Utah community, business, political and faith leaders gathered today to mark the one-year anniversary of the Utah Compact, a document that lays out a responsible approach to the urgent challenge of immigration reform.
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Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), who was one of nine speakers at the event, read the following statement in behalf of the Church:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints welcomes this opportunity to reiterate its support of the Utah Compact.
A year ago, the Church shared its belief that the solution to the complex issues of immigration reform lies in a balanced approach and not in extreme positions. The Utah Compact is consistent with three principles we believe should be carefully balanced when considering immigration:
- We follow Jesus Christ by loving our neighbors. The meaning of neighbor includes all of God’s children, in all places and in all times.
- We recognize an ever-present need to strengthen families. Families are meant to be together. Forced separation of working parents from their children weakens families and damages society.
- We acknowledge that every nation has the right to enforce its laws and secure its borders.
We continue to encourage lawmakers everywhere to consider laws that properly balance love of neighbors and the importance of keeping families together, within the framework of just and enforceable laws.
The gathering occurred at This Is the Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City.