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| That's me in the foreground interviewing President Nelson (right). |
If you are Roman Catholic, imagine what it would be
like to meet the Pope in person.
If you are Muslim, imagine going on the Hajj.
If you are Jewish, imagine praying at the Western
Wall in Jerusalem.
Some members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints in Winnipeg don’t have to imagine what something like that would
feel like. They know because they met the leader of their church—a man they
regard as a prophet of God—last month.
Over 1,300 people came to hear president Russell
Nelson on August 17, with some lining up over four hours before the event
started.
The 17th man to hold the position, the 93
year-old Nelson is considered by the faithful as God’s representative on earth.
His visit is only the second time a president of the
church has come to Winnipeg. The other was Gordon Hinckley, who came in 1998.
Nelson came to Winnipeg to visit the church’s new
temple, which is under construction in the southwest part of the city. It is
scheduled to open in 2020.
“As the temple is prepared for the people, the
people need to prepare for the temple,” he told the gathering, going on to
describe ways members of the church need to become “temple ready.”
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, Nelson was
in the news about changing the name of the church from Mormon, which is
commonly used, to its official name: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints.
In the few minutes I had to speak to him before his
address, I asked about that decision.
By announcing the change, he said he was trying to
“correct an egregious error” that had taken root over generations.
He added he “loves” the prophet Mormon, from whom
the name is derived.
But “this is not Mormon’s church,” he said. “I think
Mormon himself would be embarrassed if people thought this was his church.”
“I’m trying to make clear this is his [Jesus’] church,”
he said, noting that Jesus had impressed this on his mind.
The instruction he received is “an amazing
revelation,” he stated, and it will be “a wonderful thing” for the church.
At the same time, he acknowledged that changing the
name won’t be easy. But when “we know what the Lord wants, we move in that
direction,” he said.
For members of the church in Winnipeg, it’s clear
his visit was a memorable event.
“This is a once in a lifetime chance for people in
Winnipeg to see him,” said Ken McInnes. “It’s a very special moment.”
“It was a wonderful privilege to have him come here,
to remind us of what we need to do to prepare for the Temple,” added his wife,
Silvia.
“We see them on TV [the presidents], but it’s different
to be in the same room.”
Not only Winnipeggers were there. Dhafne Rasera is
from Brazil.
“It was an amazing experience,” said the University
of Manitoba student of her first time seeing a prophet. “I felt the Holy Spirit.
It was powerful.”
Fiona Nauna of Papau, New Guinea is doing her
mission service for the church in the city.
“It was awesome, a once in a lifetime experience,”
she said, adding “I am the first one in my family to see a prophet in person.”
It was the same thing for Baley Godderidge of Logan,
Utah, also doing her service in Winnipeg.
“I feel very lucky, to be in the right place at the
right time,” she said, laughing at the irony that someone who lives near Salt
Lake City—the headquarters of the church—would need to come to Winnipeg to see
its president.
Added Allan Robison, a long-time member of the
church in Winnipeg: “This is the highest honour, to have him visit us . . .
it’s thrilling to me whenever I can hear a prophet.”
As someone who grew up in a church tradition that doesn’t
have a pope or bishops, or even sacred places, the reverence and rapture
members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Winnipeg showed
for Nelson was hard for me to relate to. But it was still moving to see how
much his visit meant to them.
Now I just need to get used to not calling them Mormons.
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