“Sometimes we unduly offend brothers and sisters of other nations by assigning exclusiveness to one nationality of people over another. Let me cite, as an example of exclusiveness, the present problem in the Middle East—the conflict between the Arabs and the Jews. We do not need to apologize nor mitigate any of the prophecies concerning the Holy Land. We believe them and declare them to be true. But this does not give us justification to dogmatically pronounce that others of our Father’s children are not children of promise. We have members of the Church in the Muslim world. These are wonderful Saints, good members of the Church. They live in Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and other countries. Sometimes they are offended by members of the Church who give the…
“May I now discuss with you some of the things which have been uppermost in my mind... After his crucifixion the eleven apostles assembled on a mountain in Galilee and the Savior came to them and said:… “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,…” (He said “all nations.”) “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). These words from the lips of the Master know no national boundaries; they are not limited to any race or culture. One nation is not favored above another. The admonition is clear—“teach all nations.” “…These were his last words on earth before he went to his heavenly home….did he mean all the living people of all the world and those spirits assigned to this world to come in centuries ahead? Have…
“The gospel of Jesus Christ transcends nationality and color, crosses cultural lines, and blends distinctiveness into a common brotherhood. . . . All men are invited to come unto him and all are alike unto Him. Race makes no difference; color makes no difference; nationality makes no difference. . . . Our Father does not favor one people over another, but accepts all those of every nation who fear him and work righteousness. . . .These words from the lips of the Master know no national boundaries; they are not limited to any race or culture. One nation is not favored above another. The admonition is clear—“teach all nations.”. . . . Another significant development of recent date is the revelation on extending priesthood blessings to all worthy male members, regardless of…
“As world citizens, we have more in common than we might suppose. That is not only true for us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also for all children of our Heavenly Father. … If we only would focus on the life experiences and hopes we have in common, it should not be too hard to get along with individuals, communities, and nations—regardless of where we live and regardless of what our backgrounds or life circumstances may be. If world history has taught us anything, we learn that it is a human tendency to think of ourselves as being the ‘good guys’—as the heroes of the story. And those who think and behave differently? Well, they are the ‘bad guys.’ When we see others as…
“Sometimes we unduly offend brothers and sisters of other nations by assigning exclusiveness to one nationality of people over another. Let me cite, as an example of exclusiveness, the present problem in the Middle East—the conflict between the Arabs and the Jews. We do not need to apologize nor mitigate any of the prophecies concerning the Holy Land. We believe them and declare them to be true. But this does not give us justification to dogmatically pronounce that others of our Father’s children are not children of promise. We have members of the Church in the Muslim world. These are wonderful Saints, good members of the Church. They live in Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and other countries. Sometimes they are offended by members of the Church who give the…
“May I now discuss with you some of the things which have been uppermost in my mind... After his crucifixion the eleven apostles assembled on a mountain in Galilee and the Savior came to them and said:… “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,…” (He said “all nations.”) “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). These words from the lips of the Master know no national boundaries; they are not limited to any race or culture. One nation is not favored above another. The admonition is clear—“teach all nations.” “…These were his last words on earth before he went to his heavenly home….did he mean all the living people of all the world and those spirits assigned to this world to come in centuries ahead? Have…
“The gospel of Jesus Christ transcends nationality and color, crosses cultural lines, and blends distinctiveness into a common brotherhood. . . . All men are invited to come unto him and all are alike unto Him. Race makes no difference; color makes no difference; nationality makes no difference. . . . Our Father does not favor one people over another, but accepts all those of every nation who fear him and work righteousness. . . .These words from the lips of the Master know no national boundaries; they are not limited to any race or culture. One nation is not favored above another. The admonition is clear—“teach all nations.”. . . . Another significant development of recent date is the revelation on extending priesthood blessings to all worthy male members, regardless of…
“There was considerable antipathy between the Jews and the Samaritans at the time of Christ. Under normal circumstances, these two groups avoided association with each other.” This is a lot like what I see in the news between black and white people even though it has been over a century since emancipation and decades since segregation... Surely good neighbors should put forth every effort to understand each other and to be kind to one another regardless of religion, nationality, race, or culture. Occasionally I hear of members offending those of other faiths by overlooking them and leaving them out. This can occur especially in communities where our members are the majority. I have heard about narrow-minded parents who tell children that they cannot play with a particular child in the…
“...the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects unrighteous actions in a pre-mortal life; that mixed race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else. Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form.”
“We must not be partisans of any doctrine of ethnic superiority. We live in a world of diversity. We can and must be respectful toward those with whose teachings we may not agree. We must be willing to defend the rights of others who may become the victims of bigotry.”
