Law professor Steven T. Collis on peacemaking and the need for religious freedom worldwide

Church News

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, News

4.9 • 782 Ratings

🗓️ 22 July 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Since the early days of the Restoration, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have championed the fundamental human right to religious freedom. In 2023, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, asked, “Where would the absence of religious freedom lead society?” To consider this important question, author, researcher and professor on religious law Steven T. Collis joins Church News reporter Mary Richards on this episode of the Church News podcast. They discuss the importance of understanding religious freedom, including Collis’ conversion story; how to advocate for it by being peacemakers; and the need to promote this freedom worldwide.

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You know, I work as a scholar and a lawyer in the religious freedom space. I work with people
0:12.5	almost every religious beliefs you can imagine, including atheists and agnostics. And I've been
0:17.5	exposed to a lot of different religious beliefs. I regularly talk to people about their beliefs. I regularly defend them in their rights to be able to live out their beliefs. But the
0:24.7	central question of the last, I would arguably say I guess for the entire existence of humanity
0:29.0	is, did Jesus Christ actually walk on the earth the way that we read about him in the Bible?
0:36.8	And was he resurrected? Was he actually
0:39.2	the son of God? Right? And what I know from personal experiences I have had is that he did,
0:44.3	he did walk the earth as we read about him. He was resurrected. And what we read about him in the
0:48.9	Book of Mormon is true. And I know that. And I'm grateful for that knowledge because it drives everything else
0:54.8	I do in my life. And so religious freedom is critical to each of us in our own journeys
0:59.2	and I hope we can all appreciate it. I am certainly grateful that it was in play at that time
1:02.4	when I was exploring and asking the hard questions about is there a God and why are we here.
1:10.3	This is Mary Richards, reporter at the Church News.
1:13.6	Welcome to the Church News podcast.
1:15.6	Today we are taking you on a journey of connection as we discuss news and events of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
1:23.6	From the early days of the Restoration, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of
1:31.9	Latter-day Saints have championed the fundamental human right to religious freedom.
1:38.1	President Dallan H. Oakes, first counselor in the first presidency, has said, if you have not
1:43.0	thought seriously about religious freedom,
1:45.0	or if you wonder why it is important, let me encourage you to think about where would the absence of religious freedom leave society?
1:54.0	Joining me now is Stephen T. Collis, clinical professor of law at the University of Texas School of Law and the founding faculty director
2:02.7	of the Beck-Loughlin First Amendment Center and its Law and Religion Clinic.
	...

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