Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, issued this proclamation in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Jamaica 1st Ward on 5 December 2023. (A transcript and options to download in PDF and JPEG follow this image.)
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF NEW YORK
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, Religious communities across the five boroughs are essential threads in the rich cultural tapestry that unites and sustains New Yorkers — they remind us of our responsibility to lift one another up every day, and inspire others to act with charity, kindness, and love. The values of compassion and generosity, for which our city is known, have long been upheld by the many houses of worship that become pillars in their communities. In that spirit, today I am pleased to join in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Jamaica 1st Ward, a local congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) for southeast Queens.
Whereas, Joseph B. Wirthlin, a member of the LDS’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, stated that, “Faith is not so much something we believe; faith is something we live.”1 The act of living one’s faith is a tenet taken seriously by members of LDS, which has had a virtually continuous presence in New York State for nearly 200 years, after the first group of converts from Liverpool, England arrived on a ship in New York Harbor in July 1840.2 The Jamaica 1st Ward — originally called the Jamaica 1st Branch — was organized as a local LDS congregation on December 5, 1993. They first gathered in a rented space on the second level of the Jamaica Market, and moved to its current home, at 89-58 163rd Street in the heart of Jamaica, in 2012. This congregation is, in many ways, a microcosm of our most diverse borough, with many of its members hailing from 24 different countries. They live their faith by providing meaningful service to each other and to the community, in various capacities, through assignments known as “callings.” Everyone, from the bishop and Sunday school teachers to elders and parishioners, is called upon to serve on a volunteer basis without pay. They have organized and participated in efforts to clean and beautify central Jamaica, support food pantries, and promote awareness of the COVID-19 vaccine and overcome vaccine hesitancy.
Whereas, Faith is the driving force of any great mission, and my Administration is committed to ensuring that people of all beliefs and cultures feel respected, safe, and welcome in our city. I am proud to count Jamaica 1st Ward as an ally in this mission3 and applaud its leadership and parishioners for its tremendously positive impact on so many New Yorkers. Together, we will forge a better, brighter future for all.
Now therefore, I, Eric Adams, Mayor of the City of New York, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, December 5th, 2023, in the City of New York as:
The Jamaica 1st Ward Day
Eric Adams
Mayor
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- “Shall He Find Faith on the Earth?”, October 2002 general conference, Sunday afternoon session ↩︎
- See Church Newsroom > Facts and Statistics > New York. The very earliest history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took place in New York State, including the First Vision, the publication of the Book of Mormon, and the organization of the church on 6 April 1830. The first event in church history directly connected to New York City is likely the visit of Martin Harris to Charles Anthon, a professor at Columbia College (now Columbia University), in February 1828 (see Joseph Smith—History 1:63–65). The Prophet Joseph Smith himself visited New York City on several occasions, the first of which was in 1832. This landing in 1840 was the first arrival in the United States of early Latter-day Saint converts from abroad. Converts continued to arrive in the United States via New York City — and to embark from New York Harbor on the journey to the western United States — over the next several decades of the 19th century. ↩︎
- The Jamaica 1st Ward seeks to work with a variety of community partners, including elected officials, in improving the community and making Queens and New York City better places for everyone. It does so subject to policy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding the church’s strict political neutrality: “The Church is neutral regarding political parties, political platforms, and candidates for political office. The Church does not endorse any political party or candidate. Nor does it advise members how to vote” (General Handbook, 38.8.30). ↩︎
