Arizona immigration law fallout harms Mormon Church outreach

José Corral was seriously considering joining the Mormon Church.

For weeks, Corral, 45, a fourth-grade teacher, met with Mormon missionaries at his home in Laveen to read the Book of Mormon and prepare for his baptism. Corral, a Catholic and the father of two preteen daughters, was especially drawn to the church’s commitment to family values.

“I was really interested. I thought, you know, it is going to be really good for the kids,” said Corral, a legal permanent resident from Mexico.

Then, Corral said, he found out that state Sen. Russell Pearce, a Republican from Mesa and sponsor of Arizona’s tough new immigration law, is a member of the church. Corral said he told the missionaries to stop coming because he considers the law to be anti-immigrant and anti-Hispanic.

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