![]() ![]() Nelson first quipped that he wished for an encore, then ended the evening with a call for unity in diversity. In his closing remarks, LDS Church President Russell M. The famed musician and LDS convert then led the choirs and audience in singing, “Love One Another.” Gladys Knight brought down the house with her rendition of “Somewhere” from “West Side Story,” each line - “we’ll find a new way of living, we’ll find a way of forgiving” - fraught with meaning for the performers and the multiracial Mormon audience. The extended Bonner clan, all dressed in white, mesmerized the crowd with a medley of LDS children’s Primary songs about families and love. Both remained faithful Mormons to the end of their days. They also featured Elijah Able, a black man who was ordained to the LDS priesthood and served three missions for the church, but was also not admitted to temple rituals. They mentioned the pioneering black convert Jane Manning James, who joined in the faith’s early days but was never allowed in the temple. LDS Church founder Joseph Smith’s “first vision” as a young boy began the reuniting of families, intoned the narrators. Then, suddenly, they are pulled apart, some staying symbolically on the continent, while others are yanked away in an allusion to slavery. It started with a joyous family circle in Africa, singing and dancing to the sound of drums. Then began a riveting narrative of not-often-told moments in Mormon history, narrated by members of African descent. The Mormon leader urged members to concentrate their attention “on the glorious post-1978 effects of that revelation in blessing the children of God all over the world,” giving a special shoutout to “our marvelous members of African descent, especially our African-American members, who have persisted in faith and faithfulness through a difficult transition period of fading prejudice.” But some, in their personal lives, continued the attitudes of racism that have been painful to so many throughout the world, including the past 40 years.” ![]() Some accepted the effects of the revelation immediately and gracefully,” Oaks said. “Changes in the hearts and practices of individual members did not come suddenly and universally. Oaks, first counselor in the governing First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in which he extolled the June, 8, 1978, announcement of the “revelation” opening the Mormon priesthood “to all worthy males” and condemned continued racist attitudes. The evening opened with a short speech by Dallin H. ![]()
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