MWEG Response to Minnesota Political Violence and Utah Sen. Mike Lee's Online Comments

Along with so many Americans, we watched in horror last weekend as the news broke of political violence in Minnesota. The tragic and needless deaths of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as the injuries sustained by state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, represent individual suffering and societal failure. In moments like these we should expect that our political leaders would share our distress and set an example of human compassion.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee’s online comments in response to the news violated that expectation. His words masked and minimized the devastation of the shootings. He capitalized on a tragedy to score political points, and he demonstrated a callous indifference to the loss of life.

As a prominent member of our shared faith, Sen. Lee is often cited as an example of our character as a people. At this moment Mormon Women for Ethical Government wants to assert that his actions are his own. They are not an accurate reflection of the values we and millions of his co-religionists hold dear.

As disciples, we consider it a commandment and privilege to “mourn with those that mourn . . . and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.” We cannot mourn with those we mock; we cannot comfort those we threaten. Instead, we believe the commitment to mourn and comfort is the work of peacemakers. It is work that we are deeply committed to carrying forward, and we plead with Sen. Lee to join us in these efforts.

It will require courage and resolve to set a different course than the one we are currently on as a nation. We cannot discount or condone words that are dismissive or permissive of political violence if we wish to have a peaceful society. We must always mourn the loss of human life, regardless of party, race, religion, or state. May each of us reflect on the impact of our words and choose to speak and write only those that uplift the dignity of each child of God.