Growing Up In Mormons

Walker, Turley, and Leonard explain the reasons for high tension in Utah a different way. Instead of focusing about problems with the church like Denton, they explain about things happening around the church. They focus on how news of a coming U.S. army puts fear in the people. They quote Heber C. Kimball as saying “that the army wanted to take Mormon women back to the States” (Walker, Turley, Leonard 44). Also, the authors describe how Brigham Young also makes it seem like the second coming, where Christ comes to destroy the wicked, is near and that the people need to prepare for it. They also mention Brigham Young’s strict war policy. Within this war policy, they were to be frugal with all their supplies, and not sell or trade any of it to those of

A strong family life, faith, and ambition characterize my development. A lot of who I am now can be attributed to the manner in which my parents raised me. I grew up in a devout Mormon household, so from a young age my parents instilled values of love, honesty, and kindness.

of a holy book he said had been engraved on gold plates by an American

In 1844, Joseph Smith, ecclesiastical leader of the Latter-day Saints and presidential candidate, was murdered by an angry mob. This mob was fostered by the release of a newspaper questioning Smith’s practices (including polygamy), qualifications, and intentions for his potential presidency. More than 150 years later, Mitt Romney, a member of the LDS Church, launched a presidential campaign and garnered forty-two percent of the popular vote. Although these two candidates share a faith, their political roles and views are substantially different. This is representative of the significant changes in the relationship between the Mormon church and the U.S. government.

People and religion are a part of everyday life. The world is sure to be empty without the existence of God’s creation. When people and religion are viewed as different, the history, beliefs, and practice are formed unrealistically by outsider, more so than an insider. In an interview with a LDS, the author attempts to write and summarize a Mormon‘s journey through life with God and others.

One of the largest struggles for members in the church is animosity of non-members. On one hand, many express their dislike of the LDS church without even knowing what Sacrament Meeting is or the full the title of the “Mormon church” (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). On the other hand, there are a number supposed experts about Mormon doctrine. Some have belonged to the Church themselves at one point, leaving after finding unresolved dissonance between their beliefs and the Gospel. Others are often learned scholars, criticizing the Mormon doctrine to prove their own views. The following paper involves the latter of the two in an analysis of Ezekiel 37:15-17, a Biblical scripture that the LDS Church believes to refer to The Book of Mormon.

Mormonism, the largest church to originate on American soil is not without its own burdens to bear. As one of the younger religions, one that strayed from the foundations of the other already established religions in the United States, it is often viewed with negativity and mockery. Modern day social media, television, news articles and movies often exploit Mormon beliefs. They twist and exaggerated certain facets of the Mormon way of life. This framing of their belief system by the media leads the public opinion toward viewing this representation as a true depiction of the Mormons. Some of the more extreme behaviors exhibited by members that have separated from the main group are used against the entire faith by the media, so in turn this extremist view has become a Mormon stereotype.

D: Introduction As a teacher living in a highly religious state, it is important for me to know more about the main religions in Utah. The two most prevalent, being the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) and the Catholic faith. I would like to know more about their beliefs, holidays, and family traditions. Some of the main beliefs in the LDS culture are Jesus is the Savior of all man, The Word of Wisdom, and the church was restored by their Prophet Joseph Smith. Some of the main beliefs for the Catholic faith are the Bible, the different Saints, and baptism. There are many holidays that are celebrated by both religions. Both Catholics and LDS members celebrate Christmas and Easter. The LDS faith in Utah has a special state

No one has ever been able to articulate just what makes a cult, and what makes a religion different. Yet most people, when listing mainstream religions, name Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, among others. These religions have existed for thousands of years and have millions of followers; they have thus earned a degree of respect even from outsiders. However, Mormonism—the tradition of the Latter Day Saints movement—is considered strange, and by some, a cult. In the modern age, many consider its very premise a hoax. Mark Twain criticized the Mormon holy scripture, calling it “chloroform in print” (Turner 229), and Jacob Weisberg (editor of the Washington Post) called Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, “an obvious con man” (Ostling xv). Yet

Men and women from other religions, did many things to harm as many of the mormons they could. There were mass murders, rages, attacks on homes, and massacres that were set against the mormons. One common thing done to them,was tarring and feathering them. This is where boiling tar was poured over their head, to run down their body then they were covered in feathers. Thousands were killed, or at least hurt, year after year. Many of the righteous and steadfast followers were put in jail for no reason, then starved to death, or shot. Others were killed on the spot. The Prophet, Joseph Smith, was taken from his home, and put in jail with four other mormon leaders, then him and two others were shot by a mob just days later.

The Mormon service I visited, had a few similarities but also a few distinct differences from the Catholic service that I am used to. Before this particular Sunday, I had never attended a Mormon service, nor had I spoken to anyone who believed in Mormonism or the “Latter Day Saints.” With that being said, I was welcomed much more openly than I had originally thought. Before entering, I was approached by two members of the church; two young women (sisters) between the ages of roughly 19 to 22. I arrived about an hour before service, that way I could ask a few people some questions, but the two girls beat me to the punch. They initially asked me if I had visited before and I responded saying that it was my first time, and I was attending as a student observer, with no intention of converting, but would love to learn about the faith. They nodded and proceeded to explain to me the reasons as to why they believed so strongly, and also a bit of background information on the faith. One of the girls, explained to me that there has been a lot of skepticism about Mormonism due in part to the fact that Joseph Smith Jr, was so young and how his explanation of “Moroni” (An angel no one had ever heard of), and his entire religion and the scripture used, “Book of Mormon,” could have just been a part of his imagination. The other girl told me how she was beginning to lose faith a couple years back, but she then regained it, after she experienced her own tests, and was able to get passed her

In 1846 a society of pioneers went West searching for a golden paradise. These people were Mormons or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints. On the way to their new home, they made people mad. Lots of people didn’t like the Mormons’ ways. Most people resented them for the popularity the religion was getting. People turned to violence and attacked them. As a matter of fact their leader, Joseph Smith, died on his way to their promise land in the West. As a result of the resentment toward them, the Mormons settled in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was a barren place in a valley surrounded by mountains. Nonetheless, no one would come and try to settle or attack them there. The resentment caused Mormons to come up with no ways to live. Controlling their freedom to liberty, the people who did no like their actions were again being hypocritical. Once the colonists fled England to start a new, better life with religions freedom. It was one of the very ideals our country was built on. However the self-righteousness of our country during this was growing, spreading like a

I peeked through my facemask and I could see the quarterback lining up to take the snap. I glanced back at my coach who swung his arm across his body indicating the “slash”. My body shook with excitement as I inched up to the line. At the sound of a distant “hike” I exploded from my stance off the tackle into the endzone. I found myself one on one with the quarterback in the backfield, an outcome I had prepared for hundreds of times. I dove at his legs colliding with his shins. After a push and pull struggle he went down and I stood victorious in the middle of the endzone, my teammates immediately raised their hands above their heads signaling a safety. The excitement in the stadium grew and the student section erupted chanting “STORMIN MORMON...STORMIN MORMON”

We do not need to look any further than the Book of Mormon to find historical examples of exclusion and discrimination. The Book of Mormon recounts a considerable number of unfortunate stories filled with contentions and wars. These stories are predominantly between people of different colors and cultures. The motivation in the majority of these ancient scriptural accounts are firmly rooted in pride. The feelings of being “better than,” was prevalent.

Education: noun the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university