Pocatello interfaith group tours Salt Lake City to experience service

People from all different religions and backgrounds traveled together to Salt Lake City over the weekend. The goal of the trip was to learn more about how best to serve the community.

All together, 11 different faiths and religions filled a bus to temple square in Salt Lake. Faith leaders from throughout the community were invited to go by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or the LDS church. The LDS church is the one who sponsored the trip as part of the Pocatello interfaith program. Even though the LDS church sponsored it, the church said it wasn’t about one specific religion. The trip was about community and service.

“We want to do things that bring us together and another thing the interfaith is interested in is the humanitarian aspect of this,” said Larry Fisher, public affairs director for the LDS church in the Pocatello and Chubbuck region. “And for the opportunity to go down and see how the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints runs their humanitarian center and welfare square, it’s an amazing thing they do and any faith can learn from what they’ve been doing for years.”

Fisher said it was also a chance for all the leaders in the community to come together and get to know each other better. He said by doing these types of things, it can help strengthen the community as a whole.

Once in Salt Lake, the guests toured the LDS humanitarian center where they had lunch with refugees. They also toured welfare square and the bishop’s storehouse. Here they got to see how a large organization runs its humanitarian and aid programs.

Next up on the agenda was touring the temple square lights and the LDS tabernacle, where they had the opportunity to listen to the world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir perform.

Those who went on the trip said it was a great experience and there was a lot they will take away from it.

“I thought it was awesome,” said Jacqualine Thomas, pastor for Praise Temple of God in Pocatello. “I really enjoyed the trip. I enjoyed having to spend time with my different sisters and brothers that went on the trip with us.”

“Whenever walls are crumbled down and we can have a chance where we can interact with each other, shoulder to shoulder, everyone wins,” said Michael Dingman, seventh day adventist church.

“I think a community – we may have disagreements, but I think coming together as a community will make a difference,” Thomas said. “I think a community should be knitted together like fine fabric.”

Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad and Idaho State Representative Kelley Packer also joined the group in Salt Lake for the tour.