LDS church officials have updated their statement on the conflict in Charlottesville. The new message addresses those in the white supremacy community who have suggested the church’s stance to be neutral toward or in support of their views.
The statement reads, “White supremacist attitudes are morally wrong and sinful, and we condemn them. Church members who promote or pursue a ‘white culture’ or white supremacy agenda are not in harmony with the teachings of the Church.”
The original statement addressed the danger of racism generally without mentioning any specific hate group communities.
Original Story: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement over the weekend in response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia prompted by white supremacist hate groups.
In the statement, Church leaders expressed sadness and concern over the events in Charlottesville which began as a rally in protest of removing a confederate statue from a city park and eventually turned deadly when a car was driven into a crowd protesting the rally, killing a Charlottesville resident.
The statement reads, “People of any faith, or of no faith at all, should be troubled by the increase of intolerance in both words and actions that we see everywhere.”
Included was a quote from former church president Gordon B. Hinckley from an address given in 2006.
“I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ," Hinckley said.
While condemning racism generally, the statement did not mention specific hate groups by name such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Nationalist Front, both sponsors the rally.
