Latest from Mormon Land: A peek at Catholic and Latter-day Saint missionaries

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Comparing missionaries

How do Latter-day Saint missionaries compare to their Catholic counterparts? The National Catholic Register recently provided an overview and noted some key differences (aside from doctrines, that is):

Age • Latter-day Saints typically begin their full-time proselytizing service at ages 18 or 19. Missionaries for FOCUS — which sends Catholic missionaries to higher-education campuses — have to complete college first.

Training • Latter-day Saints undergo three to nine weeks of intense gospel grounding and, if needed, foreign language study at Missionary Training Centers, sort-of boot camps for the faith’s foot soldiers. FOCUS training, meanwhile, occurs over five to six weeks in the summer, the article states, and Catholic missionary orders require years of training and religious vows.

Numbers • Catholicism, the world’s largest Christian faith, has more than 400,000 lay missionaries, while FOCUS has 1,048 missionaries at 210 college campuses. In contrast, about 80,000 Latter-day Saints are currently on full-time missions in 450 missions across the globe.

Attire • Female and male Latter-day Saint missionaries have a strict dress code. FOCUS missionaries do not. Catholic missionary orders, however, usually wear religious habits.

The latest ‘Mormon Land’ podcast: Civic peacemaking

Jonathan Rauch — an openly gay atheist journalist and the author of the newly released “Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Bargain With Democracy” — points to revolutionary compromises from the church on, for instance, LGBTQ+ disputes as a model for “sharing,” even healing, the country.

Listen to the podcast.

‘The best source’ is a bargain

“The Salt Lake Tribune is probably the best source for real news about the LDS Church.”

First, thanks to Wheat & Tares blogger Dave B. for that kind compliment.

He then adds: “But after a few free stories, there is a paywall and I haven’t forked out for a subscription.”

True enough. But, as several commenters point out, there is an affordable alternative: The Tribune’s Mormon Land Patreon feed.

“You get all the SLTrib’s religion coverage (primarily LDS) for very little money,” writes one responder. Try $3 a month.

Oh, you also get Religion News Service stories, including Jana Riess’ columns, New York Times religion stories and additional religion articles and commentary — from Tribune columnists, guest columnists and other writers.

That’s Patreon, the penny-pincher’s way to frugally feast on the word.

Around the world

• The 13th general president of the church’s Relief Society has died.

Mary Ellen Smoot — who cherished her Davis County roots, raised her seven children on a dairy farm and eventually traveled to India, Japan, Nigeria and Russia as the leader of Latter-day Saint women around the world — died Feb. 10. She was 91.

During her 1997–2002 tenure as head of the Relief Society, she oversaw countless humanitarian projects. In 1999, the organization amassed 350,000 quilts, the church’s website reports, and sent more than 30,000 to Kosovo refugees.

“She will be remembered by those who loved her most,” the family’s obituary says, “for her unwavering commitment to family, her mouthwatering homemade rolls that were the highlight of each event, and her ability to make holidays feel like grand celebrations.”

• The church faces a $25 million federal lawsuit in Oregon accusing it of failing to report child sexual abuse.

The complaint, Portland TV station KOIN 6 reports, alleges a 30-year-old man abused his teenage adopted daughter and that a Latter-day Saint bishop and stake president were warned of the abuse but did not notify authorities.

• “American Idol” alum David Archuleta told People magazine last week that his forthcoming memoir, “Devout,” will discuss his “coming out of the closet, coming out of Mormonism and trying to teach people why coming out is not just a choice.”

“It’s an important message,” he said. “Even if it’s some risky stuff to talk about.”

From The Tribune

• This little-known Latter-day Saint lawyer is about to have a big impact on American law and politics.

• As the historic Beehive and Lion houses in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City move closer to wrapping up restoration efforts and welcoming back the public, we learned that the popular Lion House Pantry — remember those fluffy rolls? — may not be returning.

• Tribune guest columnist Rebbie Brassfield sees ways the church can tend to the child care crisis.

• BYU’s athletics director is retiring.