Mormon Church Urges Civility on Immigration

(Brian Auer image: The border fence.)

“Elected individuals have the primary responsibility to find solutions in the best interests of all whose lives will be impacted by their actions.  We repeat our appeal for careful reflection and civil discourse when addressing immigration issues. Finding a successful resolution will require the best thinking and goodwill of all across the political spectrum, the highest levels of statesmanship, and the strongest desire to do what is best for all of God’s children.”

The quote from LDS Church spokesman Michael Purdy to Deseret News highlights the Church’s concern in an increasingly polarized debate here in Utah.  Some legislators have proposed implementing the Arizona law, while others advocate a more balanced approach.

Last week, several state employees released what Politico called “a ‘blacklist’ of 1,300 people allegedly in the country illegally,” with the attached message: “Deport them now.” Politico says many on the list were pregnant women.  Even some Republicans were outraged by the incident, and the state’s Attorney General, a Republican, vowed that people on the list would not be targeted.

“Some people call it a blacklist. I see it more as a hit list more reminiscent of what happened in Nazi Germany… The state of Utah itself is not going to be using this list in order to start knocking on doors and rounding people up.”

The immigration issue promises to be especially divisive in Utah, where in this case conservative values clash with religious values.  The LDS Church has no official position on immigration, but one representative said,

The Church does not have an official position on immigration policy, but encourages compassion in dealing with the complexities of immigration issues. The blessings of the Church are available to anyone who qualifies for membership and accepts the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But individual Mormons have taken much harsher positions, including AZ state sentaor Russell Pearce, who sponsored the Arizona bill, and Utah state representative Stephen Sandstrom, who hopes to duplicate the law in Utah.

The Salt Lake Tribune highlights the division in two short paragraphs:

[Sandstrom and Pearce argue] that the church’s 12th Article of Faith points toward rigorous enforcement of immigration laws. That article says Mormons believe in “obeying, honoring and sustaining the law”…

[Mormon Latino activist] Yapias, who is LDS and has a son on a Mormon mission, argues an immigration crackdown is at odds with the church’s call for compassion and its practice of ignoring citizenship status when it comes to baptisms, church leadership positions, missions and access to temples.

With two sides both claiming the Church’s teaching, how the immigration debate will end in Utah is anybody’s guess.