Doctrinal Highlight

Be Not Guilty of Persecution

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Our Good Shepherd,” Liahona, May 2017, 31–32.

The Good Samaritan, by Walter Rane

“In various countries across the world, I have had small glimpses into the ugliness of prejudice and discrimination suffered by those who are targeted because of their race or ethnicity.

“Persecution comes in many forms: ridicule, harassment, bullying, exclusion and isolation, or hatred toward another. We must guard against bigotry that raises its ugly voice toward those who hold different opinions. Bigotry manifests itself, in part, in unwillingness to grant equal freedom of expression. Everyone, including people of religion, has the right to express his or her opinions in the public square. But no one has a license to be hateful toward others as those opinions are expressed.

“… The Savior taught, ‘Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” [Matthew 7:12]. For us to ask for respect, we must be respectful. Furthermore, our genuine conversion brings ‘meekness, and lowliness of heart,’ which invites ‘the Holy Ghost [and fills us with] perfect love’ [Moroni 8:26], an ‘unfeigned love’ [1 Peter 1:22] for others.”