Friday, July 3, 2009

Iran update, and anti-anti-immigrant missionaries

Iran remains in my prayers. I'm praying that leaders of other nations, especially the European Union, will be inspired to place appropriate, effective pressure on the Iranian government.
Break in pieces the oppressor, Lord; execute judgment for the oppressed (Ps. 72:4; 146:7).

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This week I came across a Salt Lake Tribune story that was actually written a couple of weeks ago about a group called Missionaries for Compassion Toward Immigrants founded by returned LDS missionaries. They've been working to counter SB81, a Utah bill, now law, that aims to clamp down on undocumented immigrants. From what I've seen of the group, it demonstrates the transformative potential of the LDS missionary experience. These are individuals who, because of their missionary service, have developed solidarity with individuals and families who have, or have considered, immigrating illegally to the United States. These returned missionaries' perspective is therefore more empathetic—more charitable, in the "pure love of Christ" sense—than that of the anti-immigration activists, who judging from comments quoted in the Tribune story conceive of undocumented immigrants simply as a faceless invasion of greedy, law-trampling foreigners.

I'm realizing as I write this that I don't often feel proud of being a Mormon: it's a personal commitment that typically feels like a burden (like a bad marriage, perhaps). Missionaries for Compassion Toward Immigrants give me reason to feel proud. It lifts my heart, quite literally, to see their anxious engagement in this good cause.
Give them success, Lord; when their hearts are depressed, give them comfort, and help them face setbacks with patience (Alma 26:27).

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