Should Churches Harbor Illegal Immigrants?; #PrinceofPeace; and More!
Is it Our Christian Duty To House Illegal Immigrants?
Jeanette Vizguerra is originally from Mexico but was granted sanctuary by the First Unitarian Society of Denver in order to avoid deportation as an undocumented immigrant. Ingrid Encalada Latorre, of Peru, has been living at the Mountain View Friends Meeting since December.
Thanks to the sensitive locations policy maintained by both Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, arrests at “sensitive locations” (i.e., schools, hospitals, and churches) should be avoided. Faith communities in Denver and Boulder are taking advantage of this policy, banding together to form the Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition.
“For Unitarian Universalists, one of our primary foundational beliefs is the inherent worth and dignity of all people. That’s central to our work on immigration because we’re looking at the human indignity of our current immigration process where you go in and take people from their home or workplaces and the effect that has on children and families,” said Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry of The Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
Other faith groups aren’t quite so willing to house illegals.
Gerald Brock, pastor at Nelson Road Southern Baptist Church in Longmont, Colorado, thinks hiding someone from the law in a place of worship is “inappropriate.”
If someone has broken the law, we shouldn’t be hiding them in a church. They have to face the music and pay their debt, whether they’re illegal or a citizen or not a citizen,” Brock said.
Although the LDS Church doesn’t have a general policy on harboring immigrants, there is a marked importance placed on preserving families, but also on keeping the law of the land. Longmont Stake President David Richards commented on the issue:
“Forced separations between parents and children degrades the family and has its toll on society. Some believe that just by coming into the church, they’re separate from the laws of the land. We don’t believe in that, because we believe people should be accountable for their own actions according to the law. However, we do hope those laws can be reformed … We want to keep those families together and give them ways and means to become legal without too much time and money and effort.”
Read more at Times-Call.
Church Announces #PrinceofPeace Initiative
With Easter right around the corner, the Church is inviting members to take a step back, set the chocolate bunny down, and recenter their holiday focus on Christ.
Thankfully, the LDS Church has made this easier. Starting March 31st, members are invited to take part in the week long “Prince of Peace” initiative. Similar to the “Because of Him” campaign of 2014, the “Prince of Peace” initiative uses social media to invite the world to find the inner peace that comes from the life and teachings. The Prince of Peace initiative has three main tenets:
• Invite all to come unto Christ.
• Learn principles of peace from the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
• Share ways to find peace through the Savior.
From Palm Sunday, April 9, to Easter Sunday, April 16, a video will be published focusing on one of nine principles of peace: faith, compassion, forgiveness, repentance, gratitude, God’s word, prayer, and hope. Other text and video content can be found on the Church’s social media pages and the “Prince of Peace” website.
Members are encouraged to share efforts and experiences online using #PrinceofPeace.
Read more at Deseret News.
North Star Conference 2017: The Worth of Souls
The 2017 North Star Conference took place this past weekend, Thursday March 16th through the 19th. North Star is dedicated to providing resources to those struggling with same-sex attraction and gender identity trying to live within gospel standards. Since 2007, North Star has committed itself to creating a safe environment, promoting love, teaching about resources, and empowering individuals within the LDS LGBT community.
Best known for Voices of Hope — a page of video stories from those who have experienced SSA or gender identity issues — North Star announced the release of #TrueToHim. Similar to Voices of Hope, #TrueToHim will be a collection of videos aimed at sharing the stories of and inspiring members of the LDS LGBT community. #TrueToHim will use a short-story approach and simple formatting, making them easy to send and share.
North Star director, Joseph Stith, announced a new Global Search feature geared towards connecting North Star community members across the world while still maintaining the desired anonymity. The search feature would compile whatever contact information members are willing to provide and location, in order to connect people with people to offer a fuller amount of support.
Stith also endorsed the recently released “4 Options Survey,” and announced North Star’s own expansive “Worth of Souls” survey. The “Worth of Souls” is designed to identify the needs of individuals, take into account the perspective of spouses, and get insight into gender identity issues. The survey will link spousal responses and extend into other faith groups.
Speakers and forum participants voiced their trials and concerns as LGBT community members trying to live the gospel. From the desire to fit in a family based faith to the massive difference between transgender and SSA issues, speakers offered sympathetic words to a large audience. Most apparent was the need for greater sensitivity to their trials — acknowledging that it is not us versus them, because in more cases than you’d think, we’re one and the same.
Director Joseph Stith voiced this idea, calling for compassion on our fellow brethren and quoting D&C 38:27: Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.
2017 Book of Mormon Conference Recap
by Megan Finley
Facilitated by the Utah Valley Convention Center this past weekend, the 2017 Book of Mormon Conference delivered inspiring messages of research breakthroughs to an eager audience.
Book of Mormon Central, whose staff and contributors are heavily involved in research development surrounding the scriptures, hosted the all-day convention with an incredible line-up of speakers. Beginning with an introduction of the informational site’s progress from the previous year—courtesy of Neal Rappleye and team—conference attendees were given a sneak peek at up and coming developments to watch for, including the expansion of their popular “Know Why” content, Spanish translations of their online texts, as well as an Interactive Scriptures app.
Warren Aston highlighted his extensive on-site discoveries in two riveting lectures. To underscore his most recent work, Lehi & Sariah in Arabia: The Old World Setting of the Book of Mormon, Aston was able to provide a credible hypothesis for the location of Nahom, as well as a fitting site for Bountiful. In the same vein, Richard Stamps’ vast knowledge of anthropology became a basis for the discrediting of the Michigan relics, which some have claimed as hard proof of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.
Other presenters included Taylor Halverson, whose brilliant presentation outlined covenant patterns in the Old Testament and BoM; Matt Roper, who revisited common criticisms of the book and exposed their weaknesses; as well as Jerry D. Grover, whose working research has centered on the translation of the Reformed Egyptian ‘Caractors’ document.
In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the discovery of Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, the Father Lehi and Mother Sariah awards were presented to John W. Welch and his wife Jeannie.
This conference was certainly an experience to be pondered upon, as well as savored and enjoyed. Book of Mormon Central is no doubt doing a great work in the eyes of the Lord, and one cannot help but be unyieldingly enthusiastic to see how their knowledge will continue be expanded and shared until the next conference.