In July Operation Mobilization made a return visit to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to bring a new group of inquisitive Christians to learn about the Mormon faith.
An inter-denominational organization, Operation Mobilization (OM) works in over 110 countries to help plant and strengthen churches, especially in areas of the world where Christ is least known. OM is interested in learning about beliefs and practices of various religions and does so by organizing Impact Weeks in many cities throughout the world each summer. This is the second time an Impact Week has been held in Nova Scotia.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Operation Mobilization’s work in Nova Scotia consisted of groups of Christian men and women of all ages and denominations who met together for a week in July. During the day, they visited with several churches to receive information and ask questions about their beliefs. Following these visits, there were discussions or study groups. In the evening, group members knocked on doors in the community to share the message of Jesus Christ.
During the week that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was hosting, the group visited a Sikh mosque, a synagogue and the churches of two other faiths. An important objective of OM is for Christians to have an informative conversation when they meet representatives of other faiths.
During a meeting in the local Mormon chapel, mission president Brian Leavitt showed a brief video about the Church. After answering a number of questions from the OM group and clearing up some misconceptions, the group toured the building to learn more about the Mormon faith, including family history, baptism by immersion, and the history and work of the women’s auxiliary, the Relief Society. The assistant to the temple president, David Veinot, met with the OM group in the Halifax Nova Scotia Temple waiting room to present a summary about the temple and answer queries. The visitors expressed their appreciation and were impressed with the efforts shown on their behalf.
A respect for the diverse beliefs and unique contributions of all the world’s faiths is one of the hallmarks of Mormonism. During a semi-annual worldwide Church meeting, Church President Thomas S. Monson made a plea for more religious understanding: “I would encourage members of the Church wherever they may be to show kindness and respect for all people everywhere. The world in which we live is filled with diversity. We can and should demonstrate respect toward those whose beliefs differ from ours.”