I recently went to an LDS-hosted interfaith concert to support my nevermo sister who helps organize it. I posted about it here:
https://www.exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,2284003,2284003#msg-2284003As I said in that previous post, I didn't realize the concert was at the ward building I used to attend until I arrived at the location (it's been a long time and that memory is mercifully dim). The evening was billed as interfaith music & spoken word (a UN World Interfaith Harmony Week event).
As I arrived, I thought the parking lot looked familiar. Then I spied through the window the First Vision painting on the front wall as it always was and thought yup: This is the Place.
When I entered the building, two LDS men immediately approached and asked if I would like a tour. I had to laugh - I had spent three years in that place so wasn’t in need of a tour at all, but I didn’t say that to them. Just shook my head no thanks. It’s a nice building. A stake centre, home of several wards. It’s spacious (great-and-spacious – ha!). Quiet. Co-ordinated décor, though bland. It’s two hallways, some offices, a chapel, the basketball court (aka cultural centre) and a couple of bathrooms. What’s to tour? Why tour? It’s not St. Paul’s Cathedral. A bit strange. Perhaps a ploy to get the chance for you to “ask questions” so they could preach a bit, maybe hand you some literature. So the bait and switch starts immediately upon entry. Come to a concert, walk into a hallway sermon.
I noticed that every chair outside the bishop’s office was full. My stomach clenched. The office where a man previously unknown to me was required by his religion to ask me questions about my sex life as a new convert to his church. And I, a grown woman, felt compelled to answer him. We were embarrassed. (His blush revealed that he was as uncomfortable as I was. Still, we proceeded, as expected by church leadership). (I realized later that on a Saturday night those seats were likely filled by concert-goers and not Mormon supplicants awaiting the bishop’s pleasure or not, as the case may be).
On my way to my seat, I checked out the bulletin board in the hallway where I plied my major calling as bulletin board monitor (although every item pinned up had to be pre-approved by the bishop, even my collection of various pictures of Jesus, to my surprise – what harm, I always wondered, could I do with renderings of Jesus in his travels and doing his ministry. That was before I knew there was Mormon Jesus and non-Mormon Jesus and the only True Jesus was the white-robed, red-coated Mormon one).
There must have been official pictures of Mormon Jesus around on this occasion but I didn’t notice them. The First Vision was front and centre in the entrance. Mormon Jesus not. Or any Jesus. A metaphor, perhaps, for downplaying Jesus and upgrading Joseph within the Mormon Church, at least in my experience. Jesus is just your brother, after all.
About 300 people showed up (including performers and their families). Filled the ‘cultural centre’ (aka basketball court, lol). I don’t think it was especially an LDS audience at all.
Before the concert began, the ‘Master of Ceremonies’/announcer (female, Mormon) introduced the Stake President to my sister (“K”). When the MC said “This is President X”, K said “Oh, is President Y gone?” The MC replied, “No, he’s still there. There are three of them.” (I laughed. K is still just getting used to the hierarchy in Mormondom. I explained to her afterwards that everything is set up in 3’s – a leader and two “counsellors” in every sphere). I didn’t get included in the introductions. Oh well. I didn’t care.
The MC started the evening by informing the audience not to consume coffee, tea or alcohol in the building or to smoke cigarettes indoors or on the grounds. This is due to “the LDS health code” she stated. K expressed irritation to me afterwards as she said it’s a negative way to start an event (No No No) plus most of the people in the room do not smoke or drink due to their own beliefs so the announcement comes across as unnecessarily belittling and tone deaf. I mean, it’s kind of a duh. (Although I don’t blame them for mentioning not to smoke even on the grounds – if there were smokers present they may think that stepping outside would be acceptable, as in most other places. They wouldn’t realize, perhaps, that the injunction applied to the outdoor space as well).
The MC outlined the upcoming program and then instructed the crowd “Do not applaud Holy Scripture” when it is read (i.e. “the spoken word” part of the program). It was a bit confusing as to when to applaud or not as there was “spoken word” that wasn’t scripture and then we did clap. It was surprising to hear a person of one faith referring to another faith’s writings as “holy scripture”. Never would you get a JW, for instance, to utter that sentiment (as they believe all religion is “false” except theirs). Nor, I suspect, would any BAC say that about the Quran, for instance. You could say it’s holy scripture to them. I’m still more than a little surprised that the Mormon Church takes part in an interfaith event from a religious point of view but I can see it if it’s a proselytizing effort.
We started off by singing the first verse of O Canada. I don’t remember ever singing our National Anthem in church before. I was quite surprised. (In the ward I attended they occasionally sang the Star Spangled Banner. No offence but that was a bit strange, first to sing it in church, second that it’s not our own country’s anthem). After that, the MC read out the final verse of O Canada as a prayer to start the evening.
The concert consisted of music and readings by groups including Islam, Hindu, Baha’i, Hare Krishna, Sihk, Lutheran and LDS. There were two contributions from Islamic adherents and one each from the others. LDS had three soloists, two choir numbers (one a Spanish choir and one with the Lutheran choir) and the benediction to close. So - weighted in favour of LDS. Two of the numbers by LDS soloists were listed as “modern Christian” and the song with the Lutheran Choir was listed as “Christian”. I didn’t read or hear the word ‘Mormon’ at all. The last performer, LDS, wore jeans to sing his solo. That’s pretty loosey-goosey for them.
Towards the end of the program, the MC briefly mentioned JS, his vision and his martyrdom. She said that JS was a prophet who was martyred “like most prophets” and that the church’s bicentennial was coming up, celebrating the vision. She also mentioned John Taylor, I think it was, as being the last surviving witness of JS’ martyrdom. I don’t understand why she included that detail – it seems fairly meaningless to a largely non-LDS crowd.
Then an LDS choir performed a number with a soloist, “Joseph’s mother”, singing “my son, my son, I believe him. I believe him” (about his vision, I guess). Didn’t hear mention of hats, rocks, digging, BoM, missionaries, pioneers, treks, polygamy, jail, lighted pens and other Mormon-related elements of their faith. True enough, they had to keep it short. I guess limiting their summary to “the Vision and Joseph Smith” can satisfy interfaith principles and present their theology in a nutshell.
The MC concluded by saying that the evening’s message could be distilled down to “Love God. Love your neighbour.” (Matthew 22, iow). She sounded like she really meant it. Maybe even a bit surprised. (Not all the readings were translated into English; i.e. Hare Krishna, but still you could get a sense of someone’s deep belief and dedication – maybe that would come as a surprise to an LDS member without much outside experience of others’ beliefs and traditions). I can live with that – love, love, love. Too bad Mormon leaders don’t keep it that simple. They have to add on and on. And on.
A Stake President gave the closing prayer. He said that he was impressed by the love and friendship expressed throughout the evening. I (irreverently) counted the number of times the SP said “bless” or “blessings” in his prayer. It was a lot. He seemed nervous.
Regarding interfaith principles, this is the message that the Mormon Church presents to the world:
From “Interfaith Cooperation” (LDS article):
https://canada.lds.org/interfaith-cooperation“Joseph Smith said “I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves.” (History of the Church, 5:498, from a discourse given on July 9, 1843 in Nauvoo, Illinois)”
Interfaith Relations (LDS Article):
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/interfaith“A respect for the diverse beliefs and unique contributions of all the world’s faiths is one of the hallmarks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From the faith's earliest days, Joseph Smith elevated the principle of religious liberty and tolerance: “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may” (Articles of Faith 1:11).
“In that same spirit, Church President Thomas S. Monson made a plea during general conference, a semiannual worldwide meeting, for more religious understanding: “I would encourage members of the Church wherever they may be to show kindness and respect for all people everywhere. The world in which we live is filled with diversity. We can and should demonstrate respect toward those whose beliefs differ from ours” (April 2008 General Conference address). Latter-day Saints accept all sincere believers as equals in the pursuit of faith and in the great work of serving humanity.
“Emphasizing God’s love for all people, not just those of one religion, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency, the highest governing body of the Church, declared: “We honor and respect sincere souls from all religions, no matter where or when they lived, who have loved God, even without having the fullness of the gospel. We lift our voices in gratitude for their selflessness and courage. We embrace them as brothers and sisters, children of our Heavenly Father. … He hears the prayers of the humble and sincere of every nation, tongue, and people. He grants light to those who seek and honor Him and are willing to obey His commandments” (April 2008 General Conference address).”
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I never got that message from them – have they changed? Or is it bait and switch? Seems like it. A message of interfaith cooperation and agreement presented outwardly. A different tune played inside their tent?
Bait and switch is by definition dishonest. To me, the Mormon Church puts a veneer of righteousness over their dark, lurking underbelly.
A church shouldn’t have to do that.
K called me later to review the evening. I said I had enjoyed the program but was still wide-eyed at Mormons being involved in interfaith activities. The fact of sending thousands of missionaries out into the world belies the notion that you buy into interfaith principles. Love God/love your neighbour and at that point does it matter which church you worship with? If Mormons really believed in the interfaith creed they wouldn’t need to take teens, and grandparents, away from home, sending them to foreign climes hunting for converts. I asked K why they offer tours. Tours of an ordinary building? My voice getting squeaky as I kept saying it over and over. Who goes to a concert and expects to take a tour of an ordinary building? Weird, it’s just weird. “I find it soulless” K said. “In other churches as well as temples” she went on, “there is a sense of reverence as you walk in. But not there”.
If “love” is your basic working principle (as they indicated with their “Love God, Love your Neighbour” concluding remarks), it doesn’t get so complicated, i.e. with a Mormon bishop intruding into every aspect of your being, including your sex life and your very mind and a myriad of other add-ons to their supposed primary tenet of love. Talking to K, I inadvertently went off on a bit of a diatribe about the Mormons participating in an interfaith gathering when the very essence of their religion belies the spirit of interfaith principles. I included bishop interviews where an adult man routinely asks young teens as well as adults questions about their sex life and their very thoughts. “The bishop asks you about your sex life,” K repeated slowly, as if she was checking her ears. Sometimes we get so used to a thing we lose track of how off base it is. K knows Mormons but she hasn’t been exposed to the underbelly. This is one of my biggest issues with them – whether intentionally or not, they give a different front to the world than the reality of Mormonism.
to be con't
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2020 10:43PM by Nightingale.