Morehouse College, a historically Black school in Georgia, has given its inaugural Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize to President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, read a citation and presented President Nelson with the award in a pre-recorded broadcast played at an award ceremony on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at the WorldHouse Interfaith and Interdenominational Assembly at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. An overflow audience of more than 2,600 people attended.
Morehouse College, a historically Black school in Georgia, has given its inaugural Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize to President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Rev. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, read a citation and presented President Nelson with the award in a pre-recorded broadcast played at an award ceremony on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at the WorldHouse Interfaith and Interdenominational Assembly at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel. An overflow audience of more than 2,600 people attended.
He also gave the prophet two other gifts: (1) a medallion with the images of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela and (2) nine books by and about each of these three champions of human dignity. President Nelson’s oil portrait was also inducted in the school’s International Hall of Honor.
Thursday night’s other honoree was Dr. Ira Helfand. He is recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize and copresident of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
In his acceptance speech, the 98-year-old prophet said his decades as a heart surgeon taught him important lessons about God’s love for every soul.
“In those operating rooms — where life hung in the balance — I came to know that our Heavenly Father cares deeply for every one of His children,” President Nelson said. “That’s because we are His children. Differences in nationality, color and culture do not change the fact that we are truly sons and daughters of God. And as a follower and witness of Jesus Christ, I have only come to understand that divine truth more deeply.”
The prophet also said his lifetime of travel to 138 countries has taught him a similar lesson.
“I can state without equivocation that God pours out His Spirit liberally upon all who seek Him,” President Nelson said. “God does not love one race more than another. His feelings of inclusion are very clear. As recorded in the Book of Mormon, which I esteem as companion scripture to the Holy Bible, the Savior ‘invite[s] all to come unto Him and partake of his goodness; … he [denies] none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God.’”
“Every now and again, people should do what you did,” Carter told President Nelson. “And that is: Get out of the box and surprise some folk. Do something very different of what is needed to unite people, to bring harmony.”
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