Elder K. Brett Nattress, First Counsellor in the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, attended a community round-table with Australia’s Attorney General, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash; Julian Leeser MP; and several faith leaders in Sydney on Thursday 3 February.
Elder Nattress was accompanied by Professor Keith Thompson, Associate Dean at The University of Notre Dame Australia School of Law, and National Communication Director for the Church.
The round-table — hosted by the Broken Bay Catholic Diocese and attended by approximately 25 faith and community leaders — focused on the work being done by Senator Cash and others to protect people of faith in Australia from religious discrimination.
Left to right: Elder K. Brett Nattress; Professor Keith Thompson; Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash; Julian Leeser MP. 3 February 2022. Sydney, Australia.
Left to right: Elder K. Brett Nattress; Professor Keith Thompson; Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash; Julian Leeser MP. 3 February 2022. Sydney, Australia.© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“While The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral regarding political parties, political platforms and candidates for political office, we do encourage our members to become informed and actively participate in political affairs,” Elder Nattress said after the meeting.
“We don’t ask our members to vote one way or the other or take a certain position. But we do encourage our members to stay up to date on the issues we face in our communities and countries, and to be involved as citizens as our consciences and personal inspiration lead us.”
Elder Nattress continued: “The two great commandments, as taught by Jesus Christ, are to ‘love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”’
He said that this is central to any nation, any parliament, any citizenry seeking to establish laws that enable all people to live according to their personal core values — whether they be religious or secular values.
“We must allow all who wish to do so, to love and worship God according to the dictates of their consciences, and allow others to worship or not worship, as they choose. And this can be done as we show respect for each other, even when we have differences of belief in some areas.”
Elder Nattress expressed gratitude for those at the meeting and “all people who are working hard to find common ground for the common good to protect the internationally recognized fundamental rights of religious freedom or belief for all.”
“I believe it is possible to find ways to protect the human dignity of all Australians — those who believe in God and those who choose another path — but it takes listening, understanding, patience, respect and kindness.”
Also speaking after the event with respect to the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 pending in the Australian Parliament in particular, Professor Thompson said, “Australian Latter-day Saints, just like Australians of any faith or of no faith, can exercise their democratic right to write to or speak with their Member of Parliament or a Senator who represents them, and share their feelings on this important subject.”
Read about a speech on this subject delivered at the University of Virginia by Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in November 2021.
Watch an introductory video on freedom of religion and belief.