Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government on Whistleblower Complaint, Truth, and Transparency

September 25, 2019

In his farewell address, George Washington admonished the American people to remember the inherent power of their voluntary acts of civil union: “The unity of government which constitutes you one people is…a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize.” 

So it must be for us as we weigh the implications of a report filed by a whistleblower and attempts by the executive branch to impede congressional access to this record. As citizens of one nation, it is incumbent upon us to rise above the polarizing pull of partisanship, focusing instead with unity on the principles of government that ensure our communal peace and prosperity. We must unify behind a call to uphold the law, sustain the patterns set down by statute and the Constitution, and preserve at our core a commitment to holding our leaders to the highest standards of integrity, regardless of party affiliation.

Our leaders must have access to the information requisite for responsible action. We express gratitude to the senators who yesterday put country over party and voted unanimously to ask that the whistleblower complaint be released immediately to the intelligence committees of both the House and the Senate. Across the country, members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government will be contacting their representatives and encouraging them to follow up on this nonbinding resolution, believing it is necessary that Congress have the full whistleblower complaint and a factual understanding of the event before calibrating their response and determining if pursuing articles of impeachment is warranted. We invite all Americans to join us in calling and writing to remind our elected officials of their duty to seek after truth and transparency. 

We affirm the direct relationship between good government, righteous leaders, and a peaceful and just society. This relationship is built through countless ethical and informed acts and can only be maintained when transparency is rigorously protected. To supercede partisanship and unify in defense of principle, each U.S. citizen also needs access to the unbiased information required to make reasoned civic choices. We must each commit to be a responsible consumer of news, privileging well-researched and reputable reporting over commentary or tweets from partisan sources.

At Mormon Women for Ethical Government, we urge our citizenry to be informed and measured and our leaders to ensure that “whatsoever is spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light” (Luke 12:3). Good men and women from any party, who are acting in the best interest of their nation and according to law, have nothing to fear from this process of illumination. Ethical leaders should welcome it, and responsible citizens must demand it.

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Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring women of faith to be ambassadors of peace who transcend partisanship and courageously advocate for ethical government. 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.