President Camille N. Johnson Issues Bold Call for Peacemaking and Religious Freedom

SALT LAKE CITY — In a landmark address delivered to a global gathering of legal professionals, President Camille N. Johnson, General President of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, offered a powerful vision for the legal profession. Speaking at the 2026 J. Reuben Clark Law Society (JRCLS) Annual Fireside, President Johnson—a litigator with 30 years of experience—called upon lawyers to move beyond the adversarial nature of the courtroom to become "architects of peace."

The address, titled with a focus on emulating the Savior in advocacy, wove together the complexities of modern law with the timeless principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A Lawyer’s Mandate: Peacemaking in a Polarized World

President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks at the J. Reuben Clark Law Society Annual Fireside at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. | LDS Gospel

President Johnson opened her remarks by acknowledging the unique position lawyers hold in society. She noted that while the law is often seen as a tool for dispute, its highest calling is the restoration of harmony.

"We are not merely advocates for a cause; we are advocates for people," President Johnson stated. "In a world increasingly fractured by 'us vs. them' mentalities, the lawyer who seeks to be a peacemaker performs a divine service."

She challenged the attendees to look at their cases through a lens of peacemaking, suggesting that true justice is rarely found in the total defeat of an opponent, but in the resolution that allows for "human flourishing." She urged legal professionals to resist the "windage" of societal whims and stay moored to the rock of Christ.

The Shield of Religious Freedom

Attendees listen during the J. Reuben Clark Law Society Annual Fireside at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. | LDS Gospel

A significant portion of the address was dedicated to the "fragile and fundamental" right of religious freedom. Drawing from her recent addresses at the European Parliament and the Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit, President Johnson emphasized that religious liberty is not just a legal doctrine but a "stabilizing influence" for the entire world.

• Global Impact: She highlighted how the restriction of religious freedom disproportionately affects the most vulnerable, particularly women and children.

• The Global Sisterhood: She spoke of a "global sisterhood of peacemakers" that transcends borders, arguing that when women are free to live according to their conscience, they become the primary healers of their communities.

• A Call for Unity: "This is not a call for doctrinal compromise," she echoed, referencing President Dallin H. Oaks, "but a plea for unity in defending the right of every soul to seek the divine."

Emulating the "Great Advocate"

President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, talks to Church President Dallin H. Oaks, right, prior to speaking at the J. Reuben Clark Law Society Annual Fireside at the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. | LDS Gospel

Perhaps the most personal segment of her address focused on the figure of Jesus Christ as the Master Advocate. President Johnson invited the lawyers to consider how their professional conduct reflects their personal covenants.

"The Savior said, 'I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father,'" she reminded the audience. She outlined several Christ-like attributes essential for the modern lawyer:

• Meekness: Defining it not as weakness, but as "restrained power" and "graciousness."

• Integrity: Maintaining a "mighty change of heart" that prevents the pursuit of victory from eclipsing the pursuit of truth.

• Healing: Recognizing that the ultimate goal of the law should be to "lighten the backpacks" of those burdened by the trials of a fallen world.

She concluded with a poignant reminder that while many in the room had spent their lives "writing the stories" of their clients, they must ultimately let Jesus Christ author their own stories.

Looking Forward

The fireside concluded with a standing ovation from the attendees in the Church Office Building auditorium and the thousands watching via global broadcast. For many, the message was a timely reminder that the law is not just a career, but a calling.