Living

Religion

Mormon Moment

 

As Mitt Romney’s candidacy spotlights their faith, South Florida members challenge stereotypes about the Church of Latter Day Saints.

Mormon facts

• Mormons believe Christ’s true church was restored through Joseph Smith, known as The Prophet, who founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in New York State in 1830.

• The Bible and the Book of Mormon, which Smith said he found inscribed on golden plates, are two of several religious texts used.

•  Polygamy has been forbidden since 1890, although extremist LDS sects practice it illegally.

•  Only men can join the Mormon priesthood. There are no paid, professional clergy.

•  To enter a Temple, members must get a “Temple Recommend” from their bishop after asserting their belief in Christ, support of church doctrine and adherence to rules regarding chastity, tithing, wearing temple garments and avoidance of alcohol and coffee.

•  Temple garments are white undergarments adult Mormons are expected to wear as evidence of their covenant with God. They are presented at an Endowment ceremony in which members make promises to God and are taught symbols and passwords thought necessary for admission to heaven.

Barbara Marshall


Despite the church’s growing diversity, there is one question that Donald Kelly hears over and over: How can he, a black man, belong to a church that didn’t allow full membership for blacks until 1978?

“I don’t look at [the church’s past position on race] as much as I do the way this church helps me become a better person today,” says Kelly, 28, of West Palm Beach.

Born in Jamaica, he converted to Mormonism in the 8th grade, the only one in his family to do so. He was one of the few black students at Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he was student body president.

“It’s so white there, I couldn’t find someone to cut my hair,” he says.

For Kelly, the Mormon tenants of hard work and education align with his goals of getting an MBA, “at Harvard or Wharton,” then starting a business, getting into private equity funding and eventually, politics.

If his desired career path sounds similar to that of a particular Republican presidential candidate, well, perhaps, yet Kelly won’t say who he’s supporting in the election.

“What I love about the church is they never talk politics,” he says. “Although as a church member, I feel closer to the Republican side of things.”

Outwardly, Mormon life doesn’t look much different from anyone else’s, but members’ weeks brim with church activities.

The Mormon week starts with three hours of church on Sunday. Monday Home Evenings are set aside for Gospel study, games and family activities. Youth groups meet once a week, and single adults have their own weekly meetings. Every morning before school, high school students gather at their local churches at 5 or 6 a.m. to learn about God.

Activities like the Mormon teen dance in Boca Raton are designed to reinforce Mormon values while giving kids who can’t wear bikinis to the beach or date until they’re 16 a place to feel normal.

“Mormon kids often feel a little different from their peers,” says Shauna Hostetler, a lifelong LDS member from Wellington. “We try to help them feel proud of being different.”

Barbara Marshall is a staff writer for The Palm Beach Post, a Miami Herald news partner.

Read more Living stories from the Miami Herald

  •  

Mariana Arellano holds her hair up as her mother, Martina Castro, helps her put on a necklace in preparation for her Junior Class Ring Ceremony at their home in Homestead on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

    Diabetes

    Teen learns to tackle Type 2 diabetes

    For a 17-year-old Coral Reef High student, a trip to the emergency room with a frighteningly high blood sugar level led her to get serious about Type 2 diabetes

  •  

Huacachina is an oasis in the desert of southern Peru.

    Southern desert

    Sand surfing in Peru — where only the dunes are steep

    It’s a scene right out of Lawrence of Arabia: enormous mountains of sand — some as tall as 300 feet — their surfaces sculpted into soft, geometric designs by the wind, and extending as far as the eye can see. My wife and I stand captivated, feeling the heat of the day rising up out of the soft sand and watching the interplay of golden light and pale shadow as the sun dips behind a distant ridge of solid beige.

  •  

Crispy Beef Tacos

    Cook’s Corner

    Savory sauce distinguishes German stuffed cabbage

    Heather Snyder, Seattle

Miami Herald

Join the
Discussion

The Miami Herald is pleased to provide this opportunity to share information, experiences and observations about what's in the news. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere on the site or in the newspaper. We encourage lively, open debate on the issues of the day, and ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point. Thank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.

The Miami Herald uses Facebook's commenting system. You need to log in with a Facebook account in order to comment. If you have questions about commenting with your Facebook account, click here.

Have a news tip? You can send it anonymously. Click here to send us your tip - or - consider joining the Public Insight Network and become a source for The Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald.

Hide Comments

This affects comments on all stories.

Cancel OK

  • Videos

  • Quick Job Search

Enter Keyword(s) Enter City Select a State Select a Category