North Texans Take part in “Be One” Celebrations

(Pictured above: Gladys Knight and the Be One Choir)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints marked the 40th anniversary of the priesthood and temple blessings being extended to all people with a worldwide celebration and broadcast on June 1, 2018, originating in Salt Lake City. Speakers included President Russell M. Nelson and Dallin H. Oaks, as well as dazzling performances by Gladys Knight, Alex Boyé, the Be One Choir, and many others.

The North Texas Genesis Group joined in the celebration, hosting a reception and broadcast viewing at the Arlington Stake Center. Attendees enjoyed socializing before the broadcast and refreshments afterward.

“What I loved was the music,” said Regina Thornton, a North Texas Genesis Group member with a choir background. (Watch Be One Broadcast) “I also loved the presentations that they did to introduce the [black] pioneers that were from the time of Joseph Smith. That was amazing to hear the whole story. I loved Elder Oaks comments (Read President Oaks remarks), and I loved President Nelson’s closing comments (Read President Nelson’s remarks). It was just a beautiful event. What I love about the Church, is that it’s multicultural, and that makes me happy to know that I’m part of a multicultural church. And I would just love to see more people embrace the oneness.”

North Texas Genesis Group President Ramesus Stewart-Johnson is equally enthusiastic and would like to organize a Genesis Group Choir, like the Be One choir that

performed during the celebration — a choir where many types of music, including gospel-style songs, could be sung by members from all over the North Texas area. (Listen to Gladys Knight and the Be One Choir)

The North Texas Genesis Group was established in 2013, patterned after the Utah Genesis Group, and is the only Genesis Group in Texas. The first Genesis Group was formed in 1971 in Salt Lake City by Ruffin Bridgeforth, Darius Gray, and Eugene Orr who worked with Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, Elder Boyd K. Packer, and Elder Thomas S. Monson to establish a place for black Latter-day Saint members to gather for support.

During the meeting in which the first Utah Genesis Group Presidency was organized, Thomas S. Monson, then an apostle, stated:

“Out of that which is small proceedeth that which is great. I once heard a definition of a pioneer as one who goes before, showing others the way to follow. As I have met with Brothers Bridgeforth, Gray, and Orr, I have been in the presence of true pioneers, who in their attitudes, in their testimonies of the truth, in their willingness to serve, in their demonstrated love of the gospel, are going before, showing others the way to follow. I salute these three pioneers tonight. And each of you is a pioneer in the Genesis Group. This is a great beginning.”

A like-minded pioneer and early enthusiast for the formation of a Genesis Group in Texas, Gloria Eaton started a grassroots group before the Genesis Group was officially established in North Texas.

“After I joined the church, I noticed that I was the only [person of color] in my ward, and I started to wonder if there any other members in other wards or stakes,” said Eaton. “And I started to meet people of color at stake meetings, and I would get their names and numbers. I had learned about the Genesis Group in Salt Lake, and so I actually jumped in my car one year, and drove there, by myself actually, and saw what the Genesis Group summer picnic looked like. I automatically thought, we need to do that in Texas. So, I came back to Texas and kept getting people’s names and numbers and I put the picnic together. I did that for three years before the official Genesis Group in Arlington, Texas, was started. It’s taken off from there. I hope that in the future, it will grow, not only in the Arlington area, but in the whole northern region of Texas.”

The North Texas Genesis Group is currently hosted by the Arlington Stake and meets throughout the year, holding firesides as well as summer and winter picnics

and socials. The primary purpose of the North Texas Genesis Group is to be a resource to members, as well as stake and mission leaders, to build the faith and testimonies of black Latter-day Saint members, as well as explore— with an attitude of love, respect, and inclusiveness — the unique history, interests, and challenges of black Latter-day Saints and provide opportunities for the full community of Saints to support and strengthen each other.

The hope is that the community created by the group will enhance feelings of connection to other members of the Church and to the Church itself. Its presence sends a strong message of inclusion and serves as a constant reminder that all Church members, regardless of their race or the color of their skin, belong to the Church of Jesus Christ.

The North Texas Genesis Group also strives to energize its members and the community at large about family history and temple work. This is done by including Family Search training at some of their events, as well as teaching church and community members about the Freedmen’s Bank and Bureau Records to assist in African American family history. (Learn more about the Freedmen’s Bank and Bureau Records)

North Texas Genesis Group President Ramesus Stewart-Johnson invites interested members, as well as their friends and family, from all LDS North Texas Stake areas, to attend Genesis Group events. If you have suggestions for topics or speakers for firesides or are interested in joining the Genesis Group Choir, please contact President Stewart-Johnson at [email protected] or send a message through the North Texas Genesis Group Facebook page (North Texas Genesis Group Facebook Page). The Facebook page is a great resource which includes pictures and videos from past events, as well as news and stories connected to black Latter-day Saints topics.

Links and Resources

• The June 1st “Be One” broadcast available as a recording and could be viewed as a congregation, or families at MormonNewsroom.org.  View Be One Broadcast
• BeOne.lds.org has many links and resources regarding black members of the church, including “Race and the Priesthood” essay, and numerous stories of black pioneers.
• North Texas Genesis Group Facebook Juneteenth Event Information – All are welcome, and encouraged to invite friends to join them at this celebration hosted at Dallas Stake Center June 16th, 10 am – 2 pm. North Texas Genesis Facebook Page
• Utah Genesis Group (Read about Utah Genesis Group)