National Review’s Maggie Gallagher wonders why the LDS Church is more effective than other denominations at passing on traditional Christian beliefs, attitudes, and practices about marriage.
Writes Gallagher:
More than any other group in America, and despite very large theological differences with orthodox Protestants or Catholics (Mormons are not Trinitarians, to name just one basic belief), the LDS church is far more effectively passing on classic Christian cultural beliefs, attitudes, and practices about marriage.
Why is that?
Only God knows for sure, but I was struck by the similarities between what President Henry B. Eyring of the LDS First Presidency (who spoke at the interfaith Colloquium on the Family held at the Vatican) said, and what was posited by Marshall Chalverus and Michael A. Thomas in their master’s thesis for the Naval Postgraduate School, “Growing an Ideology: How the Mormons Do It.” Chalverus and Thomas were trying to learn from the LDS experience how a countercultural minority can thrive and grow in order to learn lessons for counterinsurgency nation-building. Among their conclusions: Mormons do not convert by preaching. They do help ensure uniformity in what their church teaches by centralizing curriculum and materials, but these materials are used mostly to “preach to the converted.” Instead they focus on building social bonds, inviting the former stranger into a network of ever-growing belonging, before broaching theology or ideology. Preach incessantly to those in your pews, but reach out with love, affection, Boy Scouts, and practical help to the unconverted. It sounds a lot like the way the Catholic Church used to evangelize.
