Touched By a Mormon,
by Gary Winn
[In our society today there is a great
deal] of uncertainty regarding what a Mormon is and what Mormons (members of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) believe. Yet evidence shows that when a person
knows a Mormon or can associate with a Mormon, all of the stereotypes,
caricatures, and concerns evaporate as the mist before the morning sun and the
positive Christian values of a people committed to God, family and country
shine through.
While the majority of
Americans may not know it, they most likely have been influenced by a Mormon
and often by many Mormons, as they live their lives and go about their daily
business. Have you? If you aren't sure here is a little
help. You have been “touched” by a
Mormon if you:
· Watched your
television set today - (Philo T. Farnsworth - Mormon inventor of TV)
· Stayed in a Marriott or La Quinta hotel (hotel chains founded by J. Willard Marriott,
a prominent member of the church)
· Are represented by Senate Majority Leader
D-NV Harry Reid (or one of the other five US Senators - Gordon Smith in Oregon,
Republicans Hatch and Bennett in Utah, and Republican Mike Crapo in Idaho; Tom
Udall, D-NM or nine US
Congressmen - Jim Matheson, D-UT, Jeff Flake, R-AZ, Wally Herger R-CA, John
Doolittle, R-CA, Howard McKeon, R-CA, Mike Simpson, R-ID, Dean Heller, R-NV,
Rob Bishop, R-UT, Christopher Cannon, R-UT)
· Received assistance during a
hurricane, flood, fire or other natural disaster. The number of major LDS disaster assistance
efforts (1985-2006) total 181 including: Beirut, Lebanon, conflict relief 2006,
Yogyakarta, Indonesia, earthquake relief 2006,
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief 2005, Pakistan earthquake relief 2005,
Africa measles vaccination campaigns 2004-2006, Southeast Asia tsunami relief
2004-2006.
· Received humanitarian assistance
rendered (1985-2006) - Cash donations $201.3 million, Value of material
assistance $705.2 million, Countries served 163, Food distributed 54,905 tons,
Medical equipment distributed 9,152 tons, Surplus clothing distributed 73,226
tons, Educational supplies distributed 5,857 tons.
· Participated or served in the
Boy Scouts of America (the
· Traveled on Jet Blue or SkyWest airlines
· Purchased a product or service from
Dell, American Express, Fisher-Price, Black & Decker, 1-800 Contacts, Priceline, Oakley, Sutter Health, Nationwide Insurance,
Deloitte, Novell etc. who all have had LDS members in upper-level executive
positions.
· Watched Glenn Beck, Jane Clayson, Steve Young, or many other local, national and
international news professionals.
· Searched out
your ancestors on the internet (the
· Cheered during the 2002 Olympics
and almost any of the other modern Olympic Games.
· Were kept
secure through the CIA, FBI and National Security Advisors
· Are a fan of professional sports
teams like the
· Want a cure for cancer (Huntsman
Cancer Research) or desire measles to be eradicated in
· Received
assistance from the incalculable hours of volunteer service, organized and
otherwise, rendered around the world.
• Listened to Gladys Knight or a host of
other musicians, singers and performers, including what Ronald Reagan called
"
And the touch-points go
on and on. True, this list
contains some of the more visible members, and public activities of the Mormon
faith, yet the more powerful impact and lasting influence comes through the
ordinary and unknown members who simply live their Christian faith, raise their
families, and contribute to their communities.
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