

I love that the Church didn't just issue a statement and fade away into the background on this matter. They keep pushing on it, but I think some people will never get the hint.

Is this the second or third "official statement"?

I think you're right. People keep pushing for the church to clarify, so they have to come out with something new.


I believe that this is primarily driven by concern about families being broken up when some members are deported and others are left behind. So I take at face value the appeal that we treat everyone as a child of God.

But I will admit that I wonder if there is also some connection to concern for how the LDS church is seen in Latin America - where they would like to continue to get visa's for missionaries coming into the country.