Seven years before the historic 1978 revelation on the priesthood, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, laid his hands on the head of an African American man in Salt Lake City to set him apart for a unique calling.
On that day, Oct. 19, 1971, Ruffin Bridgeforth became president of a group of black Church members who had come together to support and strengthen one another in the gospel. Two other apostles participated that day in setting apart the group leadership; Elder Thomas S. Monson set apart Darius Gray as first counselor and Elder Boyd K. Packer set apart Eugene Orr as second counselor.Thus began the Genesis Group, which this year observes its 25th anniversary. The occasion was celebrated Oct. 19 at the Midvalley 3rd Ward meetinghouse in Sandy, Utah, with a dinner and program. The next day, Brothers Bridgeforth, Gray and Orr spoke in the Sandy Utah Midvalley Stake high priests meeting.
President Monson, now first counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve, were among speakers on the anniversary program, which included a wide array of talks and musical selections, including a barbershop quartet and a children's choir. The Church leaders attended with their wives, Sister Frances Monson and Sister Ruby Haight.
Brother Bridgeforth, 73, now a high priest in the Midvalley 3rd Ward, and his wife, Betty, helped organize the commemorative program sponsored by the ethnic organization, Latter-day Saints for Cultural Awareness.
The celebration "was the greatest night of my life," Brother Bridgeforth told the Church News. "My goodness, to have those brethren there and to be sitting next to President Monson, to have him pushing me around in my wheelchair, I was lifted so spiritually I thought I could go to heaven right then."
The presence of Elder Haight, who describes himself as "an ad hoc friend" to the Cultural Awareness group, was also an honor, Brother Bridgeforth said.
"And to top it off, in walked the prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. When I saw his smiling face, he looked like someone from heaven. I was lifted up and didn't know where I was for about five minutes. I will never have another thrill like that, I don't think, in this life."
President Hinckley did not address the group, but stopped in to say hello and to honor the Genesis Group and its founder with his presence.
President Monson expressed his love and appreciation for Ruffin and Betty Bridgeforth, describing them as "true modern pioneers for our day, in keeping with Webster's definition of a pioneer: `One who goes before, showing others the way to follow.' "
He praised Brother Bridgeforth for his spirituality, leadership and stable influence as president of the Genesis Group. He also extended commendation to Brother Bridgeforth's initial counselors, Brothers Orr and Gray, who also paid tribute to Brother Bridgeforth.
President Monson said that he and Sister Monson had attended a meeting of the Genesis Group the very weekend the revelation on the priesthood was announced in 1978. There, they witnessed the expressions of humility and thanksgiving on the part of those who could now be bearers of the priesthood.
President Monson spoke in behalf of President Hinckley and President Packer who, along with President Monson, had served as advisers to the Genesis Group. He also brought greetings from President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, and other General Authorities.
Elder Haight noted that Brother Bridgeforth has a deep spiritual commitment and conversion to the truthfulness of the restored gospel and bears a wonderful testimony of the Savior, which was nurtured in his childhood through the teaching of his mother, long before he became acquainted with the Church.
"Even though through the years he lived under the restrictions concerning the priesthood, he believed in his heart and soul that someday the blessings of the priesthood would be made possible," Elder Haight said.
The Cultural Awareness group honored Brother Bridgeforth with a plaque expressing appreciation "for carrying the beacon all these years."
"You truly have lived the mission of Genesis," the plaque read, citing D&C 64:33, "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."
It was noted on the plaque that the Genesis Group was the first official auxiliary of the Church for the fellowshipping of black Latter-day Saints and was organized under the direction of Elders Hinckley, Monson and Packer.
Born and raised in Louisiana, Brother Bridgeforth was taught to pray by his mother, who read to him from the Bible. He was touched by the story of the Savior telling Nicodemus that one must be born of the water and the Spirit to gain salvation.
"I prayed to the Lord from that time forward, being a little child, that I wouldn't leave this life until I had been baptized," he said.
Civil service work brought him to Clearfield, Utah, where he was recruited to work in a military defense plant. A co-worker told him about the Church.
"I can't remember his name, but I can see him in my mind's eye," he said. "He was an elderly fellow, and I'm sure he has gone on to glory."
Brother Bridgeforth is certain the Lord directed him to Utah, where he would be introduced to the Church. The co-worker's example and kindness helped overcome the negative opinions he heard about the Church.
He met and married his first wife, Helena Marie Romero. Her family were members of the Church, but she had never joined. Missionaries came to their door. That contact led to her joining the Church in 1953. Later, as a birthday present to Helena, Ruffin gave up smoking and thus made himself worthy to be baptized.
He served faithfully, working in such non-priesthood callings as YMMIA secretary and gospel doctrine teacher.
Brother Bridgeforth became acquainted with other black Church members, and together, they looked into the possibility of forming a group similar to branches of the Church in Salt Lake City for Danish, Norwegian and other nationalities. Church leaders encouraged them and asked them to suggest a name.
"After much prayer, we came up with the name `Genesis,' " Brother Bridgeforth recounted. "It means beginning. We felt it might be the beginning for many of our people in the gospel. The Brethren approved it, and in October 1971, Elders Hinckley, Monson and Packer came out to the old Third Ward building in the Salt Lake Liberty Stake and set us apart."
The meeting was the most spiritual Brother Bridgeforth had ever attended, he recalled. "There was a large group in attendance, about 200, many of them anticipating the day when the priesthood would come to them."
They met the first Sunday of each month and organized a Primary, MIA and Relief Society.
On June 8, 1978, Brother Bridgeforth received a call at work from his wife, Helena. The news was on television, she said, announcing that all worthy male members of the Church could be ordained to the priesthood.
"What a great day that was," he recalled. "I had been in the Church 25 years. I thought of all the times the priesthood brethren had come into my home to heal my little ones and my wife and me, and that now I would have the opportunity to bless my children and my wife, holding the priesthood of God."
Later, in the month, at his request, Elder Packer ordained him to the Melchizedek Priesthood. His wife, who would pass away shortly afterward, was very ill.
"Elder Packer said to me, `Ruffin, I'll give your wife a blessing.' I thought, how wonderful to have an apostle of the Lord bless my wife. Then he said, `No, I'll ordain you, and then you can give her a blessing.' "
Ruffin and Helena were sealed in the temple that July 12. After her passing, he married Betty Johnson, a Tabernacle Choir member, in the Salt Lake Temple on June 6, 1981.
A tireless worker in the Kingdom, Brother Bridgeforth has served as a stake high councilor and in the bishopric of one of the Church branches serving inmates at the Utah State Prison.
In the past year, he has been afflicted with health problems and has undergone triple bypass heart surgery. Diabetes necessitated the amputation of his leg below the knee, but he can get around much of the time with a prosthesis and a cane.
After the 1978 revelation, active membership in the Genesis Group dwindled, though the organization was never disbanded. An effort is being made to revive it, with Brother Bridgeforth still serving as president. Meetings will be held each Fast Sunday at 7 p.m. beginning Nov. 3 in the Union Fort 4th Ward meetinghouse, Midvale Utah Union Fort Stake. For information, contact him at 643 E. Carmel, Midvale, Utah 84047; telephone (801) 566-9351.