I came to get help

[RossWasatch]

Hi all,

I joined the board to ask for help, after checking it out and seeing how civil the conversations are here, and seeing that you welcome friends of other faiths.

I have some LDS background from my childhood years, and many members of my extended family are LDS. For myself, I have followed a more traditional Christian path for over 30 years. I was born in Utah, my family moved away when I was a baby, but I moved back and have now been living in Utah for 27 years. So I continue to interact with Latter-day Saints of all stripes, and really enjoy the dialog. A lot of changes I've seen in Utah and LDS culture since I came back to Utah I view as very positive and encouraging.

Because of my familiarity with Mormonism, and because I have a theological degree and have written some things, I was contacted by a large traditional Christian publisher to write a book that will help members of mainline and evangelical Christian groups better understand their LDS neighbors. This is in light of Mormonism coming into the spotlight more than ever due to the Romney campaign and the Prop 8 battle.

The book will not address much on doctrine beyond the broadest overview on the Restoration and the plan of salvation. I'm interested mainly in LDS culture and way of life. How is M'ism lived out at levels of the Church, the ward, the family, in its relationship to the external community, etc. etc? Who are the Latter-day Saints, in their unity and diversity as a people? What makes them tick? The book will not be "anti-Mormon" but will try to respectfully explain the LDS values and way of life - but from the perspective of and in ways that make sense to my spiritual 'tribe'. It will not attempt to critique the Mormons, but to pull back a window for outsiders to understand better. My ultimate aim is to encourage more conversation and dialog between our groups about our respective faiths and lives.

I can use help in two ways:

1. Suggest resources I should consult: books, articles, web sites, etc.

2. I'm looking for lots of short quotes to include in the book, mainly in sidebar fashion, to allow the Saints to speak for themselves about their lives and experiences.

If you are interested in contributing a quote, e-mail me privately (I don't know this forum yet, so I hope that's possible). I will send you the guidelines for submitting a statement. I'm not looking for testimony-bearing or faith-promoting stories, but what would you want my group to understand about your way of life?

Thanks very much!

RossWasatch

[john doe]

Welcome to the site. I hope you like it here.

[Guest]

Welcome RossWasatch!

LDS.org is always a good resource. There are tons of articles in there. If you go to the Gospel Library|Magazines section, there are tons of short stories in the different magazines there about the lives of Mormons.

If you want some "things we can learn from the Mormons" I can mention 3 things:

1.) Geneology

2.) Provident Living

3.) Family Home Evening

right off the bat.

[RossWasatch]

Thanks Anatess, I'll take a look. That should be good background material.