Mormons, Muslims break the fast in Southern California (Mormon "interfaith outreach)

Mormon Times ^ | October 10, 2010 | Barbara Evans Openshaw

[greyfoxx39]

 

In Costa Mesa, Calif., Mormons were invited to break the fast with area Muslims during Ramadan. Southern California Latter-day Saints participated in at least 10 different interfaith iftars (break-the-fasts) throughout the area.

Mormons and Muslims in Southern California recently broke the fast together at several events scheduled during Ramadan.

Ramadan is a 30-day religious period during which Muslims fast from before sunrise to about sunset. It is a common Muslim practice to invite people of other faiths to join them in an interfaith iftar, or fast-breaking dinner, one evening during Ramadan. Southern California Latter-day Saints participated in at least 10 different interfaith iftars throughout the area.

Sabiha Quidwai, Islamic Society of Orange County (ISOC) executive assistant, explained that Ramadan is "a month of increased blessings and spiritual upliftment," and it is "the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and it is the month when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk each day." She said, "The iftar, or fast breaking, takes place at sunset."

Besides these events, the Garden Grove, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach and Temecula stakes offered to host special break the fast events with their Muslim neighbors who in turn invited the LDS members to hold the event at the local mosques.

At the iftars, both Muslim and LDS leaders spoke at a brief service, after which the Muslims participated in evening prayers. Following the evening prayer, the groups met together for a meal, provided by the Muslims. There were members of other faiths at each of the dinners also, along with city officials.

In keeping with Muslim tradition, the call to prayer occurred at the time that the sun set that evening. Participants then broke their fasts with dates, bread or other simple items, before proceeding to evening prayer.

The LDS visitors were invited to observe the prayers. LDS women who attended wore head scarves, consistent with Muslim dress standards for women. After the evening prayer, the groups shared a large meal together. The dinners featured traditional Muslim foods such as lamb, couscous, rice and dates. About two dozen LDS members from each of the four stakes attended the events.

At each event, a member of the stake presidency addressed the group.

David Price, second counselor in the Garden Grove Stake presidency, told members assembled at the ISOC that LDS members believe that fasting helps members become more dependent on spiritual things, provides them with inspiration and helps members conquer challenges. He also discussed the role that fast offerings play in the LDS Church.

Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, religious director of the ISOC, reminded the audience that Jesus was fasting when he received some revelations. He related that Muslims believe fasting helps them appreciate God's gifts, including food and water, and inspires them to use such gifts carefully. He also noted that Muslims appreciate the opportunity they have to fast willingly, while many people in the world are forced to go without food.

President Weatherford Clayton of the Newport Beach Stake, President Mike Zundel of the Mission Viejo Stake, and Larry Slusser, second counselor in the Temecula Stake presidency, also addressed Muslims and Mormons assembled at mosques in their areas.

"From my perspective, I think it is a remarkable event when a stake president of the church is given the opportunity to teach the principles of the gospel to those of the Muslim faith," commented Greg Briggs, second counselor in the Mission Viejo Stake presidency. "It was equally remarkable that many in the leadership of the church in Mission Viejo sat at dinner, in a mosque, with many of their Muslim neighbors and learned more about their faith."

Imam Yassir Fazaga of the Mission Viejo mosque, who participated in a church-sponsored tour of Salt Lake City earlier this year, spoke warmly of his visit and of what he had learned about the LDS Church, particularly the church's extensive humanitarian program.

"Do you know what we call the Mormons? We call them Muslim Christians because we have so much in common," said Imam Fazaga. "We only wish that we were as well organized for doing good as the Mormons."

The events came about as the result of outreach efforts by Steve Gilliland, who serves as the director of Muslim relations for the church's Public Affairs Council of Southern California, and Warren Inouye, who serves as the director of Muslim relations for the Orange County area.

"The dinners were important steps in an effort to introduce real Mormons to real Muslims so that the dialogue between the two faiths can proceed at a personal level," said Inouye, who noted that it was the first time that many of the LDS members had entered a mosque.

Gilliland noted that while numerous groups across the United States have recently been vocal in their opposition to Muslims, "We were privileged to break bread with our wonderful Muslim neighbors, reaffirming our commitment to allow all people 'to worship how, where, or what they may.'"

Mormons and Muslims share many practices and standards saidr Gilliland, including health codes, a focus on modesty, belief in the importance of family and an expectation that members will improve their lives as they live the teachings of their religion.

[Elsie]

Did SOMEone say PARAGON?

[Elsie]

Same level of behavior and warped attitude so I just wondered.

Why did you so just wonder?

[Elsie]

Bigot? Towards islam, you bet!

So much in common....

Like that 9/11 date....

[Elsie]

Occasionally, I think you might actually be serious.

Yeah...

We've noticed...

[Elsie]

Welcome to that special shelf with Elsie.

When are you going to give the evidence of me misstating something?

[Elsie]

Good grief it’s like arguing with a toddler in here sometimes.

Why do you think it's like arguing with a toddler in here sometimes?

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“In High School I put off reading most of a novel until the last minute. I stayed up really late trying to read it all and I finished the book. The next day I took the test and found out later I got a D.”

Dateline USA found the missing 18 minutes of this story - here’s what we found on the cutting room floor:

“What an anti-student my teacher is!” I shouted.

If only she would open her heart in real sincerity and
reread my paper, she would give me an ‘A’. The very fact
she gave me a ‘D’ tells me she is insincere and a victim
of the propaganda she reads from those “teacher sites”.

I took my paper back to class and put it on the desk in
front of her. “Try again, and this time do it carefully
and more sincerely,” I said.

She looked up at me with those anti-student eyes and said,
“Oh, lil’ PD. I carefully read and marked your paper. It is
no better than a ‘D’.”

I was shocked!!!!! “YOU COULDN’T have read it carefully! If you had, you would instantly know it is perfect. I’m not going
to argue or even defend my work. You just go back and do
your work sincerely this time.”

“My rear end still hurts.”

[Elsie]

The proof I didn’t “really” read it was my bad grade.

And yet you continue to claim that WE have not read your links.

Why is that?

Does the FACT that we POST from them PROVE that we have?

[Elsie]

PD has that Goebbles thing down PAT!!

---

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.

The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State CHURCH can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie.

It thus becomes vitally important for the State CHURCH to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State CHURCH.”

[Elsie]

It’s their SOULS that are more valuable.

[Paragon Defender]

ROFL just as I suspected. Too much /smh

[Religion Moderator]

Stop calling other Freepers dishonest, it attributes motive which is "making it personal."

Saying a statement is "false" "wrong" "erroneous" does not attribute motive.

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Thanks for your comments.

Come and check it out yourself!

The one thing we could use more of IS CONSERVATIVES...

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Feel free to come here to visit and then move out.

I don’t sell real estate, but I’d always welcome new conservatives.

[Elsie]

The one thing we could use more of IS CONSERVATIVES...

Well; if we can get more people to THINK, instead of FEEL, then we'll HAVE more Conservatives!

(We'd have less MORMONs; too!)

[dartuser]

who of us here recalls just who it was who gave Jesus those “revelations” while he was fasting in the desert...........??????????????

While I don't think "who it was" gave Jesus any revelations while fasting in the desert ... you bring up a very interesting point. Who was it that gave Mohammad HIS "revelations" ... and was Mo fasting when he received them?

[ejonesie22]

Since Elsie shares the true nature of Mormonism and post from YOUR links often without refutation I am proud to be on that shelf.

[ejonesie22]

Sorry the only “toddler” here PD is you with you fingers in yours ears going “no I didn't” like Pee Wee Herman, or a child holding the lid to the cookie jar with crumbs all over his face when asked if he ate the cookies...

[ejonesie22]

Sorry the only “toddler” here PD is you with you fingers in yours ears going “no I didn't” like Pee Wee Herman, or a child holding the lid to the cookie jar with crumbs all over his face when asked if he ate the cookies...

[ejonesie22]

You story while cute is hardly relevant and requires no “twisting” to be shown as such.

You were given an objective measure of how throughly you had studied the material in the form of a test and it showed you lacking.

Your false accusations against me are based on what? Feelings? Your opninon? Your “burning bosom”?

As it is PD you NEVER engage in defending your positions or proving ANYTHING, just sputter random insults and post links into oblivion like one who is asked what time it is and tells the questioner “here is a book on time theory, your answer is there” leaving the inquisitor staring in bemused confusion.

So when you can come up with a OBJECTIVE means to PROVE I have not “really read” your links and I fail that test then you can say whatever you want.

As it is I prove often by my correct use of first source LDS materials FROM YOUR SOURCES that I have an in depth knowledge of the materials which can only come from REALLY READING the information.

So the burden is on you and your “feelings” don't count when make charges against another.

So...

PROVE or RETRACT!