How Does Religious Freedom Bless All God’s Children?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns the ways that religious freedom blesses all of God’s children. The Savior wants us to defend the religious rights of all people – including those who believe differently. He declared to Joseph Smith that the freedoms preserved in “the laws and constitution of the people … should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:77. Here are the words of several prophets, apostles, and others about religious freedom in America blessing all God’s children. 

Prophet Joseph Smith

I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves.

It is a love of liberty which inspires my soul – civil and religious liberty to the whole of the human race. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2011], 345)

President Dallin H. Oaks

Religious teachings and the religiously, motivated actions of believers benefit society and deserve legal protection.

For example, there are many needs for humanitarian assistance – hunger, disease, and lack of education to mention only a few. Religious liberty enables believers and faith communities to provide this aid to society’s neediest members. Most religions exhort their believers to give to the poor. Most also teach their believers that they are accountable to God for this duty.

Religions also play a vital role in contributing to social stability. Societies are not held together primarily by law and its enforcement, but by those who voluntar8ly obey the unenforceable because of their sense of accountability to God….

When citizens learn to live together with respect – despite important religious differences – they are also more likely to live peacefully with others with whom they have important secular differences.” (“Pursuing Religious Liberty Worldwide [address given at the Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit, July 20, 2022], newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

President D. Todd Christofferson of the First Presidency

For centuries, people fought over religious differences, often with government suppressing one religion in the name of another. Religious liberty has allowed people of diverse religious traditions to live together in peace and friendship despite profound disagreements…. Governments that protect religious freedom have fewer social conflicts and greater levels of social cohesion. (“Religious Liberty: The Basis of a Free and Just Society” [address given at the First Forum on Religious Freedom in the Southern Cone, Oct. 29, 2021], religiousfreedomlibrary.org)

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

If religion is not there to help with shaping character and mediating hard times, who will be? Who will teach honesty, gratitude, forgiveness, and patience? Who will exhibit charity, compassion, and kindness for the forgotten and the downtrodden? Who will embrace those who are different yet deserving, as are all of God’s children? Who will open their arms to those in need and seek no recompense? Who will reverence peace and obedience to laws greater than the trends of the day? (“To Heal the World,” Liahona, May 2022, 93)

President Camille N. Johnson of the Relief Society

I believe that the most important and impactful work of women continues to be done when we are for our own children, teach a friend to read, patiently address the needs of an elderly neighbor, prepare a meal for the sick, or cry with a sister who is grieving. The universality in the way we bear and nurture humanity connects women across cultural divides and language barriers, laying a foundation for peace.

I strive to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I believe He came to earth to save humanity from sin and death and to lift us in our sorrow and distress….

The work of defending the United States Constitution, religious freedom, and the family is not just for legal scholars and academics. It is for … Relief Society presidents and non-lawyers and people of every religious persuasion….

Let us follow the Prince of Peace and practice, in our personal and professional lives, His perfect example…. He wants to engage with us – and will as we joyfully engage in His great work. (J. Reuben Clark Law Society, “2026 JRCLS Annual Fireside,” YouTube, Jan. 16, 2026, youtube.com/@JReubenClarkLawSociety)

Why Should We Look Upon the Heart?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to 1 Samuel 8-10; 13; 15-16 in a lesson titled “The Lord Looketh on the Heart.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Saul was a keeper of donkeys. Though tall and handsome, he was “little in [his] own sight” and self-conscious about his family heritage (see 1 Samuel 9:2-3, 21; 15:17). On the day he was to be presented before Israel as their king, he didn’t show up; he was so nervous he “hid himself” (1 Samuel 10:21-22). Looking at Saul, you might not have guessed that he would lead the Israelites to victory over their enemies – or that he would later become prideful and rebel against the Lord.

David was a keeper of sheep. He wasn’t as physically impressive as his seven older brothers. On the day Samuel came to choose a new king for Israel, it didn’t seem worthwhile to include David among the possible candidates, so he was left out in the fields with the sheep. Looking at David, you might not have guessed that he would have the faith and courage to defeat a giant and become Israel’s most successful king.

But the Lord sees past our labels, our physical appearance, our insecurities. He looks, instead, “on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). And even when our heart isn’t quite right, if we’re willing, He will give us “another hear” (1 Samuel 10:9).

The weekly scripture block contains numerous principles, including: (1) Jesus Christ is my King (1 Samuel 8), (2) God calls people by prophecy to serve in His kingdom (Samuel 9-10; 16:1-13),

(3) “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 13:5-14; 15), and (4) “The Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:6-12).

This essay will discuss principle #4 about God looking upon the heart. Have you ever made a decision based on “the outward appearance” of something or someone, only to find out that you were wrong? Maybe you ate something that looked delicious but was not as good as it looked. Or maybe you judged someone unfairly.

When Samuel was looking for a new king of Israel, the Lord taught him a better way. We will look at the applicable verses – 1 Samuel 16:6-12 – to learn the Lord’s way of selection.

6 ¶ And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.

10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.

11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

A good activity would be to make a list of ways that people judge others “on the outward appearance.”  Besides the example of Samuel thinking that Eliab looked like a king, there are other examples in the scriptures:

·       When the Lord sent his disciple Ananias to bless Saul, Ananias hesitated because of Saul’s reputation of being cruel and relentlessly persecuting the Saints. The Lord taught Ananias, “He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).

·       When the scribes and the Pharisees saw the woman taken in adultery, what did they see? A depraved woman, a sinner worthy of death. When Jesus saw her, what did He see? A woman who had temporarily succumbed to the weakness of the flesh but could be reclaimed through repentance and His Atonement.

·       When people saw the centurion whose servant was sick with palsy, what did they see? Perhaps they saw an intruder, a foreigner, one to be despised. When Jesus saw him, what did He see? A man concerned for the welfare of a member of his household, who sought the Lord in candor and faith.

·       When people saw the woman with an issue of blood, what did they see? Perhaps an unclean woman, an outcast to be shunned. When Jesus saw her, what did He see? A sickly woman, lonely and alienated due to circumstances she did not control, who hoped to be healed and to belong again.

Elder Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier of the Seventy spoke on this topic at the October 2023 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After sharing the above examples, he stated:

In every case, the Lord saw these individuals for who they were and accordingly ministered to each one. As Nephi and his brother Jacob declared:

“He inviteth them all to come unto him …, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God” (2 Nephi 26:33).

“The one being is as precious in his sight as the other” (Jacob 2:21). (“We Are All His Children) 

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught the following about judging and labeling other people: 

The adversary rejoices in labels because they divide us and restrict the way we think about ourselves and each other. How sad it is when we honor labels more than we honor each other.

Labels can lead to judging and animosity. Any abuse or prejudice toward another because of nationality, race, sexual orientation, gender, educational degrees, culture, or other significant identifiers is offensive to our Maker! Such mistreatment causes us to live beneath our stature as His covenant sons and daughters! (“Choices for Eternity,” Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults with President Nelson, May 15, 2022) 

This lesson and this post are meant to help us to stop judging other people by their outward appearance. The color of the sin, the gender, the nationality, the religion, or the culture do not matter. We are all children of God, and He loves each one of us. He wants us to love each other and to look upon the heart before judging.

How Can Parents Foster Trust and Emotional Support in Their Children?

Strong families provide “positive childhood experiences [to] foster trust and emotional support as children grow older.” Strong families strengthen communities, states, and nations.

In her article published in the Deseret News, Lois M. Collins discussed why so many teens do not speak to their parents. 

Research suggests … Positive experiences [that] kids have in childhood build a strong foundation for trust and emotional support when the bigger challenges come in adolescent and teen years. Those positives carry forward into a better life.

That’s important. A statewide SHARP survey for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services shows that there’s a big disconnect when it comes to how willing older children are to share their emotions with their parents. While the vast majority of parents (93%) believe their kid would tell them what they’re feeling, a robust 4 in 10 teens say they don’t talk to anyone when they’re struggling.

That’s not just a disconnect, but a major challenge, because bad things can happen when kids don’t feel seen, heard, supported or safe to express themselves and having that confidence starts early….

It’s not just a lack of adverse childhood events that bring families together. Actively ensuring children grow up with positive experiences is key.

According to Collins, the State of Utah is taking this problem seriously. “Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, his Office of Families and the Department of Health and Human Services have launched the CHAT: Family Connection for Healthy Futures campaign to encourage parents to spend time with their kids, have meaningful conversations and do things together that build and strengthen bonds. You can find more about the Utah initiative at this site. 

How Do We Protect Religious Freedom?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns protection of religion. The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urged every ward or branch in the United States to teach a special lesson on May 31, 2026, about the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and moral agency. They are inviting members of the Church of Jesus Christ – members of other religions are welcome to join – to fast and pray for religious freedom on July 5, 2026. These actions show their concern about the dangers surrounding religious freedom.

Prophets and Apostles are not the only people concerned about religious freedom. In an article titled “Protecting Religion: The Battlefield of the Future” and published at The Daily Signal, Christoper Motz, Senior Counsel in the military affairs practice group at First Liberty Institute, showed similar concern about freedom of religion. 

On June 6, 1876, as the United States approached its centennial anniversary, President Ulysses S. Grant addressed the youth of America. “My advice … no matter their denomination,” is to hold fast to faith, to not merely know one’s religious precepts, but to live them.

By Grant’s counsel, in this would be the flourishing of the American nation. He concluded with a proverb – “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” – a verse also inscribed in Robert Muir’s painting “Peace and War” in the West Point chapel, which Grant no doubt contemplated as a student.

These words were more than a ceremonial message from a sitting president and former Civil War general. They were a warning, a lesson, and a charge to the next generation: What we inherit can be lost – unless we have the character to keep it.

Grant’s letter was first published in Sunday School Times, but due to its relevance and impact for all Americans, it also appeared in The New York Times a few days later – and again nine years later on the front page.

At the heart of the eighteenth president’s 1876 lesson is this: a nation’s strength is not ultimately measured by its wealth, weapons, or political victories, but by the values its citizens are willing to preserve, even when doing so becomes unpopular. Values are the measure of a nation’s enduring worth. That is why President Grant’s message matters today – especially as religious liberty becomes increasingly contested in public life.

When Grant wrote to America’s youth, he was speaking to citizens who would shape the next century. The Civil War had ended, but the nation still bore deep scars. Americans were trying to rebuild not only cities and economies, but unity itself – the very idea of America. The question was whether the country would be held together by more than lines on a map, but whether it could be held together by principle.

Grant’s letter recognized that the survival of American freedom would depend on whether young Americans embraced responsibility and character, not just rights.

That same reality confronts us today, and Grant’s challenge still rings true for all citizens as the U.S. nears its 250^th Anniversary in July 2026.

The freedoms secured by the Constitution – including the free exercise of religion – do not survive by accident. They survive only when citizens mutually recognize that liberty is not guaranteed, but that it must be understood, cherished, and protected. This is how we maintain the America we know and love.

However, the first freedom mentioned in the First Amendment – religious liberty – is often treated today as a niche political cause, relevant only to certain voters or certain faith traditions. But this is wrong. Religious liberty is a foundational American promise: No government has the authority to dictate what a person must believe, how he or she must worship, or what convictions he or she must abandon in order to participate in public life. Quite the contrary. Each citizen has the individual right to embrace the faith – or no faith at all – by his or her own choosing, without fear of being silenced or punished.

At least, that is what the Founders intended. Sadly, true freedom of religion (an important foundation of principle that Grant spoke of) has not been the reality for many American citizens shunned, bullied, and punished for their faith by government officials or employers who seem to have forgotten what freedom really means.

The First Amendment did not invent religious liberty. Rather, it recognizes a foundational truth that the Founders already knew: Conscience is not the property of the state, and it must be tenaciously protected. Otherwise, America is doomed to repeat the folly of other nations in history.

Freedom of religion matters. Principle matters. It has mattered for 250 years, and it will matter for another 250 years if we want to see an America that we recognize and are proud of for generations to come.

The Founders’ recognition of religious liberty was a declaration that the state is limited, that the government, military, schools, or city councils cannot reach into the human soul and command a specific allegiance. That limit is one of the greatest protections a people can ever possess.

The wisdom of the Founding Fathers was anchored in a sober view of human nature and a profound trust that true liberty requires something beyond mankind’s own power. Their understanding of rights was inseparable from the conviction that rights come from God, not government, meaning the government’s role is not to grant liberty, but to protect it.

So, as America nears its 250^th anniversary this July, Grant’s challenge of faith and freedom still remains just as strong as it did at the centennial: What we inherit can be lost, unless we have the character to keep it.

May we have the character to stand on principle and protect the First Freedom, freedom of religion, for that will determine where America stands at the next centennial.

Faith, Family, and Freedom are three qualities that are essential for surviving and thriving in our world. Freedom is vital for Faith to grow and develop. Both Faith and Freedom strengthen and bless families. May God bless America. May God bless Americans to stand up and protect freedom and liberty, particularly freedom of religion.

Articles of Faith: What Does It Mean to Believe?

Twelve of the thirteen Articles of Faith begin with the words “We believe.” What does it mean to believe? Elder Bruce R. McConkie defined belief this way.

Belief, humble belief, is the foundation of all righteousness and the beginning of spiritual progression….

Belief is the brilliant beacon that marks the course through the waves and woes of the world to that celestial harbor where rest and safety are found….

Belief in its full glory and beauty comes from God and is a divine gift bestowed upon all mankind. It is a heaven-sent boon of infinite worth that, in the full and true sense, is nothing more nor less than faith itself….

Belief, in the sense of intellectual assent to the existence of various truths, is the common inheritance of all mankind. Every normal and accountable person believes something. Such is a part of the natural heritage that goes with existence itself. Each human being has a mind, given of God, that believes and knows certain things without reference to revelation. The thought process is inherent in life itself, and we cannot exist without believing something. Belief in this sense has no relationship to gaining salvation.

Belief, in the sense of accepting or adhering to certain standards or principles of goodness, is also the common inheritance of all mankind. All are in a position to know the difference between good and evil. This knowledge comes to each person from his conscience. It is a divine endowment. It is the light of Christ, the light that enlightens every soul born into mortality….

Belief, in the true gospel sense and as commonly used in the scriptures, means faith. And faith is a gift of God reserved for those who abide the law entitling them to receive a boon so beneficent and a gift so great. Thus, to gain salvation, mankind must believe in Christ, or in other words, have faith in him….

Belief brings salvation and belief brings damnation. Men [and women] are saved or damned, depending upon what they believe. If they believe in Christ and his saving truths, they are heirs of salvation…

Salvation comes to those who believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rejection of his gospel closes the door to salvation….

All persons will be judged according to the deeds done in the flesh; as their works have been here in mortality, so shall their rewards be in immortality. This means they will be judged for their beliefs, or in other words for their thoughts, their words, and their acts. Beliefs are born of thoughts; they are then expressed in words; and, finally, they are manifest before mankind in works….

We conclude, therefore, that salvation depends upon belief. If we believe in God and feel in our hearts that he is a Holy Man; if we believe we are his children, endowed with power to become like him; if we believe that by godly conduct we can so obtain – then we will do the things whereby salvation comes…. (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 21-23, 250).

Are Latter-day Saints Christian?

A new Pentagon policy is causing turmoil in Latter-day Saint circles, particularly Utah’s two U.S. Senators. “The Department of War recently announced the reduction in the number of religious affiliation categories for service members from over 200 down to 31. Categories removed from the list include ‘atheist’ and ‘humanist,’ and ‘Wicca.’”

According to Suzanne Bates at the Deseret News, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was listed as a religious category but not labeled “Christian.” 

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, put up a screenshot of the list on X and asked, “Can anyone tell me why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was left out of the list of “Christian churches”? Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, called the characterization “unacceptable.

“Latter-day Saints are among the most patriotic, service-oriented individuals in our country. They are also unequivocally Christian – just look at who is in the name of the church,” he said in a statement.

“It is unacceptable for a government entity to characterize a faith in a manner that contradicts the religion’s own foundational tenets. I am working now to ensure a correction is made.”

On the Church of Jesus Christ’s website, under “frequently asked questions,” the church says it is Christian.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a Christian church but is neither Catholic nor Protestant,” the website says. “Rather, it is a restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ as originally established by the Savior in the New Testament of the Bible.”

The entry continues: “Latter-day Saints believe God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to save all mankind from death and their individual sins. Jesus Christ is central to the lives of Church members. They seek to follow His example by being baptized (see Matthew 3:13-17); praying in His holy name (see Matthew 6:9-13), partaking of the sacrament (see Luke 22:19-20), doing good to others (see Acts 10:38) and bearing witness of Him through both word and deed (see James 2:26). The only way to salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ.”

Why did the Pentagon reduce the number of religious categories?

When asked for comment, a Pentagon spokesperson referred the Deseret News to a statement made by chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who explained the reason behind the policy change but did not refer specifically to concerns raised by Utah’s senators.

Parnell said the reduction in the number of religious categories was made in order to “to allow our chaplains and religious support personnel to provide the best spiritual care to our warfighters.”

He said it was not meant to “make any claims on the legitimacy of any faith or religious belief,” or provide an “officially approve” list of religions but is meant to simplify the work of chaplains who serve in the armed forces.

“The Department of War places a high value on the First Amendment and the free exercise of religion,” Parnell said. “Chaplains play an instrumental role in providing spiritual care and facilitating the Warfighters’ ability to freely exercise their religion of choice, or no religion at all. With this new change, we believe we can provide the best data to support our chaplains in that effort.”

Who Is Spencer Pratt?

My VIP for this week is Spencer Pratt, Republican candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, California. While left-wing media call Pratt “a one-time reality star villain with no experience,” BlazeTV host Liz Wheeler found that he has “much more” to him than they think. 

“What is Spencer Pratt’s experience?” Wheeler asks. “Well, most people say none. He just kind of has a good idea of what he might do. He has some connections. Or they might say a reality TV star, a villain on television.”

However, Wheeler explains that his experience is actually “a track record of being majorly successful based on his own ingenuity and hustling.”

“Spencer Pratt graduated from USC with a degree in political science, so politics is not totally foreign to this man. He, yes, he starred on a reality TV show, ‘The Hills,’ but he also created and executive produced another reality TV show called ‘The Princes of Malibu’ on Fox,” she explains.

As of this writing, Pratt holds second place behind current Mayor Karen Bass. If he continues in second place or moves ahead of Bass, his name will be on the ballot for the general election this fall.