From the Panthers to the priesthood July 6th, 2011 @ 11:43am By Nicole Pollard, ksl.

com contributor Eddie Willis stands at the pulpit during an LDS reside with a charming grin on his face. He opens with, Believe it or not, my reason for joining the Black Panthers was not to kill white people. Nervous giggles break out within the congregation, which quickly turn into belly laughs across the chapel. Around 200 people have shown up to hear the story of Wanda and Eddie Willis, two very interesting and passionate converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Wanda, the more soft-spoken of the two, grew up in south central Los Angeles. For the girls in my neighborhood, our only goals were to not get pregnant or caught up in drugs, she said. Eddie grew up close by, explaining, I saw my rst murder at age 8, and it didnt scare me. What does that tell you? Both Eddie's and Wandas parents were Christians and did their best to keep their children in church and out of trouble. My mother was a single mom, and I know the Holy Ghost was with her to help keep us kids out of trouble. Mom knew everything you did or thought, Wanda said, "and we couldnt do anything without her knowing! Wandas mother took her family to a nearby Baptist church but always complained that something was missing. Eddies encounters with religion were just as unsatisfying. One day at church, a rather large black woman with an ugly hat undressed me. I was told to stand in a long line of

equally terried children, and got dunked to the roar of the crowd. Later on, I found out I had been baptized. As if their path to joining the church wasnt already full of detours, Eddie and Wanda joined the Oakland chapter of the Black Panther Party during the social upheaval of the late 1960s. They found themselves involved in one of the most controversial organizations of that time and mingling with some famous and infamous people. I attended my rst Panther meeting with one of the Pointer Sisters, Bonnie Pointer. They were talking about things I never heard before! They said we deserve and want more, and I thought it was wonderful! Wanda recalls. "When I went to church ... I got engaged in their conversation. I thought, What they're talking about I want some of that!" - Eddie Willis Eddie was assigned to security for Eldridge Cleaver, the radical and outspoken minister of information for the Black Panthers. (Cleavers own religious investigation would lead him to associate with the LDS Church later on in his life.) I had to stand behind Eldridge Cleaver at his speaking engagements. I also had to observe the activity in the audience and keep him safe," said Eddie. "I stockpiled weapons and made Molotov cocktails, the homemade weapons used to start res in altercations between the Black Panthers and the police, or used to set businesses ablaze. The Black Panther Party was mainly known for being a militaristic and leftist group, but it also preached revolutionary ideas and philosophies. We were encouraged to educate ourselves academically by studying American history, African history and languages, Eddie said. Wanda was involved in the Free Breakfast for Children Program, a program started by the Black Panthers that fed thousands of children, giving them a head start before the start of the school day. But the success of free health clinics, homeless shelters and the Breakfast for Children Program set up by the Panthers was often overshadowed by the violence afliated with the group. The promiscuity, drug use and violence didnt appeal to Wanda, and she eventually disassociated herself from the Panthers. Eddie would later cut ties with the party as well. Many people who joined the BPP joined for racist reasons and not for cultural development or to create political strength. Also, some of the very rights we wanted as a people, like rights for women and voting rights, couldnt be obtained through communist doctrine, Eddie said. Years later, Eddie found himself searching for God, visiting different churches and even doing mission work in Mexico. Wanda was baptized into the church in 1977 after living between two LDS neighbors who introduced her to the missionaries. "Because of hate, the BPP came about. All those people were looking for something, but nothing works without God." - Eddie Willis At that point in my life, Eddie said, "I started wondering what I had to do to live the best life I can. I knew that God was the answer. While Eddie prayed to nd God, Wanda was praying to have the priesthood in her home. As chance would have it, Eddie came to

stay with her family six months later. Trying to understand Gods plan on his own, he would wake up early in the morning for scripture study and prayer. Wanda took the opportunity to invite Eddie to church. "When I went to church, everyone looked me in the eyes. I went into a room with men, all talking about deep things and God, and I got engaged in their conversation. I thought, What theyre talking about I want some of that! Finally having found what he was looking for, Eddie was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2006. He was sealed to Wanda soon after. Three of Wandas sisters have also joined the church, as well as a nephew who served a mission in Pocatello, Idaho. Wanda feels her prayers were answered above and beyond what she could have asked for. "Im so grateful for this time in my life, I can hardly contain myself sometimes. Im happy to have the priesthood in my home. I know many single women in the church, but Heavenly Father loves us and has someone for everyone. He knows how important family is. He will help you understand your troubles if you are a single mother and help you understand your babies, like he helped my mom. We have to shout it from the rooftops because we have something that everyone needs to know about! Dont be afraid to share what you know. Its not infringing, its sharing and planting a seed. The ward extended a heart and hand to me. Its an environment of learning, and it empowers you. Same as the Black Panthers, Eddie said. My people have had a hard history in this country. Because of hate, the BPP came about. All those people were looking for something, but nothing works without God. Since Ive joined the church, its been glory after glory. If I ever fully understand the power of the priesthood, it will knock me over! I used to dream that I was happy and had a family, and now Im living that dream. The Willises live in Chatsworth, Calif. Wanda is a housewife and serves as a rst counselor in the Young Women's program. Eddie works as a sales representative and serves as second counselor in his high priests group and rst counselor in his Sunday school. He's currently writing a book, "From the Panthers to the Priesthood." Nicole Pollard currently resides in Canyon Country, Calif.