On The Lord’s Errand: the Life of Thomas S. Monson

Finding the Common Ground

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, an LDS candidate, spoke at commencement exercises for Liberty University, a Baptist institution, about how important it is that we as a people stand together for what is right to protect our society and our nation.  I strongly agree with the opinions he expressed in this speech and so wanted to share it.  He says it much better than I can.

In this article, the editor of an online Catholic magazine reported on the speech and used it as the lead article of that day’s issue.  He refers to the 2012 presidential race as “one of the most important Presidential elections in the history of the United States” in commenting on the unlikely convergence of three very disparate denominations at Liberty University.  He goes on to state:

The fact that a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, would be the commencement speaker at the Baptist University founded by Dr Jerry Falwell speaks to the urgency of the hour. Add to this the fact that this Catholic Editor in Chief of Catholic Online would consider the speech important enough to make it the lead article, and the point is made even clearer.

All too often, people of faith find themselves bickering and quarreling over the differences in their beliefs, until anger and animosity overcome all hope of a reasonable exchange of ideas.  I have seen, much to my dismay, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exchange words of bitter acrimony with others whose beliefs challenge their own.

This is not only regrettable but counterproductive—even harmful to all parties concerned.  It is especially sad because of the great commonalities members of the Church share with other Christian denominations.  We believe and strive to follow so many of the same tenets and principles, our faith shares far more commonality than differences.

It is those shared beliefs—the sanctity of marriage, the importance of family, the necessity of freedom of religion—that we must protect when they come under assault in the public forum.  Only by setting aside our differences and banding together to stand against the forces destructive to our society will we effect any change for the better.