Would I join a church in which only half of my children could fully participate because of their African lineage? Dick and Marsha Lavin made that tough decision on April 14, 1978. After searching for years, their family, including their two biological children and their two adopted black children, felt right about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. But at that time, the Church did not allow blacks to hold the priesthood. Dick offered a particularly fervent prayer the morning of June 8, 1978. Later that day, the revelation on priesthood was announced: all worthy male Church members age twelve and older were now eligible for priesthood ordination. Dick and Marsha s faith in God began when each experienced a profound loss at the age of seven. That faith continued to grow throughout the couple s life journey together. Marsha and Dick ended up with nine children seven of them adopted and an extraordinary story to tell.