MOUNT VERNON — The Mount Vernon Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on Beech Street, held an open house recently for community members who are interested in learning more about the Mormon faith.
Member Marty Hanson welcomed the audience and explained that the LDS church is attracting much interest; the local church wanted to address that interest and share its beliefs with the community without, he said, making a political statement or evangelizing.
Hanson said there are 13 million Mormons worldwide, in 176 nations and territories, with 6 million members in the United States.
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest denomination in the United States,” he said, “and 16 members of Congress are Mormon.”
He noted that the Mount Vernon Ward, or church, was founded in 1976 with a handful of members, and has grown to 315 members. He said 120 LDS temples exist, with the closest in Columbus, and the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“The Mormon church has no paid clergy,” Hanson said.
Troy Cooper serves as Bishop of the Mount Vernon Ward.
Hanson explained that the word Mormon is a nickname for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that the religion is indeed a Christian one.
“Jesus Christ is at the head of this church,” Hanson said, “and we choose to follow his lead in these latter days. I would like to make it clear that we worship God the father and his son Jesus Christ, and none other.”
Member Tommy Groshong read the 13 Articles of Faith, which were written by Joseph Smith, founder of the LDS church. The articles are much like any Christian church’s statement of faith, doctrine and belief, with some additions.
Article 8 states, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”
Article 10 reads, “We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”
“We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience,” states Article 11, “and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”
“We are a church of lay members. None of us is clergy,” Jim Murray told the audience.
He noted that the current national president of the LDS church, Thomas S. Monson, is considered a prophet.
Diana Pike addressed the question, “Do Mormons believe in the Bible?”
“Whenever God has spoken to his prophets, they were recorded and it became scripture,” she said. “Our church accepts and honors the Bible as the word of God. The Old and New Testaments are divine records of the word of God, and we also believe the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It’s a recording of God’s dealing with his people in the new world of the American continent. It’s a record of the revelations, the commandments and the miracles.”
She explained the Book of Mormon, first published in 1830, as “a volume of ancient scripture ... the history of a group of Israelites who traveled to the New World about 600 BC.” Mormons believe that Jesus Christ appeared to the people of the new world.
“The Book of Mormon contains the word of Jesus to the new world and is a supplement to the Bible,” she said.
Paul Bundy explained that the LDS church has been a missionary church since its founding in 1830.
“Missionaries now are of all ages, mostly young men 19 to 25, and they serve two years. Women serve from age 21, for 18 months. Missionaries pay for their own mission, so youngsters start saving early,” he said. “The Mormon church is the fastest-growing church in the U.S.”
“The Mormon church helps me understand who I am and what I should be doing for God,” said Lauren Pearce. “It enables me to get together with friends who share the same values.”
Andrea Packer addressed issues of family.
“We believe the family is of utmost importance,” she said. “We lived as a family before we came to Earth. Our families can be together forever. We believe so strongly in family that we refer to each other as ‘brother’ and ‘sister.’ We believe that God’s commandment to procreate remains only between a man and a woman lawfully married.”
“We just want to try to answer your questions,” Cooper told the audience. “We are Girl Scout leaders, managers of farm co-ops. We are your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers. Maybe there have been some questions about who and what we are.
“Some of the things we’re known for are our Family History Center, which is open to all families,” he continued. “We have a really good youth program on Wednesday nights. We host Boy Scout troops, Eagle Scouts and we have a young women’s group for ages 12 to 18 that is open to all.
“I love my community. I love my neighbors. This is home. We want to worship as we want to, and we allow you that privilege, too. If no other question gets answered today, do know that we believe in Jesus Christ. We want to extend the invitation to focus on what we have in common, and then on what we can do together. This is a great community. We love it.”
Deanne and Phil Shaw of Utica were in the audience. They said they are not interested in joining the Mormon church, but that family is important to them.
“I came because it was important to my sister,” Deanne said.
Her sister is Bobbi Martinsen, who Deanne said joined the LDS church years ago.
“I feel like I knew a lot of this, but it was important to them. So I came. We’re Southern Baptist so our theology doesn’t agree, but we love them,” she said.
“The only reason I came was to support my brother- and sister-in-law,” said Phil. “They asked us to come to be informed about their religion.”
“We’ve had good long conversations [about religion],” said Deanne. “Although we strongly disagree, she’s my sister and I love her.”
The church’s three-hour worship service with Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. on Sundays.
