Religious Persecution

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

“General Joseph Smith" and His Candidacy for the Presidency of the United States: How a Religious Leader Contributed to Strengthening American Democracy

Joseph supported the participation in the democratic process of those who might vote contrary to what even he would have wanted. He took a principled stand, anyone who qualifies, under law, to participate should be encouraged to do so, especially minorities, religious or other.

Then, as now, Latter-day Saints wanted American democratic rights promised in the Constitution to be more than a myth. As a leading evangelical theologian recently stated, the Latter-day Saints in the United States “just want a place at the American table.

Dale G. and Ruth L. Renlund
BYU Religious Freedom Annual Review hosted by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, BYU Law School – Jun 15, 2021