knowyourneighbor

The Mormon majority

"The Mormon Majority", which recently was published in the Utah State University newspaper, offers some additional color on our most recent Meridian Magazine article Know Your Neighbor and Beautify your Community.

Link: The Mormon majority - Features.

Amazing Grace

Wintley Phipps on finding common ground through music.

Take a moment to listen - an inspiring way to start your day!

The Five Minute Challenge

Kara Hess, community relations for St. Louis Missouri Stake Public Affairs, is on the advisory board of the Grace Baptist Church’s Teach Them to Fish program, designed to teach self-sufficiency to inner-city youth and families.

How did she learn about the organization?

I read about it in the newspaper.

Bishop Wallace called Reverend Scott of Central Baptist Church when their roof collapsed from a recent storm. He offered our ward building as a place of worship for the congregation until their building could be repaired. The Reverend had already accepted another invitation, but he expressed heartfelt gratitude for Bishop Wallace’s offer. And they discussed meeting to learn more about each other’s respective ministries.

How did Bishop Wallace know about Central Baptist’s disaster?

I read about it in the newspaper.

I am not boasting, but making a point. Reading the newspaper can be one of the easiest ways to learn about opportunities to enjoy the fellowship of our community.

Still, many Latter-day Saints tell me they resist reading the newspaper.

I hear two arguments:

1) “The newspaper reporting is biased and does not reflect my views.”

Yes, it may be. But I still find useful information about what is going on in the community and I become inspired about how Latter-day Saints can help.

And, as I learn the opinions and views of others I see another’s perspective, enabling me be a more effective servant and teacher.

Consider Ammon. He learned King Lamoni’s view of God - or the “Great Spirit”, as he says - and was able to build understanding based on the King’s experience. But Ammon first learned what the King already understood.

President Gordon B. Hinckley reads five newspapers each day. We have heard him, in conference talks, quote stories that he has read in the newspaper. 

Mike Wallace, reporter for 60 Minutes television news show, does not consider President Hinckley to be “stodgy”.  I interpret his remark as suggesting that for a man of many years, President Hinckley is not dull or stuck on the past, but knows current affairs and trends – in short, he’s “with it”. And this may be one reason why President Hinckley can relate to all ages and cultures.

Is it because he reads the newspaper?

I believe it can only help expand his capacity to serve.

2) “I don’t have time to read the newspaper.”

Neither do I.

So I don’t take much time. I take, most days, only 5 minutes. I scan the headlines and read what is of most interest to me and get a general feel for the top stories. I skip or skim the sports section – for lack of interest – but I pay attention if our local team is heading to the World Series.

When I saw the article about Central Baptist’s roof collapse, I read it. Then I made a quick call to Bishop Wallace who followed-up. It took only 5 minutes and the rest, as they say, is history.

If a story captures my interest and I don’t have time to read, I cut it out and stuff it in my purse for downtimes in my day, such as waiting in the doctor's office.

Reading the newspaper.

I was not always on board with that idea. But I am a convert now. If I do nothing else all day to enjoy the fellowship of my community, I at least read the newspaper.

Take the 5 minute challenge, if you haven’t already. Subscribe to the newspaper or read it online. You’ll be surprised how connected you will feel!

Brethren Pray with the Nation

I can't think of a better example than the Brethren's example of how participating in National Day of Prayer can build bridges of tolerance in our communities.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with leaders of other faiths to pray on the National Day of Prayer, May 3. He spoke of the need for prayer in our lives. See the article in Deseret News.

Chaplain Linda P. Walton of Utah Valley State College, and Chair of the event, said, "We must move from enduring each other to loving each other."

What a beautiful statement and call to action. I can't think of a better way to learn to love each other than to pray together.

Mark you calendar for next year's National Day of Prayer!

And tell us about your experiences praying with your neighbor.

DNA Mormons

Have you read DNA Mormons in the blog By Common Consent?

"Maybe like us you are a proud descendant of Mormon pioneers, confident in your knowledge of your Western European heritage, a typical DNA Mormon-American," writes guest blogger Joanna Benson.

[But], after graduating from BYU, moving to the south, and being repeatedly asked if her husband was Arabic, Mediterranean, or Jewish, Joanna and her husband finally decided to get DNA testing.

Were they in for a surprise.

They expected the DNA test to show her husband was British, Swiss, and maybe a little bit of German; that she was British.

Instead, the results indicated he was of northern Indian descent, she of Slavic and Mediterranean.

"Shock and disbelief, yes," Joanna writes.

But as she began to review world history, she realized "with wars, slavery and revolutions, the world is like a giant mix master," and importantly "this time I could see myself in the mixer."

As Joanna further processed what she'd learned about her family history, trying to make meaning of it, she concluded that "the time has come to reveal the gathering in myself." "[And so] I gladly step out of the small dark box of Euro-centrism, into the big tent of humanity where the real party is going on....Now when I meet someone of another nationality, I can truly think perhaps you are my cousin."

So beautifully said -- thank you Joanna.