The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the following statement on Sunday, August 13, 2017:
“It is with great sadness and deep concern that we view the violence, conflict and tragedy of recent days in Charlottesville, Virginia. People of any faith, or of no faith at all, should be troubled by the increase of intolerance in both words and actions that we see everywhere.
“More than a decade ago, the late Church President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) addressed the topic of racism when speaking to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He powerfully and clearly taught this principle:
“No man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ.”
[see The Need for Greater Kindness – April 2006]
“For members of the Church, we reaffirm that teaching today and the Savior’s admonition to love our neighbor.
“Our prayers are with those who are suffering because of this intolerance and hatred. We pray for peace and for understanding. Above all, we pray that we may treat one another with greater kindness, compassion and goodness.” – LDS Newsroom
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Dear Friends, my heart has been continually broken with everything happening in our nation. The most recent events have only compounded my sorrow. Tonight’s response from the Church is the only answer any of us should ever have to racism. The message also applies to intolerance of any type – whether it be gender, culture, sexual identity, religious belief and practices, appearance, social status, or any “other branding” that humans can contrive.
Please, remember that we are all ONE FAMILY. God created all races, but He did not create racism. We are all children of the same Father in Heaven. Violence and hatred have no place in His family – OUR Family. Let us love one other – every sister, every brother!
Unconditionally.
Let us choose to be the person who lifts, who helps and who serves others. Let us each resolve right here and right now that we will be a light in this ever darkening world. We will choose to walk in kindness, gentleness, and love, and teach those around us to do the same.
Love, MoSop
Latter-day Soprano 
I’m reblogging this. I hope you don’t mind.
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Thank you
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You bet! Glad you posted it!
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Reblogged this on Pocketful of Joy.
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In 1990, one of my sons married a lovely black girl. We are white. It raised a lot of eyebrows and ruffled a lot of feathers, including my ex-husband’s, his father. He was somewhat intolerant of anyone different from him. But, then they had a baby boy. To see him with that child was amazing. He melted his heart. I became good friends with her family, and once her mother told me of going to look at an apartment for rent and being told it was already rented. Then, a white couple came up the sidewalk behind them as they were walking away, and were shown into the building. I thought how awful that was. We, as white people, can’t imagine what people of color, not just black, but Hispanic and Asian, sometimes have to go through because of their ethnic background. I think a lot of it is ignorance and also the way they’ve been raised. I hope you don’t mind if I include this video of Mandy Patinkin singing You’ve Got to be Taught from South Pacific:
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Thank you for sharing your comment Lynne, and for the beautiful musical performance from Mandy Patinkin.
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Thanks for your words! We are all children of God, brothers and sisters.
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