In the April 2016 general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Patrick Kearon of the Seventy spoke of his current assignment in Europe to assess needs and help assist the 1,250,000 refugees that arrived in Europe in the past year.
He also reminded members of “the invitation from the First Presidency to participate in Christlike service to refugees worldwide … youth, men, women, and families … (to) join in this great humanitarian endeavor” (see "Refuge from the Storm," Ensign, May 2016).
As he concluded, he said, “Being a refugee may be a defining moment in the lives of those who are refugees, but being a refugee does not define them. … Some of them will go on to be Nobel laureates, public servants, physicians, scientists, musicians, artists, religious leaders and contributors in other fields. Indeed, many of them were these things before they lost everything. This moment does not define them, but our response will help define us.”
After he spoke, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, went to the podium to announce the rest of the program and was clearly emotional. President Uchtdorf has previously shared his experiences about being a refugee during World War II in Germany.
He was at one time in his life — as are 60 million people in the world today — a refugee.
Where would he be today if not for the care and kindness of others at a difficult time in his life? Conversely, where would the world be today without the contributions and goodness of men and women like President Uchtdorf?
The question of how to deal with refugees or potential refugees in various nations is a hot-button issue today. Many politicians and world leaders have staked out disparate and distinct positions on this subject. However, there will be no politics here. Rather, the intention is to present two effective and enlightened responses among individuals in Nephite society to refugee crises in their day as shared in the Book of Mormon.
The first example comes before there is a refugee crisis among the Nephites and Lamanites, as individuals try to preclude war, which inevitably creates enormous refugee populations. It occurs when Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah desire to go and teach the gospel of peace, the gospel of Jesus Christ, to their enemies.
Ammon describes the response of some Nephites to their plan, “they laughed us to scorn,” at the notion of converting Lamanites because, to their finite human minds, the Lamanites are incorrigible, a “stiffnecked people … whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been spent in the grossest iniquity, whose ways have been the ways of a transgressor from the beginning. … Moreover they did say: Let us take up arms against them that we destroy them and their iniquity out of the land, lest they overrun us and destroy us” (see Alma 26:23-25). Ah, the historically ever-present solution: a preemptive strike against a perceived enemy, intended to utterly destroy them, because the idea of reaching out in love and kindness is childish at best, foolhardy at worst.
Yet, the results of their mission? They do suffer afflictions, intense persecution and rejection from many Lamanites. However, they also have enormous success converting a sizable portion of Lamanites to the gospel (see Alma 17-26). So much so that Ammon explains, “Has there been so great love in all the land? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, there has not” (see Alma 26:33).
Ammon also shares an eternal truth, reminding readers, “We see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth” (Alma 26:37). Thus, one powerful solution is to serve as Jesus Christ served and preach his gospel widely throughout the world.
The second example from scripture comes when the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, or people of Ammon, are forced to flee because they have converted, renounced warfare and are being persecuted and killed by their former Lamanite neighbors in Alma 27.
Ammon is understandably distraught at their suffering and proposes that they become refugees, leaving their homes and community, and relocate among the Nephites.
When they arrive in Zarahemla, the chief judge sends out a proclamation asking the Nephites what to do with this large body of refugees. “The voice of the people came, saying, Behold we will give up the land of Jershon … unto our brethren for an inheritance. … We will set our armies … that we may protect our brethren in the land of Jershon … on condition that they … give us a portion of their substance to assist us that we may maintain our armies. … (The Ammonites became) a zealous and beloved people” (see Alma 27:22-24, 30). The response of committed disciples of Christ was to give up land and homes to refugees and assist Ammonite integration into Nephite society.
Here we see a second timely example. In both instances, the Nephites acted upon, as we should, the Savior’s counsel regarding helping others in need, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).
Kristine Frederickson writes on topics that affect members of the LDS Church worldwide in her column “LDS World." She teaches part time at BYU. Her views are her own.