Joseph Smith's Answer to "What Do 'Mormons' Believe?"

Though not a Mormon, I have studied the structure of Mormon society for many years.

I have read the Articles at times during the 40 years as an academic exercise; however, as Mosaic Law has been rejected by "Americans," I have become more aware of the endurance of specific tenets of early Christianity in postmodern Mormonism.

Joseph Smith's ability to articulate Christianity with such simplicity has always inspired me to continue my study.

Christianity as a fomenting force has become an academic exercise in sociopolitical stagecraft, at least in my limited opinion. I carefully establish that observation as my point of departure in considering this latter day "America."

When foundational social elements begin to change, one expects the most resistant fibres to become evident. In my visits to Salt Lake City, I have witnessed both a growth of strength and a disturbing commercialism. At the risk of being misunderstood through the constraints of brevity, I will risk raising the question of the "marketing" of Mormonism globally as if it were a life insurance company. This interests me professionally and disturbs me personally; for thfew identifiable moral supports remain.

All strengths, moral and other, are now directed toward gaining naked power for reasons that should frighten all civilized folks.

When I began my academic sojourn more than a generation ago, I had no foresight that i would one day find Mormonism arguably to be the last bastion of civilized tendencies. Of course, I limit these assertions to my own rather frayed notations in social psychology.

Happy Trails. Thanks.

I completely agree with your obsevations regarding much of christianity being "stagecraft". In fact, though not controlled by the LDS church leaders, there is a lot of marketeering towards Mormons that is prevalent in Utah. I personally don't like it. That commercialism is not what the church is about but is rather a natural result of a high concentration of church members that get interested in certain products because of their culture. It is a capitalist economy working on supply and demand, after all.

One last response to your comment: I praise your academic sojourn and respectfully suggest you add a spiritual sojourn to the academic one. In other words, spiritual understanding is required when academic comes up short.

P.S. Red Skelton is a favorite!