5 points of counsel offered on conduct during times of turmoil

Elder Dallin H. Oaks offered five points of counsel to LDS members on how their conduct can enhance religious freedom in times of turmoil and challenge.

1. Speak with love, always showing patience, understanding and compassion toward adversaries.

2. Don't be deterred or coerced into silence by intimidation but instead insist on the constitutional right and duty to exercise one's religion, to vote one's conscience on public issues and to participate in elections and debates.

That participation should be accompanied by "a right to expect freedom from retaliation," Elder Oaks said, referring to the post-Proposition 8 vandalism, retaliation and harassments — including firings and boycotts — against LDS Church members and supporters of other faiths.

While such aggressive intimidation was directed at religious individuals and symbols, he said the incidents of violence and intimidation "are not so much anti-religious as anti-democratic."

3. Insist on the freedom to preach the doctrines of the LDS faith.

4. Be wise in one's political participation, including the framing of arguments and positions in respectful ways.

5. Be careful never to support or act upon the idea that a person must subscribe to some particular set of religious beliefs in order to qualify for a public office.