Mormon Sunday School
Okay, it was Thursday School, not Sunday School. Anyway, tonight I accompanied my friend to the local LDS institute for a weekly class. No, I wasn’t searching for new answers. But the Mormons I know are some of the finest people you could meet and I thought it would be interesting to learn about their beliefs. I also wanted to support my friend and open a new door of communication. It was indeed interesting and I plan to return at least a few more times.
We walked into the dark, 40 seat classroom about 20 minutes late as they were watching a DVD. I quickly realized that, over the years, I had become used to seeing religious documentaries on Israel and the Middle East, detailing events of 2,000 to 6,000 years ago. As an American, it was different to watch these South Americans viewing a dubbed film about religious church fathers from my country. The journeys of Joseph Smith and others, as well as their visions and prophecies, were presented in somewhat the same way you would see the lives and travels of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus presented. Given the faith’s beliefs and roots, it makes sense. I just was not used to hearing places in New York and Ohio described as if they were Canaan or Capernaum.
A man in his fifties stopped the film about 15 minutes after we arrived and proceeded with the lecture. Being very well spoken and knowledgeable, I found the instructor interesting and the time passed quickly. A few students chimed in with comments and questions as they discussed the LDS Church’s view of the body as a temple. The belief was admirable and the principles fell inline exactly with the teaching of any sound Christian church. What differed, as it does among Christian denominations, were the particulars. I learned Mormons do not drink coffee, black tea, wine, or “strong drinks” and do not smoke. The rest of the discussion dealt with some core beliefs regarding behavior as well as church structure.
As the class wound down, we read a lovely writing by Orson F. Whitney, detailing a dream he had of Jesus. They also played a recording from the 1800s where a man name Wilford Woodruff recounts and verifies an encounter he had with Joseph Smith. It is said this is one of the earliest known voice recording and was produced by an invention that was not the microphone. (They didn’t get into specifics too much, or if they did, I lost it in translation). After turning off the recording, the instructor was visibly moved. He asked the students how they felt after listening to Woodruff and told them this was a privilege many other believers had not experienced.
I’ve been surrounded by the godless and agnostics my whole life, but for the first time, I was in a room where everyone practiced a religion much different than mine. I don’t know why I had never been to a mosque, a synagogue, or temple, but I hadn’t. This evening’s experience produced in me a basic, yet profound realization: It is amazing how quickly we acclimate to our own beliefs and assume them to be normal while instantly becoming skeptical of others. For those with firm beliefs, the skepticism isn’t unfounded, just interesting. Tonight forced me to think more about how I interact with someone who is not a Christian. What skepticism are they feeling? What practices and traditions make them feel uncomfortable or isolated because they cannot understand? When they question Christianity, what is it really like to have these doubts and not just be cynical?
I must say, while I’m still young and in good health, I enjoy the process of maturing. It fascinates me to realize how little I know and how big and complex this world is.
