See rare Hawaiian Book of Mormon

A rare copy of the first Hawaiian-language translation of the Book of Mormon is now on display at the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors Center in Laie.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe the book was a divine revelation to Joseph Smith, founder of the church, and consider it a companion scripture to the Bible.

Only 30 copies of the 1855 edition of “;Ka Buke a Moramona”; are known to be in existence, according to Brigham Young University Hawaii archivist Matthew Kester. This copy was donated to the university by the family of the late Ford Clark, who received it as a gift in 1920.

The book was translated into Hawaiian by Utah missionary George Q. Cannon and Judge Jonathan Napela of Maui, an early convert to the church, which was brought to Hawaii in 1850.

The display at the center at 55-600 Naniloa Loop is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Overcoming grief is focus of service

A memorial service and a film on transforming grief into a greater appreciation of life will be sponsored next week by St. Francis Hospice.

Families and friends will honor people who received care in the hospice program at the “;Rose for Remembrance”; interdenominational memorial service at 7 p.m. Friday at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, 712 N. School St.

“;The Gifts of Grief,”; a film by Nancee Sobonya, will be shown at 2 p.m. Nov. 16 at the University of Hawaii Spalding Auditorium.

The film presents stories of people who experienced and overcame the grief of losing loved ones. The free program will include a short film, “;Grieving Hearts from Hawaii,”; and a Korean dance performance.

The programs are in observance of National Hospice/Palliative Care Month.

Talks and classes teach icon artistry

A renowned icon artist will give free talks on the original Christian art form this month on Oahu.

The Rev. Damian Higgins, a priest in the Ukrainian Catholic Church, will also teach a four-day iconography school, “;Holy Thou Art,”; Nov. 20 to 23. He trained at the Mount Tabor Monastery at Mendocino, Calif., and has given classes on the mainland and previously in Hawaii.

He will speak at 1 p.m. Monday on “;Seeing the Light”; at the Interfaith Conversations Windward monthly meeting at Pohai Nani, 45-090 Namoku St., Kaneohe. The talk on icons as sacred images and a depiction of belief is open to the public.

A free introduction to the icon-making class, also open to the public, will begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, 98-939 Moanalua Road, Aiea.

The class will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 20, 21 and 22 at the church. A worship service at 10 a.m. Nov. 23 will be the finale.

The cost for the course is $325 and includes all materials.

For registration information, call Nancy Conley at 239-9851 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Concert by Ho benefits programs

Music is always in the air at churches, but there are special concerts this month.

» Grammy award-winner Daniel Ho will present a benefit concert at 3 p.m. Nov. 23 at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, 720 N. King St. Ho has won awards for his slack-key guitar artistry and he also performs religious, jazz and acoustic alternative music.

Tickets, at $15 for adults, will be available at the door. The concert will benefit the Kalihi-Palama Pediatric Care Program and the church's Outreach Ministries.

» Rehearsals are held at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays for the Nov. 23 Community Sing Along of Handel's “;Messiah”; at Christ Church Uniting Disciples and Presbyterians, 1300 Kailua Road.

Participants are asked to bring their own musical scores. Wayne R. “;Doc”; Wilson will conduct the concert at 4 p.m. Nov. 23.

Dinner to honor volunteer's work

Jewish Community Services will honor Deborah Washofsky at the nonprofit agency's annual Volunteer Award Dinner on Nov. 16 at the Japanese Cultural Center.

Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett will be the guest speaker at the 6 p.m. event.

Tickets are $60, of which $30 is tax-deductible. For reservation information, call Sue Alden-Rudin, 258-7121.

Washofsky will be honored for years of volunteer service to the agency, to Temple Emanu-El and to environmental organization Life of the Land.