As part of my personal learning to fulfill # 2 (non-fiction
genre) and #3(write informally about my reading) outcomes, I read an article in
BYU Studies Vol. 49, No. 2, 2010, by Thomas B. Griffith entitled Mere
Mormonism. This is an adaptation of C.
S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity and his classic exposition of the fundamentals of
the Christian faith. Humbly claiming to
lack the skill to pull off such a fete, Griffith succeeded in identifying what
is at the heart of the Mormon experience in an attempt to provide an
introduction to the faith.
I especially found his take on our relationship to others
intriguing, as he begins this section with:
“For a people who believe that God is near and that he is not silent,
Latter-day Saints place surprisingly little emphasis on the contemplative
life. Our primary focus, instead, is on
relationships with other people.”
Claiming that LDS members like people and building communities is what
they do best.” Griffith uses the beehive
as the closest thing LDS have as an icon.
He says, “Mormon life is profoundly social, and activity in the Church
involves us deeply in the lives of others because in Mormonism God is served
best—and perhaps only—by serving others.”
“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the
service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17).
Griffith tells how Sunday is hardly a day of rest
for committed Mormons. Beyond the three
hour service, Sunday is filled with activities that begin with early morning
planning meetings for those with leadership responsibilities and includes choir
practices, training meetings, visits to each other’s homes, and evening
activities for the youth—and that is only the first day of the week!
