Jana Riess – From Pariah to Model Minority: Mormonism in Popular Culture
In opening scene of 2003 South Park “All about Mormons” it told of a new student who was a squeaky clean and active youth. It mocks and praises us. It also ridicules our story about Joseph Smith, angels as ancient Indians, etc. Continue reading
Senator Bennett, Mormons in US Politics
A Jewish/gay friend said, “Mormons are the next topic. In the 60s and 70s, blacks were the topics. Then women were the topic. Now gays are the topic, but Mormons are the next topic.” Mormon corridor, Romney will do well.
There are 5% Senators who are Mormon, while we are 3% of the population. Becoming prominent outside of the Mormon corridor. Some leaders acknowledge they are Mormon, while others do not (such as the Udalls). There are now 7 with Mormon roots in the Senate. There are more Mormons than Presbyterians or Episcopalians. Utah used to have the rule of 1 Mormon Senator and the other not. That rule didn’t last long. My father experienced anti-Mormons in the Senate when he was there. Harry Truman did not like Mormons. His Secretary of Agriculture was RLDS, and everything he knew came from Independence MO. I did not run into Mormon prejudice, quite the contrary. I presided over the National Prayer Breakfast. We only would run across the issue of Mormons not being Christians. Chief of Chaplains of Navy said Mormon chaplains were the best (he is 7th Day Adventists). I did not experience the prejudice my father seen. Continue reading
Philip Barlow, Being Mormon in Utah and Elsewhere.
Jan is a lynch pin for Mormon Studies development over the years. Unusually thoughtful and gregarious non-LDS Mormon scholar that has helped this move forward. She speaks fluid Mormon.
Emphasizing the USA and 21st century with some allusions to earlier times and other places. Prof Stendall at Harvard Divinity School spoke in Utah invited by Truman Madsen. I asked him about it, and he said, “I haven’t processed it, yet. It was perhaps like being among the Jews in Jerusalem.”
On a flight to Israel, I was on a large jet, with most of it filled with ultra orthodox Jews in their special garb. I was impressed with their presence. They were talking a lot and taking time getting into their seats. Once in the air, they commandeered the plane, praying and rocking. Arriving on their Independence Day, the city suddenly stopped for a moment of silence for those who died defending Israel. There was a cab with an Israeli flag. An ultra orthodox walked by and grabbed the flag. The cab owner ran after the Hasidic Jew, leaving them stuck in traffic. They came back to the cab, fighting. I thought, this is a very chosen land. Israel’s intention for itself, its meaning or space, is a struggle. Continue reading
We’re live blogging! Jan Shipps, historian of all things Mormon is the first speaker. Her talk is “The Surprising History of Mormonism’s Golden Question”.
What do you know about the Mormons? Would you like to know more? (audience chuckles).
These two brief questions have been used tens of thousands of times in 20th century. Standard tactic to start a conversation to help others join the LDS church between the end of WWII and 2000.
Standard questions uniformity of missionary program. The members and ex-members anxious to share their view of Mormonism. Ex Mormons want to share the faith they’ve lost. My husband was once met by missionaries. They asked the golden question. I suspect he said, “much too much.” He told them they would probably baptize him after he’s dead, so don’t worry about it.
It is now a question not only of Mormons asking the questions, but of the world needing to know more. Continue reading
Dear Harry,
As a fellow member of the saints, I wish to write a letter to you in regards to some concerns I have. We are called of God to set a righteous and good example to the world. In many ways over your life, I believe you have succeeded in doing this. I do have a fear, however, that some of your statements divide, rather than unite the saints of God.
Christ has called on us to “be one, and if ye are not one, ye are not mine” (D&C 38:7). Interestingly, this command comes as a warning regarding the evils and secret combinations that are ever growing in the world. Continue reading