FORT LAUDERDALE — Bishop Fred Bethel sees his congregation as an example of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of brotherhood.
Bethel, 40, of the Fort Lauderdale Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1100 S.W. 15th Ave., ministers to a diverse congregation that represents almost every face known to man. …
http://www.sfltimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8990&Itemid=331
Keep up the great work Bishop Bethel. I wish my family could be around more Blacks. My family has truly made Dr. King’s dream come true in our tiny town of Dietrich, Idaho. My husband and I had 6 biological Caucasion children. One night while discussing children, the Lord (it had to be Him because I had never thought of the topic before) had me ask my husband, “What do you think about adopting?” He said he had thought of it before and in my pure joy and excitement began the very next day to start the process. We have since adopted 5 Black children, 3 as babies & 2 from foster care. I was guided to this race as sure as I am writing you this letter & I cannot describe the total love, fulfillment and joy all my babies have brought to me. I have “done it” both ways and can honestly say that with the adoption of my first son, there were more tears of joy and awe in the Lord’s miraculous plan as I held and loved my baby than there were with the ones I bore. I believe it is because it is expected that (sorry I have no other way to express this) you have sex, you have a baby, but through adoption the Lord somehow guides you through His beautiful, complex tapestry of this world to the right child, to YOUR child. I have seen Him do this 5 times and each time it has been a miracle. I am touched every time I speak or write about my children. I love them with every fiber of my being. My oldest yet not first adopted son has his paperwork turned in and is awaiting a mission call. I could not love my babies more than if they had grown inside me. My only sorrow is that I could not have had this son from the beginning and changed his diapers, wiped his little nose, potty trained him, kissed his beautiful face and be a part of all the firsts we usually get to enjoy as mommies. Thank you for listening. I can’t see very well because of the tears so once more I will just say, Thank you for doing what you do. I love diversity and you will bring many souls together by your example and love. Sincerely, Kitty
I am a member of the church, have adopted African-American triplets, and am writing a series of LDS books about a black slave and her mistress circa 1830. Any information you can provide me would be much appreciated! I genuinely feel it’s about time we have a fictional heroine in LDS books that is black and want that for my children. Thank you for your work! Tiffany Miller
And P.S. I attended Florida State University and was born in Orlando. Thank heavens the work of the Lord is finally reaching ALL his children!
One of the most honest outstanding men I know is a Black African member of the LDS church from Liberia. He graduated From BYU-Idaho and currently lives and works in the Idaho Falls area.