From tragedy can come miracles.
I was a member of the Marine Corps Basic Officers’ Class 5-68. That was a long time ago. But, along the way I mademany friends. One of them was one of the first African-American Marine Corps Officers. I think he was as conscious of his responsibility as an African-American to uphold the honor of those who were counting on him to represent them well, as I was of representing our LDS community.
From 1968 until just a few years ago, we had no serious contact until our class reunion a few years ago. He now – like my family – lives in the Los Angeles area, so it was natural that we would reconnect, and share new experiences together. Sadly, about three years ago his 26-year-old daughter was killed in a car accident in Atlanta. A tragedy that has had lots of consequences. I spoke at her funeral here in Los Angeles at the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church.
Out of this tragic accident has grown a friendship and love between the Pastor of the Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church and his congregation, and my own Ward, the Santa Monica YSA Ward of which I am the Bishop. This has grown into a true partnership between our two congregations and the community we are both dedicated to serve.
Pastor Albert Nicholas, senior Pastor, has served as a Baptist Minister for 42 years serving the poor and needy with compassion, humor and constant optimism. He holds no rancor at the injustices to his community, but rather praises the progress and human kindnesses he and his congregations have received.
The Santa Monica YSA Ward has had the privilege of creating a partnership with this wonderful congregation of disciples of our Savior.
- We work together to tutor high school students on a weekly basis.
- We jointly sponsor through our partnership organization “One Heart – Many Hands LA” an annual Community Fair for families in the Los Angeles South Central area bringing expertise together in emergency preparedness, medical check-ups, genealogy, nutrition, immunization, fire prevention, crime prevention and much more.
- Each Palm Sunday we combine the Pilgrim Choirs (if you have never been to an African-American Baptist Church and listened to their choir you have missed one of life’s memorable experiences) with our own excellent Southern California Mormon Choir and soloists from our Ward to present a Palm Sunday Community Concert: “A Celebration at Easter through Music” attended by several hundred families.
- We share Gospel perspectives with an Interfaith Dialog featuring our Stake President, a Jewish Rabbi and Pastor Nicholas that draws attendance from across the community.
This continues to teach us that we are not alone in “doing good to all men” but that we are joined by countless of God’s children in seeking to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, at a 2011 speech before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, met with Pastor Nicholas and several other African-American Baptist ministers just before he spoke. His remarks included praise for what they are doing to bring hope to the community through their “Silver Lining of Hope” program to rally the community against violence.
Their gratitude for his remarks gave a renewed sense of brotherhood for us all. And, his recounting of the Church’s humanitarian efforts throughout the world caused one to remark that he had no idea that the Church had extended its reach in time, talent, and resources throughout the world in places where no one else has labored as diligently to provide the means whereby the people will become self-sustaining. His emphasis on the fact that the Church donates 100 percent of the funds to the effort with 100 percent of the overhead being absorbed by the Church was, to them, unprecedented.
We are grateful for His support in elevating the Church in the eyes and hearts of our community. And, for the message that this sends to all: we are not alone in serving the Master – and neither are they.
