Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) - Religious Freedom Library

Religious Freedom: Power to Flourish

Marcus B. Nash

Religious Freedom Annual Review, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Brigham Young University, Religion, Peace, and Human Flourishing: Understanding the Whys of Religious Freedom – Jun 17, 2025

The Case for Compassion: The Foundation of Religious Freedom Advocacy

3 February 2025 Held at the Organization of American States Building. A special recognition to Chile for facillitating the use of this historic building. Speaking order: Welcome and introductions: Brett Scharffs, Director, The International Center for Law and Religion Studies, BYU Law Elder Ulisses Soares, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Sebastián Kraljevich, Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Chile H.E. Luis Almagro, Secretary General, Organization of American States Katrina Lantos Swett, President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights; IRF Summit Co-Chair Sam Brownback, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, 2018-2021; IRF Summit Co-Chair

Ulisses Soares

IRF Summit Luncheon, Washington, DC – Feb 5, 2025

Freedom of Expression: An Inseparable Right from Religious Freedom

Message delivered to the Senate of the Republic of Mexico while participating in the Second Inter-American Forum for Interreligious Dialogue and Collaboration on Religious Freedom

Gerrit W. Gong

Second Inter-American Forum for Interreligious Dialogue and Collaboration on Religious Freedom – Apr 28, 2022

Religious Freedom in an International Context

"[The] restoration of the fulness of Christian doctrine teaches us that God created and put His children on Earth to grow spiritually by making right choices between good and evil consistent with His commandments. Freedom of choice is, therefore, fundamental to God’s plan.”

Dallin H. Oaks

Sapienza University in Rome, Italy – Dec 14, 2021

The Foundational Contribution of Religion to Society

"Religious freedom is a marker for other freedoms in society that temper the natural impulses that are counter to a prosperous, thriving, and progressing society."

Dale G. and Ruth L. Renlund

Religious Freedom Challenges in Costa Rica: A Pending Human Rights Commitment – Jun 9, 2017

Challenges to Religious Freedom

"[The protection of conscience] helps people from a wide spectrum of beliefs feel assured that their deepest concerns and values are respected and protected."

Dallin H. Oaks

Address at the Argentina Council for Foreign Relations (CARI) – Apr 23, 2015

Hope for the Years Ahead

“There should be room for all good-faith views in the public square, be they secular, religious, or a mixture of the two. When expressed sincerely and without sanctimoniousness, the religious voice adds much to the text and tenor of public debate.”

Dallin H. Oaks

Utah Valley University’s Constitutional Symposium on Religious Freedom – Apr 16, 2014

Preserving Religious Freedom

"It is imperative that those of us who believe in God and in the reality of right and wrong unite more effectively to protect our religious freedom to preach and practice our faith in God."

Dallin H. Oaks

Chapman University School of Law – Feb 4, 2011

Religious Freedom

"Religious freedom has always been at risk. It was repression of religious belief and practice that drove the Pilgrim fathers and other dissenters to the shores of this continent. Even today, leaders in all too many nations use state power to repress religious believers."

Dallin H. Oaks

BYU-Idaho Devotional – Oct 13, 2009

The Doctrine of Religious Freedom

Part of “redemption’s mystery” is our paradoxical—and yet ultimately not paradoxical—obligation to respect and love and protect the rights of others not of our faith.

W. Cole Durham, Jr.

BYU Forum Address – Apr 3, 2001