Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Two of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ leaders recently addressed different audiences outside the state of Utah.
On March 24, Sister Neill F. Marriott of the Young Women general presidency, was a member of a panel at the United Nations 60th Commission on the Status of Women in New York City, according to the LDS Church.
The panel demonstrated “how different sectors of society can support the role of mothers and help young girls achieve their full potential,” the LDS Church reported.
Sister Marriott demonstrated how religion and the LDS Young Women organization teach young women self-worth, value, confidence to stand firm in their beliefs and the ability to spread that confidence to their daughters.
She talked about “how strong families lead to strong communities, cities and nations and a stronger world,” the LDS Church said.
On March 25, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke on religious freedom at a Claremont Graduate School conference.
While speaking, Elder Oaks encouraged both defenders and detractors of religious freedom to "understand the other side's point of view" and "avoid leading out with nonnegotiables or extreme positions.”
He told believers that divine laws and civil laws exist and encouraged them to harmonize conflicts between those laws whenever they can.
“When the two prove to be truly irreconcilable, we should join with others of like mind in striving to change the civil law to accommodate the divine,” Elder Oaks said, adding, “in all events, we must be very measured … (and remember that some beliefs) must sometimes be limited by the government’s responsibility to protect the health and safety of all.”
Elder Oaks asked people who put an emphasis on nondiscrimination above religious freedom considerations to "please respect the laws that provide unique protections for believers and religious institutions. Most notable is the uniquely positioned First Amendment in the Bill of Rights, which singles out the 'free exercise' of religion for special protection, along with free speech, free press and freedom of assembly."
March 26, Elder Oaks’ wife, Kristen spoke about the topic, “Women for All Seasons.”
She spoke about the importance of civility in people’s relationships and said, “we don’t have to be alike, but we’re all moving toward the same thing — we want peace, we want friendship, we want understanding, we want communication. And we’re capable of that.” She added that “it has filled my soul to be (at this conference), to see people interact on a level of such great civility.”
Her entire speech is available on YouTube.
