Attending the Manhattan First Ward today. It's always so interesting to be here. In summer, of course, there are a lot of visitors. The cultural hall was 2/3 full during sacrament meeting. It being fast Sunday there were testimonies -- many from people here on vacation or former ward members back for a visit -- with many reminiscences of their times here. But it wasn't bad.

One of the testimonies was by young man who seemed to be African, judging from his faint accent, but clearly had lived in the USA a long time. He bore a very detailed testimony about the restoration of the priesthood, including a visit he and his wife made last weekend to the recently dedicated church sites in Pennsylvania, commemorating those events. It was a fine testimony, heartfelt and lighthearted and articulate. He is probably a grad student or recent graduate, holding his toddler while he spoke. A totally normal testimony. It wasn't until he sat down that it occurred to me how normal that testimony was today, and how utterly remarkable it would have been 30+ years ago. That thought made me happy.


"It's men in shorts." -- Rick Majerus