An editorial on Mormons from a
> Santa Clarita, CA newspaper
>
> Editor:
>
> I have heard and seen enough! I have lived in the West all my life.
> 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. Not one of their
> leaders, teachers, counselors, Bishops or music directors receive
> one dime for the hours of labor they put in. 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 thousands 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 - those who protect
> the President. They serve in high leadership positions 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