Articles by David E. Smith
Hunting, Seeking, and Finding
By David E. Smith   |   07.03.23
One of the things that I fondly remember about Easter as a child was the hunting of Easter eggs. While my parents only did this for a few years of our childhood, I remember seeing Easter Egg Hunts on church lawns, park districts and in various other locations in the neighborhood.
We Will Not Celebrate Sexual Sin and Pride
By David E. Smith   |   06.22.23
On June 1, 2022, Gov. JB Pritzker sent out a tweet celebrating the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Throughout his term in Springfield, Pritzker has been vocal in his support for radical left-wing policies and social issues. He has pandered to the LGBTQIA community and has been a regular participant in "Gay" Pride activities across Illinois.
Peter Breen Joins Our Line-Up at the IFI Forum on Religious Liberty
By David E. Smith   |   05.23.23
We are pleased to announce that former state legislator Peter Breen has been added to our line-up of speakers for the IFI Special Forum on Religious Liberty.  In addition to being a pro-life hero, Peter leads the Thomas More Society’s Legal Team in service of its Life, Family, and Religious Liberty missions.
IFI Forum on Religious Liberty
By David E. Smith   |   05.20.23
Religious liberty is often called our “first freedom,” as all other human rights stem from it. It is an unalienable right given to us by Almighty God, who expects us to be good stewards of this gift, not only for ourselves but for posterity and as an example for the world and all those who yearn for true liberty.
Information Is Key to Fighting SEL: Julie & Allen Quist
By David E. Smith   |   05.19.23
In the interview below, our good friend Alex Newman focuses on social and emotional learning (SEL), which is labeled “fake education” and pure neo-Marxist indoctrination by Julie and Allen Quist. After discussing the background of SEL and its funding by international corporate interests such as Bill Gates and the Zuckerberg Institute, the Quists emphasize that information is key to getting SEL out of schools — especially Christian schools...
Good Friday Gives Us Hope
By David E. Smith   |   04.07.23
"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." ~1 Peter 2:24
Danville Abortion Mill Press Conference
By David E. Smith   |   03.27.23
Members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus,  local pastors, pro-life advocates and dozens of local citizens gathered in front of the old Dillman Eye Clinic on North Logan Avenue in Danville, Illinois at noon Monday, March 27th to protest the planned opening of an abortion facility.
Another Conversation With Rod Dreher
By David E. Smith   |   03.10.23
Pastor Derek Buikema of Orland Park Christian Reformed Church recently interviewed Rod Dreher about his latest book, Live Not By Lies. The heart of this excellent interview is a phenomenon we are seeing but don't always want to acknowledge: we are living in a time of soft totalitarianism. Those who have been blessed to live in the USA all their lives are often not as quick to recognize this as those who have come from communist nations.
Mandatory Kindergarten and Eventually Preschool
By David E. Smith   |   03.01.23
State Representative Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights) is working to expand the state's compulsory school attendance laws in order to capture the hearts and minds of innocent and impressionable children. The bill she has sponsored is HB 3143.
FDA Rule On Chemical Abortion Drugs Challenged in Court
By David E. Smith   |   02.23.23
Attorneys general of 23 states have filed two amicus briefs in support of a lawsuit seeking the withdrawal of FDA approval of the drugs mifepristone (RU-486) and misoprostol for use in chemical abortions. Unfortunately, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is not one of them. Success in this suit could make chemical abortion illegal even in states where abortion access remains legal.
Democrats Want All-Gender Restrooms in Illinois?
By David E. Smith   |   02.23.23
During the Illinois House Human Services Committee hearing on Wednesday morning, State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Collinsville) brought forth her bill to amend the so-called "Equitable Restroom Act" to push the nonsensical transgender agenda on our families with co-ed bathrooms. Her bill (HB 1286) allows publicly or privately owned venues to create or convert their "multiple-occupancy restrooms" into "all-gender multiple-occupancy restroom[s]" so that multiple males and females will be using the same restroom at the same time.
The Harbaugh Pledge
By David E. Smith   |   02.17.23
In an interview with ESPN last September, Michigan Wolverines Coach Jim Harbaugh (and former Chicago Bear quarterback) openly shared that he tells his family, team, and staff that if any of them is faced with a crisis pregnancy, he and his wife Sarah will adopt that child. 
IFI Worldview Conference: Rescue Those Staggering Toward Slaughter
By David E. Smith   |   02.16.23
There is no question about it. With the radical expansion of Abortion Inc. in our state, the need to educate and activate the Body of Christ is now more essential than ever. The problems we face in Illinois are not going to be solved anytime in the near future by good lawmakers in Springfield or in Washington D.C. who file great pro-life bills. We face a problem that is culturally systemic, which is only getting more pronounced the further we drift away from God.
SpeakOut Illinois 2023
By David E. Smith   |   02.13.23
Join the IFI Team and many other great pro-life advocates at the annual SpeakOut Illinois Conference. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, February 25th at the Drury Lane in Oak Brook Terrace.
Round II: “The Matter of Life” Documentary Showings
By David E. Smith   |   01.30.23
There are dozens of great pro-life films and documentaries that have been produced over the past several decades, but there is a new one out that we want to make sure is on your "must watch" list. It is called "The Matter of Life," and it is a powerful and informative documentary about abortion in the United States. In fact, we think it is so important that we are promoting and/or hosting free showings of this film in various locations throughout the state, with the hope that it will initiate other church and private showings. This will include a time for Q & A after the film ends.
David E. Smith
Executive Director
David  E. Smith

Dave Smith is the executive director of Illinois Family Institute (501c3) and Illinois Family Action (501c4).

David has 30 years of experience in public policy and grass-roots activism that includes countless interviews for numerous radio, television, cable programs and newspaper articles on topics such as the sanctity of life, natural marriage, broadcast decency, sex education, marijuana, gambling, abortion, homosexuality, tax policy, drug decriminalization and pornography.

He and his wife of 28 years are blessed to be the parents of eight children. They strongly believe that their first duty before God is to disciple their children in the Christian faith, and impress a love of God on their hearts. There is a plethora of research that suggest that parents are the primary influencers in a child’s life. In an ideal world, that’s a mom and dad. Discipleship includes not only studying God’s Word but living a life of faith and walking in obedience to God. Discipleship is also necessary for sound doctrine, love of God and others. We do this in hopes of raising healthy and productive members of society, and re-create disciple-making movements in their homes and in their spheres of influence.

Dave also serves as a Chairman of a Republican Township in Will County and serves as an ordained minister/elder in his local church.

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