Members

‘The unifying power of religions’ in Canada

Latter-day Saints in Canada unite with those of other faiths and backgrounds to strengthen relationships and communities

By Jessica Lawrence July 16, 2023 4 p.m. EDT

Amira Elghawaby and Sandra Pallin at the Our Whole Society conference at Martin Luther University College in Waterloo, Ontario.

Members

‘The unifying power of religions’ in Canada

Latter-day Saints in Canada unite with those of other faiths and backgrounds to strengthen relationships and communities

By Jessica Lawrence July 16, 2023 4 p.m. EDT

At an interfaith discussion hosted by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Archbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton, Alberta, called on the “unifying power of religions” — especially at a time when the world is longing for peace, the Church’s Canada Newsroom reported.

At other events across Canada, a Latter-day Saint and indigenous religious scholar spoke about how his indigenous heritage and his belief in the Church’s restored gospel work together in his life, and Church members held an interfaith conference on finding common ground.

Here is how Canadian Latter-day Saints have been uniting with those of other faiths.

Religious Freedom 2023: A Community Conversation

On April 16, hundreds of people of different faiths participated in Religious Freedom 2023: A Community Conversation. Held in Edmonton, Alberta, and hosted by the Edmonton Alberta Riverbend Stake, attendees discussed the unifying power of religions, reported the Church’s Canada Newsroom.

They discussed the importance of religious freedom and challenges religious freedom is facing, and also also united together in supporting solutions for Edmonton’s homeless community. Attendees helped put together about 100 care packages that were donated to the Welcome Home initiative by Catholic Social Services.

Chantell McMullin, communication director for the Church in Edmonton, said, “We want to bring people of all faiths together and to have them respect and honor other faiths, to understand other faiths, to open their minds to the goodness that’s in all people.”

An indigenous voice of faith

Latter-day Saint and indigenous religious scholar John Borrows, spoke in Toronto, Ontario, about how his indigenous heritage and his belief in the Church’s restored gospel work together in his life, reported the Church’s Canada Newsroom.

“I’m walking in a world that’s both Anishinaabe and Christian, and I feel whole,” said Borrows, who is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation in Ontario, at the event on April 28. “I feel complete. I feel they are challenging me to do the same thing — which is to love God and love creation, love our fellow beings and all that is given [to] us. And so, I delight in trying to find that connectivity. So, for me, my faith is putting those things together.”

The Church’s Canada Newsroom reported that one of the hallmark teachings of the Church is to respect diverse beliefs and contributions from faiths all over the world.

Borrows expressed the same idea, “One of our [Latter-day Saint] teachings by the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley is to ‘bring with you all the good that you have and let us add to it,’ and ‘if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things’ (Articles of Faith 1:13).”

He continued, “And so, I find so much truth, beauty and inspiration for faith in that multi-faith space. … I love the fact that I can learn from other faiths and apply their teachings in my life as well. It’s an expansive celebration of finding support for one another.”

Interfaith conversations in Ontario

“Finding Common Ground in a Time of Polarization” was the theme of an interfaith conference by Our Whole Society was May 7-9 at the Martin Luther University College in Waterloo, Ontario. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was one of the sponsors of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation events.

“Building bridges of understanding and co-operation amongst individuals and institutions representing Canada’s varied religious and spiritual landscape is the main objective of the CIC,” reported the Church’s Newsroom.

A variety of experts and leaders spoke at the conference, including Daisy Arseneault, Kitchener Ontario Stake’s assistant communication director and JustServe coordinator.

“I felt strengthened and supported in my own faith as I linked arms with neighboring members of other faiths,” she said.

The conference included workshops and panel discussions with topics about experiences of Muslim women in Canada, addressing racism, how to advocate for greater “spiritually ethical” social media, and how interfaith groups can build bridges in their diverse communities.

Also at the event was Michael Clifton, Kitchener Ontario Stake communication director. “When I consciously contemplate [Christ’s] love, I recognize it is an inclusive love. It is a love-your-enemies kind of love,” he said.

“There’s no room in that kind of love for polarization.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints