SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 26, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has entered the Dreamer debate.
In a statement issued Friday morning, LDS Church leaders called for a compassionate solution and a policy that not only keeps families together, but also offers “hope and opportunities for those, sometimes referred to as the Dreamers.”
The following statement was released online at ldsnewsroom.org
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is established in 188 nations around the globe. Issues of immigration and legal status are of concern for many of our members. Most of our early Church members emigrated from foreign lands to live, work and worship, blessed by the freedoms and opportunities offered in this great nation.
Immigration is a complex and sometimes divisive issue. As we have stated before, we believe that our first priority is to love and care for one another as Jesus Christ taught. Each nation must determine and administer its policies related to immigration. The Church does not advocate any specific legislative or executive solution. Our hope is that, in whatever solution emerges, there is provision for strengthening families and keeping them together. We also acknowledge that every nation has the right to enforce its laws and secure its borders and that all persons subject to a nation’s laws are accountable for their acts in relation to them.
We welcome the sincere efforts of lawmakers and leaders to seek for solutions that honor these principles and extend compassion to those seeking a better life. Specifically, we call upon our national leaders to create policies that provide hope and opportunities for those, sometimes referred to as “Dreamers,” who grew up here from a young age and for whom this country is their home. They have built lives, pursued educational opportunities and been employed for years based on the policies that were in place. These individuals have demonstrated a capacity to serve and contribute positively in our society, and we believe they should be granted the opportunity to continue to do so.
What about Adam and Eve??? I have been taught in our LDS Church that we are to uphold the laws of our land as well as the laws of God. The families involved in this DACA mess broke the laws of our land, and prospered off of tax payer dollars, etc., etc.. You say that basically, “in the name of family” you want these people to get amnesty. Well, what about the when Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden and were given laws? Eve was deceived (as an innocent child) and she partook of the forbidden fruit – she broke a law. If Adam would have upheld the law and not partaken of the forbidden fruit, would God have cast Eve out of the Garden – alone – and let Adam remain in the garden? But, ADAM, the innocent one, CHOSE to remain with EVE, and thus he partook of the forbidden fruit, knowing he would be cast out, but remain with EVE. So, wherein the parents of these DACA children were the ones who broke the laws of our land (and I will never believe that all these children did not know, after growing to adulthood, that they were in breech of the laws of our land and the laws of the homeland of their parents), wouldn’t it be the course of consequences, that these parents get CAST OUT of America, for breaking the laws that govern us here, and their children can CHOOSE to remain with their parents or stay here in America without them??? Having been excommunicated and suffering the consequences of my actions, I can tell you that there was little if no mercy towards me. No one was concerned about me being broken off – so to speak – from my family! I was NOT shown compassion for the many good works I had done in the Church and in my home – working hard and CONTRIBUTING as you say, concerning these DACA people. Yet, I had to be cast out and then I was made to be a mocker! I was forced to come to church, before I could get re-baptized, and not once did anyone ask me what I had done to repent of my sins. They just told me that they hadn’t seen me come to church and that was their reason for not wanting to let me back in. So, excommunicate me, but punish me because I would not come to church after I was cast out of the kingdom??? Yeah, I am struggling with this announcement you have made. Yet, I trust in the Lord. I have to. His wisdom is greater than mine. I just wonder why – all of a sudden – that He has decided that in the “name of family” it is okay to overlook sin. And, what is the meaning of the scriptures that tell of the cleansing of the earth, wherein two will be in the field and one will be consumed and the other will not? Does this mean that God will not break up families in this cleansing? We have a God inspired US Constitution. We MUST uphold this law. It seems to me that you just gave Authoritative Word in favor of breaking a part of our U.S. Constitution.