June 7, 2020
Dear Members and Friends of the Lilburn Stake,
As I see the ongoing attitudes of prejudice and injustice being done to our African American friends and neighbors, my heart is deeply disturbed. I am moved by the growing number of protesters across our nation, some of them my own children, standing against racism and the disregard for human life. Ia am writing this letter to the members of our stake to let you know where we stand as your leaders on this critical issue.
I remember driving through our neighborhood following the attack on September 11, 2001. For days our neighbors were out on their lawns waving to us driving home from work. These neighbors were of middle eastern decent, people of similar culture to those who attacked our nation, yet not associated with the attack. They wanted us to know they were friendly and supported the freedom in our country. They were fearful the people of our country would retaliate.
After recently joining in to support a march, the president of my company wrote a letter to employees to address this issue. He described an important point that I feel the need to emphasize here. The people protesting are doing so peacefully. They are not inciting violence or destroying property. There are however, others who take advantage of the volatile situation and are involved in criminal activity. The media shows and emphasizes the vandalism, but the message we need to share and defend is that of the peaceful protesters, to stop all prejudice.
On Friday June 5, 2020, a peaceful interfaith march against racism organized by Atlanta area religious leaders was held in Liberty Plaza. This wonderful event was attended by many people from the Atlanta area from many different religions. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints was represented by Elder M. Andrew Galt our Area Seventy, President David Ingram, our Atlanta temple president and President Jermaine Sullivan, the Atlanta stake president. Our stake was represented by Nate Gibbs, our stake communications director. Perhaps you have seen some pictures of this gathering on Instagram.
President Russell M. Nelson counseled the people of the world on social media: 'We join with many throughout this nation and around the world who are deeply saddened at recent evidences of racism and a blatant disregard for human life. We abhor the reality that some would deny others respect and the most basic of freedoms because of the color of his or her skin. We are also saddened when these assaults on human dignity lead to escalating violence and unrest. The Creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God's children. Any of us who has prejudice toward another race needs to repent!' He also added: 'Let us be clear. We are brothers and sisters, each of us the child of a loving Father in Heaven. His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, invites all to come unto Him - "black and white, bond and free, male and female," (2 Nephi 26:33). It behooves each of us to do whatever we can in our spheres of influence to preserve the dignity and respect every son and daughter of God deserves.'
We have a responsibility to lift and strengthen all people. We must realize that many people in minority groups live with fears of acceptance, injustice and even denial of basic freedoms. When we hear others voicing racist or demeaning comments towards another person or race or religion, we have an obligation to stand up and speak up. We must defend right and speak against wrong. Knowing that these protests are going on, people of color are naturally uncomfortable and uncertain.. A simple wave of the hand with a smile can do wonders.
President Nelson emphasized: 'Any nation can only be as great as its people. That requires citizens to cultivate a moral compass that helps them distinguish between right and wrong.' This moral compass within people comes from 'the Spirit of Christ [which] is given to every man (Moroni 7:16], and it is cultivated through religious practices across the world. We must live and defend the right to worship for all people. We all have an obligation to speak, lift, and build others and point them to Christ. No one in our neighborhood, following 9/11, retaliated against our middle eastern neighbors. We made friends with them. We waved back to them.
Sincerely,
President Tom Frost
Stake President
Lilburn Georgia Stake