Elder John W. Welch, a former BYU in Provo law professor best known for discovering chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, delivered a forum in conjunction with BYU–Hawaii's Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative on Wednesday, March 16. He spoke about spreading religious freedom awareness locally.
Spreading awareness locally
Welch spoke about the history of America's constitution and how it emphasizes the rights to American’s religious freedom. Welch explained the importance of understanding and defending religious rights in a world where religion can be controversial. "The preamble really does authorize [people] to fight for religious liberty," he explained.
Welch encouraged students to become informed on religious freedom issues and connect with their local communities to promote positive change. He said the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative is a great way to get involved.
Fahina Lauti, a junior from Oakland, California, majoring in political science and current student fellow in the RFHD Initiative, said her position has allowed her to become more educated on religious freedom issues worldwide. "There is so much going on in the world today I didn't know about before I took this job," said Lauti.
In addition to the RFHD Initiative, Welch explained 10 ways students can be proactive in spreading awareness locally about religious freedom rights.
1. Educate yourself by talking with people from other churches in your town, such as ministers, rabbis and priests. Become familiar with their organizational structure.
2. Visit and befriend at the grassroots. Serve by helping, organizing service projects, holding events, etc.
3. Serve by advertising. Create platforms on social media where each religious group could add their religious activities calendar. The best way to strengthen religious freedom is for people to use freedom.
4. Add conferences, publications and news about religious freedom to your calendar.
5. Learn what political barriers local groups are running into or might face in the future.
6. Know the applicable laws churches and religious organizations face in your country, state or locale.
7. Hold a dinner once a year, giving honorific awards to local people who have advanced religion in town. Publish the event in local news outlets and on the web.
8. Look for legislation opportunities. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act has been adopted by 23 states in the United States. Find out if your state is one of them.
9. Regularly look at reports on international religious freedom published by the U.S. State Department.
10. Become a trusted source of information about religious freedoms.
Blessings and responsibilities
Welch shared those who have the freedom of liberty have a duty to work within the system that gave them those rights.
In addition, Welch explained how Joseph Smith prophesied the United States Constitution would be “used as a model to set political and constitutional rights everywhere.”
Welch urged students to get involved in any way they can to fight for religious freedom. He emphasized starting on a local level can lead to an increase in awareness everywhere.
Christina Augerea, a junior from Papua New Guinea majoring in political science, said Welch inspired her when he said, “Religious freedom is . . . interconnected with other freedoms. Strengthening any of those rights indirectly strengthens the freedom of religion.”