Inclusion
When I watched the “Be One” celebration earlier this month, I was spiritually touched and emotionally moved. I wept as I heard of the history and challenges of black members of the Church, and of their tremendous faithfulness.
I served my mission in 1975-1977, so that was before the Revelation on the Priesthood was received. My second area was Queens, in New York City. A major street running east and west was Jamaica Avenue. On the north side of that street lived mostly whites, and on the south side lived mostly blacks. Although both the north and south sides were in our assigned area, we seldom went into the south side. My companion (who was just finishing his mission) explained to me that proselyting among blacks wasn’t very productive, because once they learned they couldn’t hold the priesthood, they wouldn’t want to hear anymore. I remember thinking that there were potentially enough people on that south side to create a whole ‘nother ward.
Growing up in St. George, nearly everyone I knew was caucasian. There were a few Native Americans who lived on the reservation nearby. I met a few Hispanics and Polynesians. But no African Americans. I mostly saw them on TV and in movies. Often they were depicted as slaves. And I learned about Pre-Civil War slavery in history classes at school. I didn’t really hear any racist remarks from family or others. So I didn’t understand about segregation or or the civil rights movement. When Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, I was 12. I don’t remember hearing about it in the news. The first time I really thought about it was when I heard a popular song, “Abraham, Martin, and John.”
Then, after my mission, I went to BYU and spent time with Isaac Thomas—we were in the Young Ambassadors together. [Isaac and I are at the far left in this group photo.] He was such an amazing man! He was the first black man I got to know well, and was a blessing to all who knew him. If this man was indicative of African Americans, then I had been missing out my whole life. [By the way, you should hear his story here.]
All of this is to say that I was never taught or indoctrinated to be racist in my youth. For me, there was never a question of inclusion.
Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson, former Young Women General President taught: The adversary would have us be critical or judgmental of one another. He wants us to concentrate on our differences and compare ourselves to one another. You may love to exercise vigorously for an hour each day because it makes you feel so good, while I consider it to be a major athletic event if I walk up one flight of stairs instead of taking the elevator. We can still be friends, can’t we?
When we compare ourselves to one another, we will always feel inadequate or resentful of others. We just need to relax and rejoice in our divine differences. We need to realize that we all desire to serve in the kingdom, using our unique talents and gifts in our own ways.
Whereas here on earth there is often just one winner of a prize (the Nobel Prize, Miss Universe, the Tour de France, the National Spelling Bee, America’s Got Talent, etc.), the kingdom of heaven is one of inclusion.
Whereas Lucifer would whisper that if I don’t get the highest score in the class on a final exam I’m inadequate, God whispers to me that I—and all of us—can make it. He doesn’t grade on a curve. All are alike unto Him.
To be continued . . . with Part 40
