Regarding the very difficult issues of immigration and compassion, I realized something significant recently about the parable of the Good Samaritan. We focus on what the Samaritan did - he took the wounded man to an inn and paid the innkeeper to take care of him before he went on his way. Wonderful. But there is something very interesting that he did NOT do. He did NOT take the wounded man home with him to be nursed back to health in his own home by his own family. He would have CERTAINLY done that if the wounded man had been his son or his brother or his father, wouldn't he? He would not have simply dropped his wounded son off with an innkeeper. He would have taken him home! I think that the United States should do everything possible to make conditions in the home countries of these people more livable. Stick and carrot approaches with their governments - to fight corruption and gangs. Urge companies to move there and provide jobs. Etc., etc. But I do NOT believe that the answer is to bring all these people -- which would eventually be in the hundreds of millions -- home with us. That is misplaced compassion and that will be obvious when there are eventually so many of these people here that there will be 10 families living in your backyard in tents and you will be responsible for all of their medical, education and other needs. The parable of the Good Samaritan does not teach that. The Savior does not expect them. Urge our government to work to make conditions better in their own countries -- where they really want to be anyway.
AngieFebruary 18, 2018
I agree there needs to be a balance, however that includes safety checks, rules and regs. The church does the same thing; lessons for baptism, lessons to go to the temple, gospel principles for new members that explains our beliefs (and we agree to work towards doing all that we can to qualify) an interview to make sure you understand and QUALIFY to enter the temple..... Its not an open border, either. Once things are left unchecked and they get out of balance, it takes awhile to reorganize. Imagine what would happen to the LDS faith, if the rules and regs were ignored.
Katie WaltherFebruary 16, 2018
Excellent analysis and message on compassionate immigration. Thank you for clarifying what many people do not understand about proposed changes. We need to understand the Church leadership plea to strengthen families.
Elaine PorterFebruary 15, 2018
I don't know if Michael's figures are accurate about all immigrants, but they are not accurate for Dreamers or those in DACA. They have to meet stringent requirements in order to be included in DACA.
MollyFebruary 15, 2018
Thank you Diana for this. So long as we remain physically disconnected from Dreamers, their parents, refugees, TPS holders, and asylum seekers by the areas we choose to live in and the people we choose to associate with, we will never arrive at a full understanding of this situation and consequently, will never be in able to make a well-informed opinion. The church continues to encourage these face to face interactions because they understand the power connection has in overcoming personal bias and conquering the incessant flow of misinformation about the current immigration system and those effected by it.
Brodie WrayFebruary 15, 2018
Thank you for this analytical and great insight into the relationship between Trump's proposed policy and the LDS church's council. It is good to see in specific detail how these policies line up with what we believe. It is nice to see an editorial on Trump's policy from the perspective of family-first values. I believe the LDS church teaches first and foremost the importance of families and secondly, of loving others. Thank you for your insight.
TyrelFebruary 14, 2018
Glad to see that there are others out there who can appreciate the rule of law and recognize the warping of church statements to fit an opinion already held by the leadership of MWEG. It's a shame that so many are willing to dip their hands into the pockets of others instead of their own to uphold 'charitable' government programs that our benevolent political leaders have burdened us with.
Janine GFebruary 14, 2018
My pondering the Church statement, gave me clarity on several points. Dreamers, are those children who were born and grew up in the United States, approx 600,000 of them, at the time of 2012 when Dreamer policy was first mentioned, NOT the subsequent unaccompanied minors since then, who illegally crossed the border, and have caused the number to swell to 1.8 million. It definitely says border control is appropriate for any nation! And the issue of chain migration, can be seen to be covered, by legal immigration being enforced, the Dreamers meaning those born here and their nuclear family being with them, maybe limited to that, not all the extended family being granted amnesty. The Church statement seems to also support protections for U.S. citizens and their right to be protected, and also allow them the rights to be able to nurture their own families as they choose.
Ted WinderFebruary 14, 2018
This was well-written with an interesting insight into a difficult and often contriversial matter of national concern. I appreciated inclusion of this opinion as Meridian readers come from both sides of the current political spectrum and want to stay up to date with accurate reporting. Thank you.
AndrewKFebruary 14, 2018
Glad this article is in the "opinion" section. The author's clear bias against enforcing existing immigration laws, or doing anything to curb the problem of illegal immigration is blatant. Her twisting of the church's statements towards her view is also clearly biased.
MichaelFebruary 14, 2018
Diane, you miss some crucial points. When most members of the church's ancestors immigrated to the USA over 100 years ago, there were 3 options for immigrants. Work, beg or starve. Todays immigrants have several other options, all borne by the taxpayers. How do we reconcile the sad fact that over 50% of immigrants and 75% of immigrant families with children under the age of 18 are on at least one form of state or Federal gov support. The US cannot continue to provide the massive "free benefits" in the terms of medical care, subsidized housing, free and reduced breakfast, lunch, snack and other food programs, food stamps, unemployment and many other benefits to everyone from central and south America who just "shows up".
Herm OlsenFebruary 14, 2018
Diana, Excellent message about the difference between Trumps mentality and Gospel mentality. Thanks much.
Charles McClellandFebruary 14, 2018
Thank you for this insightful comparison of the inspired, compassion-based church statement with the current administration's policies.
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David DurfeeJune 26, 2019
Regarding the very difficult issues of immigration and compassion, I realized something significant recently about the parable of the Good Samaritan. We focus on what the Samaritan did - he took the wounded man to an inn and paid the innkeeper to take care of him before he went on his way. Wonderful. But there is something very interesting that he did NOT do. He did NOT take the wounded man home with him to be nursed back to health in his own home by his own family. He would have CERTAINLY done that if the wounded man had been his son or his brother or his father, wouldn't he? He would not have simply dropped his wounded son off with an innkeeper. He would have taken him home! I think that the United States should do everything possible to make conditions in the home countries of these people more livable. Stick and carrot approaches with their governments - to fight corruption and gangs. Urge companies to move there and provide jobs. Etc., etc. But I do NOT believe that the answer is to bring all these people -- which would eventually be in the hundreds of millions -- home with us. That is misplaced compassion and that will be obvious when there are eventually so many of these people here that there will be 10 families living in your backyard in tents and you will be responsible for all of their medical, education and other needs. The parable of the Good Samaritan does not teach that. The Savior does not expect them. Urge our government to work to make conditions better in their own countries -- where they really want to be anyway.
AngieFebruary 18, 2018
I agree there needs to be a balance, however that includes safety checks, rules and regs. The church does the same thing; lessons for baptism, lessons to go to the temple, gospel principles for new members that explains our beliefs (and we agree to work towards doing all that we can to qualify) an interview to make sure you understand and QUALIFY to enter the temple..... Its not an open border, either. Once things are left unchecked and they get out of balance, it takes awhile to reorganize. Imagine what would happen to the LDS faith, if the rules and regs were ignored.
Katie WaltherFebruary 16, 2018
Excellent analysis and message on compassionate immigration. Thank you for clarifying what many people do not understand about proposed changes. We need to understand the Church leadership plea to strengthen families.
Elaine PorterFebruary 15, 2018
I don't know if Michael's figures are accurate about all immigrants, but they are not accurate for Dreamers or those in DACA. They have to meet stringent requirements in order to be included in DACA.
MollyFebruary 15, 2018
Thank you Diana for this. So long as we remain physically disconnected from Dreamers, their parents, refugees, TPS holders, and asylum seekers by the areas we choose to live in and the people we choose to associate with, we will never arrive at a full understanding of this situation and consequently, will never be in able to make a well-informed opinion. The church continues to encourage these face to face interactions because they understand the power connection has in overcoming personal bias and conquering the incessant flow of misinformation about the current immigration system and those effected by it.
Brodie WrayFebruary 15, 2018
Thank you for this analytical and great insight into the relationship between Trump's proposed policy and the LDS church's council. It is good to see in specific detail how these policies line up with what we believe. It is nice to see an editorial on Trump's policy from the perspective of family-first values. I believe the LDS church teaches first and foremost the importance of families and secondly, of loving others. Thank you for your insight.
TyrelFebruary 14, 2018
Glad to see that there are others out there who can appreciate the rule of law and recognize the warping of church statements to fit an opinion already held by the leadership of MWEG. It's a shame that so many are willing to dip their hands into the pockets of others instead of their own to uphold 'charitable' government programs that our benevolent political leaders have burdened us with.
Janine GFebruary 14, 2018
My pondering the Church statement, gave me clarity on several points. Dreamers, are those children who were born and grew up in the United States, approx 600,000 of them, at the time of 2012 when Dreamer policy was first mentioned, NOT the subsequent unaccompanied minors since then, who illegally crossed the border, and have caused the number to swell to 1.8 million. It definitely says border control is appropriate for any nation! And the issue of chain migration, can be seen to be covered, by legal immigration being enforced, the Dreamers meaning those born here and their nuclear family being with them, maybe limited to that, not all the extended family being granted amnesty. The Church statement seems to also support protections for U.S. citizens and their right to be protected, and also allow them the rights to be able to nurture their own families as they choose.
Ted WinderFebruary 14, 2018
This was well-written with an interesting insight into a difficult and often contriversial matter of national concern. I appreciated inclusion of this opinion as Meridian readers come from both sides of the current political spectrum and want to stay up to date with accurate reporting. Thank you.
AndrewKFebruary 14, 2018
Glad this article is in the "opinion" section. The author's clear bias against enforcing existing immigration laws, or doing anything to curb the problem of illegal immigration is blatant. Her twisting of the church's statements towards her view is also clearly biased.
MichaelFebruary 14, 2018
Diane, you miss some crucial points. When most members of the church's ancestors immigrated to the USA over 100 years ago, there were 3 options for immigrants. Work, beg or starve. Todays immigrants have several other options, all borne by the taxpayers. How do we reconcile the sad fact that over 50% of immigrants and 75% of immigrant families with children under the age of 18 are on at least one form of state or Federal gov support. The US cannot continue to provide the massive "free benefits" in the terms of medical care, subsidized housing, free and reduced breakfast, lunch, snack and other food programs, food stamps, unemployment and many other benefits to everyone from central and south America who just "shows up".
Herm OlsenFebruary 14, 2018
Diana, Excellent message about the difference between Trumps mentality and Gospel mentality. Thanks much.
Charles McClellandFebruary 14, 2018
Thank you for this insightful comparison of the inspired, compassion-based church statement with the current administration's policies.
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