• A Celebration of Religious Freedom
  • Elder D. Todd Christofferson
  • Interfaith Address in São Paulo, Brazil, April 29, 2015

I fear that some may not understand the place of religious freedom in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our eleventh article of faith states, “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” Freedom of religion is thus a basic principle of the restored gospel. In the Doctrine and Covenants, one of our canonical books of scripture, there is a statement that places the highest priority on preserving religious freedom. There we are told that “rulers, states, and governments have a right, and are bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their religious belief.” In turn, when laws “[hold] sacred the freedom of conscience,” people of faith are bound to support the government. These sacred truths, affirmed in Church scripture nearly two centuries ago, have never been as timely or needed as today.