Be One

“I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.” D&C 38:27

The First Presidency sponsored an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1978 revelation on the priesthood. The event theme was "Be One," a reference to a Latter-day Saint scripture where Jesus says, “be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine." The celebration hailed the history of black Mormon pioneers and reaffirmed the reality that “all are alike unto God” in Christ's global family.  

President Russell M. Nelson and President Dallin H. Oaks both spoke about the importance of overcoming prejudice, loving one another and working together in unity. (From Mormon Newsroom)

Doug was privileged to participate in, and I was privileged to attend the event. The choir rehearsals were long and arduous for Doug and it has been an exhausting three weeks for him with work and then rehearsals from 6-10 (usually later) three nights a week. A couple of nights he didn’t get home until nearly midnight.  

The night was a visual and spiritual feast. We went down early and got a light dinner at the Nauvoo Cafe before he had to be to the Conference Center. I wandered around City Creek for a while before going over to find a seat. I felt bad that more people weren’t in attendance but then again, the auditorium holds 21,000 so there were probably more there than I realized. The fireside was being streamed live so people were able to stay home and watch it and not have to fight downtown traffic and parking. I learned later that Terry and her husband Bobby (online friends from Texas) watched the program and were impressed and touched by it.

Narrators told the stories of two African American Latter-day Saints of the 1800s, Jane Manning James and Elijah Abel, as well as several pioneering Latter-day Saints of the past 50 years — including Anthony Obinna of Nigeria, Joseph William Billy Johnson of Ghana, Victor Nugent of Jamaica and Helvécio Martins of Brazil. Music came from seven-time Grammy Award-winner Gladys Knight, the Saints Unified Voices, entertainer and YouTube sensation Alex Boyé, the Bonner family, the Unity Gospel Choir International and members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In all there were hundreds of singers and dancers who participated in the jubilee. (From Mormon Newsroom) 

The choir was led by Gladys Knight and they did an outstanding job. Of course, I love gospel music and the sound of gospel choirs. They looked the part too in their black clothing and colorful choir robes. Alex Boyé performed as well as did the Bonner family. I was so touched by the primary song medley that the Bonner family performed. It was beautiful and so touching as children, spouses and grandchildren came out all dressed in white and they performed together. 

The evening culminated with a short message from President Nelson. The congregation was electrified as he said “that understanding inspires us with passionate desire to build bridges of cooperation instead of walls of segregation.”