Today’s Reading: Mosiah 27: 17-37
37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.
“Friendship is a gift from God that lasts a lifetime and into eternity. We cannot be friends with Christ and not with each other. The two go hand in hand. It is the relationships that endure and form you into who you are today that matter most.”
These words were spoken by Catholic Archbishop John C. Wester, former Archbishop of Salt Lake City and current Archbishop of Santa Fe, at my daughter’s high school graduation this week.
I realize that this scripture has nothing to do with Catholic archbishops or high school graduations, however, the words “they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good”, stood out to me. Not because Alma had a change of heart and began preaching the gospel to everyone around him, but because of something I’ve learned and found myself discussing often with my children over the last few years as they have attended a Catholic high school. What I have learned is that although our two religions differ in many ways, we share the same values. Catholics and Mormons each in their respective ways, teach similar truths about good things. When my children hear daily prayers at school with these words: “Let us remember that we are always in the holy presence of God” or “Live Jesus in our hearts forever,” they are listening to and learning good things. Things that are not contrary to what we believe, but in truth, reflect the same supplications we make when we pray, such as remembering the Savior in all that we do and remembering that God, our Heavenly Father, is always with us. When they learn the Core Principles of Catholic Lasallian Education which are Faith in the Presence of God; Concern for the Poor and Social Injustice; Respect for All Persons; Quality Education; and Inclusive Community, they are learning and putting into practice the same values that our church teaches. The same values that I believe in as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Good tidings of good. delasalle.org
Living where I do and having the blessing of having friends of different faiths has given me the opportunity to expand my learning and open my heart and my mind to the goodness in all people of all faiths. As I have immersed myself in our Catholic school community I have been blessed to meet and learn from wonderful, spiritual, Christlike friends who, like me, strive to have strong families with a foundation built on faith in God, and who do their best to serve and love their fellowmen. Good people sharing good tidings of good.
Elder M. Russell Ballard gave a talk titled The Doctrine of Inclusion in which he teaches us that we are to love and respect our neighbors of all faiths. Referring to the parable of the Good Samaritan he said,
“Every time I read this parable I am impressed with its power and its simplicity. But have you ever wondered why the Savior chose to make the hero of this story a Samaritan? 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. It would still be a good, instructive parable if the man who fell among thieves had been rescued by a brother Jew. His deliberate use of Jews and Samaritans clearly teaches that we are all neighbors and that we should love, esteem, respect, and serve one another despite our deepest differences—including religious, political, and cultural differences. That instruction continues today to be part of the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In enumerating the key doctrines of the restored Church, Joseph Smith said, while “we claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience,” we also “allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may” (A of F 1:).
Elder Ballard, an Apostle of our church, is a very good friend of Archbishop Wester. He even attended the mass for Archbishop Wester when he was installed as Archbishop of Santa Fe. They represent an example of leaders of two different faiths forging friendship based on similar values, coming together to do good. Elder Ballard said,
“Archbishop Wester will win the support and the hearts of the people in New Mexico, just as he did in Salt Lake City.”
And Archbishop Wester has said,
“Mormons and Catholics share the mutual desire to stand shoulder-to-shoulder as we give witness to Jesus Christ as His disciples.” Santa Fe mass
As I watched my daughter’s graduation from a wonderful Catholic high school, presided over by a Catholic Archbishop, in a beautiful Catholic cathedral, sitting among my dear friends of Catholic, as well as other faiths, I felt gratitude that we share similar values and for the blessing of knowing my neighbors of other faiths who are good, honorable people.
I am soon moving back to Utah where most of my neighbors will be of my own faith, but the valuable lessons I have learned from my friends and neighbors of different faiths will stay with me. Knowing these wonderful people has enriched my life. I have learned to have more respect for my friends and neighbors of other religions and to look for the similar, good things we have in common, for we each, in our respective ways, “publish peace and publish good tidings of good.”
I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. I served a Spanish-speaking mission in Toronto, Canada. I attended BYU and taught at the MTC. I am a wife and a mother and I love being a stay at home dance/basketball/football/soccer mom. I love the beach, anything chocolate, Santa Fe sunsets, and all things Jane Austen. I’m a thyroid cancer survivor, a big fan of BYU Soccer, and I love teaching the gospel. Over the last twenty years, I’ve lived in San Francisco, California; New Haven, Connecticut; Miami, Florida; Kalispell, Montana; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Utah. I have loved each place I’ve lived and I’ve been blessed with amazing friends and all kinds of experiences along the way! My motto has become: “Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace.” 💜
I cannot tell you how much I adore this! So beautiful and I truly love that you have quoted both faiths. This is such an important message and was wonderfully worded.
It takes me forever to respond but thank you so much Jeni!