Religious Freedom Worldwide

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the fact that we can all do something to preserve religious freedom.  Sandra Jolley, a former stake Relief Society president in Nevada, was appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).  This government organization is dedicated to protecting religious freedom worldwide. I believe it is fitting to commemorate Mother’s Day by sharing information about this woman.

                Sister Jolley “worked for decades” for Senator Harry Reid who gave her this compliment:  “No one cares more about protecting religious freedom than Sandy Jolley…. She has a proven record of bringing people of disparate backgrounds together to accomplish great things, and she will be an invaluable addition to the commission.” I do not respect Senator Reid’s politics, but this is a nice compliment!

                The article announcing Sister Jolley’s appointment contained this statement by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in an address he presented at the 2016 Mormon Studies Religious Freedom Conference at California’s Claremont Graduate University.  

                “I maintain that the teachings and free practice of religion are essential to a free and prosperous society…. I also maintain that religious values and political realities are so interlinked in the origin and perpetuation of this nation that we cannot lose the influence of religion and religious bodies in our public life without seriously jeopardizing our freedom and prosperity.”