A time for thankfulness: Religious leaders offer message of giving back

Staring at the Thanksgiving feast in front of him, one little boy was asked to give a prayer of thanks.

"None of his favorite foods were on the table, so he said 'Dear Lord, I don't like the look of what it is, but I'll eat it and be grateful for it,' " said Calvary Baptist Church Pastor France Davis as he related the story of one family's Thanksgiving.

In a booming voice, Pastor Davis went on to say, "The economy is upside down. It doesn't look very good.

"There are people facing foreclosures. People who are hungry and homeless," he said. "The poor are with you always. Nowhere does it say that while you have the poor with you always, should they be hungry."

Pastor Davis and other representatives or leaders from several faith organizations proclaimed the message of giving back during the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service Sunday night. Nearly 200 people braved the snow to attend the 20th annual service at the Salt Lake Masonic Temple organized by the Inclusion Center to promote solidarity and tolerance among people of different faiths or beliefs.

"If we practice acceptance for each other, we develop solidarity," said Kilo Zamora, executive director of the Inclusion Center.

"Think about any era of our nation's history when hate crimes and violence increase against one specific group," he said. "After 9/11, we saw hate crimes increase against Muslims 1,200 percent."

Discussing the meaning of Thanksgiving, several religious leaders stressed the importance of giving back to the community and making sure no person or family goes hungry.

As part of that challenge, the center encouraged each Interfaith Service visitor to donate a can of nonperishable food.

"As we celebrate, we should assist others, those who do not have the luxury to share," Imam Muhammed Mehtar, of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake, told the audience.

In three-minute speeches, religious leaders from the First United Methodist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Calvary Baptist Church, Congregation Kol Ami and others explained how Thanksgiving is about reaching out to everyone in need and giving thanks for what one has.

Elder Kent F. Richards of the Seventy of the LDS Church explained how everyone, no matter his or her background, has a common heritage.