When Elder Ronald A. Rasband called for Latter-day Saints to “champion the cause of religious freedom,” it hit me with a ton of bricks. His words are still ringing in my ears because his message from the April 2022 General Conference landed a direct upper cut to LDSPMA artists to understand the issue of religious liberty and then apply our unique talents and voices in defending this god-given precept.
Today’s War over Religious Freedom
Elder Rasband is close to the fire of this conflict and feels the heat of contentious groups who are not merely seeking balance or equality in the discussion of rights but demand complete eradication of anything religious that stands in their way of living hwoever they choose.
We see various forms of this classic battle for religious freedom every day in the news, such as the bully leader of one country imposing its might on a defenseless neighbor through violence and raw brutality.
Contentious groups…demand complete eradication of anything religious that stands in the way of living however they choose.
In Africa, we see the agony of millions who languish for want of food and security as their tyrannical leaders strip the once verdant farms of their resources for their gluttonous living.
We learn about the restriction of religious rights in high school classrooms where teachers use their authority to publicly humiliate and deride any student whose convictions vary from theirs.
Then there are those who are denied employment or career advancement because of Sabbath day worship. And there are many more stories we seldom hear about.
As I connect the dots of my life, I see that my passion for this issue began shortly after my mission in the mid-70s. The first incident was subtle, but on that day, lightening struck twice and left a mark.
My Discovery
I was going about my business in the production of my father’s newspaper when a news report on the radio quoted a particular politician in a European country who was red-in-the-face angry because the powerful economic engine of the U.S. was putting his country at a disadvantage. He demanded legislation to level the playing field.
I dismissed it. His comment didn’t deserve any further anxiety on my part.
A few minutes later, another news report described how the government of this same country was alarmed by possible threats from a growing minority population and was imposing religious restrictions to enforce their conformity to the country’s traditions.
On the surface these reports seem to have little in common. But with time and experience, I’ve come to see that religious freedom and a robust, safe society are two ends of the same stick. Mess with one, and you mess with the other.
The powerful economic engine this politician craved on the one hand was being suppressed by legislation that limited the rights of the people to innovate and create and aspire on the other.
Soon a new appreciation for the First Amendment developed as I studied journalism in college. Beyond learning about dangling participles and misplaced modifiers, I developed a reverence for the power and purpose of the right to speak and worship and assemble without governmental infringement.
This very right gives power to the economic engine, the exchange of ideas, and a deeper spectrum of understanding from which to draw meaning.
Religious Freedom and the Plan of Happiness
I believe the power of religious freedom is the bedrock upon which a robust and peaceful society is built. I believe it is absolutely foundational for the gospel plan of happiness to excel.
I see that religious freedom is essential to living life in a meaningful and productive way. Perhaps that’s why Elder Rasband’s call in a sacred setting to champion religious freedom resonates with me.
I suspect most LDSPMA artists have this same bedrock belief, but sometimes in life we are like the fish who have swam in warm waters for so long that they’ve forgotten what a blessing it is.
“Most of us drink from waters of religious freedom without even knowing it,” said Elder Patrick Keaton of the Seventy in the Conference on Religious Freedom in 2015. “We drink freely from the waters of religious freedom not aware of the contamination in the tributaries.
“We think of it as a river that will always flow but may not recognize the risks that exist in the tributaries that feed the river.”
In that address, Elder Keaton said that it might appear that rights just happen and are perpetuated without thought or effort on our part.
“We cannot forget the extraordinary resolve that went into protecting our abundance,” he said.
W. Cole Durham, a BYU law professor and proponent of religious freedom, once state that the challenge of preserving religious liberties is a “crisis of apathy, … of gradual erosion, … a crisis of lost moorings.”
Religious freedom and a robust, safe society are two ends of the same stick.
This drift is subtle. It proceeds in small steps, preventing public opinion from galvanizing. So gradual is the loss of religious freedoms, it’s as if a social anesthesia is gently lulling us to sleep, explained Professor Durham.
Our Duty as Latter-day Saints
While addressing this issue in a recent 2022 Church History Symposium, Elder Gerrit W. Gong taught that principles of religious freedom are part of the Restoration’s rich history and Latter-day Saints have a special duty to speak on behalf of religious liberty for all groups.
We may think that influencing society is the job of someone else who has more money or power. But who better to answer Elder Rasband’s call that us? He told us that we have the power and tools and skills for the task at hand. It is our turn as spiritual creators to do our part.
So, what’s an LDSPMA creative to do?
Counsel from Church leaders suggest:
- Become educated on the issues and get involved in our communities.
- Engage in amiable conversations with those with differing viewpoints.
- Prayerfully create content that strengthens faith.
- Realize your unique voice and share your perspective with passion and honest respect for others.
We have the needed gifts and tools
Perhaps more than any other industry, Latter-day media professionals are equipped with the gift and tools to educate the masses. Seen through this lens, our creative work takes on new relevance and meaning.
Faith-filled content is the antidote to preserving faith, family, and country from dissonant voices bent on destabilizing and destroying. According to Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Twelve, without religious freedom, other freedoms “wither and fade.”
Let us all keep his message ringing in our ears: “Religious liberty enables all to freely pursue truth and the meaning of life, and to live accordingly.”
Shaun Stahle
Shaun Stahle wanted to be an architect, but before he knew what was happening, he was graduating with a degree in journalism from BYU. Words and images have been his life ever since grabbing newspapers off his father’s little printing press at age five. Shaun’s lived a life rich in experience, writing for various weekly and daily newspapers, most notably the Church News section of the Deseret News for seventeen years, where he accompanied President Gordon B. Hinckley to visit members in the former Soviet Union. Now semi-retired, Shaun uses the power of words and images to heal and unite.
