The NAACP Salt Lake Chapter held its 36th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Memorial luncheon today. The group invited world religious leader Elder Gary E. Stevenson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to deliver the keynote address. Elder Stevenson used vision as the lens through which to view how all are alike unto God and how it is up to each individual to be our brothers’ keeper, foster civility and promote empathy, compassion and love.
Prior to church service, Elder Stevenson was an international business executive and understands the transformative effect of shared vision. Getting the proper perspective first breaks down barriers and removes the distrust of false perceptions. With a clearer view of reality and a grander view of what is possible, a greater vision emerges that unites, empowers and uplifts. An acquaintance can become a friend with whom you can then link and ultimately lock arms with in order to achieve a shared vision and purpose.
Vision requires leadership. Anyone can drive a wedge by continually striking with blunt force bias the mistakes and misunderstandings of the past. It takes a leader with vision to build a unifying and clarifying bridge. Dr. King said it this way, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” True success comes when we transcend our personal prejudice, egos and agendas to focus on making a difference to others.
Over the past several years the leadership of the NAACP and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have linked, and then locked arms, in a combined effort to tailor, and then teach, a self-reliance curriculum to urban, inner-city and minority communities based on biblical principles. Elder Stevenson described how this truly transformative partnership was based on shared vision and a common commitment to lift all of God’s children.
Elder Stevenson first shared part of the NAACP vision as stated by its President Derrick Johnson, “We believe all people and organizations and government representatives should come together to work to secure peace and happiness for all of God’s children. Unitedly, we can call on all people to work in greater harmony, civility and respect for the beliefs of others to achieve this supreme and universal goal.”
Next a portion of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint vision, as shared by President Russell M. Nelson, was read: “We are all connected, and we have a God-given responsibility to help make life better for those around us. ... We don’t have to be alike or look alike to have love for each other. We don’t even have to agree with each other to love each other. If we have any hope of reclaiming the goodwill and sense of humanity for which we yearn, it must begin with each of us, one person at a time.”
Living up to these two vision statements is a tall order for both organizations and for individuals everywhere. As with every elevating endeavor — errors, mistakes and misunderstandings will occur from time to time. The key is to quickly acknowledge and accept responsibility but never let such mistakes or such moments impede the momentum and the great good that can be done — together. Vision is never clear when looking in the rearview mirror. As Chairman Leon Russell of the NAACP said in July of 2019, “We aren’t interested in old conversations. We are in pursuit of new solutions.”
The leaders of these two organizations, have literally and figuratively locked arms as a model to all who are willing to come together.
The leaders of these two organizations have literally and figuratively locked arms as a model to all who are willing to come together, work together and see a vision together of the unlimited possibilities for good in individuals, families and communities.
Elder Stevenson concluded his remarks with a quote from famed civil rights leader and NAACP board member the Rev. Amos Brown, pastor of the Historic Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, “It can be well in this nation when we lock arms, as I locked arms with President Nelson. Not as black and white. Not as (The) Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Baptist. But as children of God who are about loving everybody and bringing hope, happiness, and health to all of God’s children.”
Transcending the divisive rhetoric of the day can create a clear, inclusive, focused and expanded view of Dr. King’s vision. By linking and locking arms with our brothers and sisters, charity will turn to civility and civility to empathy through the vision that “all are alike unto God” in discovering the divine potential contained in the content of our character.