Per Christum

With the recent death and appointment of a new leader to Mormonism, as well as the (now abandoned) candidacy of LDS member Mitt Romney in running for the GOP nomination, there has been some considerable coverage of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints these past few weeks.

I was watching a PBS special on Mormonism in America the other evening that was fairly balanced. Showing some of the cultural and social life of Mormonism, as well as the way large close-knit families are so encouraged, I thought PBS did a fair job of avoiding the sensationalism that Mormonism sometimes invites (or demands). Yes, we all know about the polygamy of the past (practiced by breakway sects only today) and the “Mormon underwear”, the ownership of Marriot and the baptism for the dead.

Most folks don’t know about the:
+ tithing of gross income,
+ monday night family meeting and prayer services held in the home,
+ community life that has included communal farming to support the needy
+ the welfare associations they started to help their own and then help others,
+ fact that they have NO paid ministers,
+ they have an estimated 30B+ in assets,
+ but have suffered NO financial scandals,
+ the emergency relief services (Mormons were on the way to New Orleans before Katrina hit. When the Prez, the Governor, the press and everyone else was flying over New Orleans, they were there. Even before Oprah.)

Frankly, I am enamored by their dedication and homelife. It is easy to understand how very attractive the LDS could be to many folks who see the positive sides of Mormon homelife, lifestyle choices (no drinking, smoking, caffiene!) and dedication to thier church both financially and volunteer wise. Frankly it was humbling to see such dedication.

Most people also don’t know that the youth are raised expecting to go on missionary trips… In one segment they showed young men preparing for “The Mission” - the two year period where they go out, door to door, trying to share their faith. What most people may not know is that most of those kids are doing that when they are 19… After 3-4 months of intesisve preparation at one of 12+ mission preparation centers throughout the world they are sent forth for 24 months to invite people to join thier community.

Camera crews following two young men in New York (or Chicago?) showed the abuse some of these young men recieved. Honestly, I thought it was pretty sad. These affable young kids go out, leaving behind friends and family after having been raised singing childhood hymns about the glory of being missionaries, do mean well. They also largely have little success. The foul language against them is embarassing to me. I can’t help but wonder if one of the benefits of sending youth out to be treated so poorly for 24 months is to confirm them in the thinking that there is no place like home.

So if it happens to be the case that you are out walking and minding your business and a couple of clean cut young men from the LDS approach you, please be polite, let them know you are a Catholic, offer to share a little of your own faith with them, let them know you would like to get their names so you can pray for them, and maybe even offer to buy them a Sprite if it is hot. You might be the first person who has been nice to them since they left home.

You also might get them thinking about the Catholic Church.