May 14, 2010
First Presidency
First Presidency
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
47 East South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
Dear President Monson:
I am an attorney.
In 2003, the Utah State Bar named me Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year for
free work I did in the Latino and Spanish-speaking communities. I co-host the Spanish-language radio
show Pulso Latino twice a week.
Though I speak daily with members, I myself am not a member of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (“LDS Church”).
I respectfully request that the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints make a statement concerning measured, humane immigration
reform.
The LDS Church does remarkable work, often through
inner-city missions, to help undocumented immigrants be self reliant and
productive. I have worked with and
known several inner-city missionaries.
The perpetual education fund allows many people worldwide
great opportunities for personal growth and community service. The perpetual education fund sets a
standard for individual and collective well-being.
Despite this good work, many Latinos perceive a mixed
message or an anti-immigrant message.
Some Latinos who are members of the LDS Church have told me that the
immigration issue and the anti-immigrant position of some prominent politicians
who proclaim membership in the LDS Church have challenged their faith.
I understand that Utah politicians who are members do not
speak for the LDS Church.
Nevertheless, some of these politicians openly use scriptural references
to support anti-immigrant proposals.
The political environment and debate has become toxic, much to the
detriment of justice, basic values and family.
Several Utah politicians favor anti-immigration legislation
that mirrors recent Arizona law whose express intent is to “make attrition
through enforcement the public policy of all state and local government
agencies in Arizona.”
The language is aggressive and an affront to human
decency. Undocumented immigrants
violate the law by being here, but they do hard work. Many make extraordinary sacrifices for their families and
their communities. The federal
government has long put aside the enforcement of immigration law for economic
reasons. “Attrition through
enforcement” easily devolves into a country and communities at war with
themselves. Good people and
society fall as victims.
Immigration reform is a moral and ethical issue. While the LDS Church is wisely careful
with politics, silence on this issue has become akin to complicity. Rightly or wrongly, the reality for
many is that aggressive politicians and pundits have become the de facto voice
of the LDS Church.
Politicians sometimes list reasons to stand up for or
against something. Some say near
the end of an argument that they stand for a position because it is the right
thing to do. This unfortunately
inverts a moral and ethical thought process. The right thing to do ought to be a guide to thought, not an
afterthought.
I ask the LDS Church to consider a stand for basic rights
and dignity. Human beings should
not be targeted for politics.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
Mark Alvarez
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