In the 1980s, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops issued their pastoral letter about our responsibility as Christians to assist the poor. In 2010, the LDS Church stated its new Fourth Mission “to serve the poor and needy” in a new handbook that emphasizes ministering to others. Similar strong traditions exist in many other Christian churches as well as in Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Yet today, loud voices within Mormonism seem to reject the spiritual values of being inclusive (Mitt Romney), social justice (Glenn Beck), and caring for immigrants (Arizona Senator Russell Pearce and the Utah legislature). I will articulate LDS principles of community outreach and service to the downtrodden, and will allow ample time to engage in civil discourse about Mormonism as a community phenomenon
Warner Woodworth