Ballard - Doctrine of Inclusion - October 2001

Elder Ballard discusses the parable of the Good Samaritan and who our neighbor is and how we should treat others.  He uses this parable to teach us that we need to be friends and neighbors to all people, not just people of our faith.

• If we are truly disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will reach out with love and understanding to all of our neighbors at all times, particularly in times of need.
  
• Perceptions and assumptions can be very dangerous and unfair. There are some of our members who may fail to reach out with friendly smiles, warm handshakes, and loving service to all of their neighbors. At the same time, there may be those who move into our neighborhoods who are not of our faith who come with negative preconceptions about the Church and its members. Surely good neighbors should put forth every effort to understand each other and to be kind to one another regardless of religion, nationality, race, or culture.

Elder Ballard talks about the need to not exclude anyone from our friendships bases on differences.  He encourages parents to not let religious differences exclude other kids from associating with our children.

• I have never taught—nor have I ever heard taught—a doctrine of exclusion. I have never heard the members of this Church urged to be anything but loving, kind, tolerant, and benevolent to our friends and neighbors of other faiths.
• The Lord expects a great deal from us. Parents, please teach your children and practice yourselves the principle of inclusion of others and not exclusion because of religious, political, or cultural differences.

People not of our faith still want the same things we do.  We need to be aware of their strong desires to do good in the world despite our differences in religious views.  We should include these people into our lives as good neighbors and not write them off because they are not interested in the same religion we are.

• Our neighbors not of our faith are good, honorable people—every bit as good and honorable as we strive to be. They care about their families, just like we do. They want to make the world a better place, just like we do. They are kind and loving and generous and faithful, just like we seek to be. Nearly 25 years ago, the First Presidency declared: “Our message … is one of special love and concern for the eternal welfare of all men and women, regardless of religious belief, race, or nationality, knowing that we are truly brothers and sisters because we are sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.”
  
• That is our doctrine—a doctrine of inclusion. That is what we believe. That is what we have been taught. Of all people on this earth, we should be the most loving, the kindest, and the most tolerant because of that doctrine.
  

Elder Ballard suggests three ways we can do to avoid making others in our neighborhoods feel excluded?

• First, get to know your neighbors.
  
  • Learn about their families, their work, their views. Get together with them, if they are willing, and do so without being pushy and without any ulterior motives. Friendship should never be offered as a means to an end; it can and should be an end unto itself.
    
• Second, I believe it would be good if we eliminated a couple of phrases from our vocabulary: “nonmember” and “non-Mormon.”
  
  • Such phrases can be demeaning and even belittling. Personally, I don’t consider myself to be a “non-Catholic” or a “non-Jew.” I am a Christian. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is how I prefer to be identified—for who and what I am, as opposed to being identified for what I am not. Let us extend that same courtesy to those who live among us. If a collective description is needed, then “neighbors” seems to work well in most cases.
    
• And third, if neighbors become testy or frustrated because of some disagreement with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or with some law we support for moral reasons, please don’t suggest to them—even in a humorous way—that they consider moving someplace else.
  
  • I cannot comprehend how any member of our Church can even think such a thing! Our pioneer ancestors were driven from place to place by uninformed and intolerant neighbors. They experienced extraordinary hardship and persecution because they thought, acted, and believed differently from others. If our history teaches us nothing else, it should teach us to respect the rights of all people to peacefully coexist with one another.

We need to practice including people into our lives instead of excluding them.  The need for us to be a friendly people with others in our neighborhoods is part of being a good person.  Excluding people because of their culture, race, or religious beliefs is not something that the Savior would have us do.  In fact, I think the Savior wants us to be friends with all of our Heavenly fathers children and include as many people into our circle as we can.  We are not here on earth to only associate with people that are like us.  Working with different people, people with different views of the world, helps us to find common ground and ways to be better disciples of Jesus Christ.  Reach out to someone today that is not like you, that is different from what is comfortable, and share with them a hand of friendship.  You will not regret finding a new friend.