Several leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participated in the Forum on Faith held in New York City on October 9, 2025. Elder Quentin L. Cook, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Emily Belle Freeman, Young Women General President, were among those representing the Church at the event.
The forum convened leaders from various sectors—including religion, government, business, education, and community organizations—to discuss how faith can benefit individuals and society. Notable attendees included New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Rev. Al Sharpton.
Elder Cook emphasized the societal value of religious belief: “Religious people believe that they’re accountable to God for their actions,” he said. “It blesses all of society when you have a lot of people who have faith and feel like they are accountable to God for their conduct. Everything will go better. Our children will have greater lives and greater blessings if that occurs.”
He also thanked Elder David R. Marriott for his role in organizing the event through his service on the New York Commission of Religious Leaders. Other key figures involved included Timothy Cardinal Dolan (Archbishop of New York), Rabbi Joseph Potasnik (New York Board of Rabbis), Rev. A.R. Bernard (Christian Cultural Center), and businessman Dave Checketts.
During the forum, Elder Cook introduced Michael W. McConnell—professor and director at Stanford Law School’s Constitutional Law Center—and presented an award to William P. Mumma, chair of The Becket Fund board. In his remarks about McConnell, Elder Cook stated: “Professor McConnell’s great work and calling is to be one of the nation’s foremost scholars of constitutional law, with a particular focus on understanding and protecting religious freedom... His scholarship and public service have deepened our national commitment to a far richer understanding of the place of religion and thus the role of religious freedom—not only as an individual right but as a cornerstone of a pluralistic and democratic society.”
Mark Rienzi accepted The Becket Fund award on behalf of Mumma. Elder Cook highlighted The Becket Fund’s legal victories: “That win was hailed by the Wall Street Journal as ‘among the most significant religious liberty cases in a half century’ because it affirmed that religious groups—not the government—must be free to choose who will guide their congregation.”
Interfaith cooperation was reflected throughout the event with participation from several other faith leaders such as Cardinal Dolan, Rabbi Potasnik, Rev. Bernard, and Rabbi Meir Soloveichik.
Rabbi Potasnik commented on unity against discrimination: “The wall that remains today is the one that everyone worked on collaboratively,” he said. “We can build things that last... When we’re all together, anti-Semitism is anti-Christianity is anti-Islam... We need to protect one another.”
Caura Richardson received recognition for her work fostering faith in public life: “Building these bridges... becomes so important… because it's ongoing... not just in hard times we come together but in joyous times," she said.
Cardinal Dolan connected current efforts to scriptural teachings about hope amid hardship: “Belief in that promise is precisely what brings us here this happy afternoon,” he said.
Chief Judge Rowan D. Wilson addressed interconnectedness among different kinds of faith: “Faith in the divine, faith in the law or faith in our fellow human beings are all interconnected... Those who’ve chosen to be here today know that our mission is to spread that faith to others...”
President Freeman joined a panel focused on supporting young people’s engagement with religion: “It’s happening in Africa. It’s happening in the United States. It’s happening in Europe,” she said regarding youth returning to faith traditions worldwide. She added: “We are all in the cause of good... I hope each of us will go home from this event equipped and empowered to do a little bit more good in the place where we stand.”
Other panelists included Bishop Victor Brown (Mt. Sinai United Christian Church), Dr. Debbie Almontaser (Bridging Cultures Group), and Sam Wilkinson (Yale University). Bishop Brown remarked: “In the toxic public discourse... I think initiatives and gatherings of this nature give us tremendous hope that this situation can indeed turn around.”
Additional Latter-day Saint participants included Elder Allen D. Haynie—Northeast Area President—who presented an interfaith bridge-building award during lunch: “In a world filled with conflict... it’s the religious community with all its inherent differences that’s best positioned to promote a functional dialog...” he said.
Sharon Eubank—the Church's global Director of Humanitarian Services—co-led a session about JustServe community service projects and received an award for inspiring service culture.
The Forum on Faith concluded with recognition for collaborative efforts across faiths aimed at building stronger communities through dialogue, mutual respect, legal advocacy for religious freedom, youth engagement programs, humanitarian outreach projects such as JustServe initiatives.