One need not be a believer in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or in any earthly religion, to see the value in the recent remarks by the leader of the Utah-based faith.
Our relations with one another, especially in the political realm, are far too angry, too coarse, too hateful. Too lacking in Christian — or, simply, human — kindness and charity.
Church President Russell M. Nelson, who is 100 years old, returned at the faith’s recent conference to a message he has delivered before.
“The present hostility in public dialogue and on social media is alarming,” Nelson said. “Hateful words are deadly weapons.”
The answer to that, he said, is not capitulation but charity.
With charity, Nelson said, we “lose the impulse to demean others. We will stop judging others. We will have charity for those from all walks of life. Charity toward all men is essential to our progress.”
To treat others as we would wish to be treated, to avoid making judgments about the hearts and motivations of others, is a philosophy much older than the church. It is something that offers wisdom to believers and nonbelievers.
This president’s speech is, in today’s climate of anger and division, something we can all benefit from hearing.
Editorials represent the opinions of The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board, which operates independently from the newsroom.
