Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will meet with representatives of the NAACP this Thursday and share a joint statement to media outlets. This visit coincides with the civil rights organization’s first leadership meeting in Utah.
NAACP CEO Derrick Johnson says he’s been using the organization’s quarterly board meetings as a way to see the country. They’ve recently been to Des Moines, Buffalo and Los Angeles. And wherever they go, they set up meetings.
"We typically meet with local leadership as we travel around the country," said Johnson.
Johnson said coming to the Mormon "capital" it only seemed right to reach out to the LDS Church. He and a few of his 64 member board will talk with church president Russell M. Nelson and his two counselors.
Since a number of the NAACP board members are leaders of other faiths, Johnson said there will be no shortage of topics to discuss but he plans to keep it open-ended.
“There is no specific agenda in mind," said Johnson.
This meeting comes as the LDS Church plans a celebration for next week marking its decision 40 years ago to allow black men to hold the priesthood. Johnson said that will likely come up in their conversation.
