This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in April 2021.



Judge Thomas B. Griffith is an expert in constitutional law. He has served as chief counsel for both the U.S. Senate and for Brigham Young University, and was appointed to a judgeship by George W. Bush on the Washington, D.C., Court of Appeals, from which he retired in 2020. In his church experience he has served as both a bishop and a stake president. He currently lectures on law at Harvard Law School and serves as a fellow at the Wheatley Institution at BYU, as special counsel to the international law firm of Hunton Andrews Kurth, and as senior policy advisor to the National Institute for Civil Discourse.

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FaithMatters.org

A Mormon Approach to Politics, by Thomas B. Griffith

Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution, by President Dallin H. Oaks

Beyond Politics, by Hugh Nibley

Handbook links:

38.8.30 Political and Civic Activity

38.8.40 Seeking Information from Reliable Sources

Liberals, Doctrine, & Apologetics at Church | An Interview with Blair Hodges

Transcript coming soon

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Highlights

In this collaborative episode, Kurt Francom and Faith Matters co-founder Bill Turnbull talk with Thomas to explore President Oaks’ 2021 General Conference address, "Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution". President Oaks spoke passionately about the U.S. Constitution and ended with an urgent admonition to end political tribalism and division, insisting that we address this in our wards and stakes. They also discuss what lies behind those divisions—the rapid erosion of goodwill and trust in the American body politic—including among Latter-day Saints. Thomas believes Latter-day Saints can and must play a critical role in healing today’s divides. Leaders especially have a role in helping ward members follow President Oaks’ counsel.



2:10 Quote from President Oaks' talk:

"On contested issues, we should seek to moderate and unify. … There are many political issues, and no party, platform, or individual candidate can satisfy all personal preferences. Each citizen must therefore decide which issues are most important to him or her at any particular time. Then members should seek inspiration on how to exercise their influence according to their individual priorities. This process will not be easy. It may require changing party support or candidate choices, even from election to election."

3:45 The thought never occurred to him that his political views were driven by his faith ...