The Church of Jesus Christ and elections: How do we make our choice?

This weekend we face the elections, a moment to reflect on the role of our faith within this democratic process. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no specific political direction is expected of us. Our church encourages us to show active citizenship by voting, but itself remains politically neutral. This means that the church does not support any party or candidate, regardless of whether that person is a member of the church.

Active citizenship and political neutrality

Our church emphasizes the importance of active citizenship. A letter was recently read encouraging everyone to exercise their democratic right and participate in the elections. The importance of a thorough examination of conscience is emphasized to determine whom to vote for. The church, as an institution, adopts a politically neutral stance and does not support any candidate or party. This means that, regardless of whether a candidate is a member of the church, no official support is provided.

Although the church remains neutral, it sometimes takes positions on certain ethical issues. An example of this is our stance on abortion. We believe that abortion should not be completely forbidden, but only allowed in exceptional cases such as when the mother's life is in danger or in cases of rape or incest. Even in these situations, it is asked to reflect on the child's life. This shows that our church sometimes takes specific positions, but ultimately leaves the political choice to its membersto decide for themselves.

Political choices based on conscience

When we go to the polls, we are guided by our conscience. Like many others, we look for the party or candidate that best fits what we consider important. This is often not an easy choice. We value many different aspects that can be found in various parties.

As Christians, we attach great importance to social care and support. We voluntarily give ten percent of our income and also make fast offerings to help each other. This communal aspect is a fundamental part of our faith. In essence, you could even say that the members of the church are ultimate communists, because we believe that one day everything will be common and that by the law of consecration everything we produce will be for the benefit of the entire community.

Collectivism and common ownership

This ideal of common ownership and mutual care has been tried before, but proved difficult to realize in practice. Just as many political experiments from the past were not always successful. In addition to these collective values, we also find it important that we can make individual choices. Liberal thought is also strongly present within our community.

We believe that we have a freedom of choice given by our Heavenly Father and that we can use this freedom to make our own choices. Entrepreneurship and the pursuit of eternal progression are also important values for us. We see hard work as a way to take good care of our families and the community.

The image that Christians should be communist and despise money is not accurate for us. We believe it is our duty to take good care of our own families and also of each other. As I always say, if you want to save someone drowning in the sea, you must first have learned to swim well yourself. This also applies to dedication at work and social engagement.

Future debates on ethical issues

Important ethical issues are coming that will not leave us untouched. We will again debate abortion, but also other matters such as end-of-life care and euthanasia in dementia. These topics touch us deeply, because we see life as a gift from God that we must treat carefully. With all due respect for different opinions, we believe it is important to view these ethical issues from different perspectives and consider possible solutions.

Gratitude for democracy

Finally, I want to wish everyone a pleasant election day. Let's be grateful for the democracy we live in and the opportunities it offers us. Don't forget to pause and reflect on the blessings we have, and let's make our choices with a clear conscience and an open heart. In a world where political choices are often complex and challenging, it is important to use our vote in a way that aligns with our values and beliefs.