A Christlike approach to immigration

A few years ago, my mom was called to be the Relief Society president in our tri-lingual ward.

I remember watching as she painstakingly translated every e-mail, note and newsletter into Spanish and Portuguese. She became friends with women who didn't speak her language. She made sure every lesson was translated.

One time, a cranky, English-speaking sister complained about the volunteer interpreters who sat in the back of the Relief Society room and offered hushed translations of the lessons. The sister said they made it hard to concentrate.

Without flinching, my mom defended the interpreters and kindly explained that it was important that ALL the sisters understood the lesson — not just the English-speakers.

Six years and one Spanish-speaking stateside mission later, I have a profound respect for the efforts my mom made in that calling.

Unfortunately, not everyone in our church shares the same respect.

The arrest of an illegal immigrant coming home from his LDS mission in Ohio last month has sparked a fierce immigration debate in the Mormon community. No matter how much each side tries to simplify the issue, the questions aren't easy.

Are undocumented immigrants violating the 12th Article of Faith by disobeying the law of the land? Is the church encouraging illegal immigrants by allowing them to serve missions?

As Brigham Young University history professor Ignacio Garcia told the Daily Universe this week, "We can all open the scriptures and justify our side."

Many members, including Garcia, are calling for church authorities to pick a side on this divisive issue. To me, it seems like they already have.

"The church does not have an official position on immigration policy, but encourages compassion in dealing with the complexities of immigration issues," said Michael Purdy, a church spokesman. "The blessings of the church are available to anyone who qualifies for membership and accepts the gospel of Jesus Christ."

The church isn't a government agency, and it's not meant to be the deciding body for every difficult political question. Its purpose is to perfect the Saints, proclaim the gospel and redeem the dead. Should it really matter where these Saints are living, or what documentation they have?

Immigration issues are, indeed, complex, and I won't attempt in this article to make a political argument. But as long as there are immigrants living in our ward boundaries, we should be bound by our conscience, our religion and our covenants to treat them with the utmost respect and compassion.

"I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ," President Hinckley once said.

So this Mother's Day, I'm grateful for a mom who has her priorities in place.  I only wish more members were like her.