Media Releases • L I B R A R Y

As members of both houses of Congress continue to debate and negotiate a resolution for DREAMers this week, we call upon them to work toward ethical solutions that focus on the interests and needs of the American people rather than the tempting pull of partisan politics. The White House has consistently made its anti-immigrant agenda clear, and it continues to derail any bipartisan solutions that do not further that agenda. The result, so far, is a series of proposals that are beneath us and do not honor our country’s values or history.

Fortunately, our American political system is one of checks and balances. It is time for Congress to do what it was designed to do – pass a law that actually serves and protects the American people, with or without the approval of the White House. We have drafted Fifteen Declarations on Ethical Immigration Policy and have shared it with as many members of Congress as would listen. We continue to urge them to take an ethical approach to reform, rather than a political one. It isn’t just immigrants’ lives that are at stake here; it is also the legitimacy of our political system.

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*Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a nonpartisan group dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency, and justice in governing. MWEG is not formally affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We do, however, fully sustain the leaders and doctrines of the Church.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2018
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government with Regard to the Silencing, Denigration, and Abuse of Women

As Mormon Women for Ethical Government, we assert without equivocation that the silencing, denigration, and abuse of women are heinous offenses which must never be condoned or ignored. Our former prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley stated: “We condemn most strongly abusive behavior in any form. No man who abuses his wife or children is worthy to be a member in good standing in this Church. The abuse of one’s spouse and children is a most serious offense before God.”

We stand with all women and hold in the highest regard those who seek help or counsel when they are being harmed in any way. These women must be heard and they must be believed.

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Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a nonpartisan group dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency, and justice in governing. MWEG is not formally affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We do, however, fully sustain the leaders and doctrines of the Church.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 6, 2018
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Announcing the 2018 Spring Conference for Mormon Women for Ethical Government

“A Significant Force for Good: Empowering Women in Politics and in Life”

Co-sponsored by BYU’s Romney Institute of Public Management

Saturday, March 24th, 2018
9:00 – 4:00
Tanner Building
Brigham Young University

Please join us for a day of learning and empowerment as we explore new strategies and develop skills for promoting legal and ethical governance and for further promoting peacemaking in a society that appears less civil each day. Our powerhouse line-up of speakers hail from the worlds of politics, law, social work, academia, the media, and more.

This conference is open to the general public but there is a cap on the number of participants, so be sure to register early via the conference website. The early registration discount ends March 2nd. Payment is via Paypal. If you experience difficulties, please email Wendy Dennehy or Kara North at MWEG.foundation@gmail.com. We are excited to see you there!

https://mwegconference2018.wixsite.com/mwegconf2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 22, 2018
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Fifteen Declarations on Ethical Immigration Policy

Mormon Women for Ethical Government is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for ethical governance. We are greatly disheartened by the current state of affairs in Washington, but we have not lost hope in the ability of everyday Americans who love this country to persuade our political leaders to do what is right.

We acknowledge that immigration is a complex topic with many potential points of philosophical and practical debate. It is for this reason that a balanced and civil approach to reform is so desperately needed. We want to contribute to that approach, and we have taken the liberty of providing the following 15 statements describing our vision of ethical immigration policy which we believe will appeal to the broadest possible cross-section of Americans.

In addition to immediate protections for Dreamers and TPS recipients, we urge Congress to begin working on comprehensive immigration reform. We encourage all responsible citizens to join in this important discussion by educating yourselves, engaging in civil debate, articulating your values and positions, and then reaching out to your Congressional representatives to share your ideas. If you agree with our statements, please share them with your friends and your representatives. We all have a duty to participate in making our democracy strong. Now is not the time for disinterest, disillusionment, blame, or apathy. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. Please join us.

1) We believe that society is stronger when families are together. The forced separation of caring family members hurts not only individual families but also communities at large, impacting them socially, emotionally, spiritually, culturally, financially, and otherwise. We believe the politicized vilification of so-called “chain migration” is based on a misunderstanding of current immigration law and would be more appropriately described as family reunification.

2) We believe that laws or policies that have the effect of creating groups of second class citizens are immoral and dishonor this country’s many hard-won battles for civil rights and the honored protections enshrined in the Fourteenth Amendment. We support the current requirements for permanent residency as a precursor to citizenship, and we believe any attempts to lengthen waiting periods for fully-vetted immigrants to seek legal permanent residency or citizenship amount to political posturing that does not serve society at large. We believe it violates the basic premise of our American creed to grant someone citizenship or legal residency and then deny any of the fundamental rights associated with his or her respective status, such as the right to vote, the right to sponsor qualifying family members, the right to travel, the right to work, etc.

3) We believe that strong border security is vital to the welfare of our nation and should be carefully designed to be truly protective from actual threats to the safety of our citizens. We also believe it should be accomplished in the absolute most cost-efficient way. We reject the premise that every person attempting to cross a border without express permission is by definition a threat.

4) We believe it is inherently unethical to offer someone protections or privileges based on extenuating circumstances and then withdraw them arbitrarily or based solely on changed political priorities. Although we acknowledge that general enforcement policies will change according to the political convictions of the party in power, it is wrong to target and/or penalize people who have relied upon the protections offered and have consistently complied with the government’s requests.

5) We believe that deportation and the resulting separation of individuals from their communities, friends, and families is a severe punishment that is often disproportionate to many of the actions that trigger removal proceedings. We urge Congress to discontinue the use of deportation as punishment for minor violations and instead impose fair and proportional penalties that give people of good moral character the opportunity to rectify past behavior and move forward toward eventual citizenship.

6) We reject the kind of zero-sum thinking that insists that immigrants categorically deprive Americans of jobs. We demand that policy-makers take a more accurate and nuanced approach that recognizes the many economic contributions made by immigrants.

7) We believe that our limited immigration enforcement resources should be carefully used to protect our society from dangerous immigrants with serious criminal records, as opposed to simply rounding up otherwise law-abiding and valued members of our communities. We are opposed, based on principle and pragmatism, to the federal government’s use of local law enforcement agencies to perform the functions of immigration enforcement.

8) We decry the use of private detention facilities to detain children, families, and non-threatening individuals who are awaiting asylum hearings. It is immoral and un-American to threaten incarceration and the inhumane disregard of a person’s inalienable rights as a so-called deterrent against those fleeing insufferable violence and even life-threatening conditions in their home countries.

9) We believe it is unethical and in conflict with time-honored values to pursue and detain harmless people at hospitals, places of worship, courthouses, and schools. The health of our democracy depends on our continued respect for these sacred institutions.

10) We believe that individuals seeking asylum or facing removal proceedings, especially children, should be provided with qualified legal assistance. Because deportation is at times a more detrimental punishment than imprisonment, it is unethical and contrary to our commitment to justice to impose such harsh and life-altering penalties upon those who are incapable of effectively representing themselves.

11) We believe immigration laws and enforcement policies should be carefully crafted to protect rather than impede the rights and interests of US citizens, including employers, employees, business customers, teachers, religious groups, and community members who often suffer when otherwise law-abiding immigrants are suddenly deported. US citizen sponsors of immigrants, in particular, should not be so heavily burdened by expensive, lengthy, invasive, and restrictive immigration procedures and policies. We believe that it is appropriate for the law to favor qualified US citizen candidates for employment, but we urge Congress to find more creative, non-punitive enforcement measures that trust and reward US employers who honor those priorities.

12) We believe it should be much easier for individuals who have long resided here to obtain inadmissibility waivers based on clean criminal records, social and economic contributions, community ties, and good moral character. Special considerations should be given to the rights of US citizen sponsors, especially spouses of immigrants who should not be required to make decisions about love and marriage based on obscure and technical immigration laws that are virtually unknown to the general American public and whose due process rights are often jeopardized by harsh immigration laws.

13) We believe that to be philosophically anti-immigrant is to be anti-American. It is antithetical to our founding principles, our history, and our collective American identity to categorically deny others the ability to seek opportunity here. We reject any effort to ban individuals from entering the United States based solely on nationality, ethnicity, or religion.

14) We believe we have a moral obligation and a unique privilege to assist and welcome refugees in this country. We support the rigorous vetting of refugees that is already taking place and reject the oft-repeated argument that welcoming refugees of all nations into our borders is putting our citizens in danger. We strongly believe the evidence that shows refugees, by and large, are a boon and enrichment—both culturally and economically—to our great nation.

15) As mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, neighbors, teachers, church leaders, mentors, and friends, we teach our children that all people are beloved children of God and that they should be treated as such. We support an immigration system that values diversity and considers would-be immigrants on the content of their characters, not on the color of their skin, their religious beliefs, the relative wealth of their countries of origin, or any other prejudicial preference.

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About MWEG: Founded in January 2017, Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a 501(c)4 nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency, and justice in governing. Mormon Women for Ethical Government is a private organization and is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We do, however, fully sustain, honor, and support the Church’s doctrines and leaders.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 12, 2018
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Response from Mormon Women for Ethical Government to President Trump’s Crass and Racist CommentsPresident Trump’s recent comments about Haiti and several countries in Africa and Central America were indefensible–ugly, offensive, racist, and decidedly un-Presidential. We are heartened that so many people are speaking out against this untenable behavior, but we impatiently await the time when honorable members of Congress from both sides of the aisle will put aside politics, recognize what is at stake, and take decisive action to protect this country from a President who is so clearly unfit for office.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 5, 2018
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Response from Mormon Women for Ethical Government to the passing of President Thomas S. Monson

At the death of our beloved church president and prophet, Thomas S. Monson, we, the members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government express our tender affection and admiration for this man whose lifetime of pure service to millions reflects the Lord and Savior for Whom he was a special witness to the world.

The documented and therefore observable features of President Monson’s life—over six uninterrupted decades of church leadership of which more than half a century was spent as an apostle then prophet; his prophecies and their fulfillment regarding the establishment and flourishing of the church in post WWII Germany; spearheading key church departments such as welfare; propelling the building of temples throughout the world; being involved in publishing the complete LDS standard works of scripture; lowering the missionary ages for men and women—all of these landmarks are worthy of veneration. He was a remarkable leader.

But it is the unpublicized and therefore unsearchable acts of Christlike compassion that bespeak President Monson’s discipleship. He was a true servant to the public–in private. Nothing serves as a better symbol for this kind of hidden ministering, perhaps, than his frequent solo trips extending over many years behind the Iron Curtain into East Germany. From such a visit, it is known that he traveled home in his house slippers, having given not only his own shoes, but second suit and extra shirts to the economically devastated and beleaguered German saints. His service without fanfare has extended to some of our own MWEG members, whose rank and file LDS families have received the kind letter at the passing of their child, the spontaneous visit to their dying parent, the encouraging telephone call after family crisis, all sealed with a prophetic blessing from Thomas S. Monson.

He was a man whose intimate association with the Spirit illuminated and warmed his interaction with God’s children, cultivating peace. As he once counselled in an address, “May we ever be exemplary in our homes and faithful in keeping all of the commandments, that we harbor no animosity toward any man but rather be peacemakers, ever remembering the Savior’s admonition: ‘By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.’”

We could all but hope to live by these words by cultivating peace in our hearts, homes and spheres of influence. While mourning President Monson’s passing, we also rejoice that he is peacefully reunited with prophets, friends and family who have preceded him into eternity, and above all, with his cherished Frances.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 2, 2018
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Response from Mormon Women for Ethical Government to Utah Senator Orrin Hatch’s Announcement of Retirement

In light of today’s announcement by Senator Orrin Hatch that he will not seek reelection this coming November, Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) wishes to thank him for his many years of service to our state and country. We commend the Senator for this decision and encourage him to focus on the legacy he will leave. We call upon him to use the remainder of his time in office to act with boldness and integrity in putting country before party and in defending the principles of honor, decency, and justice upon which our nation was founded.

Senator Hatch now has an opportunity to take across the finish line several critical legislative solutions he helped shape years ago that would provide permanent protection to some of the most vulnerable among us. We speak here specifically of CHIP and protection for DREAMers. We ask him to act decisively on these matters.

We also encourage Utah voters to seize this opportunity to elect a man or woman of integrity as our new senator in November–one who will consistently place principle over party.

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About MWEG: Founded in February 2017, Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a 501(c)4 nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency, and justice in governing. Mormon Women for Ethical Government is a private organization and is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We do, however, fully sustain, honor, and support the Church’s doctrines and leaders.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 12, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Response from Mormon Women for Ethical Government to the Alabama Senate Election Results

As followers of Christ, members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government heartily congratulate and rejoice with voters in the state of Alabama for prioritizing principles over political tribalism in refusing to elect Roy Moore to the Senate. By so doing, Alabama has sent a decisive message to the nation and set a clear precedent: Immoral behavior, regardless of its party of origin, will not go unchecked.

At the beginning of this special election, the outcome was a foregone conclusion: Moore would win by at least thirty points. When allegations came to light regarding Moore’s history of sexual predation and pedophilia, however, Republicans in Alabama faced a moral dilemma. Could they in good faith vote for Moore as the candidate for the party whose platform they believed most closely aligned with their values?

In a news cycle that is distressingly dark and hostile, we are greatly encouraged by the bright light coming from Alabama. The earliest exit polls reveal that people of color are largely to thank for this victory. As more information becomes available, we hope to see a pattern of voters daring to step out of entrenched partisanship in favor of character. We are thankful to all voters who showed up to save the United States from tumbling to a new low, signaling that perhaps, in spite of seismic shifting on the political-moral landscape, we might in fact just be able to regain our footing.

We at MWEG firmly warn against the folly of placing full fidelity in any single political ideology. We reassert that we place full trust only in the Gospel of Peace. We also declare that no political figure warrants our utter adoration or loyalty. That faith we place unshakably in the King of Kings, until the coming day when all government shall, as He has promised us, “rest upon His shoulder.” (Isaiah 9:6)

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Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency, and justice in governing.

Mormon Women for Ethical Government is a private organization and is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We do, however, fully sustain, honor, and support the Church’s doctrines and leaders.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

An Open Letter to President Trump from Mormon Women for Ethical Government

Dear Mr. President,

We welcome you to our beautiful state.

You probably do not know much about Mormons, so let us take a minute to introduce ourselves to you.

First and foremost, we are followers of Jesus Christ, and we take seriously and literally his commandment to care for the poor, the sick, the needy, the children, and the widows.

We are peacemakers. We believe in kindness and charity, in decency and compassion, in light and goodness.

We believe in truth, and know that God can help us distinguish truth from fiction.

We believe that we are all God’s children–every single one of us, regardless of skin color, creed, nationality, religion, race, gender, ability, economic status. And we believe that every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We believe that God created us all and asked just two simple things of us–to love Him and to love each other. In fact, our Church has said that “the bedrock moral issue for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is how we treat each other as children of God.”

Most of us are descendants of immigrants, and we honor the culture and sacred spaces of those of us who were not–our Native American sisters and brothers.

We believe in families. We cherish our families above all else and believe that the family unit is both sacred and eternal. We believe not only that “families can be together forever,” but that families should be together NOW. In fact, our Church has taken a rare public stand on this issue in relation to immigration reform, stating that “families are meant to be together. Forced separation of working parents from their children weakens families and damages society.”

We were once refugees–driven out of Missouri by an extermination order in 1838 and taken in and cared for by the good people of Quincy, Illinois, and so our hearts are with all refugees. Our Church feels so strongly about this issue that it issued a formal statement in January of this year: “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is concerned about the temporal and spiritual welfare of all of God’s children across the earth, with special concern for those who are fleeing physical violence, war and religious persecution.”

We are a world-wide Church and have members on every continent, whom we consider our sisters and brothers in the gospel. Many of our members have lived and served as missionaries all over the world. Therefore, sentiments like “America First!” ring hollow and run counter to our doctrine that “the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare.” (D&C 104:17)

We reject fear-mongering, for “God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7)

We believe in modesty of thought and action and see humility as a great virtue–one that is mentioned often by Jesus Christ. We believe that the meek, not the Me First, will inherit the earth.

We believe in the sacredness of the human body and in marital fidelity.

Our doctrine is one of perfect gender equality, and we categorically reject as evil the objectification of women.

We denounce gambling, avarice, violence, and corruption of every kind.

We believe that we are stewards of the earth and will be held accountable for the way our greed and gluttony have ravaged this planet.

We have tremendous love and gratitude for our country and the principles and laws upon which it was founded. We are civically engaged and passionate about protecting liberty. But our loyalty is not to individual leaders or political parties. Our devotion is to God, and we take seriously the charge to place no other gods before Him.

One of the core articles of our faith proclaims that we have a responsibility to obey, honor, and sustain the law. We believe that requires each of us to be engaged, diligent, proactive, and persistent in ensuring that the laws and policies and leaders of our country are worthy of our honor. Where they are not, we will work with all the energy we possess to change them.

Welcome, again, to Utah. May your stay be enjoyable and enlightening.

With sincerity,

Mormon Women for Ethical Government

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Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a nonpartisan grassroots organization of over 5,000 women dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency, and justice in governing.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 29, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government in Response to Bigotry

In yet another abhorrent display of ignorance, the president has retweeted several anti-Islam videos from Alt-Right sources. This comes just days after he exhibited indefensible cultural insensitivity in a meeting with Native American leaders and follows over two years of immature, inflammatory, bigoted, and false tweets and statements.

Mormon Women for Ethical Government soundly condemns this behavior. This cannot stand. We call on our political leaders to stop ignoring such completely inexcusable comportment and to demand that the standard of conduct required from the President of the United States be upheld. The safeguarding of religious freedom requires us to protect people of all faiths not only from being denied equal rights of citizenship, but also from any impingement on their ability to express their faith openly without fear of persecution, particularly from the highest office in the land.

Finally, we call on good people everywhere to reach out with love and compassion to our sisters and brothers of all nationalities, ethnicities, races, and religions. We further urge all citizens to contact their members of Congress to remind them that Islamophobia, hate speech, and bigotry of any kind have no place in our government and cannot be tolerated to the least degree.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 10, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government with Regard to Sexual Violence

As Mormon Women for Ethical Government, we unequivocally state that the human body and its sexual powers are sacred. Any abuse or misuse of another’s body is contemptible and worthy of the most severe condemnation.

In the strongest possible terms, we assert that sexual harassment, assault, and violence preface the fall of a culture at large and should not be normalized or condoned in any way or by anyone, especially those charged with political leadership. Hence, we boldly condemn any attempts to justify such inexcusable and reprehensible behavior and demand that our elected leaders set a morally sound example.

For those who seek by any means to protect those guilty of sexual aggression and who deflect blame by either accusing the victim or by hiding behind the smokescreen of “fake news!” we issue a warning: Those who hide truth are themselves liars, and share in the greater guilt of a culture sinking into depravity.

We call upon good people everywhere, including those we have elected to make our laws and lead our country, to uphold the core values of honor, decency, and human dignity upon which our nation was founded.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 7, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government with Regard to Gun Violence

Columbine. Virginia Tech. Sandy Hook. Fort Hood. Charleston. Orlando. Las Vegas. Sutherland Springs. These massacres and the many others across the U.S., including over 300 in 2017 alone, have left their bloodstain on the soil of our nation. Members of Mormon Women for Ethical Government believe our nation will ultimately be held accountable both to history and to God if we continue to watch in horror and do nothing.

Today, we forcefully proclaim that we have witnessed too many slaughters and we commit to work alongside other concerned citizens to push for immediate legislation for commonsense regulations that a majority of Americans already agree upon–bans on assault weapons, high capacity magazines, and bump stocks; reasonable waiting periods before firearm purchases; and more thorough background checks, including for private sales and at gun shows. We also call for a much needed national self-examination. Our culture of violence must change. And we must lead out in this change, beginning in our own homes. Not only do we need better laws, we need better people.

How many of our children must be sacrificed on the altar of individual liberties before we are shaken to action? As people of faith, we are sincere in offering our thoughts and prayers to the victims of these horrific acts of violence. But without accompanying action, our words can only echo across the land as a hollow mockery until they are coupled with both laws and people that honor the sanctity of life. We urge all citizens to stand together to defend our most fundamental freedom —the right to life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government with Regard to the Mueller Investigation

SALT LAKE CITY, UT- In light of the recent indictments in the inquiry led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, we call upon Congress to enact legislation that will protect this critical investigation and ensure that the whole truth be uncovered. We further call on Congress to insist that proper checks and balances between branches of government be maintained so that anyone found guilty of serious crimes against our republic or of abusing constitutional powers throughout the course of this investigation be barred from returning to any position of public influence. In addition, we reject and will vigorously contest any proposal for unethical pardoning or any other obstruction of justice.

We appeal to our fellow citizens to respond to the ugly divisions that threaten our beloved nation not with increased animosity, but with greater unity, reaching out to one another in love and good will. We thank Special Counsel Mueller and his team for their tireless efforts on behalf of the values and ideals that define democracy and pray for their well-being and continued ability to discover truth and defend liberty.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government in Response to Bannon Interview

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — As citizens of a nation founded on principles of honor, decency, and justice, we, as Mormon Women for Ethical Government, denounce in the strongest possible terms any attempts to justify indefensible behavior. In a four-minute pre-released clip of an interview that will air on 60 Minutes Sunday evening, Steve Bannon once again dismisses as mere “locker-room talk” the wholly repugnant and puerile boasting of sexual assault by the man our nation went on to elect to the highest office in the land. In attempting to excuse this reprehensible conduct, Bannon demeans not only the intelligence, but the humanity of good people everywhere.

While vulgar and juvenile braggadocio does sometimes, regrettably, occur, it is not the norm and it is never condonable, especially when it comes from a 59-year-old grown man.

This attempted normalization of indecency, along with the chilling revelation that for this administration, it is blind loyalty or the highway — even in the face of irrefutable evidence of depravity and wrongdoing — reminds us that we, as citizens, must be absolutely vigilant in ensuring that this type of morally vacuous ideology never in the least degree be allowed to influence the governing or policy-making of this country.

Bannon asserts in this interview clip that “people don’t care.” We are here to boldly proclaim on behalf of principled people everywhere that we do care. We care, deeply. We are watching, and we will continue to act and to speak out against dishonor and corruption wherever it is found.

*Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency, and justice in governance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Official Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) with Regard to Announcement About DACA

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Mormon Women for Ethical Government believes in the dignity of all human beings, in the importance of families, in equal opportunity for all, and in justice, fairness, and compassion. We are grieved by today’s announcement that the Trump administration has rescinded DACA. This action shows an indefensible and reprehensible disregard for the 800,000 young DREAMers who were brought to this country as young children and have grown up here, graduated from high school, attended college, participated in the work force, paid taxes, purchased homes, raised families, and have otherwise shown themselves to be exemplary upstanding, law-abiding contributors to our society. We uphold the official statements of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on issues of immigration and, like the Church, support “an approach where undocumented immigrants are allowed to square themselves with the law.” We now call upon Congress to pass the DREAM Act of 2017 or similar legislation to protect these vulnerable DREAMers and to provide a path to citizenship for them. And we call upon people of conscience everywhere to make sure that their elected representatives do just this.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Statement from Mormon Women for Ethical Government in Response to White Supremacist Rally and Ensuing Violence in Charlottesville, Virginia

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG) decries racism wherever its ugly tentacles reach. As devout followers of Jesus Christ, we believe our path is clear—to love and respect one another as fellow sons and daughters of God. In daily practice, in civil discourse, in policy, our goals are to love, honor, and defend the rights of all our brothers and sisters throughout the world.

We stand with the good citizens of Charlottesville, Virginia, who are being singled out because of skin color or religion by gangs of cowardly white supremacists. We believe in the inherent dignity of every human being. Our beloved nation was inspired by the ideal of a government that was not tribal, but based on rule of law, fairness, and equal opportunity for all. We call upon honorable people everywhere to stand with us against racism, bigotry, hatred, and violence.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Mormon Women for Ethical Government Call for Decency in Political Discourse

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Mormon Women for Ethical Government holds as one of its core principles nonviolence both in deed and in word. The language employed by those who engage in political discourse–particularly those who hold the highest offices of government — ought to stand as a model of decency, self-control, respect, and honor. Neither freedom of speech nor our treasured freedom of press grant impunity, but, rather, responsibility, and we call on all those in positions of public service to model greater responsibility in their exercise of those freedoms and to encourage others to do the same.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Mormon Women for Ethical Government Gather to Protest Unethical Detention of a Young Mother

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — On Wednesday, May 3, 2017, Mormon Women for Ethical Government, SL Indivisible, Action Utah!, and other concerned citizens will gather at the Department of Homeland Security field office in West Valley City on 2975 South Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City, in a show of solidarity for a young mother named Silvia. Silvia was detained by ICE officers in a Michaels parking lot on the morning of April 28, 2017, in front of her 8-year-old daughter. At the time, she was given no reason for the arrest, except that officials had been following her for several days. Her husband, who is a legal permanent resident, was called to come and pick up their daughter, and then Silvia was taken to an address undisclosed to even the family. She has been detained since then.

Silvia was brought to the United States at the age of 7 and has spent over two decades as a law-abiding member of her community. She has been compliant with ICE’s orders to check in over the course of many years, and she and her husband, Carlos, a legal permanent resident, had already filed for an I-130 (Petitition for Alien Relative), and were awaiting a decision. They had no reason to fear a deportation, least of all for a young mother who would have qualified for DACA protection all along if she’d had proper legal advice.

Silvia did not receive any notification to report to ICE prior to her abrupt arrest while in public with her child. She is the mother of three young children (ages 2, 8, and 10).

“That she would be detained like this is unconscionable,” says Sharlee Mullins Glenn of Mormon Women for Ethical Government. “It is our intent to gather at Homeland Security office in West Valley City to show solidarity for our sister and to pray that these inhumane orders that tear apart families and strike at the very heart of our Utah values will end.”

We echo the LDS church’s official statement given April 2014:

“The foundational principles on which the Church’s position [on immigration reform] is based are: We follow Jesus Christ by loving our neighbors. The meaning of ‘neighbor’ includes all of God’s children, in all places, at all times. We recognize an ever-present need to strengthen families. Families are meant to be together. Forced separation of working parents from their children weakens families and damages society.”

We oppose any method of enforcement that causes unnecessary harm or emotional distress to loved ones, particularly children. While we acknowledge the importance of obeying the law, we reject as an eternal falsehood the idea that mistakes cannot be corrected, and we urge comprehensive immigration reform to correct drastically disproportionate penalties for minor, immigration-related offenses. Until then, we will seek to strengthen our communities by reaching out in love and helpfulness to those who are threatened by these changes. We will mourn with, comfort, and bear the burdens of our fellow men and women.

Members of the nonpartisan Salt Lake Indivisible, Action Utah! and other grassroots groups will be on hand to stand with us in solidarity for the unethical treatment of this young mother.

When: Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 10:00am
Where: ICE Salt Lake City Field Office (2975 South Decker Lake Drive, WVC, 84119 – UTA bus stop nearby)
What: Press conference calling on our government to demonstrate compassion
Why: Heavy-handed and inhumane deportation policy is tearing apart Utah families
Who: Mormon Women for Ethical Government, SL Indivisible, Action Utah!, and concerned citizens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2017
Contact: Sharlee Mullins Glenn

Mormon Women for Ethical Government and Others Gather in Prayer to Protest Feds’ “Changed Priorities” for Deportation

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — On Thursday, April 6, 2017, Mormon women and other concerned citizens will gather at the Salt Lake City Airport in a show of solidarity for an area woman, “Isabel,” who has been ordered to leave the United States by ICE agents who will be on hand to escort her onto a flight bound for Colombia. Isabel is a single mother and is the sole caretaker for her disabled son and her 86-year-old mother. ICE will not provide her with a reason why her request for an extension was denied. We are currently seeking the intervention of members from our congressional delegation.

“It is our intent to gather at the Salt Lake City Airport to show solidarity for our sister and to pray that these inhumane orders that tear apart families and strike at the very heart of our democratic values will end,” said Sharlee Mullins Glenn of Mormon Women for Ethical Government.

As women of faith, we echo the words of Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Quorum of the Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: “Immigration questions are question dealing with God’s children. I believe a more thoughtful and factual, not to mention humane, approach is warranted, and urge those responsible for enactment of . . . immigration policy to measure twice before they cut.”
We call upon our government to fix our broken immigration system.

When: Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 9:30 AM
Where: Salt Lake City Airport – Terminal 2. Lower level, near baggage claim. (776 N. Terminal Dr.)