Mormon Bashers Won't Like This

[Blackberry]

I see that yet another Mormon-bashing thread was launched today. That does tend to get old, particularly when the allegations, innuendos, and outright slander are hashed, rehashed, and re-rehashed. Apparently, Mormon haters are bereft of even a gram of creativity.

So, here's a little fresh air. A gentleman named Paul Allen (not the Seattle Seahawks' Paul Allen) wrote a letter to the editor of a Santa Clarita (CA) newspaper. What follows is a slightly condensed version.

"I have heard and seen enough! I have lived in the West all my life. I have worked around [Mormons]. 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. [Mormons] are some of the most honest, hardworking people I know.

"They are spiritual, probably more than most other so-called religious people I have encountered. . . . They serve their religion without pay in every conceivable capacity. Not one of their leaders, teachers, counselors, Bishops, or music directors receives one dime for the hours of labor they put in. The Momons have a non-paid ministry--a fact that is 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. . . . 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. . . . To my surprise, when he found I was in some way investigating the Mormons, he became hostile. He referred to them as a non-Christian cult. . . . At first I was surprised and then again, I wasn't. I began to wonder. I have never known a cult that supports the Boy Scouts of America [over one-third of BSA troops in the U.S. 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. . . .

"The Mormon Church has donated millions to welfare causes around the world without a word of credit. They have donated thousands to help rebuild 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 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?"

Mr. Allen goes on to write about early-morning seminary, softball and basketball leagues, the high number of Mormons who are recuited 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--those who protect the President."

He notes that Mormons hold high leadership positions in both parties in Congress and the Senate, and that they have been governors of several states other than Utah. Here is his conclusion:

"If you have Mormons living near, you will probably find them to be your best friends and neighbors. . . . They are not perfect and they are the first to admit this. . . . The rhetoric which is spread around against them is nothing more than evil propaganda founded in untruths. (Others) have 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 will also be surprised. When I first moved here 25 years ago, there were five Mormon wards in Santa Clarita. Now there are 15. They must be doing something right."