Religious Freedom Annual Review 2021

Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say the Prophet Joseph Smith helped strengthen democracy in the United States in the 19th century.
Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Ruth Lybbert Renlund, were keynote speakers on Tuesday, June 15, at the 2021 Religious Freedom Annual Review, hosted by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. This year’s event was held virtually.

[@allmight9840]

Do your best to go to church wherever you are. This is how we defend our right to free practice of religion.

[@TexasAbolitionist]

Medical freedom is a major freedom of the American Democracy.

[@molokaibowhunterscom]

The Church is true and I know the constitution of the United States was inspired by God. For Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Which includes freedom of religion. Many americans take these rights for granted. God bless America!

[@stevenphilips75]

While society morals falter and mutate, we need our churches more than ever to show the beacon of morality and thus be supported by the rights through the God given Constitution.

[@JasonAllred]

Religious freedom is so important. We should do all we can to protect it.

[@filmmakerdude]

where is your freedom to worship under threat?

[@JasonAllred]

@@filmmakerdude Here are a few ways religious freedom has been attacked recently: > Immigration restrictions based on the majority religion of the countries in question (as Trump enacted against Muslims). > Religious institutions being sued to lose their ability to employ according to their own religious standards (currently being litigated). > Religious institutions being sued to perform services they disagree with (Catholic adoption/foster agencies). > Religious educational institutions being sued to restrict their ability to set moral standards (currently being litigated). > Religious services being classified as "non-essential" during the pandemic (in some places, even outdoor, physically spaced services were prohibited while places like coffee shops could stay open). > Using taxation as a power to threaten churches into changing their teachings (as was Beto's campaign position for president and commonly pushed by Democrats). > Federal mandates to force religious institutions to pay for medical services that are against their religion (HHS). > Pushes to restrict freedom of using finances for religious purposed by reclassifying donations as non-charitable. > Local zoning regulations that prevent the construction of religious buildings. > Mandates that force individuals to perform activities in their employment that are against their religion.

[@filmmakerdude]

@@JasonAllred I agree with #1 "Religious institutions being sued to lose their ability to employ according to their own religious standards" Religious institutions? or Religious people who own businesses - these are two different things under two different laws and allowances - a business that deals with teh public is different to a religious intstitutions. Throughtout your examples here I think youre confusing religious institutions with private comapnies that serve and employ the public - they are tne same thing. Religious instutitons have all the protection as demonstrated in 202 by the supreme court. Religious services being classified as "non-essential" during the pandemic - this is not religious persecution as much as it wasnt drinking persecution to stop drinking in bars during this pandemic - the victim complex is strong here - invalid Pushes to restrict freedom of using finances for religious purposed by reclassifying donations as non-charitable. - I actually agree with this action - if a religious institution doesnt do much charitable work they should actually be taxed - this is a huge debate and discussion, but tax the churches I say. "Mandates that force individuals to perform activities in their employment that are against their religion." this is dumb and you made it up, you dont understand the current discrimination laws of serving the public for housing, service transport etc. I dont wnt to insult you but its ignorant and protects the public not persecute the religi Would you find it acceptable if a Motel banned mmormons from om accomodations based on their religious convictions?

[@PunsandPixels]

The same thing is being repeated today. We are being prevented from physically gathering, and from practicing our religion.

[@MegWasHere2011]

Thank you Elder and Sister Renlund for sharing this testimony

[@romanavillapando9468]

Freedom of choice , I’m grateful to Prophet Joseph Smith for being a Prophet of God

[@7ajhubbell]

Thank you.

[@user-ve9bz7kb3f]

Слава Иисусу за Его искупительную жертву!!!💗

[@carolswarbrick1722]

Thank you for a clear view of Joseph's reasons to become the President of the USA, it is so sad he died as he did.

[@busybeebecca6035]

Thank you for all you do!! You both gave a wonderful message!

[@Brandon-Is-Not-Fooled]

J.S. didnt fight for a democracy, he fought for freedom within a republic. Important diff. But great video otherwise.

[@Meg1989]

I wonder why so many people call it a democracy, when America is actually a republic.

[@Brandon-Is-Not-Fooled]

@@Meg1989 MSM lies. Govt school indoctrination. Propaganda. Keep repeating a lie and ppl start believing it.

[@dougknutson8910]

How I wish you had expounded on Joseph's well-known reverence for Freedom of the Press... Perhaps next year.

[@tdubs5128]

Freedom of the press? He is the one who ordered the destruction of a printing press.

[@kohelet2446]

Prior to the 20th century libel and defamation was considered not protected by the first amendment, and there was authoritative legal precedent for the Nauvoo Expositor. The first amendment also only applied to federal law at this time. "Upon investigating the matter, we found that our city charter gave us power to remove all nuisances. Furthermore, after consulting Blackstone upon what might be considered a nuisance, it appeared that that distinguished lawyer, who is considered authority, I believe, in all courts, states among other things that ‘a libelous and filthy press may be considered a nuisance, and abated as such,’" - History of the Church vol. 7 page 90

[@tdubs5128]

@@kohelet2446 Funny thing is the content of the Nauvoo Expositer was accurate.

[@kohelet2446]

​@@tdubs5128 Irrelevant, the definition of libel according to the 1828 Webster's dictionary on this specific matter states that "It is immaterial with respect to the essence of a libel whether the matter of it is true or false, since the provocation and not the falsity is the thing to be punished criminally. But in a civil action, a libel must appear to be false, as well as scandalous." It has no bearings on whether it is false or not. Even then, only in civil action it must "appear to be false" which would meet the quota for the Nauvoo City Council's orders, considering Joseph was publicly denying "spiritual wifery" it then fully meets the definition of libel.

[@tdubs5128]

@@kohelet2446 I'm definitely no lawyer and it sounds like maybe you are. Do you think that if Joseph hadn't ordered the destruction of that printing press he would have lived a bit longer? I have heard that one of the reasons for his murder was because of this printing press destruction and also his practice of plural marriage.

[@bluzone7]

One thing we all need to remember is that our country is not a democracy but a constution republic. It had been foretold that one would want to know how the hearts of the children of men would be prior to the second coming of our Lord read Helaman to the 11th Chapter of 3rd Nephi then you will know. I have been studing it and we are very close. Dividing of society at first and then the churches and then pride enters into the heart we are thinking we are more better then some one else. One must also remember pride is eminty towards God and other men. I challege all to read and see for your self.

[@amandadangerfieldpiano]

Yes!

[@ciprianoadduru2875]

Joseph is a true prophet of GOD HE GAVE HIS OWN LIFE TO SEAL THE TRUTH OF HE RESTORATION OF JESUS CHRIST CHURCH ON EARTH FOR THEVPREPARATIONS OF THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO BE THE KING OF ALL Kings on earth h

[@ciprianoadduru2875]

This 27h has f just ne is the anniversary of the death of the prophet Joseph smith ang his brother Hyrum smith the two twestators of the truth about GOD THE FATHER JESUS CHRIST THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF GOD , THANK YOU JOSEPH FOR BEING A PROPHET IF THE RESTORATION IS F THE TRUE CHURCH OF Jesus CHRIST ON EARTH

[@88amona]

What happened to the comments? So much for freedom of speech. Liberty is the word these folks were probably thinking of. Not democracy.

[@donnahammond9685]

Nice try to give the. Some Grace; however these things are rehearsed & scrutinized prior to publicly posting; not a chance they meant Liberty; they said what they meant & meant what they said. Shame on those who are culpable in the current crimes against humanity, violating God Given rights so subtly the majority of the public doesn’t even notice the creeping encroachments. Words matter.

[@88amona]

@@donnahammond9685 tbh idk what they meant lol I just know that Liberty is the word that should have been used and talked about. Democracy is just mob rule.

[@kuyalems]

What if Pres. Nelson is the president of the United States?

[@rabbithole2015]

That would be a nightmare.

[@kuyalems]

@@rabbithole2015 yes you're right, that would be nightmare for the wicked people.

[@rabbithole2015]

@@kuyalems Oh please. Seriously?

[@rabbithole2015]

@@kuyalems The man is 96 years old. The church should let him retire and enjoy what time he has left. Being president of the United states would be ridiculous.

[@rosemaryfifita4540]

@Jason have you seen the current president, how old is he? He should probably consider retiring.

[@fuafaatiga6593]

1, JOHN,2,4,

[@fuafaatiga6593]

LUKE,,16,17, ROMA,,7,12

[@dieselcoondog]

Respectfully, I've watched church leaders speak before empty rooms at religious freedom conferences for years, but when actual rights were curtailed across the globe by petty tyrants eager to squash freedom to worship, the message has been 'deference to civic authorities'. Why did we worship under 100's of different standards, based on rudderless local despots? Do we not have access to infectious disease experts of our own, many members in good standing? Why did we not develop and follow one risk-based standard, and why was there nary a protest at government overreaches that went beyond prudent prevention and basic fairness? Why such dimmed displays of leadership to plea for our beautiful temples to reopen? Meantime, we watched brave fellow Christians in shoestring churches fight alone against disparate treatment (Get out!). Without Gifts received under the fullness of the Gospel, they instinctively knew how this would be exploited and who they were really up against. While we mostly took a year off, discouraged from even campaigning in unity against the losses of freedom in our own land. Pandemics have been prophesied for millennia. Will we be ready for the next one, likely more severe, not only the disease but how it will be exploited by the enemies of God? Our US right to worship was bought with blood and is only preserved through boldly holding our government accountable. Modern and ancient prophets have warned of combinations against these freedoms. Spare me passionless speeches read from a teleprompter before empty rooms if we have no passion as actual rights are throttled. Note: I ask these difficult questions not because I don't sustain these leaders, but because I do. But what is going on in SLC?

[@fuafaatiga6593]

MARK GOD'S PEOPLE THE SABBATH,,,,EZEKIEL,,20,20

[@fuafaatiga6593]

ALL PEOPLE WORSHIP ON SUNDAY THE MARK OF THE PEAST TIME TO MOVE AWAY NOW PEFOR SUNDAY LAW FOCE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,JESUS KEEP THE SABBATH,,,LUKE,,4,16,

[@88amona]

Constitutional Republic. Not Democracy.

[@KevinBellKRB]

Elder Renlund is looking skinnier.

[@mssrus]

Both he and his wife were sick last winter. He looks much better now!

[@donnahammond9685]

America is a constitutional republic NOT an American democracy 😬you people know better😡

[@allmight9840]

I agree. The spirit of the message is good, but we should be careful to use true words, not words that the world has manipulated for their benefit.

[@refreshingdesignsjewelry]

I feel like we have to start screaming that from the roof tops! No one seems to understand the difference between a Democracy and a Constitutional Republic.

[@88amona]

Amen to that. Watch out they might erase your comment.

[@00Fisher00]

Those are not entirely separate forms of government.

[@LarryMickelson]

It is a democratic principle to vote. In that sense there are democratic principles embedded in the US Constitution. The word republic is much more vague, as in "The Republic of China." Republic basically means country. And, yes, we all know that the US has a constitution. These words are not mutually exclusive.

[@delfinafarias2474]

Pelicula argentina si existe el alma existe Dios ateismo vos no créés en dios

[@stephanieayala7403]

It’s hard for me to be proud of Joseph smith standing for minority rights when we’re a church known for restricting religious rights to minorities… just saying.

[@carolswarbrick1722]

This is not true at all.

[@molokaibowhunterscom]

yeah that is not true.

[@88amona]

🤣 that's far from the truth lmao 😂🤙LDS is so woke they bound to go broke. They hand out heaps of freebies to minorities and immigrants legal and illegal. They bend head over heals for ethnic special interests groups like crazy. Maybe on another planet they be RaCizt but on this planet they cave to whatever ideology be popular. Are you posting from Mars or Uranus LOL?

[@yeboscrebo4451]

What is this new husband/wife format? Paul spoke against giving women positions of teaching and authority. Plus, it feels like the start of some kind of royal family. Makes me cringe.