Serving in the Oakland Inner City Ward Brings Me Love, Acceptance, Joy and Pease

My great privilege, while living in Oakland, is attending an inner city ward. I wish all wards in the church were like Oakland 9th ward. We have members who have been homeless. addicted to drugs, or spent time in prison. They all desired a better life and have found hope and peace by turning to Jesus Christ. Our ward becomes their family where they find love, support and acceptance. Soon, they bring their friends who also feel the love we have for them and develop a desire for baptism as well.

 I've found more love, acceptance in the ninth ward than I've felt anywhere else. No one in our ward tries to hide their past lives or their present doubts or struggles. Everyone is accepted no matter where they are in their personal journey.

I love the connection we have to other cultures and communities here. For example, the president of the Oakland NAACP, Cinthia Adams and her family, were invited to attend the General Conference with the Brunt's, our Oakland Temple Visitors Center Director and his wife . They met with Elder Stevenson and Sister Eubanks and these church leaders simply said, "What can we do to help?" Then they listened. This group was also taken to the Humanitarian Center and Welfare Square as well as to several conference sessions. I love all outreach to all people of all faiths. 

This week I attended a bridal shower for my dear friend in the ward and a baptism for another. We are basking in the love and see the beauty of each daughter or son of God, no matter where we are on our journey. We have been taught how to love and be loved on a deeper level and we feel God's hand in the lives of His children every day.

There was a short segment about Amos Brown,(the SF Oakland NAACP President and activist from the 60's for racial equality, between conference sessions. He is still a pastor and still doing God's work here in his nineties. I know all the news coming out about Oakland and San Francisco is about the crime and decay of moral values, but there are millions of beloved sons and daughters of God here and the truth is God loves the ones committing the crimes as well. 

The good people in the Oakland 9th ward are my heroes and my living examples of how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can transform each of our lives.