Elder Dallin H. Oaks Encourages Church Members To Engage in Religious Freedom Debate Constructively

​At a religious freedom conference for Latter-day Saints in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas, Elder Dallin H. Oaks encouraged members to get involved “in a constructive way in the vital contest for religious freedom.” Emphasizing messages he has shared previously, he counseled local Mormons to seek a cease-fire in the culture wars and to employ a “fairness for all” approach in defending religious freedom because our pluralistic world requires we “live peacefully” with each other.

​Elder Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was joined by Church general counsel Elder Lance B. Wickman and Elder Von G. Keetch of the Seventy. Their comments at this regional religious freedom conference (the first of its kind) coincide with the creation of a religious freedom page on LDS.org.

Although religious freedom may seem a subject more fit for those with law and political science degrees, Elder Oaks said “literally everyone, from kindergarten children through the ranks of professionals and mothers and fathers and friends and neighbors can and should understand what religious freedom is and why it is important.”

Elder Wickman recited a brief history of the struggle that was the creation of the United States Constitution, and he reminded Mormons that in addition to belonging to a church they are also citizens. It is “we the people” who are to “do the hard work of citizenship that is necessary to protect and preserve rights so painfully established” in America, he said.