Ross Anderson - Should I Vote for a Mormon?

To be Mormon is far more than being a member of a particular church. Mormonism is an all-encompassing way of life. One prominent LDS scholar observes that Mormons still think of themselves as a people as much as a church. Like Islam, Mormonism is not merely a set of beliefs but a complete identity. To belong to the LDS community entails a deep commitment to the shared customs, values, and lifestyle of the Latter-day Saint culture.

When I speak of culture, I mean the particular ways of thinking, speaking, and living that are shared by people with a common past and identity. People who live in the United States partake of a unique culture that is birthed from our common identity as Americans. Even within America, smaller religious and ethnic groups have subcultures that are distinct from the larger whole. We dont learn our culture consciously but absorb it simply by being around other members of our group. Based on common beliefs and worldview, the Mormon culturelike any othertakes shape in patterns of language, in folklore, in organizational structures, in buildings and artifacts, in forms of art, in ritual and other shared experiences, and in expectations of how people will act.

Every culture expresses itself in unique vocabulary and language patterns. Mormons pray in a distinctive style, using common jargon and intonation. As John Sorenson notes, Thousands of words, phrases, names and stylistic features have peculiar LDS significance, including common LDS euphemisms (Oh my heck!), words that describe LDS life (ward or endowment), and phrases that describe core features of the LDS worldview (the pre-existence or second estate).

Every culture expresses itself in ritual. Latter-day Saint beliefs take shape through the words and actions of common rituals such as baptism, anointing the sick, priesthood ordination, the intricate rites of the temple ordinances, and unique LDS death and burial customs.

Mormon culture reflects a strong value of music, drama, and dance. Mormonisms rich musical history includes the value of musical training in the home and traditional forms of sacred music using piano, organ, and choirs. The dominant form of drama in the LDS world is the pageant, like the Hill Cumorah Pageant, an outdoor spectacle that proclaims the themes of Mormon history and scripture in a tone of triumphant celebration. A small LDS cinematic industry produces films that depict the great stories of Mormonism or poke fun at LDS cultural quirks. Social dancing has always been part of Mormon social life, following precedents set by its earliest leaders. Public dance festivals are also popular.

Mormonism has a rich folklore. The most common folk stories reflect themes that Latter-day Saints find most important, like the pioneer past. Mormon folklore also encourages faithfulness by rooting the Saints in a cosmic struggle between good and evil.

Latter-day Saints express their underlying values through physical objects and symbols, such as the image of the Salt Lake Temple, the beehive, and the angel Moroni. They use art to illustrate historical events and religious stories central to their message. One of the most common themes in LDS art is the First Vision of Joseph Smith, which began his prophetic mission. Mass-produced consumer objects, such as Book of Mormon action toys and Mormon-themed T-shirts, reinforce the Mormon cultural identity.

As with any group, these various cultural expressions serve to identify insiders versus outsiders. One example is the popular CTR ring. CTR stands for Choose the Right, a theme reinforced in the LDS childrens program. Intended as a reminder to make good moral choices, CTR rings make Latter-day Saints instantly recognizable to each other, creating a bond of common identity.

A number of Latter-day Saint customs have a similar role as cultural boundary markers. The Word of Wisdom, which prohibits alcohol, coffee, and tobacco, identifies Mormons to outsiders and communicates ones standing inside the LDS community. Many Saints hang photographs of a temple, or of the current LDS Church President, on the walls of their homes. Even wearing gear from Brigham Young University identifies people as part of the group.