By Brad Witt, Guest Columnist
In his editorial “Easter, love and unity” (Cherokee Scout, April 12), Publisher David Brown defines many trivial issues that divide human unity, and shares scriptural counsel to use love as the motivator in our interactions with others. Loving our neighbor, he reminds us, still applies when our neighbor doesn’t worship like us, vote like
us, speak like us or look like us.
The editorial cites an example from several years ago, whereby local leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered canned food donations and offered them to local charities for distribution. The donation was rebuffed by some churches, but eventually found a good home. As a council member of the local congregation of that church, I wanted to perhaps offer an update – “the rest of the story,” if you will.
Recognizing that the power of love is greater than a few rebuffs, our congregation has undertaken a wide variety of partnerships with other churches and charities. In the past year, we photographed hundreds of local gravestones to aid genealogists, regularly hosted free lunches (with others) at the Methodist Church Soup Kitchen, and organized volunteer mornings at several local charity thrift stores to sort clothing and donations. We assembled and delivered 125 Easter baskets to residents of the Murphy Rehab & Nursing Home. We have opened our doors to host free community workshops on Emergency Preparedness and Family History research. All of this is without recompense, without proselytizing, without mentioning our denomination.
Our next food drive on May 7 supports the Cherokee County Sharing Center – and we hope to gather another “truckload” of donations to be delivered (and we welcome donations from all).
Recounting these ongoing efforts is not intended to shine any spotlight on our small congregation (other local groups do far more), rather to give hope to those who are weary of the divisions that drive a wedge in the unity described in Mr. Brown’s editorial – and to remind us that unity can be built with many seemingly small efforts.
In his remarks upon receiving the inaugural Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize from Morehouse College in Atlanta earlier this month, President Russell M. Nelson drew upon his decades as a renowned heart surgeon and church leader.
“In those operating rooms – where life hung in the balance – I came to know that our Heavenly Father cares deeply for every one of His children,” Nelson said. “That’s because we are His children. Differences in nationality, color and culture do not change the fact that we are truly sons and daughters of God.”
In response, the dean of the chapel at Morehouse College, The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.,
replied to Nelson, “Every now and again, people should do what you did: Get out of the box and surprise some folk. Do something very different of what is needed to unite people, to bring harmony.”
May each of us be one of those who “get out of the box and surprise some folk.”
The writer is a resident of Murphy.