Mormon Church Condemns Armed Protesters at US Wildlife Refuge in Oregon

As President Uchtdorf once said, "Stop it!"

I don't want to hear any more allegedly scriptural arguments for extreme right-wing political views. That includes the teachings of W. Cleon Skousen. It includes the political preachings of past leaders of the LDS Church that in any way be used to justify resistance to the Constitutionally established government of the United States. That includes the false teachings of lobbyist/legislator Ken Ivory arguing that the states have a valid and legal claim to the federal public lands, they do not. That includes the erroneous idea of posse comitatus a bizarre reading of medieval Anglo-Saxon law of England (not the US!) that the county is the supreme authority of the people. It includes any crazy idea that the Fourteenth Amendment somehow created a class of citizens different than the alleged white Christian founders of the United States. I don't want to hear any more offensive argument that somehow our Constitutionally elected President, Barack Obama, is not legitimate because of where he was allegedly born or who his parents were.

It has appalled me that members of my own religious faith have held and promoted such erroneous ideas - not just because they threaten my livelihood as a public servant employed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, and not because my life may be threatened by those who would promote violence against law-abiding officers of the United States performing our Constitutional duties. It is because it breaks my heart and my soul to see such people misuse the sacred scriptures and doctrines of my church to such ridiculous purposes.

The full statement of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints follows:

CHURCH STATEMENT — 4 JANUARY 2016

Church Responds to Inquiries Regarding Oregon Armed Occupation

SALT LAKE CITY — 

In response to news media inquiries, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement Monday, January 4 (for more context on this issue, see this story from the Washington Post): 

While the disagreement occurring in Oregon about the use of federal lands is not a Church matter, Church leaders strongly condemn the armed seizure of the facility and are deeply troubled by the reports that those who have seized the facility suggest that they are doing so based on scriptural principles. This armed occupation can in no way be justified on a scriptural basis. We are privileged to live in a nation where conflicts with government or private groups can — and should — be settled using peaceful means, according to the laws of the land.

Some have accused me of being a little flippant or disrespectful regarding the armed protesters currently trespassing at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. I respect them as humans prone to error. I allow room for them to repent. I do not want to see them hurt or to harm or promote harm to others as I said in yesterday's post.

I do believe they are absolutely and fundamentally wrong in their political theories and the use of supposed teachings of the LDS Church to support them. That offends me greatly. They are objects of pity and some appropriate ridicule in a humorous vein until they realize how foolish they are and hopefully without violence or further promotion of ridiculous ideas, they will go home and live in peace and stop threatening the Constitutional laws and order of the United States of America.

Change things as you can by the vote or laws upheld by the courts (which hasn't gone very well and likely will not go at all well for the silly laws proposed by lobbyist/legislator Ken Ivory). But do not threaten me or my government of, by, and for the People, or its Constitution with violence.

As a final word, not all the crazy people at the one-sided stand-off in Oregon are Mormons. Some are just crazy for whatever reason.

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All my caveats are in place that I am not an official spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the U.S. Department of the Interior, my employer. These are MY views!