Priesthood Commemoration Celebration Held in Tabernacle A commemoration of the revelation extending the priesthood to all worthy males was held Sunday, June 8, in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. The revelation occurred on June 1, 1978, in the Salt Lake Temple. The revelation was ratified and announced on June 8, 1978. The program was received with great joy by a capacity crowd that filled the Tabernacle. Speakers at the commemoration included Elder Sheldon F. Child of the Seventy; President Fred Antioni Parker of the Atlanta Georgia Stake; Sister Catherine Stokes, former Assistant Deputy Director of the Illinois Office of Health Care Regulation; and President Ahmad Corbitt of the Cherry Hill New Jersey Stake. Elder Earl C. Tingey of the Seventy conducted the commemoration. Access full transcripts of the addresses here: President Fred A. Parker Catherine M. Stokes President Ahmad S. Corbitt Elder Sheldon F. Child During the celebration, the Church presented a short video commemorating the momentous revelation. The video included interviews with several Genesis members—among them Darius Gray, Catherine Stokes, and Michael Rice—as well as other African-American Latter-day Saints. Particularly touching were segments featuring the voice of President Spencer W. Kimball, who received the revelation, and a video clip of President N. Eldon Tanner reading the revelation. A multicultural choir under the direction of Mack Wilberg performed two stirring numbers, including "Hark, All Ye Nations!" said to capture the sentiment of the revelation. Genesis member Alex Boye, a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sang solo renditions of "How Great Thou Art" and "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." Messages of both the speakers and the musical numbers focused on both the blessings of the priesthood and our responsibility to emphasize our similarities instead of our differences. In explaining that his patriarchal blessing said he would teach the gospel to "his people," President Corbitt said he expected a mission call to an inner city somewhere in America—since that's where he had grown up—but was shocked to open his letter and find that he had been called to Brazil. "By the time I left," he said, "the Hispanics were my people." He went on to describe the multiethnic composition of his stake, each time calling a different group "my people." We are all, he summarized, "his people"—an attitude we should all carry as we go forth to build the Kingdom of God. To view the Church's video presentation that was shown at the celebration and to read news coverage of the event, click here. Don't Miss the Genesis Newsletter! Check out the new newsletter section: Testimony! Learn how Elvis Haslem was converted to the Church in Valdosta, Georgia, through an amazing network of support. In the newsletter cover story, Genesis member Margaret Blair Young paints a touching portrait of President Spencer W. Kimball, who received the revelation restoring the priesthood to all worthy males in what some Apostles described as "a day of Pentecost." Darius Gray, a member of the first Genesis Group presidency, remembers receiving a hand-delivered Christmas gift from President Kimball. “There was a ringing of the doorbell. I answered, and who was there but the acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Spencer W. Kimball himself. There was no fanfare. No film crew, simply humble Spencer Kimball, delivering a gift of welcome and brotherhood to this newest presidency, this unique presidency that had been called to serve.” We feature responses of a variety of people to the revelation itself—their memories of where they were when they heard the news, how they reacted, and what has changed since then. Join us in remembering that long-awaited day thirty years ago. Genesis Mission Leader Michael Rice writes about what the revelation means to us as individuals and issues a challenge for us in becoming "fellowcitizens." You'll also read a stirring testimony from a Saint in Ghana, enjoy the conversion story of a Black stake president and an ex-Black Panther, learn about the daily activities of a family in Nigeria, read a great bio on Alex Boye, discover a link to an amazing Black history site, and catch up on what all the Genesis missionaries are doing!

Genesis meetinghouse: 6710 South 1300 East Salt Lake City Give A Ride, Get A Ride Click here if you need a ride to Genesis meetings or could offer a ride to someone else. Just provide details and click to send! Need the Site Translated? For instructions on how to get the Genesis web site translated into a language other than English, click here or use the link in the left navigation bar. Genesis Group Welcomes New Members in May Genesis welcomes the following new members, who met with us for the first time in May: Vanessa Abernathy, Midvale, and her daughter Alyssa; Cassie Andrew, Provo; Nancy and John Ayre, Murray, and their children, Brooks and Chandler; Brian Corry, Highland; Joseph A. Elliott, Sandy, and his son Joseph; Laura and Rob James, West Valley City, and their child Reece Garcia; Kathi and Larry Lewis, Syracuse, and their children, Karissa, Jamin, Kaitlin, Jonah, Kindahl, Khloe, and Kimberlie; Michael and Katherine Lindstrom, Bountiful, and their daughter Alayna; JOel and Brittany Lisonbee, Bountiful, and their daughter Chloe; Jonas and Zildy Manuel, Taylorsville, and their children, Shayden and Jasmine; Marie and Jean Martial, Salt Lake City, and their children, Christine and Christian; Laura Shepherd, Centerville, and her children, Gweha Libii and Amma Libii; and Laura and Mike Robinson, Cedar Hills, and their children, Jared, Regan, Wyatt, and Sam. Welcome! Click here Genesis Group Calendar   Current Events: —August 3, August Genesis Meeting, 7 p.m., Winston Wilkinson, head of the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children's Books