SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE:

A few years ago, I attended a seminar held on the campus of the Jewish Federation of Orange County. My heart was heavy during the crowded meeting, which discussed a bigot’s attack on the Jewish Center in the San Fernando Valley where five were injured — three just children.

The speaker, a senior FBI agent, told us there were more than 500 groups who owe their existence to a pervasive hate and bigotry — mostly toward Jews, gays and other minorities.

Our community cannot stand by while any group is victimized by hate crimes. My presence at this seminar was, to a large extent, to tell the Jewish community: “We are your friends from your neighborhood, and we stand solidly at your shoulder against crimes of violence, prejudice and bigotry.”

Everyone should be shocked and angry when hate crimes are committed. I was touched by a recent story in which a Jewish family, living in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, had their shining menorah stolen from their front window and trampled during Hanukkah.

The community was outraged, and in two days every home in the area had a menorah in its window! In this action, the neighborhood told the despicable perpetrators: “You are by yourself. We stand united against you and your kind.”

We cannot assume that when evil is manifested against someone else, we can merely be grateful it wasn’t us. I was touched during the Oklahoma City bombing that while most assumed it was caused by Islamic terrorists and Mosques and other Islamic buildings were threatened, the Muslim community used Mormon chapels for worship for several weeks.

When bigotry raises its ugly head, all community members should lend support and encouragement to the offended people. We all need to purge our hearts of prejudicial thoughts and ideas that depreciate those whose religion, color, culture, language and orientation differ from ours. When we hear or see things that diminish others, we need to speak out and be an example of a positive standard for righteous action.

THOMAS L. THORKELSON is the director of Interfaith Relations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Orange County Council.