Inside the Conference Center in Salt Lake City where Mormons just convened for their semi-annual Church-wide Conference

It's difficult for me to express my reaction to Mr. Woodard's article in yesterday's New York Times. Some have decried it as bigoted diatribe, noting that by replacing the word Mormon with Jew it comes across very poorly.

Certainly, there are parts that make me cringe but as a devout Mormon familiar with anti-Mormon rhetoric, Mr. Woodard's piece is pretty tame, by comparison.

I mean - if you want anti-Mormon rhetoric - I've got anti-Mormon rhetoric for you. Like the noted author who envisions the spires of the Washington D.C. Temple set there as nails to "crucify Christ anew" when he comes again. Or, since were on the subject of Mitt Romney, this gem from an obscure blog:

"Now gentle readers, for a time this will be my last post on Mormon Mitt Romney, the great hope of the false cult religion that desperately wants to convert the world so that they can fill them with their demons and take them to the lake of fire for an enternity, for awhile."

I'd give you the link but I really don't want to give this guy any traffic (heaven knows he needs it).

But there are some things we need to clear up about Mr. Woodard's piece... so here we go:

1) "Mormon clannishness" AND "A good Mormon is a busy Mormon"

I put these two together because they are intimately related. I know a lot of people in the blogosphere have taken offense at the "busy" caricature, but when I mentioned it to most Mormons - they laughed... because in many ways it's accurate. We are a busy folk.

Yes, Mormons are sometimes clannish but no more so than say full-blooded Italians or Greeks (wait - is that bigoted?).

The main reason that Mormons are perceived as "clannish" is that we spend a lot of time together.

Take this week for instance:

• It started at 9:00 on Sunday morning. A singer in another "Ward" was fallen ill and my wife filled in for one of the solos.
• Then we spent 3 hours at our Ward enjoying the Sabbath.
• (Did I mention that we started the day with the kids collecting those eggs ala the Pagan rites of Easter? Wait, is that bigoted?).
• Last night, we dutifully attened to our FHE (Family Home Evening) as the church recommends, spending Monday night with our families singing, reading scriptures and eating unseemly deserts.
• This morning, Mormon High School kids all over the U.S. will wake up before 6:00 and head down to their local chapel for early morning Seminary where they are studying the New Testament this year.
• Today (Tuesday) my nine year old will go after school and attend "Activities Day".
• Tonight, my twelve year-old will go to "Young Women's activities" - planting flowers in a fellow Mormons back yard.
• Thursday night my wife and I will attend some meetings to help plan for summer activities for the Church teenagers (we're building a replica of Moses' tabernacle in the wilderness)
• Saturday I'll be preparing for my Sunday School lesson on John 5-6 about Christ as the "Bread of Life"

So... yes, we are busy. I don't take too much offense from this - but I view it as a bit of a slight.

2) "To many Americans, Mormonism is a church with the soul of a corporation."

Woodward is obviously taking his cues from the Ostlings and the 1997 Time article "Mormons, Inc". This is more silly than it is offensive.

The offensive part comes later when Woodward states: "Successful Mormon males can expect to be called, at some time in their lives, to assume full-time duties in the church’s missions, in its vast administrative offices in Salt Lake City or in one of many church-owned businesses."

First, it's flat wrong. In my large circle of Mormon friends there isn't a single person who has ever taken a job with some church-owned business.

I'm not even sure what he means!?

Occasionally I volunteer at the Church's canning facility in Maryland but I don't think that qualifies in his statement.

Do Mormons go on missions? Yes. The rest of it is humbug.

(The whole slight of "vast administrative offices" and "assume full-time duties" implies the offensive lock-step cult caricature.)

Lastly, the "soul of the corporation" phrase was manufactured by leftist critics who have left the church.

3) "Mormons like to hire other Mormons, and those who lose their jobs can count on the church networks to find them openings elsewhere."

Yes, shockingly enough the Church tries to take care of its members. The Mormon Church even has an extensive website (ProvidentLiving.org) to help anyone in their finances, find employment, and even with their physical health.

4) "That some voters still confuse the Latter-day Saints with fundamentalist Mormon sects that continue to practice polygamy and child marriage is another reason the candidate should take the time to set the record straight."

While I feel that Woodward is somehow dictating Romney strategy... he's probably right on this one.

5) "Any journalist who has covered the church knows that Mormons speak one way among themselves, another among outsiders."

I think this phrase is definately a slight. He's referring here to the way we portray doctrine to others. I think this is flatly unfair. If he has more than one example to cite I welcome it.

6) "There is no evidence that church authorities have tried to influence any of these public servants. "

Finally, a refreshing stance. I agree with you on this one. Thanks Kenneth.

In short, I can see how Hugh and Dean and others can be flatly offended by this approach. But most Mormons will tell you - "I've heard worse"

Labels: Mormon, mormonism