Church Releases Statement Condemning White Supremacist Attitudes

Contributed By MormonNewsroom.org

  • 15 August 2017

“White supremacist attitudes are morally wrong and sinful, and we condemn them. Church members who promote or pursue a ‘white culture’ or white supremacy agenda are not in harmony with the teachings of the Church.” —Church statement

The Church released a statement August 13 decrying racism and calling for peace and compassion after one person was killed and more than a dozen injured when a car slammed into a throng of counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, during a white nationalist rally on Saturday, August 12.

On August 15, the Church offered the following additional statement:

“It has been called to our attention that there are some among the various pro-white and white supremacy communities who assert that the Church is neutral toward or in support of their views. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the New Testament, Jesus said: ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself’ (Matthew 22:37–39). The Book of Mormon teaches ‘all are alike unto God’” (2 Nephi 26:33).

“White supremacist attitudes are morally wrong and sinful, and we condemn them. Church members who promote or pursue a ‘white culture’ or white supremacy agenda are not in harmony with the teachings of the Church.”

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