Subject: Editorial on the Mormons
date: Tue, 17 May 2005 17:47:02 -0600

Subject: An Editorial on Mormons - Santa Clarita, CA newspaper Editor
We have all heard both good and bad things spoken publicly about the
church. Thought you would enjoy the article below by a newspaper

An Editorial on Mormons-Santa Clarita, CA newspaper Editor:

I have heard and seen enough! I have lived in the West all my life. I have worked around them. They have worked for me and I for them.
When I was young, I dated their daughters. When I got married they
came to my wedding. Now that I have daughters of my own, some of their boys have dated my daughters. I would be privileged if one of them were to be my
son-in-law. I'm talking about the Mormons.

They are some of the most honest, hard-working people I have ever
known. They are spiritual, probably more than most other so-called
religious people I have encountered. They study the Bible and teach from it as much as any Christian church ever has. They serve their religion without pay in every conceivable capacity. Not one of their leaders, teachers, counselors, Bishops or music directors receive one dime for the hours of labor they put in. The Mormons have a non-paid ministry - a fact not generally known. I have heard many times from the pulpits of others how evil and non-Christian they are and that they will not go to heaven. I decided recently to attend one of their services near my home to see for
myself. What a surprise! What I heard and saw was just the opposite from what
the religious ministers of the day were telling me. I found a very simple
service with no fanfare. I found a people with a great sense of humor
and a well-balanced spiritual side. There was no loud music. Just a simple
service, with the members themselves giving the several short sermons.
They urge their youth to be morally clean and live a good life.
They teach the gospel of Christ, as they understand it. The name of
their church is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Does
that sound like a non-Christian church to you?

I asked them many questions about what they teach and why. I got
answers that in most cases were from the New Testament. Their ideas and
doctrines did not seem too far fetched for my understanding. When I read their "Book of Mormon" I was also very surprised to find just the opposite from what I had
been told I would find.

Then I went to another church's pastor to ask him some of the same
questions about doctrine. To my surprise, when he found out that I was
in some way investigating the Mormons, he became hostile. He referred to
them as a non-Christian cult. I received what sounded to me like evil
propaganda against those people. He stated bluntly that they were not
Christian and that they did not fit into the Christian mold. He also told me that
they don't really believe in the Bible. He gave me a pile of anti-Mormon
literature. He began to rant that the Mormons were not telling me the
truth about what they stand for. He didn't want to hear anything good about
them.

At first I was surprised and then again, I wasn't. I began to wonder.
I have never known of a cult that supports the Boy Scouts of America.
According to the Boy Scouts, over a third of all the Boy Scout troops
in the United States are Mormon.

What cult do you know of that has a welfare system second to none in
this country? They have farms, canneries and cattle ranches to help take
care of the unfortunate ones who might be down and out and in need of a
little help. The Mormon Church has donated millions to welfare causes around
the world without a word of credit. They have donated thousands to help
re-build Baptist churches that were burned a few years ago. They have
donated tons of medical supplies to countries ravaged by earthquakes.
You never see them on TV begging for money. What cult do you know of
that instills in its members to obey the law, pay their taxes, serve in the
military if asked and be a good Christian by living high moral standards?
Did you know that hundreds of thousands Mormon youth get up before
high school starts in the morning to attend a religious training class?
They have basketball and softball leagues and supervised youth dances
every month. They are recruited by the FBI, the State Department and every
police department in the country, because they are trustworthy.
They are taught not to drink nor take drugs.
They serve in high leadership positions from both parties in Congress
and in the U.S. Senate, and have been governors of several states other
than Utah. They serve with distinction and honor.

If you have Mormons living near, you will probably find them to be
your best friends and neighbors. They are Christians who try to live what they preach. They are not perfect and they are the first to admit this. I have known some of them who could not live their religion, just like many of us.
The rhetoric which is spread around against them is nothing more than
evil propaganda founded in untruths. (Others) have successfully demonized
them to the point that the general public has no idea what they actually
believe and teach. If you really want to know the truth, go see for
yourself. You, also, will be surprised.

When I first moved here some 25 years ago there were five Mormon wards
in Santa Clarita. Now the are are 15. They must be doing something right.

Paul Allen Santa Clarita, California