During the opening session of a conference on African law and religion held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Elder Jörg Klebingat testified that “God is watching over the nations of Africa.”
“God is our Father, and He aches when we suffer. The Lord has His hand over Africa,” said Elder Klebingat, General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Africa West Area presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The 10th annual conference of the African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies in Abidjan on May 14 brought together 151 leaders from government, religion, law and academia to discuss religious freedom, tolerance and reconciliation across the diverse continent, according to a release on the Church’s Africa Newsroom.
Elder Klebingat taught that three things are essential for social harmony to prevail — first, respect for religious freedom of all faiths; second, all faiths must feel free from fear of persecution; and third, freedom of worship and religious expression should be encouraged both in public and in the home.
Participation in the African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies is one of many ways Church leaders and members are promoting religious freedom worldwide. Below are six more recent stories.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Elder Matthew L. Carpenter, General Authority Seventy and president of the Africa Central Area, spoke on a panel on religious liberty at the World Conference on Interfaith Harmony held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 28 to March 1.
The conference took place at the headquarters of the African Union, a continental organization with 55 members, and brought together hundreds of government, nongovernmental organization and religious leaders from several African countries. Among the main themes discussed were the role of religious communities in Africa, the promotion of peace, human dignity, environmental preservation, sustainable development and freedom of religion.
In a panel discussion on religious freedom, Elder Carpenter said “all religions should work together for the betterment of their people.” He explained that the Church is working with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to change marriage laws regarding dowry. “We encourage our young people to marry legally, but many of them are unable to bear the expenses of paying the dowry. Lowering these fees could bless lives,” he said.
Read more about the World Conference on Interfaith Harmony on the Church’s DR Congo Newsroom (in French).
Cotonou, Benin
On April 22, the Benin Cotonou Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosted the Promoting Religious Freedom Conference at the stake center. The conference brought together many religious, civic and tribal leaders and media. The objective was to help promote religious tolerance and to work together in an environment of peace.
His Majesty King Kpotozounme shared his gratitude that the Church had brought the issue of religious freedom back to the national stage. “I expect that Beninese can think differently and that all religions can come together and speak for the same cause, which is peace,” he said.
Read more about the Church-sponsored religious freedom conference on Africa Newsroom.
Sydney, Australia
In February, Elder Peter F. Meurs , General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Pacific Area presidency, attended a religious freedom conference at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Sydney.
A nine-minute video published on the Church’s Pacific Newsroom features an interview with Elder Meurs about his experience at the conference. He talks about the importance of religious freedom, the role of youth in promoting it and the need for inclusivity. He also discusses the value of faith-based schools and the challenges they face in the current climate.
Lisbon, Portugal
Alongside policymakers, legal experts and religious leaders, many Latter-day Saints participated in a religious freedom conference in Lisbon, Portugal, Feb 7-8. It was organized by the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty.
Joaquim Jorge Oliveira Moreira, a former Area Seventy who represents the Church on the Interreligious Dialogue Task Force in Portugal, said during the conference: “Studies show that there is a strong correlation between protecting the diversity of religious experiences and greater civil and political freedom, greater freedom of media and greater economic freedom, fewer armed conflicts, better health outcomes, higher income levels, better educational opportunities for women, and higher overall human development. In short, religious pluralism frees up space to live one’s life.”
Read more about the religious freedom conference on the Church’s Belgium Newsroom (in French).
Bucaramanga, Colombia
In an effort to raise voices in defense of religious freedom, Héctor Elías Ariza Velasco — a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — organized an interfaith choir in the Colombian city of Bucaramanga. The project brought together some 40 people from various religions.
“It is the first time that we have ventured into this new initiative of an interreligious nature, which allows us to spread the message of the gospel through culture and musical talent,” Velasco said.
Read more about the interfaith choir on the Church’s Spanish Newsroom (in Spanish).
Lima, Peru
The Lima, Peru, chapter of Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law Society held a virtual conference titled “Religious Freedom: Progress and Challenges in Latin American Countries” on May 5.
The event was broadcast on Facebook Live and featured a presentation from four individuals discussing the state of religious freedom in each of their respective countries — Hugo De La Fuente Virues in Bolivia; Luis Prieto Castañeda in Colombia; Karina Murillo de Aspiazu in Ecuador; and Patricia Díaz Gamonal in Peru.
Watch the conference on Facebook in Spanish and read more on the Church’s Spanish Newsroom.
