Various faiths serve together
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Approximately 60 Church members from the Los Angeles area were among nearly 200 participants from 14 faiths who gathered in a community service project in remembrance of victims of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Members of various congregations collected backpacks, school supplies, books, used computer-ink cartridges, first aid supplies and hygiene supplies. Most of the donated items were assembled into kits on Sept. 8, at the Islamic Center of Southern California. Latter-day Saints, including about 20 full-time missionaries from the California Los Angeles Mission, met with 150 members of other faiths, including Quaker, Muslim, Hindu, Seventh Day Adventist, Sikh, Anglican, and Presbyterian.
The service project was sponsored by the Interreligious Council of Southern California and chaired by Judy Gilliland, a member of the Church's Southern California Public Affairs Council, and Laurel Gord, a Quaker.
"It's been wonderful to meet LDS people," said Mr. Gord. "I've seen the wonderful outpouring of energy The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has." Sister Gilliland said, "One goal of this project was to bring members of different faith communities together to overcome the fear and ignorance so prevalent in our society."
The group collected materials for and assembled more than 300 backpacks filled with school supplies, plus 100 additional bags of school supplies; 400 hygiene kits; more than 1,000 first aid kits; 500 ink cartridges. Also, more than 500 children's books were collected.
Members of the Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Long Beach East and Yucaipa stakes participated in the event.
Following the service project, the Islamic Center hosted the volunteers at a dinner featuring Middle Eastern foods, and invited those who desired to observe the Muslims in their evening prayer.
Jihad Turk, the Imam of the Islamic Center, also invited representatives from the different faiths to discuss what it is about their religious beliefs that made them want to express their faith through service. One of the LDS missionaries explained that members of the Church try to follow the example of service shown by the Savior, Jesus Christ.
"Talking of what you're about is one level of knowing, but actually coming together and doing something is a whole other level," said the Imam near the conclusion of the evening. His hope was that the activity helped all participants "find out more about themselves and God."
The service project was followed by an Interfaith program at the Islamic Center on September 9, where the donated items were presented to the three community groups, and religious leaders from the Muslim, Jewish and Christian traditions were honored.
"Several leaders of other faith groups commented on the 'positive energy' the LDS, especially the missionaries, brought into the room. Many came who had never met a Mormon before and left with a very positive impression of our people," said Steve Gilliland, a member of the Public Affairs Council.
