Those crazy Mormons!

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

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. None of their leaders, teachers, counselors,
Bishops or music directors receive one dime for the hours of labor they put
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 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 thous ands 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 are in the Secret Service
who protect the president. They serve in high leadership position 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) had 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 there are 15. They must be doing
something right.

Paul Allen
Santa Clarita, California