![\"Kibumba](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2017\/03\/Refugee_camp.jpg\")
<\/a>(Wikimedia Commons public domain photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
World news? \u00a0Insignificant. \u00a0And who cares about the outcome of tonight\u2019s BYU football game? \u00a0It seems of no importance at all compared to this exciting dispatch from TMZ Sports<\/em>: \u00a0\u201cMormon Missionary Pounds Pupusas in El Salvador . . . Dominates Eating Contest!!!\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n In the wake of the recent American presidential election, there has been a considerable amount of discussion about the intersection of religion and politics. \u00a0It 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<\/p>\n Wherewith shall I come before the Lord<\/span>, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?<\/span><\/p>\n Will the Lord<\/span> 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?<\/span><\/p>\n He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord<\/span> require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? \u00a0(Micah 6:6-8)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n 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: \u00a0\u201cIs it morally right to deport millions of people? \u00a0Considering the complications and unintended consequences of rounding up illegal immigrants\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n 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: \u00a0\u201cDear Mormons<\/a>, our history of worrying about \u2018impure blood\u2019 doesn\u2019t end well.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0It inspired online comparisons of Latter-day Saints to Nazis, for example, that still continue in some (fairly predictable) quarters. \u00a0It also provoked a couple of responses from yours truly.<\/p>\n But a new article from\u00a0Stephen Cranney and Jacob Hess is perhaps the most important response, despite the fact that it doesn\u2019t even mention Jana Riess by name. \u00a0(Drs. Cranney and Hess are two of my favorite social scientists, and it\u2019s certainly worth paying attention when they collaborate.)<\/p>\n \u201cTo understand Latter-day Saint views on immigration, look at all the data:\u00a0Surveys over the last decade consistently show Latter-day Saints expressing more positivity and compassion on immigration compared with other groups\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n 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. \u00a0<\/em>(I would love to have provided you with a link to that article, but I can\u2019t seem to access it.) \u00a0The article told of rising tensions surrounding an influx of refugees into Twin Falls, Idaho. \u00a0As I recall, many of those refugees were working at a large plant for Chobani, the yoghurt maker. \u00a0Apparently, some local politicians and activists were trying to stir up protests against the refugees. \u00a0But 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. \u00a0Reading that article made me very proud of my church and of my people.<\/p>\n And this is probably also worth taking into account: \u00a0\u201cUtah outlier in presidential race but still shifts red:\u00a0More than half of Utah counties swung away from President-elect Donald Trump compared to 2020\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Brazen and shameless, the wicked \u201cMormons\u201d 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. \u00a0Evidence of these Latter-day Saint crimes can be found in the Christopher Hitchens Memorial \u201cHow Religion Poisons Everything\u201d File<\/em>\u2122, and I share some of it here. \u00a0We can be quite certain that the Multiverse, which takes pleasure in nothing because it perceives<\/em> nothing, takes no pleasure in such things as this<\/em>:<\/p>\n \u201cYou Can Lift Another at a Light the World Giving Machine:\u00a0In more than 100 locations, Light the World Giving Machines make serving others a joyful and memorable experience\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSee Light the World images projected in London:\u00a0Building next to London Eye becomes canvas for Nativity scenes; Sister Kristin M. Yee joins spectators to launch Light the World in U.K.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cLeaders share how Light the World Giving Machines are a manifestation of the Savior\u2019s second great commandment:\u00a0\u2018The 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,\u2019 says Elder Gary E. Stevenson in news conference\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n And here are a few more outrages that have recently been retrieved from the Hitchens File<\/em>:<\/p>\n \u201cRecognition Awarded to The Church of Jesus Christ for Its Impact on Education in Guatemala\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cMaternity Operating Room and Life-Saving Equipment Donated to University of Ghana Hospital:\u00a0AIDS\/HIV Center Also Receives Donation\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSchools Funded Through a Humanitarian Donation by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a> Open in T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s Hatay Region:\u00a0More than 2,000 children will be able to continue their education in the brand-new facilities\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAll One People,\u201d<\/a> written b<\/span>y Susan Elizabeth Howe<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u00a0work, and impact of this group. Striving to follow the example of the Savior\u2019s service, All One People is one of many independent Latter-\u00adday Saint groups that seeks to better the lives of God\u2019s children<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Posted from Park City, Utah<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 World news? \u00a0Insignificant. \u00a0And who cares about the outcome of tonight\u2019s BYU football game? \u00a0It seems of no importance at all compared to this exciting dispatch from TMZ Sports: \u00a0\u201cMormon Missionary Pounds Pupusas in El Salvador . . . Dominates Eating Contest!!!\u201d In the wake of the recent American presidential election, there has been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":40858,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[12382,2451,1920,2905,788,24349],"class_list":["post-107848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-immigrant","tag-immigration","tag-jana-riess","tag-latter-day-saint","tag-mormon","tag-refugee"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>
(Wikimedia Commons public domain image)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/a>