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John Hollenhorst reporting One of the themes LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley emphasized was that church members should be more tolerant and accepting of people who hold different beliefs. Many people of diverse views agreed today: The message sunk in and changed Utah for the better.
As a drifted-away Mormon, Sandy resident Cynthia Wand felt her tent was metaphorically pitched between rival camps a few years ago, between Mormons and non-Mormons. So she joined four of each regularly for so-called Diversity Dinners to "bridge the religious divide," as the Deseret Morning News characterized it.
"I think a beautiful bridge emerged," she said.
They felt their differences melt away. "We were able to break down those walls and have compassion, have more understanding, have more acceptance," she explained.
Their timing was good. In 2002 President Hinckley said, "We must teach our children to be tolerant and friendly toward those not of our faith."
It was a persistent theme of President Hinckley's. "We can be friendly and respectful and kind and good and neighborly," he said.
Community leaders of various faiths say he really did change the community.
Rt. Rev. Carolyn Tanner Irish, Bishop of the Episcopal Church, said, "We who were not of his tradition felt welcome and recognized and respected here."
Pamela Atkinson, a Presbyterian elder and advocate for the homeless, said, "We're not anywhere near pure harmony. But I think it has moved along since President Hinckley has been the leader of the LDS Church."
There's agreement even from controversial civil-rights attorney Brian Barnard, who in years past clashed in court with the LDS church.
"We still don't all live under one tent, but I think that President Hinckley has reached out to the non-Mormon community in a way that it has lessened friction between those groups, and it's made Utah and Salt Lake a much better place."
After her experience, Cynthia Wand organized a multicultural get-together in her neighborhood. She feels President Hinckley's influence will last. "We created a bond. We created a connection and a unity that is absolutely rippling out," she said.
She thinks people of all faiths should embrace President Hinckley's message: get out, meet your neighbors, start building bridges.
