Elder David Marriott of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is helping to lead an ambitious interfaith initiative aimed at bridging divides in an increasingly polarized world. The Forum on Faith, taking place this year at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan on October 9, will bring together more than 30 faith-based organizations and academic institutions to celebrate common ground while honoring religious diversity. 

For Marriott, who oversees 114 Church of Jesus Christ congregations across the tri-state area, the region represents a microcosm of religious diversity in America. “I’ve lived in New York now more than any place else, so I think of New York as my home,” said the Utah native. “We have some predominantly Hispanic congregations, different immigrant populations across our different congregations. But people really of all backgrounds, nationalities, and ethnicities. The common feature is a belief in Jesus Christ and a shared faith,” he told The Good Newsroom in an interview on September 30. 

The Forum on Faith represents a departure from denomination-specific events, instead embracing a broader interfaith approach. The steering committee includes the Archdiocese of New York, the Bruderhof, the Baptist World Alliance, the Parliament of World Religions, and academic institutions like New York University, Princeton, and Yale. 

“We live in a world that I think is increasingly chaotic and, unfortunately, polarized, and I think people of faith have a unique ability to try to bring people together and to seize upon our common ground,” Marriott explained. “I think we’re much more alike across faith groups than we are different, and I think there’s power in that unity and in understanding each other better. I think we can be a big part of the solution of bringing people together and promoting a more peaceful, loving, Christ-like world.” 

Leading speakers to address faith and law 

The event will feature prominent religious and civic leaders, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, with whom Marriott has developed a close relationship through the Commission of Religious Leaders. The program includes both spiritual and constitutional perspectives on faith in contemporary society. 

“My background is as a lawyer, and so I guess I’m especially interested in hearing the constitutional update, which will be done by visiting professor from Stanford University, Mike McConnell, who’s going to bring people up to date on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going in terms of legal protections for faith,” Marriott said. “John Sexton, who’s been a hero of mine and a mentor of mine since I was in his class at New York University Law School many years ago, is going to offer one of the keynotes in the morning. There are faith leaders from many different faith groups, and I’m very interested in hearing from them and being inspired by what they have to say.” 

The Forum plans to continue next year at New York University, with organizers hoping it becomes an annual tradition for years to come. 

For more information, visit the Forum on Faith website.