The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the fastest-growing faiths in South Florida, its expansion fueled mainly by Hispanic converts who find the religion’s emphasis on family and values appealingly familiar. Local growth is mirrored in the development of the church in Latin America and elsewhere, where worldwide membership topped 13 million earlier this year.
The reach of the Mormon faith was at the fore of the political arena Thursday after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gave a 20-minute speech to discuss his Mormon roots and whether his faith would affect decisions he might make in the Oval Office.
South Florida has about 13,000 Mormons in 40 to 50 congregations. These congregations, or units, belong to five stakes, similar to dioceses, three in Miami-Dade and two in Broward and south Palm Beach. One stake in Miami is comprised solely of Spanish-speaking units and the other four have at least one or two Spanish-language units, says Scott Richards, first counselor of the Fort Lauderdale stake.
”Our strongest growth is from converts and from people who know somebody already in the church,” Richards said. “Possibly half are Hispanic. We probably mirror the population.”
Ah, immigrants. The LDS church has always profited from ignorant converts. In the 19th century, they concealed polygamy from converts until they got them out to Utah – when it was too late for them to leave.
The more I watch the Mormons, the more I enjoy it. They are an outstanding lesson for all other Christians in the truth that God does not stop liars from being successful.
Sidney.
Do you have a reference for the concealment of plural marriage? To my knowledge, there were riots in Britain in the 1850s when the Mormon missionaries were at work precisely because of that aspect of the faith.
As to ignorance, I know one former BYU professor celebrated for his work on the Venerable Bede. Furthermore, the acquaintance of early Mormon scholars with the Hebrew Bible was often surprisingly advanced. Let’s just acknowledge the non-Christian elements of Latter-day Saint theology and leave it at that.
Oh, and as a point of information, a Mormon congregation is commonly termed a “ward.”
Jeremy,
Certainly there were rumors of polygamy dating back to the Nauvoo days. But Joseph Smith denied it to his death. I’m pretty sure Ostlings’ “Mormon America” talks about that. I could check my copy tonight to see if they say anything about denials after the exodus to Utah.
According to this document, John Taylor was still denying it in Europe in 1850:
http://olivercowdery.com/texts/1850Tayl.htm
(From page 8:”Inasmuch as this Church of Jesus Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication and polygamy…”)
The LDS Church finally publicly admitted polygamy in 1852 – of course, many were completely unsurprised.
Is that what you’re looking for? If you want a reference that shows that at least a few converts were fooled by the charade, I might have a bit more difficulty doing that. But I could try.
Richard Van Wagoner’s “Mormon Polygamy: A History” may say something about this too, but I haven’t read the book.
By the way, sure, there are competent Mormon scholars. But the church, as a strategy, tries to make sure the ‘deeper stuff’ is not learned until people are tied up in the culture (married, kids, job depends on membership, etc.) Then if you start having doubts, it’s harder to get out. They call it ‘milk before meat.’ Lots of the rank and file are totally ignorant about basic church history that is not faith-promoting.
One of the best Mormon scholars, D. Michael Quinn was excommunicated for writing history that was totally true – but embarrassing.
Can you imagine if we orthodox Anglicans were as vigorous with our zeal to spread the Gospel as they are to spread their theology? This should be a wake up call to us all.
I admire them for their dedication to family. We must be careful not to tangle a distorted theology with often truly virtuous living.
Can you imagine if we orthodox Anglicans were as vigorous with our zeal to spread the Gospel as they are to spread their theology? This should be a wake up call to us all.
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Yes it should.
I’m still looking around for the Anglican Orthodox to spread their gospel and offer communion, leadership and support. Where are they????
I just read an article stating that Schori has called it “spirtual violence” against the folks in San Joaquin who wish to remain episcopal. They have sent their wishes, prayers and offers of support and spiritual leadership. Measures are being taken to possibly allow priests to come and offer communion to these folks and keep them under their wing.
Well I have the opposite problem. I’m a conservative in a liberal diocese who was told to compromise 100%, nothing less, do it our way or the highway. We chose the highway. Now, where is our support??? Where are the priests to lead and offer communion here? Where is the support, prayers, well wishes. We have given up on the Episcopal church and are now giving up on the Anglicans as we die waiting. Great for the folks who are in a conservative diocese and have leadership? Have you forgotten about the conservatives in Liberal diocese who have been thrown out of their churches?
One nice thing I can say about the liberals….at least they are taking care of their own.
Dear nochurchhome, I heartily agree. This is an issue which must be addressed. One of the major arguments for dissociation with ECUSA is to allow for missionary/evangelism work in such dioceses without fear of crossing man-made jurisdictional boundaries.
Right, what happened in that so-called “decade of evangelism”? One of the vicars in the area was showing the Bishop the area he wanted to locate the mission into, stating, “there are a lot of unchurched in this area — I’d love to have an Episcopal presence here to draw them in to the church.”
He said the bishop replied “I’m not interested in bringing people in, I only want you here to minister to those who are already Episcopalian!”
THAT was a wake up call as well.
Thank you, Doc. I really do appreciate the validation because honestly we feel completely shut out and let down. We live in an area that is predominately Mormon and our choices are very little. We have also been stationed in far out places here as well as abroad where choices have also been slim.
One thing for sure I noticed was no matter where we went we could always find the Catholics and the Baptists. Even here it seems as though our choice is Catholic or Baptist.
A big problem for the Anglicans is while they are unable to reach out to conservatives in liberal areas at this time it is really leaving them floundering and at a crossroads to search and commit elsewhere. If we convert to Catholicism, we will make that commitment and will not break it at a later time or at a new location where Anglicanism would be an option. We will be in this area for another 3-4 years and I do not think we can wait that long.
My husband ran into a fellow churchmemeber and vestry member last week. He said he understood exactly why we left and doesn’t like what is going on in the church either. But he is rooted here and has no place else to go and that is why he lets the words of the priest roll off his back.
Last night a woman from our church called to chat with us and we told her why we left. She said she has struggled too and has often thought about leaving but again, has no where else to go. She said she “closes her ears” to half of what is said because there are no other options if she leaves.
When we left the priest said, “yes, many have left only to return a few months later.” You can make the rounds but there isn’t much out there.”
The general theme I hear is we have to let it roll off our backs or close our ears and many have closed their eyes and even minds because there is nowhere else to go. Talk about spiritual violence!!!
Dear nochurchhome, this is a terribly difficult situation and you are in my thoughts and prayers. I take it you are in the west. One other alternative might be the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod if there is a parish near you.
He said the bishop replied “I’m not interested in bringing people in, I only want you here to minister to those who are already Episcopalian!â€
THAT was a wake up call as well.
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Wow, but what about those who are Episcopal and are trapped in a liberal diocese? Our bishop is an iron woman who acording to our priest will get rid of any priest or staff who does not share her beliefs and ideas. There is not a conservative priest in our area among the 3 episcopal churches near our home or downtown.
I’m a cradle Episcopalian, as well as my parents, my grandparents and great grand parents and I believe even farther back than that, What about us??
My grandmother is 88. She wants to know….”Don’t they care about me, doesn’t my church care about me too?” She wants to know how they can turn their back on her after spending her whole life as an Episcopalian, raising her children in the church. She has been a big financial supporter of her church, served alter guild and various other poisitions over the years, ran the thrift shop until 3years ago when she physically was unable to do so anymore. Now she is old, ill and wants to know, does her church care about her too????? No, sorry gram, but they don’t. They only care about their agenda and if you don’t like it or agree with it then they would just rather you leave.
She says the heck with them, I’m too old to convert to anything else, I just won’t go to church anymore.
I hate to think of my grandma with no church and no support from clergy and no communion during the last part of her life.
And your comment reinforces to me that I’m just so fed up with it all. Maybe both sides are just as bad. I certainly feel abandoned by both and will have to find my path. I’m betrayed by my church and for years my relatives, the small part that is Baptist have always said, why don’t you become Baptist, we ARE the chosen few and we want you to go to heaven. The Catholic part of my family, the other half, has said, why don’t you become Catholic, we ARE the one true church. And the Mormons sit in my living room and look me in the eye and say that they ARE the true religion, the others have gotten it all wrong.
I don’t know who is right or wrong….but I do know that I have to admit that I was wrong, the Episcopal way was wrong. Yes, I lose. My way, my church, WAS indeed wrong. Now I humbly admit it as they all watch my church fall on their own sword, and will figure out what to do next.
Thank you Doc! We did try the LCMS. We will have to convert in order to recieve communion. It will take a few months the priest says. We may end up doing that, but I do feel strange to make that commitment for just a short time. Yes, we are in Utah and my husband is military, we will be leaving the are in about 3 years. We have 2 searches going on right now….one immediate, where we can participate in church, recieve communion while going through a discernment process as to whether we want to convert to Catholicism. We are still visiting churches and perhaps we will for the short term any end up at the LCMS.
Thanks for the prayers.
nochurchhome:
Read the Bible and you will not be so confused.
bl
Well Bob, it is a good thing I’ve read it through more than once and knew enough to know my church is lost and is teaching wrong things. But of course that arguement is moot in the Episcopal church because the church I just left teaches that the bible is about 80% false, made up and interpreted by people who got it wrong and therefore we cannot trust anything it says. We need scholars and intellectuals today to tells us what it really means.
I’m just glad I’m not as smart as all those intellectuals out there and can maintain my childlike trust and faith in Jesus and the bible.
I have no confusion as to my faith and what I believe. I do have confusion as to what church will fit those beliefs and if possible would allow me to continue to worship in a way that is meanigful to me.
I’m looking for more orthodox beliefs while keeping with the liturgical service, the sacraments, and the lectionary. Catholic seem like the best fit but it will take at least a year and a half. RCIA classes start in the Fall and last until spring. Our local Catholic church will not allow daughter to participate with other children as she was not registered in the fall. Doesn’t help our situation for the present. And hubby and I are not to keen on not receiving communion for a year and half. Who knew Jesus was so inaccessible???
Any reccomendations?????
Dear nochurchhome, again, what a horrible situation you are in! I hate that you can’t get communion at this point; OTOH I do understand where the LCMS and the RC are coming from in restricting it. While you discern, you could still attend the ECUSA church and receive communion there; many theologians over the years have commented that the Sacrament does not lose anything even if given by a poor clergyman. If that is the option which you choose, you would need to commit to immersing yourself in Scripture every day, to not lose sight of the true Gospel. (Luther used to tell folk that he gave the same message about sin, the Cross and redemption every Sunday because from Mon through Sat the parishioners forgot the message!) In terms of where else to go, ie: LCMS vs RC, there are clear differences in approach. LCMS theology is very similar to what I have experienced in my (evangelical) parish which is why that would be my first choice. RC is quite different from classical Anglicanism in terms of its view of the authority of the church vis a vis that of Scripture. I have discovered on the blogs that many ECUSA orthodox have theology that leans in that direction and would be very comfortable swimming the Tiber. The differences though are clear. The main thing though is to have faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. And the good news is that we know the end of the story, thanks be to God!
nochurchhome wrote:
[i]Wow, but what about those who are Episcopal and are trapped in a liberal diocese? Our bishop is an iron woman who acording to our priest will get rid of any priest or staff who does not share her beliefs and ideas. [/i]
That’s how this bishop acts, too. He came in to the election process posing as a conservative, and once chosen shed that skin to show his true reappraiser colors. He told the clergy at a diocesean clergy confrence, “You will disaffiliate with any so-called conservative organizations such as AAC. Take their logos off your signs, take it off your letterhead, take it off your cars. The only affiliation you will have will be with the Diocese of ________ . In this diocese, it’s My way or the highway.”
To a meeting of parishoners after a parish split, he said, “Don’t think you can join with another province and be considered Anglican. The only way to be Anglican in the U.S. is to be a member of the Episcopal Church, under me.”
We had to split and affiliate with Uganda, diocese of South Renzori (sp?) in order to get away from the heresey and draconian authoritarianism of the bishop.
By the way, the vicar I mentioned above is now sponsored by our parish, and his mission is a mission of the Anglican Communion, not the Episcopal Church any longer. And they are growing by reaching out to the unchurched in the area.
Elves,
I just realized that even though I was responding to someone on the thread, it’s off topic. My apologies, you may delete if you see fit, with no hard feelings.
Jim Elliott <><
Thanks for the advice Doc, I really do appreciate it. Jim, shame on your bishop!! Unfortunately there are too many like yours and mine and I think the individual stories and how people have been treated should be told publicly.
To connect it to the thread….well no wonder the Mormon church is growing. They actually WANT people to join their church and are good at welcoming them. Imagine that, a church that actually wants people.
I also saw some comments on plural marriages. The LDS church today does not condone or practice plural marriages in any way. There are some radical sects today that are disassociated with the Mormon LDS church that do practice polygamy. The LDS church wants nothing to do with them and really hates being confused with them. Just thought I would throw that out there.