I'm tired of the attitude expressed by the illegals in this story. "They didn't rob anyone... they're helping the victim by padding their social security account".

Why is it that we tolerate a different level of morality for "poor" illegal immigrants who are less fortunate than us? I've had this discussion with my brother-in-law from Peru and many other people from south of the border who see no problem at all with illegal immigration.

Even among LDS people, there seems to be strong support for illegal immigration because they're from the 3rd world. Besides honesty, are their other gospel principles that should be watered down for people from the 3rd world? Are they allowed to pay 3% tithing on their income, or perhaps bend the rules a little bit more with chsstity?

Geronimo has a great point. Those who came over in the early days of the Americas made a lot of mistakes. That's past history. Yes, there still may be pain and anger left over within the many tribes of Indians today, but many Indians I know try to look at all of the advantages they have as well. But, comparing 300 years ago to today doesn't make sense. These "illegal" immigrants are doing it today. And while it's hard to imagine sending a mom away from her children, it's equally hard to imagine what she did to another person's mom. My brother lives in Mexico with his wife, works there, his daughter attends school there and they are extremely happy and have no interest in moving here for a better life. I agree with the person who said they can have a good life in Mexico if they work hard enough for it. If they don't like it there, they should take the time and effort to get here in the right way. That's how my great grandparents did it from Wales and Scotland. They got permission first.

Since this is the DNews, I'm pretty confident the majority of readers/commenters are LDS. Wow, your comments. Do you understand that the Church allows illegals to be baptized? THINK ABOUT THAT. DON'T SKIP OVER THAT. THE CHURCH BAPTIZES ILLEGALS. KNOWING THAT THEY ARE ILLEGAL! THE BRETHEREN DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT! WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?!!! Do you know that the Book of Mormon says that none enter this land except it be by the hand of God? (Not my emphasis; my mission president's.) Do you even understand the concept of Christianity? Again, do you even understand the concept of Christianity? Do you even read your scriptures? Maybe you should listen less to Hannity, O'Riley and Rush and read more about the actions of Christ--New Testament or BoM, your choice. I really feel sorry for you. If you think that you understand the Gospel, you are really missing something.

Wow: Let's step back for a minute. Why is it that the LDS church would knowingly baptize illegal immigrants? Perhaps it's true that this is a mass of humanity brought here by God for some purpose which you seem to have pulled from the BOM. Perhaps this is more along the lines of a gadianton-styled invasion with hardened gang members (secret combinations) coming in to promote their crime of drug smuggling, human smuggling and other problems.

In order to support illegal immigration, I guess you should just throw out the 8th article of faith (you know the one about honoring and sustaining the law), or D&C 58, the one that says that members of the church should obey the laws of the land. I just don't understand why we should knowingly embrace illegal aliens who are not being honest in their daily lives or willing to obey the laws of this great land.

Please explain why we should ignore the commandment to be honest.

Any of you invoking Christ to justify your law and order, to heck with illegals philosophy need to reexamine His teachings and the higher law He left with us. Remember, He spent a significant part of His ministry deconstructing the rigid, "law and order," rule-bound, religious law of His time (which was more relevant to the lives of the Jews than the secular Roman law which had almost a secondary role in their lives). The second part of the higher law is very revealing: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." How does this second great commandment apply here?

Lee: You make this into a secret combination thing. Get real. Why is there always a conspiracy for some people?

Perhaps some laws are morally wrong, or just plain stupid in the eyes of God. My church leader ancestors definitely practiced polygamy for a time after it was illegal under the laws of the land, until God decided to change. Ask your bishop or stake president or the area authorities or the apostle down the street why illegals are knowingly baptized. It was actually noted in the DNews a few years ago. Guess the simple answer is that it's not an egregious sin that people try to make it out to be. Do you really think that God loves us more than Latin Americans? Read D&C 49:20.

The only ones I feel sorry for are underaged children who have parents that disregard their future and drag them across the border. They will never be able to live law abiding lives. The rest make my life harder every day. It is tiresome to defend myself as a legal immigrant.

I'm tired of my hard-earned tax dollars being used to house illegal immigrants in our county jails.

To who cares about Spanish: Many of the undocumented workers where I live get paid under-the-table...so they aren't paying taxes.

Maybe if some of those on welfare would take the agricultural type of jobs that the undocumented workers are seeking where I live, then those jobs wouldn't be available AND less U.S. citizens would be on welfare.

Hey,Native Am.! " Today, it's the same. Only it's Cubans in zodiacs, Asians in slow-boat cargo holds and people from Mexico, Mexi-cans, looking simply for what you take for granted on a Sunday morning in front of a computer, sipping coffee or cocoa getting ready for church or football: a better life."

Tell THAT to the MANY, MANY poor, desperate people who live deep in the Appalachian Mountains of W. VA., Tenn and parts of Ky. You seem to think there is no poverty among our own Americans - you must not get out much.

DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS - HELP AMERICA'S NEEDY FIRST!

Dear Brenda:

I'm from N.C., have walked the Ozarks, worked an Appalachian logging firm and now make my home in the western deserts of this country. Pretty sure I've seen and lived home-grown poverty, not sure how you inferred otherwise.

Desperate is as desperate does. Many good people fall into poverty and are able to get out with motivation, hard work and determination. Many do not, expecting some owed "privilege" by an entity (government, family, church, community). These are America's needy I believe you accuse me of not being sympathetic to. On the contrary, yes, this is exactly the demographic that needs attention: to get off welfare, quit making excuses about their specific situation and turn a corner for the better. But most are happy cashing checks and staying lazy. Not much I can do about that.

After I posted my initial comment yesterday, I spent the next 12 hours outside, as I do often. So to answer another of your allegations, actually I do get out much.

Finally: you said, "DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS - HELP AMERICA'S NEEDY FIRST!"

But then who would staff Wal-Mart for the country to purchase goods; cook, clean and turn off the lights for the country's hospitality; and plant, farm, slaughter and otherwise maintain all those dirty jobs so you and I don't have to and can sit here comfortably and have dialogue on a newspaper website?

Will you?

I know for a fact that the church policy during the 1970s in Southern California was to NOT baptize illegal immigrants. They were invited to return to their native lands and receive the gospel there. I don't know when or why this policy changed.

According the Chris Cannon, the crime rate among illegal aliens is higher then average American citizens, and the severity of the crimes is also higher (machete attacks that beheaded children, child rape of 18-month year olds).

I have discussed this issue with my Bishop and he referred me to D&C 58. It seems that there is no church policy or consensus with this issue. I don't remember hearing the church state that it we must obey all laws, except for unjust ones. That seems to be pretty chaotic to me. I think the policy would be more along the lines of trying to work within the system to change an unjust law, not openly defy it.

You would also have to work pretty hard to convince me that it's unjust to allow a limited number of immigrants into the country each year who have been screened from criminal and medical problems. Even the church, thorugh it's perpetual education fund, strives to make people more employable in their home countries, instead of bringing them all to Utah for a better life.

It's interesting to see that many of the LDS illegals who are earning more money in the states, have lower rates of tithing payment than members who remain in their native lands in relatively higher poverty. Perhaps the Lord is more willing to bless the truly honest of heart.

I'm tired of reading stories like this that are meant to play on our heartstrings. When they cross the border, they know they have broken the law and, if caught, they must pay the price. Isn't the age of reason suppose to be 7, regardless of what country you live in? We are all responsible for the choices we make in life and that also applies to illegal aliens. They ruin other lives by stealing other people's identities to benefit themselves. No sympathy here!!! Enforce the law!!!

My final comment got cut off........Nothing is free in this life no matter what they try to tell you......someone pays in some manner or the other for the "food stamps, health care, the welfare checks" it comes from Taxes. You know that big chunk of deduction you see each payday. Lets just get the issue resolved.