Over the past week or so I have done a little bit of research on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' position on illegal immigration. It is something that I have not really looked into before. But the Church just does things right, the information I found was not shocking, it was interesting to me though.
Research
Illegal
immigration has many effects on different countries around the world. The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released its official position
regarding this issue, along with several statements about the importance of
family, honoring and sustaining the law, and treating everyone as a loved child
of our Heavenly Father. The church supports efforts to help undocumented
citizens square themselves with the law in order to continue to work without
necessarily leading to citizenship. The foundation of the stance of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and “fully consistent with its tradition of
compassion, its reverence for family, and its commitment to law.”(Immigration,
2011) The church will continue to support the actions it deems to be right,
however, the responsibility regarding illegal immigration needs to be handled
by the Federal Government.
One
major concern with illegal immigration is the separation of families. One
reason some families get separated is because of deportation. Another frequent
cause is fathers leaving their families for a time to work in a different
country in order to provide for their families. Many mothers are left to
support their families when a father is deported, and U.S. born children often
end up in foster-care when their parents are deported. The priority of the
church is to keep families together and have their lives centered on our Savior
Jesus Christ. When families are separated the church provides many tools to
help in these situations. One of these tools in helping separated families is the
“Supporting Military Families” guidebook. This material provides help
concerning finances, maintaining communication, helping children cope, and
avoiding temptation and sin like pornography. This resource is mainly used for
military families, however, it is also encouraged for other periods and causes
of separation (Supporting Military Families).
As
members of the church we believe in honoring and sustaining the law. A
statement from the First Presidency says, “As a matter of policy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints discourages
its members from entering any country without legal documentation, and from
deliberately overstaying legal travel visas” (Immigration). From the
early days of the church it has been made clear that it is a commandment to
keep the laws of the land and to be subject to rulers of the land. The
commandments given are not suggestions and should be followed by followers of
Jesus Christ.
Even
though entering a country without proper documentation is illegal, members of
the Church should not judge undocumented citizens. Bishops in the Church have a
responsibility to be judges in Israel through following guidance of the spirit
and interviewing members. Bishops determine the personal worthiness of the
member. Determining worthiness is the role of specific priesthood holders and
is not for regular members to decide. In the recently issued statement of the
church the First Presidency with regards to worthiness as a member of the
church:
“The First Presidency has for many years
taught that undocumented status should not by itself prevent an otherwise
worthy Church member from entering the temple or being ordained to the
priesthood. Bishops are in the best position to make appropriate judgments as
to Church privileges. Meanwhile, Church members should avoid making
judgments about fellow members in their congregations.” (Responsibly of Church
Members)
Temple worthiness in the church is based on personal
worthiness and it opens the door to the house of the Lord. Personal worthiness
is determined by consistent behavior and the goodness of one’s life. The
responsibility of members is to avoid making unrighteous judgment of those with
undocumented status.
There
is a high moral standard of treating each other as children of God an if the
government only focuses on enforcement of the law they will fall short of that
standard. It can sometimes be difficult to take a step back and fully
understand what the love of God truly is. Our Heavenly Father knows all of our
weaknesses and trials, yet he has a perfect love for all of His children. When
we get to know and understand Him we begin to see that He is a forgiver, a
helper, and a friend.
“It is by achieving this gift, this love of God,
that we are able to crowd out contention, discord, and judgments. It recognizes
the power and goodness innate in man and how totally inconsistent it would be
for one having these feelings.” (Paramore, 1981)
Following this guidance to put our
focus on loving our neighbor will help members of the church to follow the
council given from the First Presidency to not be judgmental of individuals
based on their undocumented status.
The
stance of the church in recent years has been to build up the kingdom of God in
our own native countries. It is not influencing people to come to the United
States. In the October 2008 General Conference Elder Christofferson taught how
to build up Zion in the latter days, “In our families and in our stakes and
districts, let us seek to build up Zion through unity, godliness, and charity.”
(Christofferson, 2008) As opposed to the instruction of church leaders to come
to Zion in a physical sense, the church leaders are commissioning us to build
Zion where we currently are.
When it is possible the church
supports the government in helping illegal immigrants get squared away with the
law in order to stay and work. The Church has stated that the main purpose for
helping individuals stay in the United States is to decrease the number of
separated families. When illegal immigrants are able to make things right with
the law they should attempt to do so and in these situations the Church is not
necessarily encouraging them to become citizens.
What to do with the estimated 12
million illegal immigrants in the United States is the most significant
challenge in the immigration debate. The responsibility of handling illegal
immigration rests on the shoulders of the Federal Government. Modern revelation
tells us, “Governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and … he
holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws
and administering them, for the good and safety of society” (D&C 134:1).
The church encourages members to be involved, as responsible citizens, in the
obligation of good citizenship to their country. Good citizenship requires
involvement, including researching political issues and prayerfully
participating in the voting process. Likewise, the government was instituted
for the benefit of man, the good and safety of society. The Church acknowledges that there is a need
for immigration reform in the United States and supports a “balanced and civil
approach to a challenging problem, fully consistent with its tradition of
compassion, its reverence for family, and its commitment to law” (Immigration).
Conclusion
From my research, I find the
position of the church on the issue of illegal immigration to be: focused on
the individual and families rather than on the governmental problem to be
solved. It is based on the foundational doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
that families are central to the plan of our Father in Heaven and is influenced
by the importance of keeping families together. The Church has released its
stance on illegal immigration on more than one occasion with the central focus
being to love individuals regardless of their current undocumented status. The
Church encourages its members to uphold the law, and discourages members to
enter into a different country without proper documentation. The Church has
stated that it is the responsibility of the Government to handle the illegal
immigration issue, and the biggest concern from the Church leaders is that
state legislation only containing enforcement provision is likely to fall
short. Citizens have a responsibility to influence the Government to act in
ways that will resolve the issues at hand without failing to treat others as
children of God.
Personal
Insight
I
believe that this topic is of significant importance and that the Church
addresses this matter in the best way possible. As I have studied this topic
and compared different stances both inside and outside of the Church, I have
seen a significant difference between showing love for God’s children and
focusing on only enforcing the law. Following the teachings to love your
neighbor as yourself and treat others with compassion are central to the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. As an individual I have learned that love and compassion are
the most important aspects of the Church’s position on illegal immigration. A
majority of people that immigrate to other countries do so with a hope for a
better life and a way to provide for their families. I believe the Church is
taking the appropriate stance in supporting the cause of helping those who are
illegally here in the United States square away with the Government to legally
stay and work here. When families are split up due to deportation, or any cause
for that matter, they tend to struggle financially and in spiritual matters.
With just one parent struggling to make ends meet, or children who have lost
both parents due to deportation, families can be broken. I feel that the
Government needs to heed the council of the Church especially when families are
involved. It can take years, if not over a decade, for close relatives of U.S.
citizens to obtain immigration visas, keeping families apart or encouraging
people to find some other way into the country. I believe that making it
difficult to bring family into the country and making it difficult for
individuals to stay in the U.S. for long periods of time is a big cause of
illegal immigration. This responsibility, to resolve the illegal immigration
issue and protect the country’s borders, rightfully rests on the shoulders of
the Government. The Government was founded to benefit the people and requires
participation from its citizens. We all have a responsibility to vote and fight
for what we believe to be right. Citizens of the United States have the ability
to make an impact for good and influence Government leaders to act in a
beneficial way towards undocumented immigrants.
Works
Cited:
Christofferson,
D. Todd. “Come to Zion.” October 2008. Web. 20 September 2014.
Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Pearl of Great Price. Salt
Lake City, UT: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1989.
“Handbook
2: Administering the Church.” LDS.org.
2010. Web. 20 September 2014.
“Immigration:
Official Statement.” Mormonnewsroom.org. 10
June 2011. Web. 20 September 2014.
Mcconkie,
Bruce R. “Come: Let Israel Build Zion.” LDS.org.
April 1977. Web. 20 September 2014.
Paramore,
James M. “Love One Another.” April 1981. Web. 20 September 2014.
“Responsibility
of Church Members: Avoid being Judgmental.” Mormonnewsroom.org. 10 June 2011. Web. 20 September
2014.
“Supporting Military Families.” 2010. Web. 20
September 2014
