Asian/Pacific month
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The opportunity to share family traditions and cultures brought hundreds of visitors in the Washington, D.C., area to the temple visitors center the first weekend in May as part of Asian/Pacific Month.
From Tongan dances to Chinese opera, the diversity of colors, textures and sounds reflected the variety of histories and faiths among this international group. Yet the performances, artwork of Korean painter Han Nong, and a fashion show revealed similarities among the groups.
Ronald Fei'eki, a member of the Church from Tonga, likened the Sunday fireside to a spiritual luau or feast that helped unite them even more by nourishing their spiritual lives.
"Through the arts, we show our spiritual natures," said Ellen Williams, chairwoman of this year's activities.
Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, a member of the Church from American Samoa and who has served 17 years on the House International Relations Committee, told the audience that people from the Asian/Pacific region make up two-thirds of the world's population.
Though the populations have different heritages and are geographically disconnected, he said these gaps are bridged by Church principles which "know no boundary in terms of ethnicity or origin."
One of the more popular entertainment acts was the Chinese Lion Dance, an exciting combination of athletic and artistic talent. Half the participants were LDS, and many were children, such as Hawaiian dancers Kathryn and Jenny Kintaro of the Annapolis Maryland Stake. The Lavulo family, Tongans of the Mt. Vernon Virginia Stake, performed four Polynesian dances. Church members in the fashion show of native dress included Dr. Julia Leigh, a Korean, and Ricky So, a Cambodian of the McLean Virginia Stake.
Russell N. Horiuchi, professor of political geography at Brigham Young University and former president of the Japanese East Mission, 1970-73, and Tokyo Japan Temple, 1988-91, was the featured speaker.
"I'm a maverick," said Brother Horiuchi, a son of immigrant plantation workers in Hawaii. He was a young man when he joined the Church against the wishes of his mother who worried he was throwing away the religion of his ancestors. She gave her approval for him to be baptized when he promised to stay active. That was 62 years ago, he said. "This Church has done wonders for me."
Brother Horiuchi encouraged those of Asian/Pacific descent to honor their ancestors by doing their temple work. "Grab the spirit of Elijah — we gotta go!" he said.
He encouraged people to learn about their families and to remember the traditions of their ancestors so they might receive insight into their personal lives.
"There is a connecting link," he said.
