Mormons: Why they do what they do
For non Mormons living in Utah, temples, caffeine-free sodas and the occasional white garment peeping from a shirt sleeve are familiar sights. But without a missionary lesson or a background in the LDS church, the purpose of such things may still be a mystery. Gordon Low, stake president of the University First Stake, said it doesn’t have to be.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints walk a fine line when talking about their faith. Low said trying to explain to people who aren’t LDS what is involved in the religion without compromising what Mormons feel is sacred can be hard.
He said there are simple explanations to questions many people have about specific aspects of the LDS church.
For example, many people see temples, but do not understand their purpose or why entrance is restricted. Low said members consider what happens in the temple to be sacred, so they are often hesitant to talk about it. Simply put, though, he said temples are a place for worthy LDS church members to make promises with God and to gain spiritual knowledge.
“Spiritual things are taught in a symbolic manner,” Low said.
While technically everyone is invited to come to the temple, Low said people must qualify to enter by being active LDS church members and upholding certain standards of morality.
Some of the activities that take place inside the temple are marriages, which Mormons believe are eternal, and specific rites for the dead, such as baptism.
Those who receive endowments in the temple then wear garments to remind them of the promises they have made to God, Low said. He said some other religions have religious clothing also, but LDS people wear undergarments as a private reminder of temple covenants.
For those wondering why LDS friends have said “No thanks” to a cup of coffee, Low said Mormons avoid eating and drinking certain things as part of a revelation they follow called the Word of Wisdom.
“The Word of Wisdom is a revelation given to help us better take care of our bodies,” he said.
Things prohibited by the Word of Wisdom include alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco and other habit-forming substances, according to www.mormon.org.
Low said in return for following the Word of Wisdom, Mormons are promised health, wisdom and inspiration.
While some people may see it as not a big deal to have one beer, Low said it is prohibited by LDS doctrine.
“People ask, ‘Why so strict?’ Why not? If you have compliance, why not full compliance?” he said.
Low said something many other religions ask about is the extra books of scripture beyond the Bible that Mormons use – the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.
Low said the other books of scripture do not replace the Bible, but complement it. He said they are extra revelation to help modern people.
“Time changes, circumstances change, peoples’ needs change and the Lord continues to help us in a changing world.”
The Book of Mormon is – by nature of its subtitle – another testament of Jesus Christ, Low said. He said it is a book meant to focus on the stories of the interaction of people in the western hemisphere with Christ. Along with the revelation given in recent scripture, Low said revelations and prophecy in the LDS church comes from the men LDS church members hold to be prophets and apostles.
LDS church President Thomas Monson and the men who are in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the Quorums of the Seventy are seen by Mormons as able to provide direct revelation from God, Low said. This is distinct from other religious authority figures because Low said Mormons believe LDS men hold priesthood directly restored from the priesthood Christ held, rather than the priesthood corrupted by apostasy after Christ’s death.
Low said he thinks many Mormons are afraid to tell others about these aspects of their religion because it seems complicated or too sacred for them to talk about, but simple answers are available for non Mormons who want to know what the LDS church is about.
-di.lewis@aggiemail.usu.edu