Lessons of 2026
Lesson No. Five

Immigrants and Refugees Past, Present, and Future

Immigrants and refugees of the past. Immigrants who desire to have a better life and refugees who need protection have been part of societies around the world from Old Testament times to our modern day.

Abraham, Jacob, and Moses were migrants and refugees. Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldees where he was persecuted and the Lord saved him from being sacrificed. As a refugee he migrated to Canaan. After a famine in Canaan, Abraham and Sarah moved south and became refugees in Egypt. Returning from Egypt, Abraham’s family settled as immigrants in Hebron.

Jacob. After another famine, Abraham’s grandson Jacob/Israel and his family became immigrants and refugees in Egypt, and were eventually put in bondage to the Egyptians.

Moses was bon to a slave family in Egypt and adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter. He left Egypt and fled to Meridian as a refugee. Under the leadership of Moses, the Lord delivered Israel out of Egyptian. After 40 years in the wilderness, Israel, under the leadership of Joshua, came again to the land Canaan as immigrants and refugees.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were immigrants and refugees. Mary and Joseph immigrated from Galilee to a new home in Judea where Jesus was born and His family lived for two years. Then to escape Herod, Jesus and His family became refugees in Egypt.

The United States is a nation of immigrants, a melting pot. A majority of Americans are just a few generations from immigrant ancestors. (See Immigrants Strengthen Our Nation and Our Freedom.)

The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is full of immigrants and refugees. (See Immigrants Strengthen Our Nation and Our Freedom.)

Immigrants and refugees today. Currently many countries in the world are dealing with immigrants and refugees. In the United States immigration/refugee issues are serious and divisive. To me this is very sad and completely unnecessary. I have set forth my personal views on these matters in Immigrants Strengthen Our Nation and Our Freedom.

I also strongly agree and highly recommend two pieces that were in the Opinion & Perspectives section of the printed edition of Deseret News yesterday, February 6, 2026: America keeps immigrants away at its own peril by Jay Evensen and The open heart and door of liberty by Robert Rees.

Immigrants and refugees in the future. We can be certain that most countries, including the United State, will be dealing with immigrant and refugee issues until the Millennium. But until then life can be better for everyone if a few simple truths are followed.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on immigrants and refugees. As an institution the Church has a strict policy of political neutrality, but it speaks out on issues of moral importance. In Immigrants Strengthen Our Nation and Our Freedom I have set forth the Official Policy of the Church. I believe this is what the Lord would have us do today concerning the treatment of immigrants and refugees.

Please click to read Immigrants Strengthen Our Nation and Our Freedom

Released on February 7th. 2026