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Thoughts on Mormon Priesthood

Keith L. Brown — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:39:40 +0000

By Doris

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon”), I have a firm belief in and testimony of the power of the Mormon priesthood. I believe that the priesthood power which was lost with the apostles’ deaths was restored to the earth in our day by those who held its keys last: John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John.

Every worthy male member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (which church is often misnamed the “Mormon Church”) age 12 and up is given the opportunity to hold the priesthood power. Each man who holds the priesthood can trace his direct line of authority back to Jesus Christ Himself. What a magnificent blessing. The power and authority to act in God’s name has been restored to the earth. Miracles occur, people are healed, God’s will is revealed, and His kingdom continues to be built on the earth.

As a woman, I do not hold the priesthood power, because my responsibilities lie elsewhere, but I continue to be blessed by it. All the blessings of the priesthood are available to me, if I am true to the covenants (promises) I have made with God to keep His commandments and live His law. In fact, anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ can benefit from a priesthood blessing.

It is a testimony to me of the truthfulness of the Mormon priesthood that it can only be used to help others. No man who holds the priesthood can use it for his own benefit or gain. Modern scripture tells us that any time a priesthood holder tries to cover his sins, gratify pride or ambition, or exercise control or compulsion upon anyone else, he loses the authority to exercise the priesthood (D&C 121:37). This rings true to me, that the Savior would never give such great power to someone, which is mean to be used sacredly to help others, and then let that same person manipulate that power for personal gain. The priesthood power is pure and sacred and cannot be manipulated.

I have been the personal recipient of several priesthood blessings throughout my life. I have felt power and authority come to me when I am being set apart to fulfill a calling (sphere of responsibility in a congregation). I have felt this power come most often in the form of peace, knowing that if God has required something of me, He will provide a way for me to do it, even if I am overwhelmed and feel completely inadequate.

I have also felt the power of priesthood keys when I am making covenants with God in various ordinances. The first ordinance of the gospel of Jesus Christ is baptism, and I made a baptismal covenant when I was eight years old to take upon me the name of Christ, to keep His commandments, and to always remember Him. As I grew older, I was able to make more covenants which were authorized by the power of the priesthood in a Mormon temple. I have felt awe, humility, and gratitude as I listen to the blessing promised to me if I am faithful to living God’s law. The power of the Mormon priesthood brings me closer to God and helps me to be a better person.

Yet another way I have been blessed by the Mormon priesthood is through blessings of healing and comfort. I have received priesthood blessings when I was very ill. Though I must honestly say I don’t remember ever being miraculously healed myself, I have seen that miracle in many people’s lives, and I also have never been in dire need of a miraculous healing. Any miracle is always in line with God’s will. A priesthood holder cannot pronounce someone to be healed if it is contrary to God’s will, but many times I have seen miracles performed which were His will.

I can also testify of the power of comfort that has come to me through numerous priesthood blessings. At times I have felt burdened, whether through trials or sin, and have sought a priesthood blessing. Every time I have been reminded of God’s love for me and that He is aware of my situation. I have not only heard the words spoken, but I have also felt the assurance in my heart through His Holy Spirit that these things are true. Whenever I turn to God, He is there.

The power of the Mormon priesthood is real because it is the power of God. I know this is true because I have felt it in my life. If you seek this power in your own life, contact Mormon missionaries and they can share this power with you.

Additional Resources:

Mormon Doctrine

Find out more about what Mormons believe

Third Temple in Jerusalem

Keith L. Brown — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:27:44 +0000

By Doris

The subject of a third temple in Jerusalem is one with thousands of years of history and political conflict. Jewish worship was always focused on the temple. Even when they were wandering in the wilderness, they carried a portable temple with them (the tabernacle). When the Jews finally settled in Israel, they built a temple. The descendants of Aaron, through Zadok, were set apart to be the high priests of the temple, as Aaron had been of the tabernacle.

The high priests were in charge of taking care of the temple and of performing sacrifices within the sanctuary on behalf of the people. The temple was constructed with a series of outer courts coming closer to the innermost court, or the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant was placed. Only one priest was authorized to enter the Holy of Holies, and even then, he only did once a year, on the Day of Atonement.

Mormon doctrine teaches that animal sacrifice was a part of ancient Israelite temple worship as part of the Mosaic Law. When Moses went up Mount Sinai, he was given the higher law by God for the people to live, but they did not want to live such a strict law. They begged for a lower law and were given the Mosaic Law and the Ten Commandments. Animal sacrifice was a part of this law, which pointed towards Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Savior. Everything was symbolically pointing to His sacrifice and atonement for mankind. High priests placed their hands on the sacrificial animal and through their priesthood power transferred the sins of the people onto the animal. The animal was then sacrificed, and its blood was symbolically used to cleanse the people from their sins. All this points to the Savior dying for us and cleansing us of our sins. Thus, according to Mormon doctrine, there will be no need for animal sacrifice in the third temple.

After Jesus Christ came and performed the atonement, the Mosaic Law was fulfilled. Animal sacrifice was no longer necessary, because the infinite sacrifice had already been made. However, many Jews did not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah and wished to continue worshiping in the old way.

The first temple that was built in Jerusalem by Solomon in about 1000 B.C. was destroyed in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians, under direction from King Nebuchadnezzar. Many of the Jews were scattered and taken captive into Babylon. However, in 539 B.C., King Cyrus of Persia conquered the Babylonians and permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. This temple stood until it was refurbished and expanded by King Herod in the first century B.C. It was then destroyed again in 70 A.D., when the Roman general Titus retaliated against Jewish rebels.

Since that day, Jews have pined for their temple. Because their whole method of worship focuses on a temple, they are lost without it. They look forward to the fulfilling of prophecy when the third temple will be built in Jerusalem.

The Temple Mount has been at the center of religious and political controversy for hundreds of years. While Israel has the mount politically, Palestinians oversee the top of the mount, and it is still strewn with Islamic mosques. Both religions consider the ground sacred. Muslims believe that the stone in the Dome of the Rock is where Muhammad ascended to the Divine Presence in a dream. Jews believe it is where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac.

Because of the sanctity of the Holy of Holies to Jews, very few Jews climb the mount. Archaeologists have not yet been able to excavate the area, due to constant conflict, and no one has determined where the Holy of Holies lies. To step on the ground would be sacrilegious for Jews, so they generally don’t walk over the ruins of the temple at all.

Many devout Jews look forward to the time when the third temple will be built, and many are convinced it will be within the next few decades.

It will be such an exciting day when, G-d willing very soon, the people of Israel will come back to the Temple Mount, purify it from foreign worship, and start to build the Third Temple. The door in the cave [Cave of the Spirits—through which a breeze kept the temple altar fire ever burning], and others, will be opened and the Ark of the Covenant and other very holy vessels will be discovered and again placed in the Holy of Holies and the Temple. This will happen in our lifetime. G-d is ready. Now it depends on us. Let us show Him that we are ready and determined and with devotion to act for this (from templemount.org).

At least two different Jewish groups have formed in preparation for the building of the third temple. One, the Temple Institute, has rebuilt the original temple vessels for use in the third temple. They have been made according to the exact specifications in the Bible and are ready to be used. Another group, the Temple Mount Faithful stands ready to clear the Temple Mount from what they refer to as “pagan structures,” so they can re-consecrate the ground and built the temple.

Mormons believe the in the literal and spiritual gathering of Israel. They also believe in all ancient prophecies contained in the Bible. There are also prophecies in the Book of Mormon about the rebuilding of Jerusalem and it becoming sanctified as a holy city to the Lord (Ether 13:5, 11; 3 Nephi 24:3, 4).

Additional resources:

How Do Mormons Worship?

Keith L. Brown — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:55:12 +0000

By Doris

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often nicknamed “Mormons”) have weekly Sunday meetings. They meet for 3 hours each Sunday. This 3-hour block is made up of three separate meetings: Sacrament meeting (the main meeting), Sunday school, and the third hour the men and women meet separately, the young men and young women also meet separately, and children under the age of 12 have Primary, a meeting where they are all together.

Sacrament meeting is when Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”) partake of the Sacrament (the Eucharist or Communion), though this only takes a small portion of the meeting. Because the “Mormon Church” has a lay clergy (all leaders serve on a volunteer basis), the sermons are often from members of the ward (or congregation). About twice a month, a youth speaker (between the ages of 12 and 17) will give a short talk, about 2–3 minutes long. Then there are generally two adult speakers. In most wards, the bishopric will have assigned a particular topic for the speakers to discuss, though sometimes they leave it up to the speaker. Once a month, there is a fast and testimony meeting during Sacrament meeting. During this time, any member of the congregation can stand and bear his or her testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

During Sunday school, an adult member of the ward is assigned to teach the lesson on a gospel topic. These lessons are taken from one of the standard works from the LDS canon. Every four years, curriculum rotates through the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants.

The last hour of meetings, the men meet for Priesthood and the women for Relief Society. During these meetings, they learn more about how the gospel applies to them and how they can contribute to the building of the kingdom of God. They can also band together with other men and women and build friendships.

Mormons worship largely the same way as other Christians. They recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as the Savior of the world. They reach out to each other in fellowship and service, doing their best to build each other up and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mormons also worship in temples. Only Latter-day Saints in good standing may enter Mormon temples. This is because Latter-day Saints view temples and the most sacred and holy places on earth, and only those who are living God’s commandments should be able to enter God’s presence. Mormon worship in temples is not cultish; it is sacred. Ordinances which take place in holy temples simply teach more about the individual’s true relationship to God. They also require the individual to make certain covenants to live God’s law. The covenants made in the temple are all contained in scripture, but carry stricter consequences for breaking them than before an individual makes a covenant to live that commandment. If we desire to draw closer to God, we must do so by living His law, which is not easy. This is why entrance is restricted. It is to protect those who are truly unprepared to live a higher law from making those covenants prematurely. Mormon doctrine teaches that the blessings of eternity are available in temples. Faithful Latter-day Saints have a deep desire for all people to be worthy to enter Mormon temples.

It is false that Mormons worship Joseph Smith or any other man. While Joseph Smith is recognized as the first prophet of the latter days, called to restore the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth, he is recognized as a man. Latter-day Saints appreciate and recognize all that Joseph Smith did to restore The Church of Jesus Christ on the earth, but they know that he is still a man. Mormons worship God as our Heavenly Father and divine creator and Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Redeemer. God’s plan for His children required that a Savior come on behalf of mankind to redeem them from the Fall. We can return to God’s presence after this life only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Additional Resources:

Find a Mormon meetinghouse near you and find out for yourself more about how Mormons worship

Mormon Scripture

Read the full CNN article

Salt Lake Temple Named One of Eight Religious Wonders to See in America

Keith L. Brown — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 13:03:14 +0000

The Salt Lake Temple in Utah was named one of eight religious wonders to see in the United States by CNN in July 2012. The other seven wonders CNN chose included the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois; the Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights, California; the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan; the Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Augustine, Florida; Temple Emanu-El in New York City; the Palace of Gold in Moundsville, West Virginia; and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

CNN writer Marina Csomor recognized that the United States is not a place that people usually travel in search of religious sanctuaries. People visit ancient countries and religious sites seeking peace and wisdom in ancient beliefs and practices. The United States of America is not a country which usually springs to mind as the ideal location for any meaningful religious sites. However, it is America’s diversity which has made it a home of a far wider variety of religious sites than most countries have to offer, which Csomor’s list above indicates.

Csomor urges readers to recognize the diversity of both religions and their beautiful edifices which dot America’s landscape. The Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah is certainly such a structure. Though religious restrictions limit those who can enter the Salt Lake Temple, Csomor points out that visitors can still enjoy the building’s “splendor.” In addition, the beautiful grounds have multiple other beautiful buildings which are open to the public and which help explain the purpose of the temple.

The Salt Lake Temple is a Neo-Gothic building which was dedicated in 1893, 40 years after construction began. Nearly all of the materials used to build it were from Utah. The five-story building with its six spires and granite façade is certainly striking.

Temple Square, at the center of which the Salt Lake Temple sits, takes up three city blocks and houses almost 20 attractions which are of significance both to Latter-day Saint history and to its continued growth.

Temple Square hosted about 2.75 million visitors in 2011 alone, from all around the world. The Temple Square South Visitors’ Center has, among many other displays, a scaled model of the temple showing the interior for guests who are not permitted to enter the temple itself. Other buildings on Temple Square are open almost daily to the public and are free of charge.

Csomor’s article is a reminder to all of us that we should exercise religious tolerance. More importantly, we should recognize the beauty and truth which each religion has and celebrate the freedom we enjoy in the United States to exercise our beliefs freely and to extend that same right to those around us in peace and harmony.

Article By Doris

Additional Resources:

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

Temples Bring Latter-day Saints Closer to Christ

dwhite — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:09:58 +0000

by Roy

Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (which church is frequently misnamed the “Mormon Church”) are one of the important elements in God’s Plan of Salvation. They are so important that there are forms of sacred worship that can only done in the temple. Temples are considered the most holy place on earth, and only the home can be compared to them in sanctity. Temples are a holy sanctuary where the Spirit of the Lord can be strongly felt—for they are literally the House of the Lord.

There are many examples in the scriptures that describe temples’ significance. For example, during their wanderings and travels in the wilderness, the Israelites, under the leadership of Moses and under the direction of God, built a portable temple known as the Tabernacle. God Himself gave them details on what standards His holy sanctuary should meet, including its materials and design. “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it” (Exodus 25:8–9). After its construction, the Tabernacle became the dwelling place of the Lord, where He gave His people, the Israelites, instructions and where sacred ordinances were performed in which ordinances were intended to bless the Israelites in their tribulations.

The New Testament also tells us of the significance of the temple. In the Gospel of Matthew, the record shows Jesus being brought to the temple as a baby and being presented to the people as the Savior of the world. “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34–35).

The Savior often taught in the holy temple and He has been the greatest example of how people should view the importance of the temple in their lives. “And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him” (Luke 19:45–48). The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormons”) view the temple as the place of most sacred worship and follow the commandments of the Lord regarding it.

In the latter days, God commanded His children to once again commence the building of holy temples as part of the restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The first Mormon temple was dedicated to the Lord on March 27, 1836, and is known as the Kirtland Temple. Today there are around 135 temples currently in operations to bless the lives of the children of God.

Mormon beliefs focus on the power and righteous influence of the temple and the knowledge that temples bring Latter-day Saints closer to Christ. That is why there are many Mormon temples built all over the world. The temple helps the members of the Church to understand the purpose of earthly existence as a mere fraction of the Plan of Salvation (God’s plan for His children) which provides hope that all the unfairness and trials of life are just temporal. The temple also provides many blessings and rich experiences for qualified Latter-day Saints, as they often testify of. In the temple, Mormons learn more about Jesus Christ and His infinite love for all people, and that salvation can only come through Him. “And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent” (Mosiah 3:17).

Additional Resources:

Roy Patrick is currently working as a Call Center Agent in the Philippines. He served a full-time mission in San Francisco, CA. His family is one of the pioneers of the LDS Church in Panay Island, Philippines.

What do Mormons Believe?

Gale Boyd — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:24:30 +0000

There has been a lot of discussion lately about what Mormons believe, and some people outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the “Mormon Church,” seem to think they can clearly present Mormon belief and get it right. Others are willing to form their opinions about Mormonism from these, often erroneous, reports. Mormon beliefs are those of the early Christian Church formed by Jesus Christ and His apostles. Most Christian churches today have beliefs that have strayed from the original doctrines and patterns of Christ’s primitive church. Assuming that they have true doctrine, and knowing little about Christ’s original teachings, they weigh the doctrines of “Mormonism” against their own view of the truth and label Mormons as “weird.”

The Gospel is Eternal

The gospel of Jesus Christ imbued with power and authority from God has always existed. As in God’s words to Jeremiah, that He knew Jeremiah and chose him before he was in the womb, we all existed for a long while before we were born on earth into mortality. In pre-mortality, we lived with God as His spirit-children and agreed to His plan of salvation. We knew that Adam would fall, that we would all sin during our mortal lives, and that we needed a Savior to redeem us. We all sustained and supported Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, as He was also the Creator of it. This idea of a pre-existence was fully extant in the early church, commonly understood and commonly taught. That this knowledge has been lost does not make it weird, and that it is referred to in many places in the Bible indicates that it is truth. (See Deut. 32:8; Jer. 1:5; Acts 17:26, 29; Rom. 8:28–30; Eph. 1:3–4; 1 Pet. 1:19–20 (Rev. 13:8); Job 38:4–7; Eccl. 12:7; Heb. 12:9; Jude 1:6; Rev. 12:4, 7–9; also MormonWiki.com.)

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Jesus Christ has a Father

Mormons believe in the Bible and the biblical account that Jesus did the will and work of His Father, prayed to His Father, pleaded with His Father on the Cross, and in Gethsemane. They are now and ever were two separate beings. A belief in the corrupt concept of a trinity does not qualify a person as a Christian, and yet that is the criterion to which Mormons are held. Mormons not only believe in Christ, they believe Christ when He says He came to do the will of the Father:

Jesus said,

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not (John 10:36-37).

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him (Luke 11:13)?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:12).

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13).

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother (Matthew 12:50).

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him (John 14:23).

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever (John 14:16).

Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me (Mark 15:34)??

And elsewhere in the Bible:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17).

Jesus Christ was Resurrected and is Still Resurrected

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have (Luke 24:39).

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (Acts 1:11).

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd (John 10:16).

And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them….And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying: Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11).

Every Person Will Have an Opportunity to Hear the Gospel

In an exquisite revelation received by Joseph F. Smith, God revealed how His work goes forth in the spirit world where we go to await resurrection after we die.

While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful; And there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind from the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance.

And as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wickedand the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them; But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.

Baptism must be Available to All of God’s Children

Paul speaks of baptism for the dead as if it were common practice in his time:

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29)?

Indeed, baptism for the dead was commonly practiced and understood by the Saints led by the original apostles. Baptism for the dead only ceased in 397 A.D. in the orthodox church.

The Central Belief in Mormonism is that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer

Said Joseph Smith, the first prophet of this last dispensation of time before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ:

“What are the fundamental principles of your religion? …the fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and the Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it …” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121).

Jesus Christ bore witness of Himself in the many revelations given to prophets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Mormon prophets have seen Him on many occasions:

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. —The Living Christ

And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father–That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.~Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24.

Additional Resources:

Basic Mormon Beliefs and Real Mormons

Jesus Christ in Mormonism

The Bible in Mormonism

Mormon Missionaries in the New York Times

dwhite — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:28:59 +0000

The Book of Mormon (musical) which was a Broadway hit has been another instrumental catalyst in bringing the discussion of the Mormon faith (appropriately and officially called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) to the forefront of the media. When two respected members of the Republican party (who also happen to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) announced their intention to work for the Republican nomination for president, what has now been dubbed the “Mormon moment” received even more fuel.

“Mormon” has become a buzz-word in the media, and will likely remain under discussion and debate for some time. There have been people on both sides of the issue of whether being a Mormon is likely to play a large role in Mitt Romney’s success or failure in his run for election in the presidential race.

The New York Times published a piece by Josh Kron on April 13, 2012, taking a deeper look into what Mormon missionaries’ lives are really like in Uganda (the setting of The Book of Mormon [musical]). (Read full article here.) Kron discovered a much more meaningful existence than is portrayed in the play (which should really come as a surprise to no one, since the creators of the play are comedians and more often went for punch lines than doctrine.

First of all, it is important to clarify what the Book of Mormon is. Many Christians unfamiliar with Mormonism believe that it is the Mormon Bible and that Latter-day Saints (as “Mormons” prefer to be called) do not believe in the Bible. This is false. In fact, Latter-day Saints do believe the Bible to be the word of God, and it is included in their canon. However, Mormon doctrine states that many plain and precious truths were lost from the Bible. Some things were lost due to the wickedness of men, others were simply lost in translation and in the transmission of the text. The Book of Mormon is considered by Latter-day Saints to be another testament of Jesus Christ. It is a sacred and ancient record of some of the inhabitants of the ancient Americas, and records Jesus Christ’s dealings with them. Thus, the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is meant to be a complementary book of scripture to the Bible, not a replacement for it.

Mormon missionaries serve all over the world. Young men between the ages of 19 and 25 may choose to serve for a period of two years; single women may serve from the age of 21 and older for a period of 18 months; senior couples may choose to serve for a variety of lengths of time. Missionaries usually finance their own missions. It is a huge sacrifice of time and money, and missionaries dedicated their entire lives, for this period of time, to serving the Lord. They can be called to serve anywhere in the world. They may be required to learn a new language, and they serve the people in the areas where they work.

Kron spent a good deal of time with Mormon missionaries in Uganda, trying to capture an accurate picture of what their lives are like there and how they interact with Ugandans. It was not long before Kron discovered how serious the missionaries there were about their calling. They gave up girlfriends or boyfriends, school, possibly careers, marriage, etc., putting everything off while they chose to serve the Lord.

A church spokesman, Eric Hawkins, explained to Kron that a mission is “something we hope all Mormon young men will want to do—a time of meaningful personal sacrifice, service, testing and growth.”

Kron learned for himself what a sacrifice a mission truly is. Missionaries are expected to adhere to an “intensive airtight and sometimes lonely schedule of prayer, Scripture study and door-to-door proselytizing six days a week, 52 weeks a year. They are to abstain from virtually every earthly pleasure — not just the usual temptations prohibited under Mormonism, like premarital sex, alcohol, tobacco, coffee and tea, but also magazines, television and music not sanctioned by the church. They can call home two days a year, on Christmas and Mother’s Day.” Depending on the mission, some missionaries are permitted to email, but only one day a week. Amazingly, the vast majority of all missionaries who serve follow these strict rules quite willingly, taking very seriously their commitment to serve the Lord wholeheartedly.

Due to the ages at which most missionaries depart on their missions, many leave in middle of their schooling. Some colleges will allow them to pick back up right where they left off, but not all colleges are so lenient. Even when colleges are lenient, it can be difficult to get back into such a different schedule and way of life. On the bright side, many missionaries who are required to learn a foreign language can take proficiency tests upon their return to gain significant college credit for the skills they have picked up.

Mormon missionaries learn much more than a foreign language, if they serve with their whole hearts. “Their personal values sharpen, and they begin to understand whom they want to be when they return to college,” says Kron. Some of the missionaries he met with had decided to focus on special-needs social work because of experiences he had had with a family he taught who was headed by an alcoholic father struggling to overcome his addiction. Another missionary, who had planned on pursuing international business as a career, has now starting thinking about a different career that will allow him to spend more time with his family.

Elder Lee (all male missionaries carry the title “Elder”) said of his missionary experiences, “I have learned more about myself in the last 20 months than I could if I was back home. You begin to understand what really matters in your life.”

Missionaries shared with Kron some of their struggles. “Between six months and 18 months everyone forgets you,” Elder Lee says. “All your friends back home, they stop writing you. That’s when the umbilical cord is cut, that’s when you start realizing a lot of different things.”

Missionaries try to impress on the people they teach that they have no wish to take away one’s current faith, only to share what they believe and invite others to accept more truth. “We don’t expect anyone just to take our word for it; we ask them to pray for it, to ask God if it’s true or not,” Elder Lee says. “Everyone knows that God is not a God of lies. We’re not trying to convert you to us; we’re trying to convert you.”

Missionaries are expected to serve the people in their communities. They never ask for money and they are not pushy. They often volunteer to help local citizens digging ditches, hauling bricks, or whatever else they may need help with.

Says one Ugandan convert, Mr. Kagodo, “I found what I wanted. It is the way of life. I’ve met many other Christians who would be very comfortable just saying they are born-again or what, but their character does not depict it. . . . For me, the fact that nobody pushes you, but asks you, and read the Scriptures, and just keep the gospel, that matters a lot.”

Kron noticed that Mormon missionaries also spend some time correcting people’s misperceptions about the religion. Polygamy is no longer practiced, for one, and has not been since 1890. The Bible is accepted as scripture, not replaced by the Book of Mormon. Most importantly, Latter-day Saints worship Jesus Christ as their Savior, something many people still do not realize.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had nearly 400,000 new members join in 2010. Nearly 70 percent of these new members were converted by college-age missionaries like Elder Lee.

Additional Resources:

Mormon News: Mormon Missionaries

Jesus Christ in Mormonism