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Latter-day Saints and immigration

Latter-day Saints and immigration

Last updated on: November 19, 2024 at 9:52 am by Dan Peterson

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Latter-day Saints and immigration 2024-11-19T09:52:18-07:00 Dan Peterson

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Rwandan refugees in the Kibumba camp in Zaire, which has been there since at least 1994.
(Wikimedia Commons public domain photo)

World news? Insignificant. And who cares about the outcome of tonight’s BYU football game? It seems of no importance at all compared to this exciting dispatch from TMZ Sports: “Mormon Missionary Pounds Pupusas in El Salvador . . . Dominates Eating Contest!!!”

An aerial view of the Za‘atri refugee camp in Jordan, as it appeared in 2013

(Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

In the wake of the recent American presidential election, there has been a considerable amount of discussion about the intersection of religion and politics. It seems to me that the passage immediately below offers a very clear moral starting point for how followers of Judaism and aspiring disciples of Christ should approach political

Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:6-8)

In that light, perhaps, but also on the level of sheer practicality, this article raises some serious issues that need to be considered in the policy decisions that loom ahead: “Is it morally right to deport millions of people? Considering the complications and unintended consequences of rounding up illegal immigrants”

Continuing on the general subject of immigration and deportations, this noxious recent article, published by Jana Riess on 8 November 2024, drew far more attention than it deserved: “Dear Mormons, our history of worrying about ‘impure blood’ doesn’t end well.” It inspired online comparisons of Latter-day Saints to Nazis, for example, that still continue in some (fairly predictable) quarters. It also provoked a couple of responses from yours truly.

But a new article from Stephen Cranney and Jacob Hess is perhaps the most important response, despite the fact that it doesn’t even mention Jana Riess by name. (Drs. Cranney and Hess are two of my favorite social scientists, and it’s certainly worth paying attention when they collaborate.)

“To understand Latter-day Saint views on immigration, look at all the data: Surveys over the last decade consistently show Latter-day Saints expressing more positivity and compassion on immigration compared with other groups”

The Twin Falls Idaho Temple

The essay by Drs. Cranney and Hess reminds me of an article from quite a few years ago that appeared, I believe, in the Wall Street Journal. (I would love to have provided you with a link to that article, but I can’t seem to access it.) The article told of rising tensions surrounding an influx of refugees into Twin Falls, Idaho. As I recall, many of those refugees were working at a large plant for Chobani, the yoghurt maker. Apparently, some local politicians and activists were trying to stir up protests against the refugees. But the article said that the large Latter-day Saint population in Twin Falls was notably resistant to such agitation, both because of the teachings and ethical standards on which Latter-day Saints had been formed and, very specifically, because many members of the Church have served missions in Latin America and various Third World countries and, accordingly, feel more than average sympathy for people fleeing such places and much reduced unease with ethnic minorities. Reading that article made me very proud of my church and of my people.

And this is probably also worth taking into account: “Utah outlier in presidential race but still shifts red: More than half of Utah counties swung away from President-elect Donald Trump compared to 2020”

A side view of the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City, where the offices of the First Presidency and the Twelve are located. (LDS Media Library)

Brazen and shameless, the wicked “Mormons” are seeking to inflict their ridiculous and evil religious beliefs on innocent secularists whose only hope has been to be left alone to celebrate the winter solstice in peace. Evidence of these Latter-day Saint crimes can be found in the Christopher Hitchens Memorial “How Religion Poisons Everything” File™, and I share some of it here. We can be quite certain that the Multiverse, which takes pleasure in nothing because it perceives nothing, takes no pleasure in such things as this:

“You Can Lift Another at a Light the World Giving Machine: In more than 100 locations, Light the World Giving Machines make serving others a joyful and memorable experience”

“See Light the World images projected in London: Building next to London Eye becomes canvas for Nativity scenes; Sister Kristin M. Yee joins spectators to launch Light the World in U.K.”

“Leaders share how Light the World Giving Machines are a manifestation of the Savior’s second great commandment: ‘The rising generation loves the opportunity to give in a nontraditional way, to find those who are really in need of the gift and find what it is that will bless their lives,’ says Elder Gary E. Stevenson in news conference”

And here are a few more outrages that have recently been retrieved from the Hitchens File:

“Recognition Awarded to The Church of Jesus Christ for Its Impact on Education in Guatemala”

“Maternity Operating Room and Life-Saving Equipment Donated to University of Ghana Hospital: AIDS/HIV Center Also Receives Donation”

“Schools Funded Through a Humanitarian Donation by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Open in Türkiye’s Hatay Region: More than 2,000 children will be able to continue their education in the brand-new facilities”

“All One People,” written by Susan Elizabeth Howe

All One People is a humanitarian organization devoted to improving the temporal, spiritual, and educational opportunities of deserving youth in Kenya, East Africa. This article explains some of the history, current work, and impact of this group. Striving to follow the example of the Savior’s service, All One People is one of many independent Latter-day Saint groups that seeks to better the lives of God’s children

Posted from Park City, Utah

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