Called to Serve

2019 ◽  
pp. 33-48
Author(s):  
Jana Riess
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Latter Day Saints ◽  
Positive Experience ◽  
Bright Line ◽  
The World ◽  
Lds Church ◽  
Positive Feelings ◽  
Personal Sacrifice ◽  
The Church

This chapter examines the personal sacrifice that is required of Latter-day Saints (LDS) missionaries, and the deep faith that sees them through tough times; the positive feelings most missionaries have about their experience; the sense that a mission demarcates a bright line between childhood and adulthood in Mormon culture; the growing presence of women in the mission force; and the great statistical likelihood that returned missionaries who served the full tenure of their assigned time will remain as lifelong members of the LDS Church. Mormonism's culture of responsibility extends to the mission experience itself—young people are asked to give up between eighteen months to two years of their lives to volunteer wherever in the world the Church elects to send them. What is more, they are often expected to help pay for it. Nevertheless, Mormons who served a mission regard it as a positive experience that helped them in many areas of their lives.

Digital Resources: FamilySearch

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Horn
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latter Day Saints ◽  
Digital Resources ◽  
Archival Material ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
The World ◽  
Lds Church ◽  
Digital Collection ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Church

FamilySearch, which constitutes the largest genealogical archival project and database in the world, offers rich online resources for research on the history of Latin America. FamilySearch constitutes an institutional arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the LDS Church, dedicated to genealogical research. It offers a wealth of resources with enormous potential for historical research on a broad range of topics and through diverse methods of investigation. The digital collection, which expands continuously, includes archival material from all the major regions of the world, including Latin America. For Latin America, the strength of the collection rests with parish and civil registers, censuses, and secondary sources on the genealogical and family history of the region.

The Spiritual Evolution of Margarito Bautista

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Eastwood Pulido
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Latter Day Saints ◽  
The Third ◽  
Book Of Mormon ◽  
The World ◽  
Magnum Opus ◽  
Mormon Church ◽  
Spiritual Conquest ◽  
The Church ◽  
The U.S

A spiritual biography, this book chronicles the journey of Margarito Bautista (1878–1961) from Mormonism to the Third Convention, a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) splinter group he fomented in 1935–1936, to Colonia Industrial/Nueva Jerusalén, a polygamist utopia Bautista founded in 1947. It argues that Bautista embraced Mormon belief in indigenous exceptionalism in 1901 and rapidly rose through the ranks of Mormon priesthood until convinced that the Mormon hierarchy was not invested in the development of native American peoples, as promoted in the Church’s canon. This realization resulted in tensions over indigenous self-governance within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) and Bautista’s 1937 excommunication. The book contextualizes Bautista’s thought with a chapter on the spiritual conquest of Mexico in 1513 and another on the arrival of Mormons in Mexico. In addition to accounts of Bautista’s congregation-building on both sides of the U.S. border, this volume includes an examination of Bautista’s magnum opus, a 564-page tome hybridizing Aztec history and Book of Mormon narratives, and his prophetic plan for the recovery of indigenous authority in the Americas. Bautista’s excommunication catapulted him into his final spiritual career, that of a utopian founder. In the establishment of his colony, Bautista found a religious home, free from Euro-American oversight, where he implemented his prophetic plan for Mexico’s redemption. His plan included obedience to early Mormonism’s most stringent practices, polygamy and communalism. Bautista nonetheless hoped his community would provide a model for Mexicans willing to prepare the world for Christ’s millennial reign.

scholarly journals Not a Country or a Stereotype: Latina LDS Experiences of Ethnic Homogenization and Racial Tokenism in the American West

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 333
Author(s):  
Brittany Romanello
Keyword(s):  
Legal Status ◽  
Latter Day Saints ◽  
Immigrant Incorporation ◽  
White Family ◽  
1.5 Generation ◽  
Cultural Heterogeneity ◽  
The Us ◽  
Lds Church ◽  
Progressive Policy ◽  
The Church

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), also called Mormonism, has experienced rapid changes in its US demographics due to an influx of Latinx membership. The most recent growth in the US church body has been within Spanish-speaking congregations, and many of these congregant members are first or 1.5-generation immigrant Latinas. Using ethnographic data from 27 interviews with immigrant members living in Utah, Nevada, and California, LDS Latinas reported that while US Anglo members did seem to appreciate certain aspects of their cultural customs or practices, they also reported frequently experiencing ethnic homogenization or racial tokenization within US Church spaces and with White family members. Our findings indicate that the contemporary LDS church, despite some progressive policy implementations within its doctrinal parameters, still struggles in its ever-globalizing state to prioritize exposing White US members to the cultural heterogeneity of non-White, global LDS identities and perspectives. Latina LDS experiences and their religious adjacency to Whiteness provide a useful lens by which researchers can better understand the ways in which ethnic identity, gender, legal status, and language create both opportunities and challenges for immigrant incorporation and inclusion within US religious spaces and add to the existing body of scholarship on migration and religion.

scholarly journals Calling and preparation for missionary service in the life of believers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)

2019 ◽  
pp. 93-110
Author(s):  
Sergiusz Anoszko
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Creative Process ◽  
Religious Movement ◽  
Latter Day Saints ◽  
Joseph Smith ◽  
Missionary Training ◽  
The Family ◽  
The World ◽  
Missionary Service ◽  
The Church

Serving on a mission is almost an indispensable part of the image of the adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as Mormons, quasi-Christian new religious movement. The next text attempts to analyse and take a closer look at the theme of calling and preparing for the ministry of being a missionary as an attribute of this Church that was founded by Joseph Smith. Starting from an upbringing in the family and social expectations of the Church’s members through education in the Missionary Training Center, we can follow the vocation path and the creative process of the future Mormon missionary who preach the Gospel in various corners of the world. Missionary ministry is important in the life of each Mormon believer, even those who didn’t serve as a missionary, because it leaves a lasting imprint and affects the minds of the members of this new religious group for the rest of their lives.

Mormon Mobilization in Contemporary U.S. Politics

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Miles ◽  
Jason M. Adkins
Keyword(s):  
19Th Century ◽  
Republican Party ◽  
The Political ◽  
Latter Day Saints ◽  
Lds Church ◽  
Mitt Romney ◽  
Religious Aspects ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
The Church ◽  
The U.S

In 2012, the Republican Party selected a Mormon, Mitt Romney, as their nominee for U.S. president. After decades of persecution and suspicion, many felt like the LDS Church was finally being accepted as a mainstream religion and an equal player on the national political stage. From a different perspective, the “acceptance” of the LDS Church by the U.S. government and the Republican Party has come at a tremendous cost. Unlike those who joined other religious denominations in America, 19th century converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave everything they had to the church. The 19th-century LDS Church controlled not just the political, but the economic, social, and religious aspects of its members’ lives. The LDS Church has traded immense power over a few dedicated members for a weaker political voice in the lives of millions more members. From this perspective, the LDS Church has never been more politically weak than they were in the 2012 presidential election. Previous LDS Church presidents endorsed non-Mormon candidates Cleveland, Taft, and Nixon more enthusiastically than President Monson endorsed Mitt Romney—one of his own. In the 20th century, the power of the LDS Church over the lives of its members has waned considerably, significantly hindering the institutional church’s ability to politically mobilize its congregants. Even in Utah, only the most ardent LDS Church members are swayed by the political dictates of LDS Church leaders.

Encountering the Gospel through Confirmation

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
Terri Martinson Elton ◽  
Richard Osmer
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Of Christ ◽  
Christian Community ◽  
The World ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
God's Mission ◽  
Bear Witness ◽  
The Church

Confirmation is a ministry aimed at strengthening young people's understanding of faith, deepening their experience in Christian community, and equipping them to discern their calling to join in God's mission in the world. As the church engages in confirmation, young people encounter the gospel anew and congregations bear witness to the redemptive love of God and the covenant of grace into which all Christians are baptized. Learning from and with each other, within and across denominations, enhances confirmation as a discipleship ministry for young people. But it does more than that. As the body of Christ comes together to help young people encounter the gospel anew, lives are changed and become open to the Holy Spirit. Embracing our call to share the gospel and cultivate faith within young people not only serves the church today, it invests in the future.

Contemporary Mormon Religiosity and the Legacy of “Gathering”

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 77-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick Phillips ◽  
Ryan Cragun
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Church Attendance ◽  
Latter Day Saints ◽  
Attendance Rates ◽  
Intermountain West ◽  
The Past ◽  
Member Retention ◽  
Lds Church ◽  
Mormon Church ◽  
The Church

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—the LDS, or Mormon church—has dominated the state of Utah both culturally and politically since joining the Union in 1896. Scholars note that LDS majorities in Utah and other parts of the Intermountain West foster a religious subculture that has promoted higher levels of Mormon church attendance and member retention than in other parts of the nation. However, after rising throughout most of the twentieth century, the percentage of Utah's population belonging to the church began declining in 1989. Some sources assert Utah is now less Mormon than at any time in the state's history. This article examines the degree to which this decline has affected LDS church activity and retention in Utah and adjacent environs. We find evidence suggesting church attendance rates may be falling, and clear evidence that rates of apostasy among Mormons have risen over the past decade.

scholarly journals HOSPITALITY KRISTEN DALAM UPAYA PENCEGAHAN BUNUH DIRI

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wildalend oktajayanice
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
World Community ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
The World ◽  
Physical Impact ◽  
Christian Hospitality ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way

ABSTRACT: The pandemic caused by the Corona Virus which has infected majorcountries has affected the world community from various sides. This pandemic notonly has a physical impact but also has a psychological impact. The distress of afew individuals because of this pandemic, so that they justify all means and look fora more instant solution. Some people have taken the way out of this problem bycommitting suicide. This seemingly more instantaneous path became popular andincreased rapidly during the pandemic. In fact, it has become a trend not onlyamong young people and even among the elderly. In this case, the church seems tohave lost its empathy in the application of the attitude of Christian Hospitality. Theauthor uses Emile Durkheim's Theory to see the background of this suicidephenomenon. The writer uses Emile Durkheim's theory because it uses asociological perspective, so that this theory is at least able to answer thephenomenon of suicide. The purpose of writing this article is first, to specificallyinvolve the church to take part in breaking the chain of this trend and preventingsuicidal intentions by implementing hospitality (Hospitalitas). Second, so thatreaders can empathize with various individuals with real hospitalities in variousaspects of life.

scholarly journals BERBAGI KASIH DAN BERKAT ALLAH DENGAN KAUM MUDA

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-112
Author(s):  
Ola Rongan Wilhelmus
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Church

All the talents, potentials and abilities possessed by young people are a gift and a blessing from God. Therefore the Church is always present for young people and is called to provide special assistance to them. The Church's efforts to provide assistance to the young people with the intention of helping them find meaning in life, realizing their talents, potential, abilities, dreams and life expectancy is a success of the Church in building the future of the Church, society and the world. Because the journey and future of the Church, society and the world are truly in young people.

Public Bioethics

2021 ◽  
pp. 187-212
Author(s):  
Courtney S. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Moral Agency ◽  
Latter Day Saints ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Square ◽  
Elective Abortion ◽  
Lds Church ◽  
The Church ◽  
Policy Question

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) ecclesiastical policy on health, medical, and moral issues has seldom addressed itself to the healing professions or to questions of public policy, an ethical insularity coherent with the principles of respect for moral agency and trust in the healing vocation of the professions. However, some issues reveal limits to peaceful compromise between ecclesiastical policy with both professional morality and public policy of the secular state and have prompted the LDS Church to forgo ecclesiastical silence and present a public witness of its values and positions on a policy question to a broader civic audience. This chapter focuses on two such examples, elective abortion and medical marijuana. The public square of moral reasoning within LDS teaching is constructed by principles of engaged citizenship, separation, and the moral core.

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