As president of the area, Elder Benjamin De Hoyos Estrada issued an official letter that local church leaders are to read over the pulpit in Sacrament meeting.
This letter reiterates the Church's long standing commitment to the principles contained in The Family: A Proclamation to the World.
It also encourages citizens to make their voices known to elected leaders and participate in the democratic process that law provides. It even suggests joining with citizen groups to work toward a shared cause, especially that of religious freedom.
All of this sounds benign and it is. Critics in Mexico or anywhere else in the world will try to spin it and frame it differently, like they did in the United States.
Don't be fooled. The Church is not participating in illegal political activity. It's tax free status should not be questioned. The Church is not doing anything wrong, or even questionable.
Fundamentally, Church leaders are counseling its members in a church building, during church hours. This is the essence of religious freedom.
It should never be illegal for Church leaders to instruct Church members in Church!
Just because our critics do not like the counsel doesn't mean there is something sinister about it. Any church has the right to instruct its members.
Criticism would disappear if the Church's counsel encouraged what these critics support. In that case, they would be commending the Church for encouraging citizens to participate in democratic activity.
If you are struggling with these difficult issues, the following may be of assistance:
- Straight Talk on Mormons and Gays Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3
- How Mormons Can Resolve the Same-Sex Marriage Dilemma
- Help for LDS in Responding to the LGBT Rights Debate
Élder Benjamín De Hoyos Estrada, Presidente de La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días en México. Photo courtesy of © 2016 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Continue reading at the original source →