Freedom from Religious Discrimination

            The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is that Americans have the right to exercise their religion without discrimination. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….” This principle should apply to state and local governments also, but governments on several levels are infringing on those rights according to the following recent stories in the news.

            We have the case of Steve and Bridget Tennes, owners of Country Mill Farms in Charlotte, Michigan. A city in Michigan banned this family of farmers from “selling their goods at a local farmers market due to their religious beliefs about marriage.” They put a post on Facebook that they would not host same-sex weddings on their farm.

            The Tenneses filed a federal lawsuit against East Lansing in May after they were banned from selling produce at the city’s farmers market. They recently went back to the court to ask for a preliminary injunction or temporary order that would allow them to sell their produce until the case is decided. These farmers have missed most of the growing season because they were discriminated against due to their religious beliefs. The Tennes family does not even live in East Lansing because their farm is in Charlotte. They simply want to sell their apples and cider!

            A second case is that of Colorado baker Jack Phillips and his Masterpiece Cake Shop. He was punished by his state for his religious objection to making a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. When Phillips tried to explain that he could not use his “artistry” to promote same-sex marriage, he was “publicly berated and punished by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. He was actually called a Nazi by one supposedly “neutral” commissioner.

            Phillips is not the first baker to be sued for refusing to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples, but he is the first one to have his case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court agreed in June to hear the case this fall and will hopefully rule in accordance with the First Amendment.

            The third case is Washington florist Barronelle Stutzman who was ordered by the Washington State Supreme Court to promote same-sex `weddings’ with her floral artistry in violation of her faith. The judges in the state court said that a court could “order her to forfeit her business, savings, retirement funds and home” as her “punishment for refusing.” She is petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court for permission to join the Phillips case.

            All three cases are about the freedom to exercise religion without governments discriminating against them. The Tennes family is willing to sell their apples and cider to anyone regardless of sexual behavior, but they do not want to take part in any same-sex marriages by hosting them at their farm. The baker and florist do not want to participate in same-sex marriages by using their artistic talents to celebrate something that that goes against their religious belief.

            Agency, or the freedom to choose, pre-dates this mortal life, and man does not have the right to destroy this great God-given gift. Lucifer sought to destroy our agency in heaven, and we were part of the heavenly hosts that fought to preserve our agency. We are still fighting that war. Early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faced discrimination for their religious beliefs. Some of my ancestors were among the people who were persecuted and driven out of their homes several times.

            Members of the Church believe strongly in agency and freedom of religion. One of the articles of faith states that “We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may” (Articles of Faith, 1:11). 

            The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “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 [as for a Mormon]; 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” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 345). 

            The Prophet today, even Thomas S. Monson, and his associates in the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, continue to fight against religious discrimination and persecution. It is not just the Mormons who are being discriminated against today. It is any Christian who tries to live the teachings of Jesus Christ.