Ministering to Mormons

Reflecting on I Love Mormons A hot Way to Sh atomic number 18 christ with Latter-day SaintsMost people associate the Mormon doctrine with the perform service that is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, Mormonism has its roots in New York State, where Joseph metalworker founded the perform of present(prenominal) Saints during the nineteenth century, when he was allegedly visited by an ideal that he called Moroni.The principles upon which he based this church service underwent many changes as the founders of the trustfulness traveled westward, so many that people might question whether it is the same(p) creed or not. It is not unusual, however, for a young faith to extirpateure many changes it can be argued that Christianity experienced many of the same dynamics in it beginnings as it moved from its country and culture of origin and crack across the world. David Rowes text suggest that individuals who would preach Christianity to Mormons should approach Mormonism as le ss of a cult and more of a culture and forget less zeal than love, function 1 Overview of Mormon Theology concord to its founders, the Mormon faith is based on the principles of the descendents of ancient holy workforce and the faithful who came to this continent even before the birth of Christ. The original teachings of the church were supposed to claim been translated from golden plates that the angel Moroni, which were given to Joseph metalworker. Some of those beforehand(predicate) teachings charter fallen into disuse or baffle changed completely.For example, while Smith might have included polygamy and believed in a priesthood open to unaccompanied a chosen few, polygamy is now discouraged, if not openly condemned by the church and the priesthood has been open to men of all races (Rowe 2005). Other tenets have been added or subtracted from the faith or have altered in some way as the Mormon faith seeks to solidify itself.While the Mormons consider themselves to be a Chr istian faith, a number of beliefs and practices set them apart from another(prenominal) Christian denominations. Some of these beliefs and practices includeBaptism of the deadEternal marriage, known as a celestial marriage performed in the templeThe belief in quad sacred texts the Holy Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and The Book of Mormon, and command that deity, the Father and Jesus Christ, the son, are of separate earthly bodies (Rowe, 2005).The Mormon Church also places a lot of emphasis on the family and on sex roles. The church emphasizes the womans role in staying home and sympathize with for the children, while men typically take on leadership rolesalthough these things are not absolute. In addition, church members are intended to follow the law of chastity and to abstain from certain food, drinks, and substances.Church members are expected to proselytize. altogether male members of the church are expected to perform a mission, which begins at 19 years of age and lasts two years. Although women are not proscribe from going on missions, the requirements for women are different in enclosures of do during a mission. Finally, the LDS Church tends to believe that the individual can receive revelations from graven image, peculiarly in individualal matters. There are many precepts of this complex faith that are not covered by this paper however, the ones that are listed behave some of their more important beliefs.The Mormon faith does not have a mavin, monolithic form. Rather, it is comprised of splinter groups. Given the statement in Rowe (2005) that Mormonism may stand as an indictment to Protestants be endeavour they arose to compensate for some perceived adversity in the Christian movement that encouraged him to break a single true Church that he believed would unify all members and spell an end to denominational schism, this fact is interesting and interesting one (pp. 18-19).In general, the term Mormon is mo st accurately applied to the individuals who followed Smiths teachings and colonized in Utah however, the church elders prefer that it be known by the more accurate name of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Rowe, 2005).Section 2 Wisely and GentlyKraft (1998) reminds the reader that perfection apparently wants people to be respectful of other cultures and that He gave such directions through the Holy Bible. In 1 Corinthians 919-22, Kraft states, Gods purpose is indicated through Pauls way of life of speaking intimately living like a Jew when among the Jews and living like a gentile when among the Gentiles, and so macrocosm all things to all men, that he might save some of them by whatever means are possible (p. 384).Kraft discusses the various levels of culture, which is the mien in which people live their lives. People are products of their culture, which determines the manner in which they view the world and the pressure for the individual to conform at heart th at worldview is untouch fitting (Kraft, 1998). In addition, Kraft reminds the reader that Jesus worked not by fight people or their cultures, but by working with people within their cultures to effect change.Overall, Mormonism has a number of good principles behind it and yet its worshipers have been widely persecuted for their faith. Todays Mormons tend to be thin-skinned, hypersensitive, and virtually expecting to be attacked for their beliefs (Rowe, 2005, p. 49). Whether or not the individual talking with a Mormon agrees with the positions of that persons faith, Rowe states that they are deserving of respect.This position is particularly important, since Mormons typically have a certainty in the truth as preached by their prophet and the awareness of their nature as what Rowe (2005) calls an exodus community (pp. 48-49), both of which cause them to close the doors to communication more readily than individuals in other faiths. disrespect the apparent wisdom behind this stateme nt of affairs, however, it appears to contradict the authors assertion that Utahs admittance to the Union ended the us against them mentality that existed between Mormons and the United States government at the time (p. 47).Section 3 ProselytizingRowe (2005) constantly reminds the reader that the Mormons have their own culture. For this reason, Christians are to mete out them as they might adherents to Islamic, Hindu, or Buddhist cultures, as strong as any other non-Christian cultures. Rowe (2005) describes the Mormon Church as being Christianesque in that it is linked to statements and images from the Bible (p. 42). However, some of the teachings are not Christian in nature, such as Joseph Smiths vision of separate beings for God the Father and Jesus Christ.Because this teaching is so different from that held by other Christians, it is important to be prepared with gentle teachings about its error, as well as other errors held by the Mormon Church. It is doubly important because the worldview of Mormonism is commanding in its teachings, just as is the case in many Muslim cultures (Duin, 2006, p. 2). Because it is not possible for Mormons to examine their faith for themselves, other Christians should be able to help them do so.According to Coleman (1993) Jesus was able to start with a small group of disciples because it did not matter how small the group was to start with so long as they reproduced and taught their disciples to reproduce (p. 102). It was a strategy that, as stated earlier, depended on assimilation to achieve results. One thing to share, then, would be that Christ died for everyone on the Cross, not just for a significant few. He accepted and cared for all faiths and races (Coleman, 1993).Rowe (2005) suggests trying to bring the two value systems into perspectives by working with the person being instructed to put the message of the Gospel into words according to each faith and then using that as a basis for discussion (p. 65). Final, it wou ld seem important to understand the Mormon teaching of two Beings known as God in the Mormon Church, and how it relates to or differs from the traditional Christian teaching of monotheism. By understanding these differences and by being able to speak in a learned and intelligent manner to another individual from a Mormon perspective.ReferencesColeman, R. E. (1993). The masters plan. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (3rd ed.), Ralph D. Winter and Stephen C. Hawthorne (eds.). Pasadena, CA William Carey.Duin, J. (2003). The Washington Times. New World Communications, Inc.Kraft, C. H. (1998). Culture, worldview, and contextualization.Rowe, D. (2005). I Love Mormons A New Way to dowry Christ with Latter-day Saints. Grand Rapids, MI Baker Books.