Hundreds celebrate at annual Genesis Group picnic

Hundreds of Latter-day Saints met for food, games and celebration at the annual Genesis Group picnic Saturday.The feeling at Anzak Park in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, was excitement. Many members of the church’s auxiliary support group for black Saints voiced their eagerness for the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the church’s 1978 revelation extending the priesthood to all worthy males. The church will hold a commemoration Sunday at 7 p.m. in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.Lindsey and Ed O’Brian and their children have been members of the Genesis Group for four years, but this was their first time coming to the picnic.“We love this organization,” Lindsey said.  “Once you attend the meetings, you never want to leave.” Lindsey and her daughter Rachel were particularly excited for the commemoration program because they are singing in the choir.Don Harwell, Genesis Group president, said he couldn’t believe how many people turned out for the picnic.“This is a bigger turnout than we thought,” he said.  “Because of the commemoration tomorrow, there are people visiting from out of town who came to the picnic.”Indeed, the atmosphere was noisy, with children playing in the playground, drawing on the sidewalk with chalk, flying a kite and listening to music.  Smoke billowed out of the three large barrel grills cooking hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken.Winston and Gloria Wilkinson have been members of the Genesis Group since they moved to Utah 11 years ago.Winston said he joined the Genesis Group because “the idea of African-Americans meeting together appealed to me.”Among the popcorn, cotton candy and snow cone makers, the French fry cooker, the children throwing water balloons and the fragrant smell of meat cooking, Genesis member Nellie Doornbos was sitting on a grassy hill, taking in the whole scene.“I love (the Genesis Group),” she said.  “It’s the most fun group I’ve gone to. They’re just the most inspiring meetings with great music. Every month there’s new members.”Harwell summed up the picnic best:  “I guess we’d have to call this a success.”