Posted on 05/08/2009 4:20:48 PM PDT by Colofornian
A few years ago, my mom was called to be the Relief Society president in our tri-lingual ward.
I remember watching as she painstakingly translated every e-mail, note and newsletter into Spanish and Portuguese. She became friends with women who didn't speak her language. She made sure every lesson was translated.
One time, a cranky, English-speaking sister complained about the volunteer interpreters who sat in the back of the Relief Society room and offered hushed translations of the lessons. The sister said they made it hard to concentrate.
Without flinching, my mom defended the interpreters and kindly explained that it was important that ALL the sisters understood the lesson -- not just the English-speakers.
Six years and one Spanish-speaking stateside mission later, I have a profound respect for the efforts my mom made in that calling.
Unfortunately, not everyone in our church shares the same respect.
The arrest of an illegal immigrant coming home from his LDS mission in Ohio last month has sparked a fierce immigration debate in the Mormon community. No matter how much each side tries to simplify the issue, the questions aren't easy.
Are undocumented immigrants violating the 12th Article of Faith by disobeying the law of the land? Is the church encouraging illegal immigrants by allowing them to serve missions?
As Brigham Young University history professor Ignacio Garcia told the Daily Universe this week, "We can all open the scriptures and justify our side."
Many members, including Garcia, are calling for church authorities to pick a side on this divisive issue. To me, it seems like they already have.
"The church does not have an official position on immigration policy, but encourages compassion in dealing with the complexities of immigration issues," said Michael Purdy, a church spokesman. "The blessings of the church are available to anyone who qualifies for membership and accepts the gospel of Jesus Christ."
The church isn't a government agency, and it's not meant to be the deciding body for every difficult political question. Its purpose is to perfect the Saints, proclaim the gospel and redeem the dead. Should it really matter where these Saints are living, or what documentation they have?
Immigration issues are, indeed, complex, and I won't attempt in this article to make a political argument. But as long as there are immigrants living in our ward boundaries, we should be bound by our conscience, our religion and our covenants to treat them with the utmost respect and compassion.
"I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ," President Hinckley once said.
So this Mother's Day, I'm grateful for a mom who has her priorities in place. I only wish more members were like her.
There is no way anyone can make you look bad to God, except for yourself. As a Christian, please go to Mexico and other places and help those people (and many churches do, btw—our church has church plants in Mexico, Haiti and other poor countries—we help them get started and become self sufficient).
How does this make us bad Christians?
“
The most compassionate thing would be to secure our borders, and keep these people from breaking the law and sinning.
I’d rather send money into Mexico than have them come here illegally where they are sucking us for everything we’ve got.”
Agreed. Every time some Mormon, Catholic, Baptist big whig gets all PC, they seem to forget this one little item, that ALL illegal aliens...and many legal ones...seem to ignore.
The Ten Commandments
#10.- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
They should learn this as well:
1”I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” John 10:1 NIV
I recall last year a few of the posts from this disenguous being accusing the Church as being bigot towards Mixicans etc!
She wants it both ways...
What ever works on maligning the LDS!
The statement was made when those misguided missionaies knock over the Catholic statues!
In our faith there is a difference between venial sins and Mortal sins. Not helping a God's souls in need is much closer to mortal sin, than breaking "Ceasar's law" to try and feed your family.
Yes, there should be reform. As you know, in the Catholic tradition, migrants occupy a position of almost unique reverence. They evoke our biblical heritage and have built our Church. They serve as the Church’s metaphor for itself and for the human condition; we’re a pilgrim people in a pilgrim church, passing through the world on a spiritual journey to our final home. They allow the Church to realize its mission on earth of gathering into one God’s scattered children. They provide the means for our conversion and a measure by which our lives will be judged. They are our “brothers and sisters” and, in them, we see our God: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”(Matthew 25:35).
To simply consider all "strangers" enemies is NOT Christian in my faith. Those that are enemies should leave, those that haven't committed mortal sins should recieve compassion.
She wants it both ways...
What ever works on maligning the LDS!
The statement was made when those misguided missionaies knock over the Catholic statues!
Some folks are too cowardly to say to my face what they say behind my back.
"Whatever works for maligning" those who call the LDS what it is....a scam invented by a con man.
Yes, that's why responsible Christians donate to worthwhile legitimate non-governmental charities.
I know I didn't say that. Who did? I think you have just tossed out what is commonly called a straw man.
At any rate, no longer being Catholic I don't adhere to the venal vs mortal sin idea. But, breaking the law, as far as I can tell is still sin. I understand perfectly why the Catholic church in the US has no trouble with illegal immigration, since it increases the numbers in their parishes. I don't think this is a particularly good reason to look the other way.
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