Mormon Leader: Obama’S Immigration Plan Matches Lds Values

[Bikeemikey]

Without getting too political President Obama is limited in what he can do as President. It is Congress that has to get off its duff and fix the problem.

Seems like all of them are a little limited to me.

[thesometimesaint]

In some cases more than a little limited.

[BCSpace]

I posted more detail in the other thread, but in short:

President Barack Obama’s outline for immigration reform matches the values of the Mormon faith, according to Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the LDS Church’s governing First Presidency.

This does not mean that the modus operandi matches Church values or doctrine. Nor does it mean that they agree with Obama's actual policy which he delivers to his base.

Uchtdorf expressed his view that the government should respond with compassion to undocumented immigrants who have a long history in this country.

"My personal feeling there is the United States over the last couple of decades, even de facto, encouraged others to come, you know, to work in the fields in California, or Arizona or Texas, some of those have been here for 30 years," he said. "They are bishops in our church, but they never became legal residents because the system was not right for it and all of a sudden we are having changes even though they were more or less invited here to come because their work was needed."

Notice the highlighted context. Bishops and Stake presidents often receive training on this issue so as not to break the law or help others do so and local church leaders are encouraged to become legal.

Still, Uchtdorf said he believes a different standard may apply for more recent immigrants who did not arrive through legal channels.

"If someone is coming now to the U.S. or in the last couple of years they know they should come the legal way," he said.

Those of us who have come down on the side of Church doctrine and principles should rejoice at this statement. Yes, it should have been made long ago, but here is marker. From this point on, the Church is agreeing that those who enter the country illegally are breaking the law.

[Calm]

The DN's article is now more detailed: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865575314/President-Obama-meets-with-President-Uchtdorf-other-faith-leader-about-immigration.html

For the LDS Church, the statement underscored, “the bedrock moral issue … is how we treat each other as children of God.”

And that is what President Uchtdorf tried to stress during his meeting with President Obama and the other faith leaders. As an immigrant to the United States, he said he has strong feelings on the subject — and some of those feelings are tender....

He paused, then added, "Whether we are Christians or other faith groups, we focus on the human side. Yes, we should obey the law, but we need to take a look at how it impacts individuals and families."

Asked how the LDS Church is directly affected by U.S. immigration policy, President Uchtdorf said that isn’t really the point.

“I’m not talking about the organization of the church,” he said. “I’m talking about individuals. As a church, we are concerned about individuals. We care about every member who is impacted in a negative way by this. We need to be of help. We need to support in a moral way."...

As a result of the meeting, President Uchtdorf said, "I hope that a lot of the people who are thinking of this as a political issue will look more at the human side of this topic — that while they focus on enforcing the law, they also make sure that we are compassionate in our approaches and that we are strengthening our families in a common sense way."

Edited March 9, 2013 by calmoriah

[ERayR]

Without getting too political President Obama is limited in what he can do as President. It is Congress that has to get off its duff and fix the problem.

Without getting to political it seems that for anything he really wants he does fine with executive orders.

[Bikeemikey]

Those of us who have come down on the side of Church doctrine and principles should rejoice at this statement. Yes, it should have been made long ago, but here is marker. From this point on, the Church is agreeing that those who enter the country illegally are breaking the law.

Easy on the flowery rhetoric - interesting discussion yes, rejoice... not so much.

So If you have been in the country for a long time, temple recommend ok... if you came in last year the church is going to roll out a policy of saying no and reporting you?

No matter what was said in the last couple of days by our immigrant Apostle, the practical nature of church engagement with illegal immigrants in the USA will not likely change.

If you are a faithful, active latter day saint who came across the boarder yesterday I you would be able to get a temple recommend. That has been no new memo or letter or directive to bishops and stake presidents to start checking you illegal boarder crossing date.

Practically, how do you know how long an illegal immigrant has been in the country. Just come over tomorrow and say it was 10 years ago. Not like the got an illegal crossing date stamp their passport.

The time distinction (length of stay in the country), while it carries a lot of sentiment with US citizens watching the debate and it is easy to say sure you been here 25 years, stick around, two years, not so much, practically is a very difficult consideration to practically enforce.

[thesometimesaint]

Without getting to political it seems that for anything he really wants he does fine with executive orders.

A few small area's are open to Executive Orders, such as how a certain aspect of the law will be implemented Most are not. Congress is the ones who make the laws.

[cinepro]

Well, the article headline sounds like the Trib's words and not Pres. Uchtdorf's. If he represented the Church on this issue and gave the Church's position on immigration I think he would have read a statement, but this sounds liek he gave his own opinion and he happens to be in the First Presidency so it's his own and not what teh Church generally believes

Actually, from the article it sounds like he was there as a representative of Lufthansa, not the Church. He was talking about Lufthansa's values.

[canard78]

But you're fully American, yes? Thats what counts.

Spare me, dude. Everybody's land was stolen from them. The trick is to keep it once you have it.

And that makes it ok how?

[Damien the Leper]

I have dual citizenship for the U.S. and Germany. I was born to American parents in a German, not American, hospital. Initially, the German government wasn't going to allow me to leave. The compromise was dual citizenship. My parents, my dad was in the Army, had to shell out a lot of cash for legal fees. To make things more difficult, the American government wasn't willing, initially, to grant dual citizenship. It was a mess. The times I've talked about it with my parents in the past, they have always said there was a lot of money, politics, and heartache in the 3 year process.

Just thought I'd share my immigrant story.

Edited March 10, 2013 by Valentinus

[Hamilton Porter]

Utahns are quite stubborn when it comes to admitting people who look differently in. Every Utah politician has been booted from office for implementing the Church's suggestions. Hopefully, this statement from President Uchtdorf's statements will help Utahns inch closer to the Lord's will.

[Saints Alive]

The only thing this shows is that inspired leaders can and do make uninspired, personal comments. I'm not sure if there is anything in the scriptures about how countries allow people into the country but I do know of an article of faith that has to do with obeying the law. Obeying the law is something every illegal immigrant has failed to do, and that is not inline with church values.

[Calm]

Utahns are quite stubborn when it comes to admitting people who look differently in. Every Utah politician has been booted from office for implementing the Church's suggestions. Hopefully, this statement from President Uchtdorf's statements will help Utahns inch closer to the Lord's will.

I think it is highly unfair to condemn an entire state in this way.

If it is so horrible here for immigrants, why are so many coming?

The 2000 Census reports 158,664 immigrant residents in Utah, the 20th highest in the US, and the 5th highest rate of increase in the country. This is an increase of 170.8% over the 1990 foreign-born population recorded at 58,600 immigrants. This increase is significantly higher than the 24.7% increase in the native-born population for the state of Utah....

Utah’s immigrant population increased by nearly 33.5% between 2000 and 2006.

http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/utah.html

Edited March 11, 2013 by calmoriah

[Danzo]

should you lose your membership over your traffic violations or your tax violation?

The US code is not holy writ.

[Hamilton Porter]

The only thing this shows is that inspired leaders can and do make uninspired, personal comments. I'm not sure if there is anything in the scriptures about how countries allow people into the country but I do know of an article of faith that has to do with obeying the law. Obeying the law is something every illegal immigrant has failed to do, and that is not inline with church values.

Is this a one-time personal comment, or has this been church policy revealed statement after statement?

[Hamilton Porter]

I think it is highly unfair to condemn an entire state in this way.

If it is so horrible here for immigrants, why are so many coming?

http://www.usimmigra...t.org/utah.html

You're right, perhaps I should limit my remarks to how Utah votes during election time. For example, Sen. Bennett successfully obtained an exemption for the Church to call illegal bishops and missionaries. What happened to him? Booted. What happened to Chris Cannon? Booted.

[emarkp]

If it is so horrible here for immigrants, why are so many coming?

Legally or illegally? Why do you intentionally confuse the two?

[Ron Beron]

As a naturalized citizen to this country I am absolutely behind the immigration reforms required in this country. I was behind such reforms when Pres. Bush was president and am equally in favor of continued reforms as outlined by Sen. Rubio. I am not, however, so optimistic to assume that Mr. Obama's reforms are anything more than a sideshow attempt to garner minority votes.

[ERayR]

Legally or illegally? Why do you intentionally confuse the two?

Calmoriah can speak for herself but i just can't see her confused about this. Why do you intentionally misrepresent the problem. If you are still hung up about anyone who breaks the law in any way I think it is time for you to confess your unlawful acts. In my humble opinion the lack of charity is much worse.

[volgadon]

As a naturalized citizen to this country I am absolutely behind the immigration reforms required in this country. I was behind such reforms when Pres. Bush was president and am equally in favor of continued reforms as outlined by Sen. Rubio. I am not, however, so optimistic to assume that Mr. Obama's reforms are anything more than a sideshow attempt to garner minority votes.

My thoughts exactly.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

Without getting too political President Obama is limited in what he can do as President. It is Congress that has to get off its duff and fix the problem.

Too late. I notice that it is only those that have "R" next to their name that you blame. I have issues with the whole lot of them. The real question, is why don't you? Obama doesn't have a plan. He is in campaign mode.

But back on topic. I support what the Church teaches regarding the topic.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

As a naturalized citizen to this country I am absolutely behind the immigration reforms required in this country. I was behind such reforms when Pres. Bush was president and am equally in favor of continued reforms as outlined by Sen. Rubio. I am not, however, so optimistic to assume that Mr. Obama's reforms are anything more than a sideshow attempt to garner minority votes.

Oh my, we have a winner.