I have had a fascination with Mormons for years. Mitt Romney, a Mormon, running for the presidency of the United States has heightened my level of curiosity.
Even more interesting – does he have the same attitude as many Catholics about not paying tax or paying as little as possible if he can get away with it?
I can honestly say I have always engaged those impeccably dressed young men down the years who turned up on our doorstep. I invited them in from time to time too. I so admired their missionary zeal trudging through the streets of Belfast throughout the Troubles.
They didn’t convert me to their way of thinking but I don’t hold it against any human being who wants to bear witness and you can define that however you wish.
What drives those young men and women?
From what I learned from these soldiers of Christ they live a very solitary modest life of proselytising while in the mission field-but to whom, to what do they adhere?
The emergence of Mitt Romney as the GOP’s presidential candidate has put the spotlight on Mormons:
They are calling it the “Mormon moment.” Romney, a former Mormon bishop as well as a former governor of Massachusetts, in running for the White House, has triggered a renewed interest in this bishop’s background and the Church to which he belongs.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims 11 million members throughout the world. In the U.S. there are more than 5 million Mormons. The church has its headquarters in Salt Lake City.
Mormons are officially referred to as Latter-day Saints. The name Latter-day stems from the belief that after the death of the early apostles, the Christian church fell into apostasy. The church needed to be restored in the latter days, which Mormons believe began in 1820.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith, who is considered a prophet by Mormons. He began receiving visions at age 14, in 1820, in which he was told it was his mission to restore the church of Jesus Christ on earth.
When Joseph Smith was killed, leadership of the church passed on to Brigham Young. Young was responsible for leading Mormon pioneers west to Salt Lake City in 1847.
Latter-day Saints believe the Bible is sacred. They also include in their canon, The Pearl of Great Price, which includes two lost books of the Bible, a translation of the Gospel of Matthew, and the 13 Articles of Faith; The Doctrine and Covenants, a group of 138 revelations from God and two other official documents; and The Book of Mormon, originally published in 1830.
Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus is the Son of God in the most literal sense. He is eldest brother of all mortals and firstborn spirit child of God.
They believe that from Mary, a mortal woman, Jesus inherited the capacity to die, and from God, an exalted being, he inherited the capacity to live forever.
Latter-day Saints believe that salvation comes through Christ’s atoning sacrifice. But they don’t believe in “original sin” or in human depravity.
Still, Latter-day Saints believe that fallen men and women do need redemption. Works are a necessary condition, but they are insufficient for salvation.
More than 60,000 men and women serve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as missionaries in more than 330 missions around the world.
Male missionaries are referred to as “Elders” while female missionaries are referred to as “Sisters.”
Latter-day Saints caution their members against using tobacco, consuming alcohol, tea and coffee. They interpret the misuse of drugs–illegal, legal, prescription or controlled – as a violation of the health code known as the “Word of Wisdom.”
Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church, said the idea of “plural marriage” was revealed to him by God. Among early Mormon pioneers, 20-25% of families were polygamous. Latter Day Saints president Wilford Woodruff announced an official end to the practice of polygamy in 1890.
Mormons operate the largest genealogical library in the world containing millions of volumes of birth, marriage, death, and other records.
In addition, the Church obligates Latter-day Saints to stand as proxies for their deceased ancestors in sacred rites such as baptism and eternal marriage.
So – I hope the next time that Mitt Romney turns up on your doorstep, should he retrace his steps to your house, you will not slam the door in his face.
3 Comments
i would still close the door on him
Eamon … all these new fangled relegions are only on the mad minds of Americans who think they have the devine right to preach to the rest of the world except the jews of course
I happened once to be on a busy city street with a friend, Des, who was a student priest, We were heading for the cinema, and were accosted by a pair of American Mormon missionaries. Their wore sharp suits and were clean-cut and tidy. I too was a student then, and was neither. They asked us if we;d like to learn about the Latter-day Saints. I said “Sure!”. Des said nothing.
Their tale of Joseph Smith and his discoveries sounded bizarre and incredible, like something from Curtin’s Legends. Reading Smith’s story today, I’d happily use a far stronger term.
I had a thought’ some relic of the Apologetics I’d studied in secondary school (it was a long time ago). I asked if their lot belived in Christ;s divinity. One said, a bit apologetically, “No” I asked if they accepted the truth of the Bible’ his “Yes” was emphatic.
I asked, “Then, what is sin? Do you agree it’s an offence against God’s Laws?” He answered, “Yes, of course”.
“So, who can forgive a sin?” I asked. “Only God” he said.
“So, Christ was a liar? Or the Bible is wrong?” I said, warming up; “Didn’t Christ say, ‘Know you not that the Son of Man has the power on Earth to forgive sin?’ and if that’s true, Christ HAS to have been divine, to have that power?” Des was looking at me with an odd expression.
The young missionary started to burble. I was beginning to get annoyed with him, stopped him, and said “You need to sort yourself out, mate!” and walked on; Des following. “That was very good” he said; “I’d never have thought of that argument!”
“Maybe I’m in the wrong business” I said.
“Maybe we both are” said Des.
Thank you Eamonn for producing an accurate article about the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All too often writers find the need to sensationalise or take no time to research and then misrepresent the beliefs of the Church.
I really appreciate this. Thank you.