The Colorful LDS Future

[LA Ute]

This article, "The Colorful LDS Future", by Darius Gray and Margaret Young, is very interesting and generally just a good read. A representative paragraph:

Indeed, we predict that in twenty years, General Conference will still include the standard pioneer stories we're accustomed to, but will be heavily peppered with stories from other nations, and from Africa in particular. The calling of Elder Sitati (from Kenya) to the First Quorum of the Seventy is significant, and will surely be followed by many more callings of Africans to serve not just in Africa, but in other areas of the world, including Salt Lake City.

Enjoy.

[Indy Coug]

It's simply a matter of time as the demographics of converts in 2010 is a significant shift from the demographics of the converts in 1980.

[UtahDan]

It's simply a matter of time as the demographics of converts in 2010 is a significant shift from the demographics of the converts in 1980.

It would be interesting to be here in another 100 years. It is not out of the question, IMO, as the US becomes more secular that the church will become not just a primarily international church but a predominantly international church.

[shoganai]

This article, "The Colorful LDS Future", by Darius Gray and Margaret Young, is very interesting and generally just a good read. A representative paragraph:



Enjoy.

Lately, whenever I hear someone speak negatively about "LDS culture" I start thinking about the majority LDS population that lives outside the Mormon Corridor.

Perhaps it wasn't that long ago that describing the local color of the Wasatch Front as the "LDS culture" was accurate, but it certainly is not accurate anymore. There is simply no such thing as one LDS culture now. It encompasses far too many people, customs, and socialities.

The experiences of people in this area, are no more representative of the church than the Hall family's experiences at RES are representative of Ute fans

[pellegrino]

Lately, whenever I hear someone speak negatively about "LDS culture" I start thinking about the majority LDS population that lives outside the Mormon Corridor.

Perhaps it wasn't that long ago that describing the local color of the Wasatch Front as the "LDS culture" was accurate, but it certainly is not accurate anymore. There is simply no such thing as one LDS culture now. It encompasses far too many people, customs, and socialities.

The experiences of people in this area, are no more representative of the church than the Hall family's experiences at RES are representative of Ute fans

I think there is definitely an American LDS culture that has very strong ties to, if not dominated by, the culture of the Mormon corridor.

[UtahDan]

Lately, whenever I hear someone speak negatively about "LDS culture" I start thinking about the majority LDS population that lives outside the Mormon Corridor.

Perhaps it wasn't that long ago that describing the local color of the Wasatch Front as the "LDS culture" was accurate, but it certainly is not accurate anymore. There is simply no such thing as one LDS culture now. It encompasses far too many people, customs, and socialities.

The experiences of people in this area, are no more representative of the church than the Hall family's experiences at RES are representative of Ute fans

Oh I think you are going a little too far. I think that you can go to just about any ward in the United States and find a pretty similar culture, within a range, that is heavily Utah influenced.

Now I agree that it is hard to generalize about wards that are not in North America, but it is the former group that occupies 99% of the leadership roles so their influence on the larger culture is minuscule.

[Indy Coug]

It would be interesting to be here in another 100 years. It is not out of the question, IMO, as the US becomes more secular that the church will become not just a primarily international church but a predominantly international church.

It's not going to take 100 years.

[The_Tick]

Lately, whenever I hear someone speak negatively about "LDS culture" I start thinking about the majority LDS population that lives outside the Mormon Corridor.

Perhaps it wasn't that long ago that describing the local color of the Wasatch Front as the "LDS culture" was accurate, but it certainly is not accurate anymore. There is simply no such thing as one LDS culture now. It encompasses far too many people, customs, and socialities.

The experiences of people in this area, are no more representative of the church than the Hall family's experiences at RES are representative of Ute fans

The perception isn't going to change until there is a little more color added to the centerfold in the conference issue of the Ensign.

[shoganai]

Oh I think you are going a little too far. I think that you can go to just about any ward in the United States and find a pretty similar culture, within a range, that is heavily Utah influenced.

Now I agree that it is hard to generalize about wards that are not in North America, but it is the former group that occupies 99% of the leadership roles so their influence on the larger culture is minuscule.

When I was on my mission in Japan, I saw very little evidence of the typical Utah culture inside the church. The influence of leadership was mainly in procedural things, not social things.

I think you could find some similarities to Utah across the U.S, but I don't think those are even as strict as they used to be. And I'm not sure even those hold very strongly at all once you cross the border going either direction. The church culture in Mexico is certainly nothing like the U.S. culture if my younger brother's letters are to be believed.

[shoganai]

The perception isn't going to change until there is a little more color added to the centerfold in the conference issue of the Ensign.

Ironically, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the LAST thing to change. To paraphrase Elder Nelson (I think), the church's general authorities serve as God's representatives to the people. Not the other way around.

Those who grow up with the strongest LDS community influence, attend the LDS colleges, and have the greatest exposure to established units and leadership training throughout their lives are naturally going to make up the majority of general leaders - as they would in any organization.

It could still be another generation before a lot of that catches up with the international church.

I know that bothers some here, but it has never bothered me much.

[UtahDan]

It's not going to take 100 years.

I guess what I am envisioning is something along the lines of the English language. England is still very influential in the English speaking word and it is still the home of many of our traditions, thinking and laws. But it only houses a very small percentage of the total number of English speakers.

[LA Ute]

Ironically, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the LAST thing to change. To paraphrase Elder Nelson (I think), the church's general authorities serve as God's representatives to the people. Not the other way around.

Those who grow up with the strongest LDS community influence, attend the LDS colleges, and have the greatest exposure to established units and leadership training throughout their lives are naturally going to make up the majority of general leaders - as they would in any organization.

It could still be another generation before a lot of that catches up with the international church.

I know that bothers some here, but it has never bothered me much.

More African and African-American youngsters need to go on missions and attend BYU. I kid not. The immersion in church doctrine and practice at BYU and BYU-Idaho would he helpful to those members and would accelerate the likelihood of their being involved in church leadership.

[Eddie]

I was in a conference with the Ogden Mission president this past weekend.

I found it interesting that he spoke about members praying for Missionary Work being openned in countries where it has previously not been - but then said we need to keep an open mind to what this means and how these prayers are answered.

He then went on to say that we would be surprised at the number of folks from foreign countries who attend college at USU, are baptised, and then return to their country of origin.

In particular, he mentioned China. China is not open to missionary work. However, they do not impede members from practicing their religion. So there have been a number of students at USU from China who have been baptised and then returned to China - where they are practicing their religion.

I suppose on another front - these kinds of things could also help to perpetuate the Mormon Corridor culture - as folks learn the culture in Utah and then return to their country of origin.

[Indy Coug]

I'm not sure I would say China doesn't impede people from practicing their own religion -- I think religions are allowed to be practiced within a very, very strict framework. I don't pretend to know anything about Falun Gong, but I'm not sure they are allowed any form of practice.

[Eddie]

I'm not sure I would say China doesn't impede people from practicing their own religion -- I think religions are allowed to be practiced within a very, very strict framework. I don't pretend to know anything about Falun Gong, but I'm not sure they are allowed any form of practice.

That wouldn't surprise me - I'm sure they are careful in how they practice and do so in keeping with the law.

I think the main point was that while proslytising can't occur, the Gospel is being spread into areas where it hasn't been in the past due to citizens of those places picking it up here and taking it back with them.