"We Defend Religious Freedom and Moral Values": Updated Religious Freedom Lessons

The Vision statement of the J. Reuben Clark Law Society boldly affirms its commitment to “defend religious freedom and moral values.” Many Society members actively advance this mission by organizing religious freedom symposiums and seminars or working with elected officials to draft legislation that protects religious liberty. Others want to become more involved but are looking for a place to begin.

To support those efforts, the Law Society is pleased to introduce updated versions of its Religious Freedom Lessons. Originally developed in 2023, the lessons provided an introduction to six core topics and were available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The revised edition adds a seventh lesson on recent global trends in religious freedom and is now also available in French.

The Religious Freedom Lessons are designed to give JRCLS members a practical foundation in religious freedom principles. Each lesson explores a specific topic—such as “Key Principles of Religious Freedom”—and concludes with discussion questions for chapter members. Chapters can use the lessons as the basis for conversations, training, and public events that help others understand the importance of protecting religious liberty.

Every Law Society chapter is encouraged to provide religious freedom training for chapter members and other local attorneys at least once each year. Chapter leaders may choose the format, length, and timing that best fit local needs. Trainings may be held virtually or in person, and while the lessons build on concepts introduced in the first lesson, they may be taught in any order.

For example, a chapter might hold a 30-minute discussion on promoting religious freedom using Lesson 6 as a framework. Leaders could summarize the lesson’s five main points, then invite members to read the section of Lesson 1 describing the individual and societal benefits of religious freedom and discuss a question such as, “How can we educate our community about the benefits of religion?”

Although the Law Society introduced its Religious Freedom Lessons in 2023, the Society has been engaged in religious freedom efforts for decades in both formal and informal ways. In 2003, under the direction of International Chair Bill Atkin (2001-2003), a lesson on freedom of religion was included in a law-focused religious study curriculum developed for student members of the Law Society belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Religious freedom has also been a recurring focus of Law Society conferences. The 2010 Annual Conference in Salt Lake City included a session on strengthening religious liberty worldwide. The 2013 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., featured a session on religious liberty in the 21st century. The 2016 Annual Conference in San Diego included three religious freedom presentations and a Religious Liberty Workshop led by Matthew K. Richards, now a member of the Law Society’s Board of Directors. Religious freedom training has also remained a regular part of the Society’s annual Leadership Conference for more than a decade.

Around 2015, the Law Society’s Religious Freedom Committee was formally established to direct the Society’s religious freedom efforts in coordination with the JRCLS Board. Since then, the committee has developed training materials for community workshops led by Law Society members, collaborated with religious freedom organizations to host symposiums around the world, and established the Thomas L. Kane Religious Freedom Award in 2017. The award recognizes individuals who exemplify the spirit of religious liberty for all and have made significant contributions to defending religious freedom in the public square.

In 2025, the Committee also launched the Society’s International Religious Freedom Day initiative, encouraging every chapter to observe International Religious Freedom Day each year on or around October 27.

By combining their legal training with their religious convictions, Law Society members around the world are uniquely positioned to promote religious liberty in their communities and nations. The updated Religious Freedom Lessons reflect the Society’s ongoing commitment to equipping members to defend religious freedom and moral values while advancing its mission to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law in partnership with other organizations and people of faith.