The city is clean, spacious and hospitable. Even more so, are its people. Mormons, or officially, members of the Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints, are always ready to help, and do so with a big smile. However, many days after the visit, I am still wondering what makes them believe such a far-fetched story.
Early in the 19th century, Joseph Smith, an uneducated young man, has doubts about the church teachings. While meditating in the forest, God and Jesus appear, and appoint him a prophet. Eventually, an angel leads him to discover gold plates inscribed in an unknown language. Through divine inspiration he translates the plates, which describe Jesus' resurrection in America. Over time, Smith has many heavenly revelations which shape the church doctrine and strategy. To this day, church prophets receive revelations regarding current affairs.
My "far-fetched" comment notwithstanding, I have nothing against the Mormon church. As far as I know, it never started a war, nor killed any heretics. The lifestyle it recommends is wholesome, and even includes time-restricted-eating. (Unfortunately, polygamy is gone) My dilemma is that, what I have learned, doesn't fit the simple theories I held regarding religion. I assumed that, people need to believe in an afterlife because of our universal fear of death. Furthermore, most religious organizations build on that fear by providing Heaven for those that follow the rules, and Hell for those that don't. In contrast, according to the mormon faith, almost everyone goes to Heaven, and there is almost no Hell. It seems to me that if you abandon a christian sect to become a mormon, you gain very little, but risk a lot.
So why every year, hundreds of thousands of converts, do just that?
Is the mormon Heaven better?
Is it the wish to belong to a tight community? (Adi's theory)
Any comments that help solve this dilemma would be appreciated.
No comments:
Post a Comment