ATLANTA, Georgia — Honored for his tireless efforts to build bridges of understanding, preserve freedoms of all humankind and carry the light of truth worldwide, President Russell M. Nelson was named the inaugural laureate of the Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize from Morehouse College on Thursday, April 13.
“I am deeply honored to receive Morehouse College’s inaugural Gandhi-King-Mandela Peace Prize,” said President Nelson in his prerecorded acceptance message, which was shown during the WorldHouse Interfaith and Interdenominational Assembly in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College — a private historically Black men’s liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia.
“The individuals for whom this honor is named establish its significance. Each of these courageous individuals was a pioneer. Each championed human dignity for all men and women. Each lived up to the mission of this renowned chapel that stands as a citadel of peace,” President Nelson said.
The Rev. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, traveled to Salt Lake City to present President Nelson the award. The Rev. Carter’s presentation was shown in a prerecorded video during the interfaith event.
The Rev. Carter also hinted at future collaboration between the Morehouse College and Spelman College glee clubs and The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
Attendees filled the 2,200-capacity auditorium at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, with many watching in overflow areas on the Morehouse campus. Attendees included U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia; the Rev. Amos C. Brown, senior pastor of Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, California, a Morehouse College graduate and a friend of President Nelson; and several hundred local Latter-day Saints.
Four General Authority Seventies were in attendance: Elder Jack N. Gerard and his wife, Sister Claudette Gerard; Elder Vern P. Stanfill, president of the North America Southeast Area; Elder Matthew S. Holland, first counselor in the North America Southeast Area presidency; and Elder Peter M. Johnson and his wife, Sister Stephanie Johnson.
Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, president of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, and Elder M. Andrew Galt, Area Seventy, and his wife, Sister Karen Galt, also attended.
President Nelson’s award
The Rev. Carter honored President Nelson “as an internationally recognized medical scientist and revered president, prophet, seer and revelator for the 17 million-member Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” who has continued the legacy of Joseph Smith, who advocated for the freedom of enslaved Africans while running for the American presidency.
The Rev. Carter also noted President Nelson’s “noble efforts to heal and reunite the broken body of Christ” and the Church’s relationships with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the United Negro College Fund, Morehouse College and Spelman College. Spelman College, located next to Morehouse College in Atlanta, is a historically Black liberal arts college for women.
“Together,” President Nelson said, “we proclaim the nobility of each precious son and daughter of God. I have stated before, and repeat today, that racism, sexism and a host of other ‘isms’ are universally and tragically limiting in the way we regard and treat each other.”
President Nelson reaffirmed that any abuse or prejudice toward another “is offensive to our Maker” and that “God does not love one race more than another.”
Echoing his message in April 2023 general conference on being peacemakers and what he said at the NAACP convention in 2019, President Nelson said people do not need to act alike or look alike to love one another, and it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable.
“If we have any hope of creating the goodwill and sense of humanity for which we all yearn, it must begin with each of us, one person and one interaction at a time,” President Nelson declared.
“May we as sons and daughters of God — as eternal brothers and sisters — do all within our power to build up each other, learn from each other, and demonstrate respect for all of God’s children. May we link arms in love and brotherhood.”
As part of his award, President Nelson received a book collection, a medallion, a citation and a crystal obelisk. Referring to the obelisk, the Rev. Carter said, “May it reflect the light within you and inspire continued works of global peace, harmony and reconciliation.”
Future collaboration with the Tabernacle Choir
Music during the WorldHouse Interfaith and Interdenominational Assembly included virtual performances of “Come, Come, Ye Saints” and “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” performed by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. The Morehouse College and Spelman College glee clubs performed “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” “Good Trouble” and “We Shall Overcome.”
Earlier in the day, Elder Gerard and President Leavitt were inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers, Sponsors and Collegium of Scholars as part of the College of Ministers and Laity.
Elder Gerard and President Leavitt, along with 92 other inductees from various faiths, “join a pantheon of adaptive leaders whose ... ethical, spiritual and moral example has helped change the world” and are given a charge to be “affirmative, appreciative, coherently critical and engaged role models for this generation of students.” The charge to the inductees was presented by the Rev. Brown.
During the interfaith event, the Rev. Carter noted the performances of the Morehouse and Spelman glee clubs and the Tabernacle Choir. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if these three choirs could perform together?” he said with a smile.
Acknowledging the presence of President Leavitt on the stand, he added, “All I can say is, stay tuned. The best is yet to come. … Yes, we have a surprise for you.”
President Leavitt told the Church News after the event that “it was a very important night for the relationship of the Church and this community.”
Of future collaboration with the Morehouse and Spelman glee clubs, President Leavitt said: “We’re all excited about finding a time to perform together. Both organizations have complex logistics from the travel standpoint, so we have our heads together trying to figure it out.”
More about the interfaith event
Oil portraits of President Nelson and former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln by artist Dwayne Mitchell were among seven new portraits inducted into the Hall of Honor in the King international chapel. The portraits of President Nelson and President Lincoln were intentionally placed together, the Rev. Carter said.
Their portraits hang alongside more than 150 portraits of other civil and human rights leaders. President Nelson’s portrait includes Harry Anderson’s painting “Triumphal Entry,” which depicts Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem the Sunday before His death.
Dr. Ira Helfand, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize and co-president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, was honored with the college’s Gandhi-King-Ikeda Community Builder’s Prize. He offered the keynote address on the topic “The Growing Danger of Nuclear War and What We Can Do About It.”
Several scholars from Morehouse College and Spelman College were announced who will receive scholarships from the partnership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the NAACP and the United Negro College Fund announced in 2021.
