Official Statement From Mormon Women for Ethical Government on the Tragic Religious Persecution and Violence in Sri Lanka

April 22, 2019

We are filled with deep sorrow as we once again respond to the devastating loss of life motivated by religious hatred and bigotry, this time affecting hundreds of our fellow Christians and others throughout Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. We offer our most heartfelt condolences and prayers to all those who have lost loved ones in these horrific attacks. We also pray for the law enforcement and medical professionals responding to these attacks and for the lives and health of those who have been injured.

For followers of Jesus Christ, Easter is the holy day on which we rejoice in Jesus Christ’s resurrection, His ultimate triumph over death and sin. To have such a holy day marred by hatred, violence, and the deaths of so many of our sisters and brothers in Christ is an irony almost too bitter to bear. However, it is precisely because of our faith in Jesus Christ Himself that we find ourselves compelled to respond with love instead of hate.

We call for fellow Christians, as well as our friends of other faiths or no faith at all, to join us in making a deliberate effort to respond with bold acts of Christlike love toward our neighbors, whether across the street or on the other side of the world. Our principles of peacemaking declare that “we believe that love is the most powerful force in the universe.” Such a declaration is dependent upon both enduring hope and courageous action.

Once again, we urge peace-loving people throughout the world to be bolder in opposition to hatred and to be so empowered by love. We pray for the divine assistance and collective courage to put aside whatever differences would divide us and work together in forging a new path toward unity, toward justice, toward humility, toward love.

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Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency, and justice in governing. MWEG is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We do, however, fully sustain the leaders and doctrines of the Church.

*Photo by Matt on Unsplash