This is the first of what may turn out to be a recurring series on this blog profiling other Mormon denominations. Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (including many in the leadership) tend to act as though they have exclusive hold on the term ‘Mormon’, which is ironic in that they are simultaneously not fully comfortable with that term. This possessiveness of the term ‘Mormon’ owes mostly I think to a fear of the LDS Church being confused with some of the offshoots, most notably the polygamist ones. However in all fairness any Church that traces itself back to Joseph Smith, or holds the Book of Mormon as scripture, is legitimately Mormon.
One of the most recent Mormon Church’s to come into existence is The Latter Day Church of Christ. This faith is unlike most smaller Mormon bodies in that it is 1) not Polygamist, and 2) based outside of North America, in this case the UK. Rejecting most of post Joseph Smith Mormon history as a period of apostasy, this group claims Matthew Philip Gill as the prophets first legitimate successor. Gill’s claims rest mostly on his supposed translation of a Book-of- Mormon-like ancient record called the Book of Jeraneck, which is supposed to be the history of ancient British Christians. This small Church communicates to the world via blogspot, and I provide a link to their page for the curious: http://thelatterdaychurchofchrist.blogspot.com/ Anyway I find this group to be both odd and kind of amusing. It’s desire to copy the narrative of the early Church is particularly fascinating. Pursuing the blogs video contents I almost wonder if this is all a joke?
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I didn’t know this. I was under the impression that there was the main LDS church, a much smaller but still significant Reformed LDS Church, and then a handful of nutcake polygamist Mormon offshoots in the hills somewhere…..like that fellow who kidnapped the Smart girl, or was he just a deranged loner? I forget the specifics.
I guess the Texas group who Social Services moved in on might qualify as one of the “nutcake” groups. Though, quite honestly, I saw one of the members appearing on a 60 Minutes-type show to give an account of his community and family. Nobody seemed too weird at all; the children seemed quite happy and well-adjusted…..far too well-adjusted to merit removal (especially into social services’ foster homes) simply on the basis of what might happen years down the line.
This is not strictly relevant (or even loosely, for that matter) but I’m reading a review of the book Ahead of the Curve: two Years at Harvard Business School in the current Economist. The article starts out “Mormons, military, and McKinsey are the three M’s said to characterise the student body at Harvard Business School.” I didn’t know that. I also don’t understand what the McKinsey is all about.
The book's author ultimately "opted for more time with his family, rather than follow in the footsteps of the 'Godlman Sachs executive who came to talk about leadership and values....I just remember this look of total defeat on his face when he said how he had four ex-wives." If there really are a ton of Mormon HBS grads, how successful are they at juggling family life with work afterwards? Any time remaining for congregation activities? If anyone can do it, Mormons can, from what I hear. On the other hand, if they have trouble, then no one else should try it.
Yeah there’s like a stunningly divergent verity of Mormon churches out there, thought your summation of the LDS, Community of Christ (as you termed it the ‘Reformed Mormons’, and that summation certainly fits), and the mostly polygamist off shoots, captures the bulk of them. One I’ve long found interesting is the Pennsylvania based The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite), 15,000 strong and largely Italian American, I mean how did that happen?
The FLDS Church, the one that was the subject of the Texas raid, certainly has issues with child brides, though apparently such a practice was highly limited or not existent at that particular compound (the Church has other centers in Utah and Colorado were that may be more common). Though a recent statement by a high ranking FLDS Church leader states that the faith will no longer endorse marriages that violate any host states age restrictions, though a states anti-bigamy laws will continue to be ignored. Some Mormon Fundamentalist groups like the Apostolic United Brethren have a strong history and official policy of reporting child abuse and insuring that their polygamist marriages are strictly voluntary.
As for the Mormons at Harvard Business School, yes I understand they are a force there, in fact the last Dean of the Business School was a Mormon, Kim B. Clark. Clark’s quite an interesting fellow, I heard him speak at Boise State once, he was a protégé of Ford administration Secretary of Labor John Dunlop, and the family‘s suffered several bouts with serious disease, he‘s also been a guest on Charlie Rose. (http://www.byui.edu/president/inauguration/kimbclark.htm). Yes, as I think we’ve discussed before Mormons really tend to flock to Business, something I’m not entirely at ease with, but I am proud that part of that success comes from a reputation for honesty. You may have heard that in his later, crazier years Howard Hughes came to only trust Mormons, and apparently with but a few exceptions, the only people to see him towards the end of his life were LDS, Mormon doctors, Mormon executives for his companies, ect.
Oh yes, Brian David Mitchell, the guy that kidnapped Elizabeth Smart, former member of the LDS Church turned ‘independent’. Because of a history of infighting and other conflicts among the various polygamist sects, many polygamists have broken off to practice privately, in small groups or lose fellowships. The Henrickson family on the HBO series Big Love are Polygamist independents.
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