From Deseret News archives:
Community meets again to find unity among faiths
The meeting last week at the University of Utah's College of Social Work auditorium featured discussion of existing tensions and ways residents can work to solve issues.
The meetings were organized last year after several political issues — highlighted by the Main Street Plaza fray — seemed to divide the city between members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and those who are not members.
Another community meeting is slated for Feb. 2, 7 p.m., at the Sorenson Multi-Cultural Center, 855 S. California Ave. After that meeting the project's focus will turn to small group meetings in which people from different faiths or no faith can get together for dinner or just to talk about what divides and unites them.
Those who want to sign up for those smaller meetings can do so via the city's Web site, www.slcgov.com, starting in the next couple of weeks. Also, that site will have a bulletin board where people can espouse their views on the issue.
Those who want to be on the city's "Bridging the Divide" newsletter can also sign up at the Web site.
About 150 people attended Wednesday's meeting. Many non-LDS speakers talked about how their children have been negatively affected by living in Utah.
They told tales of how LDS parents would not let their children play together or even hire non-LDS baby sitters. Another said her children were encouraged not to join LDS Boy Scout troops.
Michael Shurtz, who is LDS and grew up in Salt Lake City, said LDS faithful are generally taught to marry within their own faith, which can lead to exclusion of non-LDS members. Also, LDS members are encouraged to live clean lives and be watchful about the company they keep, which can also lead to excluding others, Shurtz said.
Finally, LDS members are taught to care for each other, especially other members within their own wards. Again, that caring for ward members can lead to excluding non-ward members, Shurtz said.
While none of these teachings are bad, Shurtz said LDS members should be mindful not to become too exclusive and should strive to reach out more.
Other speakers said the city's non-LDS community needs to make commitments not to "Mormon bash," even when there are no LDS people around.
E-mail: bsnyder@desnews.com
