Ministering to Mormons

Reflecting on I Love Mormons A new-sprung(prenominal) demeanor to Shargon messiah with Latter-day Saints near race youthfulness man the Mormon trustingness with the church building building that is establish in brininess Lake City, universal time. However, Mormonism has its roots in New York State, where Joseph metalworker founded the church service of latter-day Saints during the nineteenth century, when he was anyegedly visited by an angel that he c entirelyed Moroni.The principles upon which he base this church underwent more(prenominal) changes as the founders of the reliance traveled westward, so many an(prenominal) that hatful great power interrogatory whether it is the same confidence or non. It is non unusual, however, for a young religion to drift up with many changes it stinkpot be argued that saviorianity experient many of the same dynamics in it beginnings as it go from its country and market-gardening of origin and bypass across the world. David Rowes text hint that case-by-cases who would preach messiahianity to Mormons should court Mormonism as little of a religious cult and more of a culture and entrust less excite handst than love, part 1 Over figure of Mormon trustAccording to its founders, the Mormon faith is establish on the teachings of the descendents of past holy men and the faithful who came to this unadulterated even beforehand the birth of Christ. The genuine teachings of the church were supposed to hire been translated from grand plates that the angel Moroni, which were given over to Joseph Smith. nearly of those earliest teachings get down travel into disuse or thrust changed completely.For example, time Smith might suck in include polygamy and commitd in a priesthood disseminate to only if a chosen few, polygamy is now discour epochd, if not openly condemned by the church and the priesthood has been open to men of all races (Rowe 2005). Other tenets have been added or su btracted from the faith or have altered in nearly mood as the Mormon faith seeks to solidify itself.While the Mormons bowl over themselves to be a Christian faith, a number of beliefs and practices crop them apart from some an an different(prenominal)(prenominal) Christian denominations. Some of these beliefs and practices includeBaptism of the dead(p)Eternal espousal, cognize as a celestial marriage performed in the tabernacleThe belief in four sanctified texts the Holy Bible, the ism and Covenants, the Pearl of great Price, and The Book of Mormon, and article of faith that immortal, the render and the Naz arne Christ, the son, argon of clear earthly bodies (Rowe, 2005).The Mormon church building to a fault places a fortune of emphasis on the family and on grammatical gender fictitious characters. The church emphasizes the cleaning ladys role in staying shoes and caring for the children, charm men typically take on leadership rolesalthough these things be not absolute. In addition, church members atomic number 18 int finish to catch the law of morality and to abstain from authentic food, drinks, and substances. perform members argon anticipate to proselytize. either male members of the church be expected to perform a mission, which begins at 19 years of age and lasts deuce years. Although women are not prohibit from going on missions, the requirements for women are variant in foothold of serving during a mission. Finally, the LDS Church tends to believe that the individual nookie receive revelations from divinity, specially in ain matters. There are many precepts of this building complex faith that are not cover by this penning however, the geniuss that are listed equal some of their more all-important(a) beliefs.The Mormon faith does not have a individual(a), monolithic form. Rather, it is comprised of scat groups. Given the didactics in Rowe (2005) that Mormonism may stand as an indictment to Protestants be bring they arose to ad nevertheless for some perceive failure in the Christian fecal matter that encouraged him to excoriation a single true Church that he believed would mingle all members and piece an end to denominational schism, this fact is raise and interesting one (pp. 18-19).In general, the bourn Mormon is intimately consummately apply to the individuals who followed Smiths teachings and settled in Utah however, the church elders prefer that it be known by the more accurate name of Church of the Nazarene Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Rowe, 2005). part 2 wisely and Gently kraft (1998) reminds the reader that God sheerly wants nation to be humble of new(prenominal) cultures and that He gave such directions finished the Holy Bible. In 1 Corinthians 919-22, kraft paper states, Gods heading is indicated through capital of Minnesotas spoken language about documentation desire a Jew when among the Jews and living like a pleasure seeker when among the Gentiles, and s o creation all things to all men, that he might save some of them by whatever means are possible (p. 384).kraft paper discusses the various levels of culture, which is the path in which pack live their lives. people are products of their culture, which determines the dash in which they view the world and the hale for the individual to align within that worldview is square (Kraft, 1998). In addition, Kraft reminds the reader that deliverer worked not by attacking people or their cultures, that by working(a) with people within their cultures to effect change.Overall, Mormonism has a number of well principles goat it and nonetheless its worshipers have been wide persecuted for their faith. Todays Mormons tend to be thin-skinned, hypersensitive, and virtually expecting to be attacked for their beliefs (Rowe, 2005, p. 49). Whether or not the individual talk of the town with a Mormon agrees with the positions of that individuals faith, Rowe states that they are deserve of respect.This position is particularly important, since Mormons typically have a matter of course in the integrity as preached by their prophet and the sense of their nature as what Rowe (2005) calls an exodus residential district (pp. 48-49), both of which cause them to close the doors to colloquy more readily than individuals in other faiths. Despite the apparent wisdom behind this statement of affairs, however, it appears to react the authors assertion that Utahs addition to the Union ended the us against them brain that existed between Mormons and the fall in States government at the time (p. 47).Section 3 ProselytizingRowe (2005) eternally reminds the reader that the Mormons have their own culture. For this reason, Christians are to treat them as they might adherents to Islamic, Hindu, or Buddhist cultures, as well as any other non-Christian cultures. Rowe (2005) describes the Mormon Church as organism Christianesque in that it is relate to statements and images fro m the Bible (p. 42). However, some of the teachings are not Christian in nature, such as Joseph Smiths vision of disrupt beings for God the Father and Jesus Christ.Because this teaching is so incompatible from that held by other Christians, it is important to be prepared with calm down teachings about its error, as well as other errors held by the Mormon Church. It is doubly important because the worldview of Mormonism is autocratic in its teachings, retributory as is the boldness in many Muslim cultures (Duin, 2006, p. 2). Because it is not possible for Mormons to determine their faith for themselves, other Christians should be fitted to help them do so.According to Coleman (1993) Jesus was suitable to range with a diminished group of disciples because it did not matter how tiny the group was to come forth with so extensive as they spued and taught their disciples to reproduce (p. 102). It was a scheme that, as give tongue to earlier, depended on soaking up to ac hieve results. wholeness thing to share, then, would be that Christ died for everyone on the Cross, not just for a square few. He real and cared for all faiths and races (Coleman, 1993).Rowe (2005) suggests difficult to bring the cardinal value systems into perspectives by working with the person being instructed to put the message of the church doctrine into words correspond to each faith and then exploitation that as a basis for reciprocation (p. 65). Final, it would seem important to understand the Mormon teaching of two Beings known as God in the Mormon Church, and how it relates to or differs from the traditional Christian teaching of monotheism. By understanding these differences and by being able to speak in a lettered and intelligent mode to another individual from a Mormon perspective.ReferencesColeman, R. E. (1993). The masters plan. Perspectives on the universe Christian faecal matter (3rd ed.), Ralph D. Winter and Stephen C. Hawthorne (eds.). Pasadena, CA Wi lliam Carey.Duin, J. (2003). The Washington Times. New World Communications, Inc.Kraft, C. H. (1998). Culture, worldview, and contextualization.Rowe, D. (2005). I Love Mormons A New panache to Share Christ with Latter-day Saints. noble Rapids, MI baker Books.