By Joy HolladayI considered myself to be a woman well-acquainted with the scriptures. I was instructed from the age of five until my conversion about the things of God. My parents made sure I went to church; I witnessed both my grandmothers—paternal and maternal—reading the scriptures daily. So, I knew very well there was a God and that Jesus Christ was my Savior. I was told that “God had a plan for my life.” However, nobody could tell me what this plan was. My parents couldn’t, the pastors of the many churches I became of member of couldn’t, but I kept looking. I raised my children in the same manner, going to church on a regular basis. What I didn’t know was that the gospel had left the earth and therefore, had needed to be, and had been, restored.
While living in New Jersey, my daughter Joy and I heard a commercial on TV that was very family-oriented. At the conclusion of the commercial, it said, "Brought to you by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." I told my daughter, “That’s the church; I want to go to THAT church.” We didn’t find that church because we were looking for the wrong "building."
The revelation of the restored gospel came from my son, Richard, who, through a very faithful young woman, was given the Book of Mormon while working in Glacier National Park one summer. They became great friends, and she gave him this book with the promise that he would read it. He did, a year later, and having been aware of gospel truths, called the missionaries to come and tell him about this book. He was subsequently baptized in late March. The first of April was General Conference, and my son invited me to join him to watch the proceedings; I did. We were a bit late and entered through the back door, never seeing the name of the church. I only knew that this was a Mormon church.
It was during this conference that I was touched by the Spirit. Elder L. Tom Perry was one of the speakers. When he said that "God has a plan for your life," I knew I was going to finally hear what that plan was. I heard it, and after reading and praying and being fellowshipped by a dear couple, I was baptized on Mother’s Day by my son, Richard. Life couldn’t have been better—except it did get better when my daughter, Joy, became a member. Here we were, pioneers in our family! We were the first Black members in our family to belong to the "Mormon" faith.
I wrote in my journal things that I wanted Heavenly Father to bless me with. Among some of those things was the wish to serve a foreign-speaking mission. We all know that Heavenly Father answers prayer, but not especially in our manner of thinking.
I got to serve this mission in the form of singing.
Years later, here I am, not only a member of this Church, but also a member of the Saints Unified Voices Choir directed by Gladys Knight. What a mission this is. The choir, through Ms. Knight-McDowell, is taking the gospel truths to those of my own ethnic background. The message is sung in a language that "we" as African-Americans can identify with. This language of music touches us in a manner that is unique to our plights, passions, and struggle for identification and/or recognition in a world so accustomed to discounting us.
In this church, however, we are recognized as saints whatever our color or origin. Still, gospel truths are just that—truths. Truth doesn’t care what your color, ethnic background, or origins are. Truth is not partial to personalities, prejudices, education, or social background. Conversely, a large number of us have difficulty accepting this truth because it comes from an entity that historically has been our oppressor—a white person. Seemingly for that reason, I have found too few of my own Black brothers and sisters as members in this Church. I believe that once they hear the truth from those with whom they can identify and with whom they have this music in common, they are better able to listen and truly hear what Heavenly Father has revealed and continues to reveal. That revelation is that the gospel has been restored and that He indeed is no respecter of persons. These truths are for ALL of His children, and we as a people are too precious to Him to be left behind or outside the wall.
I truly believe that is what this ministry is about: to gather us together to partake of these blessings. Our brothers and sisters in Africa discovered these truths long before they were allowed to even be preached to on their continent or even here upon this land. Why? It doesn’t concern me; I don’t care. Heavenly Father doesn’t reason as we do—thank goodness. His timing is not our timing. What does concern me is that we are too concerned about what we’ve "heard" about the Mormon Church instead of investigating it for ourselves. If we are truly seeking truth and our hearts are honest, we will recognize it when it is offered in whatever form or manner Heavenly Father chooses to present it.
My beliefs have not changed, I still have a belief and faith in God the Eternal Father and in Jesus Christ, His Son, and I believe in the Holy Ghost. I believe that God is not limited to what He can tell us or by whom the message comes. I believe that Joseph Smith was the messenger of the Restored Gospel. I believe that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that he has not left us without a voice in these latter days. I believe that we, "the world," have a prophet in these latter days to lead and guide us. I reach out to my brothers and sisters in love and in truth and bid them “Come unto Christ,” and see for your own self that what I have shared is true.
In His name,
Joy Holladay
Las Vegas, Nevada