On my way to the post office the other day, I was approached by a young man on a bike. He was wearing a helmet and a dark blue suit jacket. Pinned to his jacket was a name tag in both English and Chinese. The young man wanted to tell me about his mission: Espousing the virtues of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints and the Book of Mormon. The young man, with facial hair just barely visible, seemed a bit nervous. I thought I might have been the first person he approached. Maybe I was the first soul he was trying to save.
I did not want to disappoint him. I took the flier he offered me, wondering to myself what his reaction would be if I told him I come from the Holy Land. I put the flier in my purse and headed to the post office. I mailed my package and headed back home.
Then, in the comfort of my own room, I gave the flier a closer look. I kept looking at the image on the front side of the flier trying to decipher what kind of message it was trying to convey. Flipping the flier over, I found an invitation to receive another testament of Jesus Christ. I paused, looking at the word "another" in disbelief. As someone who believes that the Bible is the only testimony of Jesus Christ, I could not buy the young man’s mission.
But the incident stayed with me for a few days. Eventually I decided to let it go. As I currently live in a country where freedom of religion and freedom of speech are safeguarded, I should expect more similar encounters. The next time, though, I will proclaim that I come from the Holy Land.
Yep, you should expect lots of encounters! It’s messy…and interesting! All this struggling for the divine in so many different ways. I say, “Viva la difference!”
A timely discussion of Mormon beliefs and practices can be found on Andrew Sullivan’s blog at Time.com. (Check out the Mormon underwear.)
I don’t personally know any Mormons. The closest I’ve come is the governor of Massachusetts — Mitt Romney. What I know about him is that he is one of the most ignorant, prejudiced, hateful people I’ve seen, and he uses his religion to back such hatred.
Here, here Maryam! For a little comic relief, you and Jeff will have to check out South Park Episode 712. A real good time 🙂
South Park did the most amazing piece on the Mormons. Wish I could send it to you.
The premise for these people is that some gold tablets where found that “only” their prophet could decifer, and then “only” while locked in a room alone with them. Later the “original” text was lost, he found the magic tablets again and made a “new” and “better” translation, then God took them back, so no one could check his work.. Its hardly sillier than the belief that people 150 year after the fact could describe things Christ did, *when there was no one else around to witness it*, or that the OT is infallible, despite the fact that entire sections are selectively ignored, often with one tiny bit, like the anti-gay issue, being taken out of a section that is otherwise full of stuff that “good Christians” would demand immediate jail time for commiting, and I mean stuff it says in that part that you “should” do, like beating your child to death for getting uppity. Personally, I don’t find it any less annoying when some non-Mormon shows up with the same salvation speel, but a more “accepted” set of wacky claims. The first assumption they “all” have is that, if you are not three blocks away doing the same thing to someone else, you are unsaved, going to hell and need their pamphlets.
As for calling Israel racist… Is there any state over there that “isn’t”? Just saying, because I don’t see the difference myself, never mind what ever other excuse you use for your racist claims of them being the only racist ones involved.
What??? Don’t tell me that you didn’t know that the native inhabitants of the Americas are actually the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel. How ignorant. Mormons would love the fact that you are from the Holy Land, until they find out that you are not Jewish. The Mormon church is one of the largest organized groups that is unwavering in their support of racist state of Israel.
And expect some kind of worship too! Big deal !
Be ready for the word Wow when you do that, probably accompanied by big eyes, changing facial expressions. It’ll be an interesting experienc(s).
Another hint for you to visit Utah, the one and true Zion.