Why Is Religious Freedom Essential for Peace?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday has to do with religious freedom and peace. According to President D. Todd Christofferson, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, religious freedom is “the cornerstone of peace in a world with many competing philosophies.”

President Christofferson and his wife, Kathy Christofferson, along with Elder Matthew S. Holland, General Authority Seventy, and his wife, Paige Holland, visited Philadelphia – the foundational hub of U.S. democracy. They toured historic sites in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, on Friday, June 12, 2026.

According to Sarah Jane Weaver, editor of the Deseret News, the Christoffersons and Hollands were joined by Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Alexander Dushku of the Seventy as well as other leaders of faith at the Canterbury Medal Gala

on Thursday evening. The event is an annual gathering sponsored by Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a non-profit, public-interest legal and educational institute. 

President Christofferson offered the invocation at the Becket event, held as the United States celebrates the nation’s 250^th anniversary. Weaver reported as follows.

“Moral agency, the ability to choose right from wrong and to act for ourselves, is essential to God’s plan of salvation,” President Christofferson wrote on social media after the event.

“Religious freedom ensures that people can exercise their agency in matters of faith.

“We are grateful to be associated with so many wonderful people of faith who we stand with to advocate for religious freedom….

Reflecting on his time in Philadelphia, President Christofferson noted a key verse found in Latter-day Saint scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 101. It teaches that the Constitution was “established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh.”

“[That means] all mankind, not just in this nation but everywhere in the world,” President Christofferson said. “I think it’s proven to be that wherever those principles have been adopted, the people have flourished and the blessings that we enjoy have been enjoyed by them.” …

Both President Christofferson and Elder Holland (who leads Latter-day Saint global communication efforts) praised Becket for defending and promoting religious liberty for all, according to the news release.

“I think about that Joseph Smith statement, that [he would] be willing to die for the rights of all different faiths – Catholic, Jews, Muslims. Not just our own,” Elder Holland said. “We see that with Becket. We’re willing to stand with others to defend their rights. And they’re willing to stand with us. There’s a power and a principle of equality and inclusiveness that we’re doing this in a multifaith way.”

President Christofferson said Becket is very effective. “They do a superb work. The key to their success is that they’re focused on religious liberty for everyone. Not just certain faiths, but all faiths and even those who have no faith. They are intent on ensuring that everyone has what the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights provides, and that is freedom of belief and religion and practice.”

Articles of Faith: What Do Latter-day Saints Believe About the Godhead?

Article of Faith 1

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ,

                                and in the Holy Ghost.

 

Faith in God is “the foundation of religious belief and practice, according to Elder James E. Talmage. He also said that “a knowledge of the attributes and character of Deity is essential to an intelligent exercise of faith in Him.” This is the reason this topic is the first doctrine mentioned in the Articles of Faith for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Articles of Faith [1890], 29).

The Prophet Joseph Smith gave a series of lectures on faith. His third lecture was titled “The Character of God.” Early in the lecture, he said the following. 

Let us here observe, that three things are necessary, in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation.

First, The idea that he actually exists.

Secondly, A correct idea of his character, perfections and attributes.

Thirdly, An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his will.—For without an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every rational being must be imperfect and unproductive; but with this understanding, it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Section 130 in the Doctrine and Covenants contains instructions given by the Prophet Joseph Smith in Ramus, Illinois, on April 2, 1843. Verse 22 of that section describes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

In his book, The Articles of Faith, Elder Talmage provided information about the Godhead, also known as the Trinity.

Three personages composing the great presiding council of the universe have revealed themselves to man: (1) God the Eternal Father; (2) His Son, Jesus Christ; and (3) the Holy Ghost. That these three are separate individuals, physically distinct from each other, is demonstrated by the accepted records of divine dealings with man. On the occasion of the Savior’s baptism, John recognized the sign of the Holy Ghost; he saw before him in a tabernacle of flesh the Christ, unto whom he had administered the holy ordinance; and he heard the voice of the Father. The three personages of the Godhead were present, manifesting themselves each in a different way, and each distinct from the others. Later the Savior promised His disciples that the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost, should be sent unto them by His Father; here again are the three members of the Godhead separately defined. Stephen, at the time of his martyrdom, was blessed with the power of heavenly vision, and he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Joseph Smith, while calling upon the Lord in fervent prayer, saw the Father and the Son, standing in the midst of light that shamed the brightness of the sun; and one of these declared of the other, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” Each of the members of the Trinity us called God, together they constitute the Godhead (pp. 39-40).

Elder Talmage discussed the unity of the Godhead. Although the Godhead consists of three separate members, they are unified in their purpose.

The Godhead is a type of unity in the attributes, powers, and purposes of its members. Jesus, while on earth and in manifesting Himself to His Nephite servants, repeatedly testified of the unity existing between Himself and the Father, and between them both and the Holy Ghost. This cannot rationally be construed to mean that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one in substance and in person, nor that the names represent the same individual under different aspects. A single reference to prove the error of any such view may suffice: Immediately before His betrayal, Christ prayed for His disciples, the Twelve, and other converts, that they should be preserved in unit, “that they all may be one” as the Father and the Son are one. We cannot assume that Christ prayed that His followers lose their individuality and become one person, even if a change so directly opposed to nature were possible. Christ desired that all should be united in heart, spirit, and purpose; for such is the unity between His Father and Himself, and between them and the Holy Ghost.

This unity is a type of completeness; the mind of any one member of the Trinity is the mind of the others; seeing as each of them does with the eye of perfection, they see and understand alike. Under any given conditions each would act in the same way, guided by the same principles of unerring justice and equity. The one-ness of the Godhead, to which the scriptures so abundantly testify, implies no mystical union of substance, nor any unnatural and therefore impossible blending of personality. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are as distinct in their persons and individualities as are any three personages in mortality. Yet their unity of purpose and operation is such as to make their edicts one, and their will the will of God. Even in bodily appearance the Father and the Son are alike; therefore said Christ when importuned by Philip to show to him and others the Father: “have I been so long with you, and yet has thou not known me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me” (John 14:9-11) (pp. 40-41).

There is much more information to learn about the Godhead, so I plan to write several posts about it before moving on to Article of Faith 2.

How Has California Legalized Cheating in Elections?

The Primary elections for governor of California and mayor of Los Angeles showed plainly how California runs elections. Now the Justice Department has “launched multiple election fraud investigations coupled with litigation over voter registration,” according to Fred Lucas at Daily Signal. California is liberal in its election practices, using such practices as ballot harvesting, universal mail-in voting, allowing ballots to be counted if they arrive within a week after election day, and no voter ID requirements. 

The Justice Department claims “statutory authority to enforce our nation’s election laws” that includes “requesting state voter rolls and monitoring returns when candidates for federal office are on the ballot,” according to Justice Department spokeswoman Natalie Baldassarre.

“The department’s investigations into voter fraud in California are in line with this authority and will continue despite the state’s unwillingness to comply and reassure voters that their elections are, in fact, free, fair, and transparent,” Baldassarre continued. “Protecting election integrity is a top priority for the Trump administration.”

Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, posted on X just days after the recent contentious primary elections that his office launched fraud investigations and would “follow the evidence.”

“Without commenting on any specific investigation, my office has multiple election fraud investigations underway in coordination with @FBILosAngeles,” Essayli posted June 5 on X. “We will follow the evidence wherever it leads and prosecute any violations of federal election law to the fullest extent.”

California, which takes a long time to count ballots in most years, garnered significant attention this year over the Los Angeles mayor’s race. On election night, it appeared Republican Spencer Pratt would be among the top two finishers to advance to the November general election before he was overtaken days later, with two Democrats – incumbent Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Nithya Raman – advancing.

“California may not be cheating because cheating is legal in the state,” Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, told the Daily Signal. “Mass harvesting of votes, and stuffing mailboxes full of votes are all legal in California.

Well before the California primary season, the Justice Department Civil Rights Division sought access to the state’s voter registration information to ensure compliance with the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.

In January, U.S. District Judge David O. Carter of the Central District of California ruled the state did not have to provide the data to the Justice Department. The federal government appealed to the 9^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where a three-judge panel heard arguments in May.

In late May, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to create legal barriers to prevent the federal government from accessing voter rolls, voter lists, or certified voting technology without a specific court order.

“California will not allow our elections to be commandeered by political intimidation, abuse of power, or chaotic interference from extremists chasing conspiracy theories,” Newsom said in a public statement. “This law protects voters, election workers, and the integrity of the democratic process from election-deniers who want to undermine democracy.”

California has automatic voter registration for residents completing driver license, identification card, or change of address transactions. It allows universal mail-in voting where ballots are automatically mails to every registered voter. Other states require voters to request a ballot for mail-in voting.

A ballot postmarked by Election Day may arrive for counting up to seven days after Election Day. Further, the state has a 22-day grace period after Election Day for people to “cure” defective mail ballots.

Further, the Public Interest Legal Foundation, a watchdog group that reviews voter registration data nationally, found more than 23,000 deceased registrants on the voter rolls as of 2018. It also found 7,244 registered voters with non-residential addresses….

Although the primary contests for the California governor and Los Angeles may drew national attention, federal candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives are also on the ballot this year in California. The Justice Department would have oversight of federal elections…..

Essayli, the top federal prosecutor in the Los Angeles area, posted in a separate message on X, “We also have serious concerns about how California maintains its voter rolls. There are open questions about whether the state is promptly removing deceased voters, people who have moved, and individuals convicted of disqualifying felonies.

“On top of that, California allows third parties to collect and turn in ballots on voters’ behalf (a practice known as ballot harvesting) with few restrictions,” he continued in the post. “This makes it difficult to track who actually received, completed, and submitted each ballot.”

  

Who Are Independent Journalists?

My VIPs for this week are independent journalists who tell the stories that go unreported by mainstream news teams. I will discuss two independent journalists in this post, and I will use an article by Eva Terry titled “The rise of independent journalism – the risks and rewards” and published in the Deseret News. 

The day after Christmas last year, 24-year-old Nick Shirley posted a video about suspected fraud in Minnesota. In it, he and a man named Dave Hoch knocked the doors of tax-funded daycare centers, then attended a meeting about fraud at Minnesota’s State Capitol. At the conclusion of its 42 minutes, Shirley reported they’d uncovered more than $110 million in fraud.

The video lit a fire on social media. Within a week, it had been viewed 4 billion times across all platforms, Shirley said, including X, YouTube, Facebook and others.

Responding to the outrage, the Department of Homeland Security launched an investigation. On Jan. 5, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he would not seek reelection. On Jan. 6, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services froze billions of dollars in federal funding to five states, including Minnesota.

In late May, the Justice Department leveled fraud charges against 15 people in Minnesota, alleging $90 million of fraud in Medicaid programs.

Shirley is not the only independent journalist to be discussed in this post. The next one is Andy Ngo who began while a student at Portland State University.

Andy Ngo didn’t set out to pioneer the field of independent journalism. In 201, he was an editor for Portland State University’s student newspaper, where he was studying as a graduate student. That April, he attended an interfaith panel titled “Unpacking Misconceptions,” and one attendee asked whether the Quran permitted the killing of non-Muslims.

Ngo recorded the student panelist’s response: he said non-Muslims could be killed or banished in a state governed by Quranic law. Ngo posted the video to Twitter without commentary. Then his editors called him into their office.

“I was accused by a student activist on campus of Islamophobia, and it escalated up to the editor in chief and the administration,” Ngo said in an interview with the Deseret News. “So I was fired.”

The student newspaper, PSU Vanguard, published a front-page story that Ngo had separated from the newspaper. In 2017 if someone searched Ngo’s name on Google, Vanguard’s article would popup, as would Ngo’s response piece published in the National Review, titled “Fired for Reporting the Truth.”

“So I felt at that time, very early on – this was before I any social media following – that my prospect of going into a mainstream journalism career were destroyed,” he said.

Around the same time, violent protests erupted in Portland in response to President Donald Turmp’s first inauguration, “So I started going out with my iPhone seven,” Ngo said.

“This was years before there was monetization, so it wasn’t like a business decision. I saw that there were certain gaps in what I was reading in print from legacy media, which I at that time had a lot of respect for, in regard to violence and political violence from Antifa and other militant left-wing groups. That truth was not being reflected in broadcast, local broadcast media or the legacy print media,” he said.

The absence of mainstream coverage “motivated me to continue to go out and record these videos,” he said.

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.