Building Bridges: Latter-day Saints Visit State Legislatures Across the Southeast US

Between January and April 2024, leaders and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints visited with elected officials during legislative sessions in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and South Carolina. Governors, state representatives and senators, and other constitutional officers learned about the humanitarian mission of the Church and celebrated religious freedom.

“Engaging with lawmakers and community leaders offered a valuable opportunity to express appreciation for their service,” said Area Seventy Elder Daniel P. Amato during a visit to the Florida Capitol in January 2024. “[We also shared] our common values and principles of loving one another, as Christ has asked us to do.”

At the Arkansas Capitol on April 23, 2024, Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt, Second Counselor in the North America Southeast Area Presidency, joined Elder C. Alan Gauldin, Area Seventy, and others from the Church.

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“It was a privilege to meet with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and see that her priorities coincide with our humanitarian outreach to elevate maternal health outcomes and address food insecurity among children,” Elder Corbitt said. “I was likewise pleased to see how charitable and civic minded the local leaders of the Church are. They were an impressive group of men and women of God.”

Area Seventies were accompanied to the capitols by stake presidents, communication directors and stake Relief Society presidents who were constituents of elected officials.

“It was nice to sit in such a public setting and talk of our Savior Jesus Christ. That probably doesn’t happen very often in political settings,” said Rachael Ross, West Columbia South Carolina Stake Relief Society President. The visit with South Carolina government leaders was on March 30, 2024.

Church leaders shared the “Caring for Those in Need” global humanitarian project summary and discussed the service being given by the Church and its members in their own communities.

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In Kentucky on February 1, 2024, Elder Nathan A. Craig, Area Seventy, gathered Latter-day Saint youth for a selfie with Governor Andy Beshear. Elder Craig then asked the youth to speak about how the Church is serving those in need in their communities. “It reminded us all that the youth are not the leaders of tomorrow — they are leaders today,” Elder Craig said. “Having youth join us changed the dynamic of the day.”

On April 3, 2024, stakes in Missouri also engaged the youth in sharing their faith and championing religious freedom. Missouri first lady Teresa Parson hosted the delegation from the Church for a second year. (See a report on last year’s visit.)

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“The foundation of faith, family and freedom is important to us,” Parson said.

Emma Goodman, a young woman from the Springfield Missouri Stake, attended the event.

“Going to the capitol as a representative of the Church was an amazing experience,” Goodman said. “We were able to openly speak and share about our faith and what we do with JustServe to help people all around Missouri.”

Resolutions on the floor of the Georgia and South Carolina state houses honored the work of the Church through the Giving Machines, the upcoming Tabernacle Choir Southeast U.S. tour and service in the community.

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In South Carolina, Elder John D. Amos was honored for his service in the resolution on the house floor.

“Our actions speak louder than our words,” Elder Amos said. “We are literally preaching the gospel as we do what we do. So we need to always be striving to do things the Savior would have us do. In return, people will know us as disciples of Jesus Christ.”