Policies and Doctrines

I'm struggling tonight. Really really struggling. I shouldn't be but I am. It's time to be honest about it. 

I've got a couple disparate thoughts weighing heavily on my mind tonight. One, that no party truly represents all aspects of my faith, yet I still want to participate in discussions surrounding policy that effects us all. Finding a way to do that is both freeing and stressful. Two, we all have things that our faith, church, or doctrine cause us to struggle. That varies from person to person and we need to be acutely aware and empathetic of it.

Policies and Votes

Every election cycle, my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) releases a letter with similar language regarding the upcoming election. This year's letter contained this language:

"We urge Latter-day Saints to be active citizens by registering, exercising their right to vote, and engaging in civic affairs.

We also urge you to spend the time needed to become informed about the issues and candidates you will be considering. Along with the options available to you through the Internet, debates, and other sources, the Church occasionally posts information about particular moral issues on which it has taken a position at www.Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties, and members should seek candidates who best embody those principles."

It seems pretty straightforward to me. That we need to research and weigh out, prioritize, and vote based on that process. For me in my life the issues of civil rights and immigration and the church's long term stances, and recent statements by leadership are defining my focus. They're in the forefront of my mind. I can't shake them. The first two are these. 

"At one extreme, some seem to have forgotten that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the “right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” That is the authorized way to raise public awareness and to focus on injustices in the content or administration of the laws. And there have been injustices. In public actions and in our personal attitudes, we have had racism and related grievances. In a persuasive personal essay, the Reverend Theresa A. Dear of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has reminded us that “racism thrives on hatred, oppression, collusion, passivity, indifference and silence.” As citizens and as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we must do better to help root out racism."

That was Pres Dallin H Oaks in General Conference. He followed it up a few weeks later with this.

"There are many examples of racism in recent American history. The examples most familiarly reported by the media today are those that victimize Black Americans. These include the police brutality and other systemic discrimination in employment and housing publicized recently. Racism is still recognizable in official and personal treatment of Latinos and Native Americans. Less familiar in our day is America’s history of racism against Asians, which began with Chinese immigrants who worked on the ­transcontinental railroad. It was not until a century ago that Native Americans were considered U.S. citizens and that Asians were allowed to apply for U.S. citizenship."

Both address real issues with racism in America. He also went as far as to say Black Lives matter. He spoke of current injustice and policies that cause them. I've watched the protests across America regarding race and I'm concerned with real disparities I've found in my research. Both in the black community and in the Latino, and Native American we have real issues. We need to start addressing them more forcefully. Root it out as instructed. There are groups and movements that do that. The church has even partnered with them. 

It's a natural segue that these issues also bleed over into the issue of immigration.

The church has issued three statements on the subject that have wormed themselves into my brain. 

First, "The Church supports an approach where undocumented immigrants are allowed to square themselves with the law and continue to work without this necessarily leading to citizenship." That is one line from the standing statement on immigration from 2011 I cannot shake. The fact the church has voiced support for this and reaffirmed their support for DACA in 2018 is something of importance for me. I know people effected by these policies and I want to do things to protect and help them.

The second statement regarded the reduction of refugees admitted to the United States as of late. " It is therefore with great concern and compassion that we observe the plight of more than 70 million people around the world who have fled their homes seeking relief from violence, war, or religious persecution."

The final was the most forceful statement involving the policy changes that resulted in family separations. "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has long expressed its position that immigration reform should strengthen families and keep them together. The forced separation of children from their parents now occurring at the U.S.-Mexico border is harmful to families, especially to young children. We are deeply troubled by the aggressive and insensitive treatment of these families. While we recognize the right of all nations to enforce their laws and secure their borders, we encourage our national leaders to take swift action to correct this situation and seek for rational, compassionate solutions."

When I look at the articulated policy of the church I find that these are the current values I need to prioritize. When deciding how to compromise, evaluate, and vote, this is most important.

Now this has been a cause of grief. The Church is closely associated with the GOP. Almost to the point that some people feel that it is the godly, or righteous, or right party. But seeing the fact that good policy and values are found in all parties, and the GOP fights actively against these policies of the church (especially in regards to immigration) I've turned elsewhere. Much to the chagrin of others.

Now my turn is based on my faith. And it's based on the strong impressions and promptings I can't deny. But I hope that my sharing of these impressions is not misunderstood. These are my impressions. They are not others. There are valid good reasons to vote differently than I am this election. There are reasons to prioritize values differently. 

What concerns me is that understanding I have of others is not returned. That it's not seen as valid to prioritize these values and positions. That criticism comes from others of my faith. And at times they've told me they don't agree with the church's position and they'll prioritize their political stance. They refuse to acknowledge there is a valid reason to vote another way.

If we can't recognize the validity of another vote. The realistic representation of differing values by all parties then we are lost. And I'm disheartened by it.

But trying to understand that has led me to another realization.

Struggling With Doctrine

I struggle with the church's handling of blacks and the priesthood. I struggle with the stances on homosexuality. I struggle with the history of polygamy.

I need to be honest about that. There's been some growth and understanding, but I still struggle. My testimony is based on my faith in Christ and the restoration of the priesthood to perform lifesaving ordinances. The simple faith and simple hope is what sustains me. 

I think it's important to be open and honest about my faith, my hopes, my struggles. 

I had an epiphany on reflecting on that.

Other people's experience may lead them to struggle with the church's new statements on race, on immigration, on the partnering with the NAACP. And their struggle is no less real or valid than mine.

If we both could recognize the validity of that, we would learn compassion. Understanding and civility would grow.

That's my hope. That's why I am writing right now. Because the fire and enmity and contempt I see is bringing me to tears. The fact we can't see the values in other votes. The fact we can't see the struggles of others with compassion worries me.

That's the need we have now. If we want to emulate the savior, we need to try to understand each other with his love and care. That's real. That's how we overcome the division. Not by forcing compliance. But by love and understanding.

I'm hoping it happens. I truly do. I say that because I'm hurting now. I've fallen short. I want to fix that. I think I am. I feel myself finding more understanding.

 I struggling to feel that returned. I feel alone in my faith. For following leaders guidance. I hope I don't always feel that way. 

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-letter-united-states-election-2020

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/17oaks?lang=eng

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/dallin-h-oaks/racism-other-challenges/

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/immigration-church-issues-new-statement

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/church-statement-supports-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-daca?lang=eng

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/first-presidency-releases-statement-refugees-2019

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-statement-separation-of-families-at-us-mexico-border