|
By Steve Weatherbe
WHILE Mormonism is generally considered a cult by Christian apologists, the
religion has earned the respect of some believers for its social values. Also,
unlike some Christians, many Mormons have a strong sense of their own history.
That was in evidence this summer, as dozens of Mormon teens re-enacted the great
treks of the mid-19th century – which saw converts from Europe, Canada and the eastern U.S. cross the American
wilderness to settle in Utah.
Honouring their heritage and challenging their youth are key components, said
one Christian expert, in the continued growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of
the Latter Day Saints (LDS). Eric Johnson, of California’s Mormonism Research Ministry, also lauded the Mormons for the stress they put
on family participation in the recent re-enactment.
Randy Keyes, bishop of the LDS’ Southern Vancouver Island region, said 80 teenagers participated along with 50
adults. Like the poorest of the Mormon settlers, the teens pulled handcarts – wooden wagons which, in the original 1846-47 treks, carried each family’s entire household goods.
“I think it gives the young people an appreciation of hardship people have
suffered and given up for their faith,” said Norm Schafer, who helped organize the event.
The Vancouver Island teens were organized in families with six or seven members,
headed by an older boy and girl as the father and mother – each with a wagon to pull and, on downhill portions, to hold back. The teens
pulled their carts over 120 miles in four days, working six hours a day.
Historical events were re-enacted, said Keyes, including a massacre of Mormons
by hostile Christian Americans; the death of a baby; and the departure of most
of the males from one trek to enlist in the U.S. war against Mexico.
Apologist Johnson said Mormons, while famous for their missionary efforts, also
grow because of a high rate of retention. And part of the reason for this is
that “their children are taught about their heritage, and the struggles that the early LDS pioneers faced when it came to living their faith.”
Johnson also suggested that “many who are descended from those original Mormons who made the trek stay in the
church for no other reason than not wanting to disrespect the dead.
Continue article >>
|
Johnson, whose article, ‘10 Things Christians Can Learn From The Mormons,’ can be found on the Mormonism Research Ministry website, also credits the sect
for educating its children far better than many Christian churches do in the
doctrines of their faith. “A lot of Christian churches just teach good feelings; the faith is pragmatic – just something that works.”
Johnson said that if Christians were better educated in their own faith and the
content of the Bible, they would be “inoculated” – not only against the values and teachings of the secular world, but against
Mormon missionaries who “misrepresent themselves” as Christians, and only reveal their true doctrines late in the conversion
process.
“They’ll say, “Sure, we are Christians just like you. Look at our name, ‘the Church of Jesus Christ.’” In fact, said Johnson, the LDS is polytheistic, and the goal of an LDS male is
to become a literal god of his own world in the afterlife. “They teach that men will become gods, and that God was a man before he became a
god.”
Johnson also noted that the Mormon growth rate through conversion is falling
from an all-time peak of 330,000 in 1997.
“We think that is because of the internet. People can now find out about the true
teachings of Mormonism by visiting sites like ours, which has been up since
1995.”
Contact: www.mrm.org.
October 2009
|
