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Mormons on both sides in immigration controversy
Salt Lake Tribune ^ | April 30, 2010 | Peggy Fletcher Stack

Posted on 05/01/2010 6:30:15 AM PDT by Colofornian

No matter how much the LDS Church would like to remain neutral on the issue of illegal immigration, Mormon activists on opposite sides draw on their faith's doctrines or practices to buoy their positions.

Russell Pearce, the Arizona senator who proposed that state's tough anti-immigration law, is LDS and hails from Mesa, a stronghold of Mormonism. A former missionary for the faith, the Republican lawmaker points to LDS scripture to buttress his push for a crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

"We have a special duty [to] this land, this republic and to the rule of law," Pearce wrote in an e-mail. "It is our duty and well established in scripture and modern revelation."

He cites a verse from the Doctrine & Covenants, a part of the Mormon canon, that says to "let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land."

Pearce also refers to the Utah-based church's 12th Article of Faith, which says Mormons believe in "obeying, honoring and sustaining the law."

That also is a key teaching for GOP Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, a Mormon legislator from Orem who has met with Pearce several times and hopes to introduce a similar bill in Utah.

"We are a country with the rule of law," said Sandstrom, who served an LDS mission in Venezuela. "That's the only way a country can prosper."

On the opposite side are Latter-day Saints who argue for a more complex and humane approach to immigration. They point to church teachings about taking care of one's family, being hospitable to the stranger and building the kingdom of God.

"I don't think the intent of the Article of Faith was to make us vigilantes and gatekeepers and create anti-immigrant rhetoric and climate," said Ignacio Garcia, a Brigham Young University history professor.

Those who come into this country without documentation make hard choices, Garcia said. "It's a violation of the law, sure, but circumstances often force people to decide to break one law to obey the higher law."

Despite such roiling debates among its members, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has given no clear-cut guidance on this issue. The church has taken no stand on the Arizona bill, spokesman Scott Trotter said Thursday.

The church takes a sort-of "don't ask, don't tell" approach to the immigration status of its own members. Some estimate that 50 percent to 75 percent of members in Utah's 100-plus Spanish-speaking congregations are undocumented. That includes many bishops, branch presidents, even stake presidents.

The church sends missionaries among undocumented immigrants across the country, baptizing many of them without asking about their status. It also allows them to go to the temple and on missions.

"We're not agents of the immigration service, and we don't pretend to be," LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland told The Salt Lake Tribune last year, "and we also don't break the law."

In January 2008, Marlin Jensen, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, was assigned by LDS President Thomas S. Monson to urge Utah legislators to use "compassion" in their immigration legislation.

That didn't stop Utah's mostly LDS lawmakers from passing SB81, which took effect last July and tightened enforcement while limiting immigrants' access to some services.

Sandstrom does not advocate denying emergency care for undocumented immigrants, but believes "true compassion should be for those who can't come here legally because of the huge numbers who are here illegally."

And he doesn't care if they are Mormons, Catholics or adherents of any other faith. The law is the law.

On several occasions, Sandstrom said, he has shared his legislative proposals on illegal immigration with LDS officials.

"Not one of them told me to 'cease and desist,' " he said. "I've been told to do what I feel is right for the state and my constituents."

Garcia has, again, a different perspective.

No, the LDS Church has not come out as strongly against these anti-immigration measures as the Catholics or the Evangelical Association, he said.

Behind the scenes, however, Mormon leaders "do not support such draconian efforts."

Mormon conservatives seem to feel that not only is the United States being invaded by foreigners, but also their homes, their churches and their congregations, he said.

"But the Latter-day Saint who sees the work of the church as becoming a global faith," Garcia said, "[is] not running around complaining about immigrants."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: Utah
KEYWORDS: immigration
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To: McGavin999

“You can be hospitable, just send them home. You are raping two countries, the US and Mexico. If you would like to improve the lives of the Mexican people it must be done in Mexico, otherwise you destroy TWO nations.”

Send them home the first time, by all means necessary keep them from coming back over the wall, illegally infiltrating. Otherwise the whole system is frustrated. As you said, both nations are destroyed, and the system is proverbially raped (and citizens literally). When people don’t deal with the consequences of their own actions (Like Mexicans in Mexico not standing for liberty in their own lands), they just become like locusts, moving from one area to the next as the resources dry up. People are not animals, or locusts, they must make decisions and be responsible for what happens when they do!


41 posted on 05/01/2010 8:27:07 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: MsLady; All

My honest and open question to all is what can we do when militias are kept from protecting their states, and the FedGov won’t do their job, and won’t listen to constituents/”The People.” It is treason, but what can we do? I’m asking in all sincerity.


42 posted on 05/01/2010 8:28:56 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: JDW11235

Wow, what do Mormons think of pit bulls? /sarc


43 posted on 05/01/2010 8:32:03 AM PDT by Scythian
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To: Scythian

“Wow, what do Mormons think of pit bulls?”

Topic for the next Saturday morning discussion, LOL.


44 posted on 05/01/2010 8:35:08 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: JDW11235

I always put this last, but, it’s probably the most important, so I’m putting it first, pray. Voting is one thing, course that’s so obvious. Civil but peaceful disobedience, like Martin Luther King did. Maybe citizen law suits???


45 posted on 05/01/2010 8:40:50 AM PDT by MsLady (If you died tonight, where would you go? Salvation, don't leave earth without it!)
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To: MsLady

I agree, praying comes first. Thanks for that reminder.


46 posted on 05/01/2010 9:03:32 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: JDW11235

It’s ok, I need the reminding too.


47 posted on 05/01/2010 9:19:16 AM PDT by MsLady (If you died tonight, where would you go? Salvation, don't leave earth without it!)
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To: MsLady
Our government including under Bush have done nothing to barley anything to secure our borders.

You don't have a clue of what you are talking about. Get the facts before you blurt out something so untrue. There were enormous advancements made under W. For crying out loud!! Stop the damn Bush bashing!

48 posted on 05/01/2010 9:40:27 AM PDT by steelwheels
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To: steelwheels; MsLady

There were enormous advancements made under W.
_________________________________________________

AH kid PSSST

President Bush was pushing the AMNESTY Bill...

Remember ???


49 posted on 05/01/2010 9:45:32 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: steelwheels; MsLady

“You don’t have a clue of what you are talking about. Get the facts before you blurt out something so untrue. There were enormous advancements made under W. For crying out loud!! Stop the damn Bush bashing!”

Well, the truth hurts and it is you who need some straight facts. Clinton did more enforcement than Bush, until people like Newt Gingrich stopped him..

I guess you’ve forgotten Bush calling anyone who wanted enforcement ‘vigilantes’. Bush was good on some things..on border security and enforcement he stank!

In fact, the Latino groups complain that Obama is doing as much enforcement as Bush.

If you don’t know these things, you should...it’s all here on FR.

And brother Jeb...well, he’s hooked up with dual Citizen Juan Hernandez to stop everything except amnesty!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2504082/posts?page=70#70


50 posted on 05/01/2010 9:48:06 AM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more ‘share the wealth’ socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: steelwheels

Incorrect. Under Bush, Border Guards were tried, probably tens of millions of illegals came across (over 8 years, 2-3 million a year), militias were put down and no wall was built.

Please name for us the effective measures you think Bush put into place. We’ll wait.


51 posted on 05/01/2010 9:52:02 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: AuntB

First off, it doesn’t do anyone any good when you get an attitude and start talking down. And secondly I didn’t bash him, I just stated what I see. You wouldn’t know he did much of anything by living in my old neighborhood. MS-13 have been there for years along with so many illegals the place is crawling with them. I’m sure he did more than what Obama is doing or clinton, but, it’s still a mess.


52 posted on 05/01/2010 9:54:34 AM PDT by MsLady (If you died tonight, where would you go? Salvation, don't leave earth without it!)
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To: steelwheels; All

FACTS

[snip]From 2007 to 2008, the annual number of noncitizen migrants apprehended in the United States or at its borders dropped by about 170,000. In 2008, apprehension numbers hit their lowest point since 1975.

* Immigrants are apprehended (arrested) when found to be in violation of immigration laws.
* In 2008, DHS immigration officials made just under 800,000 apprehensions.
* The Border Patrol accounted for about nine in 10 of all apprehensions in 2008.
* Apprehensions along the Southwest border have decreased each year since 2005.
* The Tucson, Arizona, sector accounted for more Border Patrol apprehensions in 2008 than any other sector.
* Mexican citizens accounted for 88 percent of all apprehensions in 2008.

The number of removals and voluntary returns combined stood at about 1.2 million in 2008, the lowest level since 2003.

http://www.migrationinformation.org/USfocus/display.cfm?id=750

BUT, more prosecutions of border agents for doing their jobs happened under Bush! And most were cleared on appeal.


53 posted on 05/01/2010 9:58:25 AM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more ‘share the wealth’ socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: MsLady; AuntB

AuntB was agreeing with you about Bush...

Bush and Ted Kennedy were buddies when it came to the AMNESTY Bill...


54 posted on 05/01/2010 9:58:41 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: MsLady

MsLady, AuntB was talking to the other guy/gal FOR you. She was quoting him/her and giving rebuttal. She was saying that you were correct, she just pinged you as a courtesy, so you would know. Just a heads up, unless you just hit “reply” and didn’t realize that you were talking to the wrong person. You both agree.


55 posted on 05/01/2010 9:58:43 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: AuntB

Thanks for this post, and I’m glad you brought in the big guns, FACTS. Don’t mess with AuntB, lol. High Five!


56 posted on 05/01/2010 10:00:31 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: JDW11235

Oops sorry AuntB that’s what I get for reading the first sentence and not reading the whole thing. My apologies.


57 posted on 05/01/2010 10:02:51 AM PDT by MsLady (If you died tonight, where would you go? Salvation, don't leave earth without it!)
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To: Colofornian
So Latin America Beauty and international music star was interviewed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Thursday.

Here is the crux of the interview:

Shakira is being interviewed by Dr. Sanjay Gupta and he asks about her visit with the Mayor and Chief of Police, of Phoenix and she says at one point “If this law was already in effect, today, for example, I could be detained and arrested and taken away. Because, I don't even have my drivers license here”

“I mean, I'm completely undocumented, here today!”

Dr. Gupta then asks “So you didn't bring your papers to Arizona?”

Shakira then feigns exasperation, saying “I didn't. NO”

Dr. Gupta then says “This is an important point. That's exactly what people are worried about”.

The interview continues and Dr. Gupta never uses his critical thinking skills to ask how she justifies not having her passport with her.

Shakira then demands the Congress come up with a law to nullify, in effect, other states from enacting similar laws.

FIRST! Shakira, you are a liar, flat out. There is no way you would go to any country and not have your passport and visa with you at all times.

I have traveled all over the world and I don't leave home without it.

You are a world traveler and you would never travel without your passport and visa.

You just don't. No one flys around the world without documents, it's not only the law in every country I have ever been but, it is more than common sense for identifying who you are, your visa status, Expiration and your nationality.

Your documents will get you into the embassy of your nationality, INSTANTLY!

Your visa can get you preferred status in American hospitals, if you are an American or if you are an international star.

Shakira, your statement is patently false.

You cannot get on a commercial plane NOR on a private plane without your visa and passport. PERIOD!

I travel commercially and private and it completely impossible to board without documentation.

If you are arrested, it should be for your idiotic lie, which demonstrates your intellectual skills of an adolescent.

Sanjay, you should be fired for failure to probe. I am certain you have traveled just as much I have and you could have easily used your critical thinking skills to probe the absurdity of her statement.

I would never have someone as dumb as you operate on me. You might skip something.

58 posted on 05/01/2010 10:17:51 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously... You'll never live through it.)
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To: Vendome

Never underestimate the stupid actions of celebrities. But you are right on all counts, you generally can’t go anywhere without a passport, an exception I hear, being Cuba...(By way of somewhere else).


59 posted on 05/01/2010 10:21:18 AM PDT by JDW11235 (I think I got it now!)
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To: JDW11235

You are very kind, my pleasure.

Mexico, illegal aliens - TERRORISM,
time to call it what it is

http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/


60 posted on 05/01/2010 10:56:41 AM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more ‘share the wealth’ socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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