Soon after moving to Ogden to join the faculty of Weber State University in 1984, I was fascinated to learn that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe they have a strong affinity for the Jewish people. There are many examples of the connections church members have with Jews. And now, “wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles” as was sung in “Fiddler on the Roof,” BYU’s starting quarterback, Jake Retzlaff, is Jewish.
Indeed, our family and those of many other Jews in this state have been the recipients of numerous acts of kindness from our Latter-day Saint neighbors. One left a particularly indelible memory.
One December morning in 1989, congregants at Ogden’s Brith Sholem synagogue learned that there had been a horrible fire there. Individuals had broken into the synagogue and set it ablaze. Many were certain that this was an act of antisemitism, as the Holy Ark with our Torah scrolls seemed to have been targeted. No one was caught nor did anybody take responsibility for this evil deed. Our tightknit community was devastated. Though its walls had suffered minimal damage, the interior was gutted. We worried about how we could afford to repair the building.
A few days later, a neighbor and fellow congregant stopped by to tell me that our president had received a call from an official in the LDS Church offering to assist us with reconstruction expenses. Our president turned down this offer, believing our insurance could handle it. This neighbor was an interior designer and suspected that our policy might cover only half of the expenses, which we estimated to be at least $50,000. She told me the man who called was Elder Reed Smoot — a descendant of the famed LDS apostle — and that our president was agreeable to reexploring the issue with him. I thus called Elder Smoot, who was understanding when I explained that our president had erred in his estimation. He said that he would investigate the matter and contact me soon.
After a few months, I received a call from him. Elder Smoot said the church “had something for us” and asked to stop by the synagogue to bring it over. A few of our congregants, including myself, stood by its entrance as three cars drove up and their occupants emerged. Elder Smoot asked us to gather at the trunk of his car. It was packed with shoeboxes, each holding stacks of cash. The trunks of the other cars were similarly filled. In all, they contained about $40,000.
He told us that church leaders had informed their northern Utah wards, or congregations, about the plight of their Jewish neighbors. They asked members to consider donating to support the synagogue’s renovation and passed around the shoeboxes. We were awestruck by both the nature of this gift and the amount. I subsequently received a call from another leader, Stephen Nadauld, who had recently served as president of Weber State and would become a Latter-day Saint general authority. He informed me that an additional $30,000 had been raised.
This overwhelming gift had a profound impact on the congregation’s finances, allowing us to beautifully complete the restoration. Moreover, it was heartwarming to be the recipient of such kindness and generosity. This support did so much to erase our pain, leaving an enduring memory for all of us.
Given these ties and recollections, I’ve been disappointed to read opinion pieces about why Latter-day Saints should support the election of Donald Trump. Many, including Jews and non-Jews alike feel that the former president had been supportive of Israel. Yet he has made so many disturbing comments about American Jews. Many attribute, at least in part, the appalling rise in antisemitic acts to his hateful rhetoric, as exemplified by his dreadful recent statement: “If I don’t win this election,” then “the Jewish people would have a lot to do with a loss.” I am thus baffled by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s assertion that the former president can unify our country.
I hope the readers of this article might reflect on the fundamental importance of treating one another with dignity and kindness as they cast their ballots. And I am forever grateful for the lessons that I learned from my Latter-day Saint neighbors about the value and beauty of doing so.
(Sam Zeveloff) Sam Zeveloff, Ph.D, is the Presidential Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Zoology at Weber State University. He is the founder of the university’s Holocaust Commemoration, and author of “Mammals of the Intermountain West” (University of Utah Press).
Sam Zeveloff, Ph.D, is the Presidential Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Zoology at Weber State University. He is the founder of the university’s Holocaust Commemoration, and author of “Mammals of the Intermountain West” (University of Utah Press).
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