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News Item: 2000 Jan 28 - Pres. Hinckley Visit
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| 2000 Jan 28 - Pres. Hinckley Visit | 10 Mar 2002 |
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28 Jan 2000 - Jakarta I received a phone call early this morning from my sister-in-law Diane Pritchett. She was bubbling with excitement about the wonderful conference. She said 1,800 latter-day saints attended. They were all quietly waiting in their seats well before the appointed 2:00 pm starting time and so they started 10 minutes early! (what is the opposite of jam karet?) President Hinckley was in typical fashion very warm and personable. He referred to Subandriyo as a "little man with a big smile" and joked that it is amazing how much he has achieved with only one name as opposed to Pres. Hinckley who has three names. He counciled the saints to pray for Pres. Gus Dur and to be tolerant and respectful of all religions. Sis. Hinckley expressed her amazement at how well behaved the children in the children's choir were. They sat right in front of the stand and were good throughout the meeting. Diane reported that her choir members were able to sing the closing song "The spirit of God" without giving in to crying like the rest of the congregation, but as they sang the postlude, she had to have the choir just hum the hymn because all 80 singers were in tears as Pres. Hinckley left. Diane promises a much longer e-mail report which I will forward to you all. Last night's Deseret News reported that Pres. Hinckley met Thurs eve with Pres Gus Dur and presented him with a set of scriptures. - Chad Emmet LDS leader visits strife-torn Indonesia; meets reformist president Indonesia's Muslim president has been preaching for tolerance and cooperation among religions to quell bloody fighting between the Muslim majority and Christian minority. By GEOFF SPENCER ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER JAKARTA, Indonesia (Jan. 27, 2000) The head of the LDS Church made an unprecedented trip to the worlds most populous Muslim nation today as it grapples with rising religious violence. Officials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rejected suggestions that the visit signaled any intention by the church to expand in Indonesia. One official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said church president Gordon B. Hinckley had come on the personal invitation of President Abdurrahman Wahid. Wahid, a prominent Muslim leader who preaches the need for tolerance and cooperation among religions, is trying hard to quell bloody fighting between the Muslim majority and Christian minority. More than 2,000 people have been killed in gruesome gang battles on the eastern Maluku islands, also known as the Moluccas, during the past 12 months. Sectarian violence has also flared in other troublespots. Hinckley was to have a private dinner with Wahid at the state palace in Jakarta tonight. Wahid, who marked 100 days in office today, separately downplayed the significance of Hinckleys visit. Anyone who wants to meet me, I will accept, he told a news conference. It does not mean that I regard other (Christian) churches as being lower. Also I am not degrading Islam. People always forget that Islamic teachings have many similarities with those of the Mormons. Although, of course, there are differences, he said. About 90 percent of Indonesias 210 million people are Muslims. The nations former authoritarian regime placed tough restrictions on activities of some churches after protests by some Islamic clerics. Mormon missionaries were expelled along with many other foreign Christian workers and clergy in 1981, 11 years after the first Mormons arrived in Indonesia. Only a few thousand Indonesians currently are Mormons. There has been some speculation that Wahid, who has promised greater democratic freedom, might ease some religious restrictions. Wahid, who is almost blind and has suffered a series of strokes, met Hinckley last year after he underwent treatment on two occasions at the University of Utahs Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City. He said this had been financed by a longtime Mormon friend who introduced him to senior church officials. Wahids Jakarta meeting with Hinckley takes place on the eve of a two-week tour of the Middle East, Europe and Asia by the Indonesian leader. During his trip, Wahid is to make pilgrimage to Islams holy city, Mecca. He will also meet Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. |
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| David Brewer | Send Email |
