Christian Holidays and the Mormon Church

[dogzilla]

In a private e-mail thread, Peter_Mary and I were discussing how traditionally holy Christian holidays are sort of blown off in the Mormon church, or rather, underemphasized in comparison to other religions. I never felt I ever got an acceptable answer from my dad or any church elder when I've asked about this in the past.

Every time I've ever tried to explain anything about the church to a nonmember, I always got stuck on the holidays. I can't come up with a viable and sane explanation for why Easter, for example, is barely a blip on the radar. Lent, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday -- none of those are ever discussed, nor celebrated, or even acknowledged with anything more than the typical pat answer, "We prefer to emphasize Christ's life rather than his death." That's great, but I never even knew what Lent is until I was a grownup and had a job where some other employees were Catholic.

Which doesn't explain to me why Christmas isn't too big a deal either. Sure, the Chorister picks some special songs to sing on Sunday and there might be a musical performance one evening before Dec. 25. But there's no special services for either of these holidays, nor does anything particularly of note occur during the "regular" holiday services -- unlike some other Christian religions. There's no nativity in the front yard of the churches, really nothing special about the Sunday nearest Christmas service at all. (Besides it might be a tad more crowded than usual as all the inactives' guilt kicks in, but that happens in all churches.)

Certainly, the emphasis on the materialism and the gift thing is there. I wonder if the Relief Society classes start trending toward Martha Stewart-y gift idea projects around November and December? (Spray these pine cones with silver spray paint to make festive decorations that also make great gifts! It's a good thing. :p )

As a kid, I always felt sort of shortchanged because all my classmates who were Catholic or Catholic-Light (Episcopalian :D ) got to do the egg hunts and easter baskets and all that. Not that those are Christian traditions in the first place. Is it possible the Mormons downplay Easter because its roots are so strongly dug into pagan traditions? Why would that make any sense, if one takes a look at the temple ordinances? In our family, it seemed like we weren't very consistent about a big Easter dinner -- there was a ham and everything (well, another ham, besides myself, for eating) but extended family attendance was more optional. At least at Christmas, we'd have a big dinner and sort of require anyone related to us to join.

I think the Mormon treatment of Christian holidays, or lack thereof, has a lot to do with the reasons many people believe that the Mormon church isn't a Christian religion. That, and the practice of not hanging crosses and crucifixes everywhere. (IMHO: At least we got that one right!) I don't recall seeing any special lights, decorations or trees on any LDS buildings during the holidays....

What do you think of this? What do you think are the real reasons (not just the reasons we're told) for this? Did, or do you do anything special within your families to put more emphasis on these religious holidays? Did you find that you miss the emphasis that other religions place on them, and is that as a kid or as an adult? Other random, but tangentally related, thoughts?

[silverfox]

What do you think of this? What do you think are the real reasons (not just the reasons we're told) for this? Did, or do you do anything special within your families to put more emphasis on these religious holidays? Did you find that you miss the emphasis that other religions place on them, and is that as a kid or as an adult? Other random, but tangentally related, thoughts?

IMO, I believe the church would prefer to have the focus be on Joseph Smith and other prophets.

There was an article in the Ensign.....dang, I hope I still have the link! It encouraged to NOT form a close relationship to God or Christ. I really must find that link and post it. Un freakin' believable.

In downtown Salt Lake there is a big statue of Brigham. There is the Joseph Smith Memorial building with a big statue of Joe. Of course the visitor's center has a stature of Christ but I think this is more to attract non members.

I am not sure if anyone has noticed but because it was Joe Smith's anniversary I have been amazed at how much ADDITIONAL focus and worship he has received. Girls being taught to emulate him? RS parties for him?

And the leaders wonder why so many believe Mormons are not Christian. They AREN'T - not in the true sense. They are "Smithians". heh heh

The church is missing out on religious celebration opportunities to bring not only their members but their communities closer together.

I find it interesting how so many churches have celebrations and ALL in the community are invited. They publish it in the paper and welcome all to their breakfasts, dinners, programs, etc. Signs on their doors, marquees, etc. Not the LDS church. No way. They are NOT community friendly IMO, at all.

We have a few churches in my little town that have food pantries available to EVERYONE YEAR ROUND, no questions asked and one has a "Clothes Closet" year round where they distribute free clothing twice a week to anyone. No questions asked. One church hands out school supplies every school year to any child. This, IMO, is Christlike. I have never EVER seen the LDS church do anything like this.

It is these types of activities that would allow me to consider even attending another church......just to part of the community.

[dogzilla]

That's an excellent point you made about charity. LDS only help their own, and that comes with a price tag (guilt or worse). There's a little baptist (maybe AME - I dunno -- some black, evangelistic, Christian congregation) church down the block on my street. Periodically, people walk around the neighborhood talking to the local residents. I've had many interesting, and kind, nonjudgemental conversations with those people. I vote in their church! (Note: I'm not aware of LDS wards being used as voting precincts -- can anybody dispute that?) I've been invited to their special events and they hold barbecues and all sorts of nifty things. If I had a kid and wanted to put him/her into their aftercare program, I probably wouldn't have to be a member. I'm sure I could call upon that church if I needed some sort of assistance. Because the members are always very kind and polite, I allow them to park in front of my house on Sundays. I even tell the person if I'm about to run my sprinklers in case they left their windows open!

And now, as an official, on-the-record apostate... I don't believe the mormon church in this town would give me the time of day if all my clocks were broken. (They don't know me from Adam. And I'd run my sprinklers right inside the driver's seat! Hrmph. :p )

[silverfox]

That's an excellent point you made about charity. LDS only help their own, and that comes with a price tag (guilt or worse). There's a little baptist (maybe AME - I dunno -- some black, evangelistic, Christian congregation) church down the block on my street. Periodically, people walk around the neighborhood talking to the local residents. I've had many interesting, and kind, nonjudgemental conversations with those people. I vote in their church! (Note: I'm not aware of LDS wards being used as voting precincts -- can anybody dispute that?) I've been invited to their special events and they hold barbecues and all sorts of nifty things. If I had a kid and wanted to put him/her into their aftercare program, I probably wouldn't have to be a member. I'm sure I could call upon that church if I needed some sort of assistance. Because the members are always very kind and polite, I allow them to park in front of my house on Sundays. I even tell the person if I'm about to run my sprinklers in case they left their windows open!

And now, as an official, on-the-record apostate... I don't believe the mormon church in this town would give me the time of day if all my clocks were broken. (They don't know me from Adam. And I'd run my sprinklers right inside the driver's seat! Hrmph. :p )

The church does NOT allow use of it's facilities for voting purposes. They are too fearful they will be blamed for being too political. (as though they aren't)

[firelight]

Last Sunday, LSands and I had one of those wonderful "Toto, we're not in Utah anymore" moments and such a wonderful chance to reflect on our mormon upbringings and what a contrast our Easter this year was to the ones we grew up with.

L came to Memphis to visit me for a few days last week. We had such a great time and a few days packed with incredible music. We actually decided to go to a Black church more for the music than the "spiritual" experience, but our cups certainly ran over with both.

The Reverend Al Green (yes, the famous soul/blues singer) is a preacher here in Memphis so we went to his church. He isn't always there and we knew it would be great even if he wasn't, but it just so happened that we lucked out and he was there for the Easter service.

Words cannot describe the 2-1/2 hours we spent at Full Gospel Tabernacle. First of all, the choir wasn't huge, but there wasn't anyone in it (especially the women) who couldn't sing the pants off Gladys Knight. L leaned over to me and said, "And Gladys Knight left THIS for Mormonism???" Al Green would break out into song in the middle of preaching--wow, what a voice! We were standing and clapping and dancing a lot of the time and I can truly say it was a very "spiritual" experience.

The children were SOOOO cute. Everyone was decked, but the children were indescribable. Even the little boys had on suits (everything from white to purple to lime green). The children had worked hard on a special Easter program--suffice it to say, it was way more entertaining and spiritual than any Primary Sacrament Meeting presentation. The neat thing was a presentation done by the young boys (probably from about 10 - 14 years of age) where they did a "lighting the cross" program. The boys all had their parts memorized and seemed so proud of what they were doing--it hit both of us that they had such a different demeanor than your average Mormon Deacons.

Then there was lots of praising and shouting and hallelujah's and a baptism and people overcome by the spirit and everything you'd see in the movies. Al Green said Easter doesn't mean anything if we just talk about Jesus and don't live like him. A woman stood up and invoked the congregation to help her with her cocaine addiction. She was dancing and singing her way back to her seat by the time the congregation had lifted her up and prayed with her and shouted plenty of "yeah, sista's." L commented that you'd never see someone confess something like that in a Mo church. How great that they can admit they're not perfect and that they see the church as something there to lift them up and help them instead of condemning them. I didn't hear one person tell her she just needed to pray more and read her Bible.

L said it's easy to see why they need a lot less Prozac out here. If you can go to church on Sunday and pour your heart out, and really praise, and draw from the spirit of the congregation to re-generate your spirit and your resolve from week to week, who needs drugs?

So many things we discussed and compared and contrasted and analyzed. It was just great and of course, one of the best free "shows" you could ever see. Ya just gotta do it once in your life.

I defy anyone to go to an Easter meeting like that and the EVER tell me the Mormons celebrate Easter--or for that matter, ever sit through a Mormon meeting and tell me the "spirit" is there. NOT!

[Born Free]

The church does NOT allow use of it's facilities for voting purposes. They are too fearful they will be blamed for being too political. (as though they aren't)

I love the irony.

Church purposes are NOT used for voting which is a democratic non-party process, but that have been used for active promotion of conservative politics on many occasions.

Go figure.

I think that says a lot about where Mormons stand on free-speech and democracy.

Daryl

[dogzilla]

Firelight, that sounds like a BLAST!

I might have to wander on down the street some Sunday when it's too hot to work in the garden and join my neighbors at the black church. (I'll have to check and see about the musical lineup though!)

I understand Jimmy Carter's church in Americus, GA is not too far from where I live -- a couple hours' drive, I think. That might be an interesting cultural exchange.