SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 17, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will address the 110th annual national NAACP convention in Detroit on Sunday, the church announced Wednesday.
“Over the past 18 months, the First Presidency has made its partnership with the NAACP a high priority,” an LDS Church statement says.
“The groups have met several times to pursue a joint education and employment initiative that has been deployed in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston and Charlotte. They have customized the Church’s self-reliance services materials and programs to be most effective for the initiative.
“The two organizations also came together on Temple Square last May to call all people, organizations and governments to work together to achieve greater civility and racial harmony.”
Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), also was quoted in the announcement.
“I’m honored to have The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stand in unity with the NAACP to advance equality and justice for all,” Johnson said. “We must recognize and accept the importance of creating amity with those that are raising the consciousness of this nation — the Church is committed to doing just that.”
The statement says the LDS Church also seeks to strengthen African Americans and their families through genealogy, which will allow them to trace their roots as far back as possible. It also noted that the Church donated $2 million in February to the International African American Museum (IAAM), which is set to open in 2021 in South Carolina.
