Submitted
Around 450 people filled the Indiana Statehouse last Friday for a special reception connecting civic and faith leaders with a focus on humanitarian aid.
The “Come and See” reception featured Hoosier members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Church’s global Relief Society President Camille Johnson.
Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch delivered a keynote address at the reception after meeting with Johnson personally. After the private meeting, Lt. Gov. Crouch explained why it’s important to connect civic and faith leaders.
“It was the best part of the meeting simply because here is a woman who represents and leads other women, some 7 million women globally, 16,000 here in Indiana whose mission and purpose is to help others in need, and to know that we have faith based organizations like [Latter-day Saints] and we have leaders like Johnson who are actually leading the way and setting the example for us,” Lt. Gov. Crouch said, “because at the end of the day it’s what we do for other people that really is our worth and our legacy and so how we give back and how we take care of others and how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is doing that and living it every single day throughout the world and throughout Indiana is incredible.”
Dozens of lawmakers and civic leaders attended the event including State Comptroller Tera Klutz, State Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor, and a bipartisan gathering of state representatives and senators. Sen. Taylor addressed the gathering, encouraging everyone to break down barriers, unify with others, and serve all in need.
“Start being comfortable with being uncomfortable,” State Sen. Taylor said. “Go into the communities where you know your service is going to be needed. Everybody has the same feeling about themselves: they want to sustain themselves, their families, they care about each other. Try to put yourself in an uncomfortable position so that later on, you are so comfortable that they call on you when service is needed.”
There are 45,000 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indiana. That’s less than 1 percent of the state’s population, but their humanitarian work reaches each Indiana county, hundreds of Indiana nonprofits, and hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers.
“I hope that those that attended today will see the Church as a trusted collaborator,” Johnson said. “We share a common objective and that is to bless the lives of families here in Indiana. It was delightful to be here with the gracious people of Indiana. I truly felt their Hoosier hospitality.”
The Relief Society is one of the world’s largest women’s organizations with 7 million members and 16,000 in Indiana. Annually, it donates about $1 billion in humanitarian aid and accomplishes 6 million volunteer hours. Its members are serving right now in Hawaii and Florida for disaster relief.
Lawmakers and guests toured six informational booths about the Church of Jesus Christ’s contributions to Indiana, including humanitarian, interfaith cooperation, disaster relief, and local service efforts.