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TORKELSON: Many faces fill Mormon church

By Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 4, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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What's the face of the Mormon church? This past week, it was likely to be Gordon B. Hinckley, revered as a prophet and loved like a grandfather, who died Jan. 27 at the seasoned age of 97. And then there's Mitt Romney, hoping for another kind of presidency.

But the face of the church is also 12-year-old Matthew Barnum, a Boy Scout who's into piano, football and math.

On Sunday, the sixth-grader strode confidently to the pulpit at the Ponderosa Ward in Parker to proclaim "the articles of faith" in his church, formally called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I wasn't that nervous," he said later.

Like other young men his age, he's spoken from the pulpit before. Recently, he was named a deacon, one of many responsibilities in a church that starts them young.

It's a historic time to be a Mormon, with a new president probably announced today and politics at the fore. Families, stability and certitude mark the flock. Many who proclaimed their faith Sunday (it was a day of testimony) took care to add, "I believe this is the true church."

It's also a church of many faces.

Brian Leiataua, 27, is an affable postal worker with a bumpy church history.

"I was excommunicated," he says bluntly. His sin? "Fornication," sleeping with his girlfriends. One day, he picked up the Book of Mormon and really read it. That led to a marriage with his sweetheart, Veronica, and a stable family life.

Like others, Leiataua isn't shy about talking politics or playing the field, candidate-wise. Referring to 19th century persecution, he says, "It went from being legal to kill Mormons to running for president. It's a huge step." Yes, he likes Mitt - "but I like Mike Huckabee, too."

Another face of the church is retired Air Force Maj. Leslie Orr, 61, who joined as a young divorced mother. How does she fit in such a family-centered church?

"I strongly believe in marriage, that the Lord put us here to be couples," she says. But Mormons believe individuals exist on both sides of eternity, so she doesn't feel forgotten: "I just believe my soulmate died in the trenches in World War I, and he's waiting for me . . . I didn't have to find him here. There's a lot of time left in eternity."

Colby and Angie Johnston, both 36, found each other this side of eternity. To ensure their union continues after death, they sealed their marriage in a sacred ceremony in the temple in Salt Lake City.

Do Mormons have a sense of humor? And what's the role of women in the church? Let one anecdote suffice: Colby Johnston praised his wife's "powerful influence" in the family, and added, to a big laugh, "She's so righteous and pure, sometimes I feel I'm married to the Holy Ghost."

To which Bishop Mike Alletto chimed in, "A lot of us feel that way about our wives."

torkelsonj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5055

Comments

  • February 4, 2008

    7:54 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Bot writes:

    Mormons are not Creedal Christians. However, they do believe in the Jesus Christ of the New Testament:

    The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often accused by Evangelical pastors of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity's comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

    The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres more closely to First Century Christianity and the New Testament than any other denomination. For example, Harper’s Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.”

    One Baptist blogger stated “99 percent of the members of his Baptist church believe in the Mormon (and Early Christian) view of the Trinity. It is the preachers who insist on the Nicene Creed definition.” It seems to me the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock (and their livelihood).

  • February 4, 2008

    10:03 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mtnsjohn writes:

    Adhering to First Century Christianity?

    Mormonism is a polytheistic religion, believing that God once lived on an earth and was exhalted to creator by a vote of other gods, and men (not women) may be exhalted into a celestial heaven to the role of creator over his own creation. The controversy over Lucifer and Jesus being brothers is Mormon doctrine.

    Although Joseph Smith stated that he translated Te Book of Mormon "letter by letter" from Golden Plates written in "Egyptian" over 3900 changes have made to the Book of Mormon, some minor and some major.

    Polygamy was condemned in the Book of Mormon, but a later "revelation" used to justify polygamy was that souls pre-exist in heaven but need bodies to occupy in order to prove themselves on earth. Good Latter-day saints are commanded to provide bodies for these souls to be tested.

    These are but a few of the reasons that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints has never been admitted into the ultra-liberal National Council of Churches that tries to be all inclusive.

  • February 4, 2008

    3:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spencer writes:

    If people were aware of all the things Joseph Smith said and believed, they would laugh so hard that they would wet their pants.

  • February 5, 2008

    8:37 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    BobMullins writes:

    First to address Mountain Johns post:

    The only changes in the Book of Mormon from its original text are:
    1) Divided into Chapters
    2) Capitalization and Punctuation
    3) Some minor grammatical changes

    Other than the above mentioned, the Book of Mormon has had no other changes from its first publishing, if you would like to view the original published book, it is available at major booksellers.

    Your address regarding polygamy and the Book of Mormon are, as many people seem to get, slightly out of context and not fully accurate.

    As far as Heavenly Fathers' origin, again, you quote out of context and fully inaccurate.

    As far as you saying there is a controversy over spiritual offspring, there is not.

    You are as much related to Lucifer as any other member of the human family. It is obvious and clear to educated people, Those Who Actually READ the Bible, and Those who Merely quote something they have read from "Anti" literature.

    If you take a few hours and read Isaiah and other prophets who have spoken on the subject, you would know that Lucifer was a son of the morning who was cast out of Gods presence for rebellion against our Heavenly Father and for rebelling against His Son Jesus Christ (the Firstborn of the Father). You will also read that he (Lucifer) tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden.

    As well, as you read the Bible, You will read about this Son of the Morning causing a War in Heaven, as you read the chapters of Isaiah; also, you will see that War restated in the Book of Revelations.

    Do take Some of Your precious Time, and Actually read the Scriptures that were handed to you by your Heavenly Father through his appointed means. Do not rebel against the Prophets of the Living God any longer.

  • February 5, 2008

    9:05 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mtnsjohn writes:

    One need only examine the history and life of the founder and his involvement with the occult and Freemasonry. Even the "Seer Stone"
    used in treasure hunting and originally to discover the "Golden Plates" is still preserved as an LDS artifact.

    John 8:32

    As for changes:

    http://saintsalive.com/mormonism/bomc...

    I see nothing in scripture to indicate that Lucifer was or is human.

    The question that needs an answer for both Latter-day saint and any seeker of the truth is whether Joseph Smith was a prophet or charlatan. Eternity might depend on it.

  • February 5, 2008

    10:41 a.m.

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    BobMullins writes:

    The question is not whether he was human, the question is are you and were you a spiritual being created with the Hosts of Heaven as mentioned in Genesis.

    The question is, were you among the Trees of the Garden of Eden as described all throughout the Old Testament in the Bible, where, not only are the Trees of the Garden emphasized and expounded upon, but also are the Trees and the Cedars of Lebanon, the Trees associated with the House of Israel - and their Roots and Branches expounded on throughout the Scriptures.

    The trees mentioned in Genesis were prior to the creation of Adam and Eve, they describe the Hosts of Heaven being created spiritually prior to their temporal and physical creation.

    As per prior comments, read the book of Isaiah as well, it fully defines Lucifer's role in the War in Heaven.

    As for Joseph Smith, for those who have taken the time to find out who he was, and contemplated, studied, pondered and those who have sought for divine guidance by the power of the Holy Ghost, have received their answer – through prayer – to a loving all wise and all knowing Heavenly Father, through the mediator of the new covenant, even in the name of Jesus Christ – their Master..

    Will all who seek find the answer? This can be answered by you in and of yourself... as to whether your other prayers you have prayed for guidance with, have been answered by a spiritual witness, a witness that is not born of the carnal mind - or of the physical senses.

    As John the Revelator has said, no one can say that Jesus is the Christ, except they have the Spirit of Prophecy. Or, in other words, they cannot say that Jesus is the Christ, except by the Witness of the Holy Ghost and the Gifts of the Holy Ghost as described in Corinthians. By this same power that one can know if Jesus is the Christ, can one know if Joseph Smith was called as a Prophet of the Living God. By this same power of the Holy Ghost can one know if Moses, Abraham, Noah, Adam, Peter - James and John, or even Paul the Apostle, were divinely inspired and called of God to the Prophetic offices to which they espoused.

    And, as has been stated on more than one occasion: “The Book of Mormon is not on Trial, its readers are.” The prophet and historian writers of the Book of Mormon have stated this in language that is irrefutably given by the power of the Holy Ghost, and I quote, “if these are not the words of Christ judge ye-, for Christ will show unto you with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day.” (2 Nephi 33:11)

  • February 9, 2008

    3:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ta_ta writes:

    Brian couldve done A LOT better than veronica

  • December 17, 2008

    4:04 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    seth1492 writes:

    The problem is not whether all of the many questions on the internet about Mormons can be answered in this blog post. There are tons of questions because very few people are willing to really learn about it. Most people would rather consider themselves experts by getting a wikipedia education on Mormonism and then go around claiming expertise. This is not the case.

    It takes time, just as anything important does. You would not consider yourself an expert on the Napoleonic Wars just because you read an article or two about it would you? It takes many, many books, discussions, prayers, and ultimately answers from the one true source, God. Then you will have learned that you have just begun to answer some of life's most important questions.

    So, as my blog suggests: http://yesiammormon.blogspot.com, and because I am Mormon, does not mean that I am not christian. After studying the Bible, The Book of Mormon and modern revelations to Prophets you will believe that Jesus is the Christ. The Son of God.