Diverse religions
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Thanks to the Church's semiannual general conference, Utah has long been associated as a gathering place for religious people from across the globe.
That tradition continued with the 14th annual International Law and Religion Symposium held Oct. 7-9 at Brigham Young University. The symposium included scores of delegates from 35 nations — from Argentina to Vietnam — representing diverse religions, government offices and professions.
A day after concluding the seminar, delegates gathered for a luncheon at Church headquarters in Salt Lake City to hear a brief message from President Gordon B. Hinckley.
"I have never met people that I did not like," said President Hinckley. "I have visited people in all nations....everywhere from Indonesia to Sweden and Norway."
One's skin color, ethnicity and nationality mean nothing, he added.
"All of us, we come to realize, are sons and daughters of our Father in Heaven — and we ought to treat one another as brothers and sisters since we are sons and daughters."
President Hinckley spoke of his gratitude for the many delegates whom came from distant lands to participate in the symposium.
"We hope that this has been a delightful and wonderful experience for all of you," he said. "We bid you goodbye with our love and our blessing and pray that our Father in Heaven bless you and magnify you and hold sweet in your memories that visit you had among us."
The symposium was sponsored by BYU, the International Center for Law and Religion, the J. Reuben Clark Law School and the David M. Kennedy International Center. Themes at the symposium included identity, stereotypes and discrimination; comparative legal perspectives on Islam and religious differences; and grappling with religious differences.
Delegates gathered as a body for general discussions, and split up to participate in concurrent regional sessions.
They were joined at the Oct. 10 luncheon by the First Presidency, along with several members of the Quorum of the Twelve and the Seventy. Many delegates dined alongside General Authorities serving in area presidencies in their respective nations and regions.
The International Children's Choir, adorned in the various folk costumes and dress of the world, performed several songs prior to President Hinckley's remarks. Following the luncheon, the Church leader thanked the wide-eyed children and joked with them about missing school to perform for the international dignitaries, an educational experience in itself.
E-mail to: jswensen@desnews.com
