Mormon Musings

OK.  I'm back.  Had a hard time getting focused the past few months but with kids back in school I feel I have a few moments now and then to think.  I posted an article today on perceptions of Mormons in academics.  I blogged here about an experience I had while interviewing for an academic position.  The LDS church is getting a lot of exposure with Romney as the republican nomination.  Its been interesting to watch people in how they act, what they say.  This article reminded me of a time when I lived in Boston.  Peter was attending a Jewish liberal arts grad school, I was working at a Jewish affiliated hospital.  We had friends and colleagues that were Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, Episcopalian, Methodist, Hindu and Atheist.  It was a time that we cherished as we learned about other religions and other cultures different than our own.  It was also a time of growth for the LDS church in New England as a Temple had been announced to be build in Belmont just a few miles away from where we lived.  Of course we were thrilled with this but we quickly found out that there were many that were not. 

At the time, part of my work was with hearing aid fittings.  A major hearing aid manufacturer had their northeast facility in the Greater Boston area.  We trained regularly with this company and used their products on a daily basis.  My colleagues and I had been invited to a workshop that included a luncheon with the company owners.  My boss was good friends with the managing director of the company and we were invited to sit with the big wigs at lunch.  Conversation was mostly work related in the beginning and everyone was enjoying themselves.  My boss asked the director how his family was and he replied that things were good at home except that his home was on the border of the property designated as the Mormon Temple site.  Then he talked about all things he couldn't stand about the Mormons and how they were going to ruin the value of his property.  I saw my boss get nervous as the conversation turned.  He tried repeatedly to change the subject but this man had plenty to say.  My boss then tried to engage me in a personal conversation so that I would be distracted by what was being said at the table.  I politely said that I wanted to hear what this man had to say.  I tried to give my boss reassurance with my expression that it would be okay.  I then mentioned that I had heard that property values located next to Mormon temples significantly increased due to the beauty of the building and grounds.  He brushed that off.   Eventually the conversation changed again much to the relief of my boss.  I have to say I had the best co-workers ever and those that knew what had happened gave me looks of apology.  It was okay.  I was okay.  I understood the concerns this man had.  But I also knew that he would be surprised by the beauty and peaceful nature of the temple grounds in years to come.

As the church started plans for the temple, opposition started to rise in the community.  So much opposition that they started to schedule regular community meetings to answer questions and hear concerns from the public.  Peter and I decided to check out one of these meetings.  We were overwhelmed at the numbers of people who showed up and the vehemence in which they spoke.  The meeting we attended lasted hours.  People lined up behind the microphone to object to the size of the building, the lighting, the angle of the shadow of the steeple, you name it and it was discussed.  Eventually the church agreed to reduce the size of the building, to turn the lights down at a certain time, and to angle the building so that the shadow of the steeple would cast over the highway.  These were just a few of the accommodations made to appease the community.  It was a hard day as I found out what others thought about me.

Why did I tell these two experiences?  Because I learned something from them.  I learned that people are afraid of the unknown or unfamiliar.  Its human nature to be wary, defensive, narrow minded, and protective of the things that are important to us.  With this new exposure and the possibility of  a Mormon President, we have an opportunity to educate, to set an example, to open the minds and hearts of those who may be ready to put up a wall of ignorance.  It is not productive to be defensive.  It is productive to live by example, have open dialogue, be loving, and accepting of others who may be afraid, or not know what Mormons are all about.  Our Savior was the ultimate example of how to treat others and if we claim to want to be like him, then we should do just that.