by Kelly J. Larson, Austin Area Public Affairs Coordinating Council Media Specialist
ROUND ROCK, Texas — For the past two years, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have joined with Islamic community members to break the fast during the Muslim Ramadan, a 30 day period of fasting, at each faith’s home turf in Round Rock and Georgetown recently.
“After last year’s successful ‘break the fast’ Ramadan meal with our Muslim brothers and sisters, which we hosted at our Vista Ridge chapel, we were invited to participate with them again this year at the Islamic Center of Brushy Creek,” Spencer Wheelright, a member of the Round Rock Stake, said.
Approximately one hundred Latter-day Saints joined nearly 200 Muslims for a Middle Eastern meal on June 3 at the close of the LDS Fast Sunday and one of the Islamic Ramadan days. Wheelright said, “They invited one of our members to offer a prayer and bless the food, then concluded with their fast just after sundown, which they invited us to watch.”
A member of each faith also shared brief remarks about the purpose of fasting — purifying and drawing people closer to God.
Latter-day Saints in the Round Rock East stake also hosted an Iftar dinner in Georgetown on June 5, with 60 in attendance. This was the second year to host this event, and plans to continue it annually will provide a chance to share common beliefs.
Georgetown resident, Kent Huntsman from the Round Rock East Stake, said, “We hope to continue this tradition of fellowship and unity in an effort to build bridges of understanding.”
