10 Oct
11th Article of Faith: Freedom of Religion
We claim the privilege of worshiping 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.
This Article of Faith feels incredibly relevant right now, while the debate over Park51 rages throughout the US. Mormons are just as split regarding the issue as everyone else, and the Church has never officially commented on the ability of a private group to build a religious center on ground they own (though they did comment on the shameful plans to burn the Koran). I personally think that the Church hasn’t released an official statement because they don’t really need to. Everything they could say was detailed by Joseph Smith in the article quoted at the top of this post.
The original Nauvoo temple was burned down by an arsonist in 1848 (after the members during that time were forced to abandon their homes and flee persecution by mobs in the dead of winter). The Church has had to fight to build a temple in Phoenix, Arizona. The temple in Boston was originally opened without the steeple on top due to a lawsuit filed by those who calimed building it violated the First Amendment. The first members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were forced to build and abandon far too many times for our religious culture to have so quickly forgotten what it feels like to be told that we can’t exercise our religius freedom.
This tenent of our faith was just as critical 150 years ago as it is today, and we continue to invite all to worshiop how, where, or what they may*.
*Sad that I need a disclaimer for this post, but of course people should worship how they may as long as it’s legal.
Also:
I'm a farm-raised almost-crunchy stroller-pushing picture-taking lifestyle-blog-writing gastronomy-obsessed divine-seeking thrift-store-combing cheese-inhaling pavement-pounding laughter-sprinkling lover of individuality and taking chances.
May want to edit the disclaimer, as that would mean you shouldn’t worship in a Christian (or insert many other religions here) manner in many countries.
I find it fascinating and frankly refreshing that the LDS include Freedom of Religion within their own religious tenets.
Jenna Reply:
October 10th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Actually the 12th Article of Faith is that we believe in honoring the laws and leaders of the land. So while talking about private worship things can get a bit tricky (because if you live in a land where Christian worship is strictly forbidden but you believe in Jesus Christ should you never acknowledge His divinity in your own home?), public worship is for us a pretty cut and dried issue and we’re taught to obey the laws of the land where we live. We don’t send preaching missionaries to communist China or other countries where proselyting is forbidden.
Mary Cyrus Reply:
October 10th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
And public worship in a land where it’s forbidden would be a pretty terrible idea. I don’t even think of preaching missionary work being part of worship, but I guess it probably is for the LDS and many other Christians. I meant private, personal worship, which I’m sure is still outlawed but I assume practiced nonetheless?
R Reply:
October 11th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
This is so fascinating for me! I’m really interested in how you balance these questions, I had no idea that you wouldn’t send missionaries to China. I’d love it if you’d post more about this in another Sunday post.
This post should get very interesting comments. I can’t wait to read some of them.
2I didn’t know this about your faith, and it has been a pleasant surprise. You’re doing a very good job educating non-LDS readers. Frankly, I’ve gained a new (and positive) perspective of your church from this post (and others).
On the other hand, I’m bracing myself for the inevitable comments, because “freedom of religion” is apparently a very difficult concept to comprehend for many people.
3I didn’t know this either and think it’s great. Like Virginia I’ve learnt lots about LDS from your blog and it’s definitely changed my opinion (for the better). Thank you
4You hinted that in past posts I think and it’s something I truely respect about the LDS Church. I wish it was embraced everywhere. Respect
Cécy Reply:
October 10th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
-computer issues-
anyhow I was saying that respecting other cultures and belief is something very important to me. It makes me feel like I could find out about a belief system without feeling fear or feeling threatened that the belief system I grew up with would get me bad comments by the people of that community. Less pressure.
It’s an article of faith you can be proud of.
I don’t think there is something of the sort in the Catholic system, anyone knows?
Jackie Reply:
October 10th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
The Catechism says:
2106
“Nobody may be forced to act against his convictions, nor is anyone to be restrained from acting in accordance with his conscience in religious matters in private or in public, alone or in association with others, within due limits.”34 This right is based on the very nature of the human person, whose dignity enables him freely to assent to the divine truth which transcends the temporal order. For this reason it “continues to exist even in those who do not live up to their obligation of seeking the truth and adhering to it.”35
Cécy Reply:
October 11th, 2010 at 7:59 am
Thank you so much Jackie. I never heard about this in catechism.
Do you know if it’s recent? It makes me wonder about the crusades way back when…
Jackie Reply:
October 11th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
I think that it might have come from Vatican II? I’m not sure. The crusades were more about land control than religious domination. Doesn’t really make it any better though, does it?
I think the concept “Freedom of Religion” is a fairly modern one (revolutionary era?) so it would make since if it was added in at a later date.
Bravo, Jenna. If only ALL Christians were able to practice “live and let live”.
6I really enjoyed this post - I didn’t know this about you faith, but it is something I find greatly respectable. I think too often mainstream religions get caught up in the spoils of majority and forget that protecting the freedom of religion (or lack thereof) is important for all. It’s a basic human right, in my opinion.
7*your. Apparently, I can’t spell today.
8I know that the LDS faith often looks at this as regarding other religions, but reading it again on your blog Jenna, it reminded me that every individual worships in a different way, including individual Mormons. And that is OK. I need to remind myself of that — and hopefully others in our faith do too at times.
9Frankly, this goes to the far winds once the leadership feels bigoted enough. Look at Prop H8. Also look at Doctrine Covenants 134, the chapter on how the LDS church should make laws and how leaders should behave. They have statements in there talking about how no one’s right to religious and personal belief should be infringed and yet they infringe on gay rights, alcohol rights, abortion rights, etc. It’s like the neo-Tea Party saying, “Don’t tread on me!” complaining about large fiscal government but they want to ensure government is deeply intrenched in our personal lives. Much of the early church writings are relatively fair for their time(with the exception of singling out black people and not allowing them the priesthood). This church, in practice, are just hypocrites that want the acceptance of the Catholics and Evangelicals.
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