Is the United States experiencing a ?Mormon Moment?? The 2012 presidential election is the first in history to see a Mormon candidate ? the Republican nominee Mitt Romney ? on a major party?s ballot, and Mormons have been the subject of numerous news stories, documentaries and even a popular Broadway musical.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormon Church is officially called, is the second fastest growing religion in the United States and expanding rapidly worldwide. Yet, despite the recent surge in media interest and coverage, Mormonism remains one of the least understood and most debated religions in the United States.
Because issues of personal faith and religious identity may be too sensitive to address in the classroom, we offer the following five ways to examine Mormonism in broader cultural, historical and political contexts with your students.
Trace the History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
What are the origins of the Mormon Church? Under what circumstances did the Latter Day Saint Movement emerge, and how did it compare to other new American religious movements of the early 19th century? What are some of the basic doctrines of the religion and how have they changed over time? How has the faith spread throughout the world, and where are the largest Mormon populations today?
The New York Times article ?Mormons? First Families Rally Behind Romney? connects the early days of the church to today?s political climate, while another recent article, ?The Mormon Lens on American History,? describes how Mormon history and scholarship are gaining academic popularity. You may also wish to check out articles from the Times archives, like ?Smith?s Mormon Bible: The Story of Its Finding Told by a Contemporary of the Prophet? (PDF) from 1895, and from across the Web, including the site for the PBS ?Frontline? documentary, ?The Mormons.?
Students can create a written guide or timeline, intended to educate their peers on the history of the religion.
Investigate the Contemporary Controversies Surrounding the Mormon Church
Why is the church the object of mockery, debate and even condemnation by so many? What positions and practices are at the heart of contemporary controversies? Or, as two history professors asked, ?What makes Mormons such a juicy target??
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In its ?Room for Debate? series, The New York Times poses the question, ?What Is It About the Mormons?? You might also compare and discuss different Op-Eds related to Mormons, like ?Why I Love Mormonism,? ?Why We Fear Mormons,? ?Equal Rights, Gay Rights and the Mormon Church,? ?Anne Frank, A Mormon?? and ?Why Evangelicals Don?t Like Mormons.?
Additionally, you might also read about the fifth-generation Mormon blogger who came under scrutiny for raising hot-button questions about Mormon history and traditions about the church on his Web site, MormonThink. Or, consider some of the latest statistics about the public perception of Mormons.
Students can write argument essays drawing on the positions presented in any of the ?Room for Debate? or Opinion pieces they have read.
Analyze the Portrayal of Mormons in Popular Culture
How are Mormons portrayed in the culture at large? In the past decade, Mormons have been the subject of a best-selling book, a television series and a wildly popular Broadway musical.
Students read and discuss reviews (or write their own), compare and contrast how Mormons are portrayed in popular culture (or, alternately, how they are portrayed compared with other religious groups), and analyze the church?s own ?I?m a Mormon? advertising campaign. They might create a visual presentation, like a Glog, to reflect their observations.
Explore the Role of Youth in the Mormon Church
What?s the relationship between the church and its young followers? What roles do youth missionaries play? What?s life like for young adult Mormons?
Examine youth missions ? an important component of the Mormon Church. As the article ?At 19, from Utah to Uganda,? and its accompanying photo slide show explain, young men are expected to take up evangelism on their 19th birthday and many Mormon college students pause their studies to serve in missions. What type of training is involved? How do young missionaries engage with the local communities at their destinations?
You might also take a look at how the image of the clean-cut young Mormon is changing. ?To Be Young, Hip and Mormon? addresses the expanding boundaries of Mormon style. How do young Mormons reconcile creative self-expression and the social pressure to party with church guidelines? How are famous followers of the faith, like electronic music whiz Kaskade and ?Twilight? series author Stephenie Meyer challenging the public perception of what it means to be Mormon?
Students write essays reflecting on the preservation of religious values in the face of modernity or exploring the ways youth challenge longstanding traditions.
Examine the Intersection of Faith and Politics
What role does Mitt Romney?s faith play in his bid for the presidency? How, if at all, does the discussion surrounding his religion differ from questions of past candidates? religious beliefs (for example, President Obama?s relationship to his former pastor; George W. Bush?s evangelism; John F. Kennedy?s Catholicism)? Why has Mr. Romney chosen not to address his faith to any significant extent, when so many past candidates have relied on their religious credentials to garner support? And, finally, what influence might Mr. Romney?s faith have on voters in places like Idaho, Nevada and Utah in the 2012 presidential election?
Students read and respond to the ?Room for Debate? feature, ?Are Republicans Ready Now for a Mormon President?? or further contextualize Mr. Romney?s candidacy by investigating the role of religion throughout U.S. presidential election history.
Common Core ELA Anchor Standards, 6-12
Reading
1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
6. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
8. Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, including the validity of the reasoning as well as the relevance and sufficiency of the evidence.
9. Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build knowledge or to compare the approaches the authors take.
Writing
2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization and analysis of content.
4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.
7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research.
Speaking and Listening
2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively and orally.
3. Evaluate a speaker?s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and oratory.
4. Present information, findings and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development and style are appropriate to task, purpose and audience.
5. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.
McREL Standards
Civics
11. Understands the role of diversity in American life and the importance of shared values, political beliefs and civic beliefs in an increasingly diverse American society
28. Understands how participation in civic and political life can help citizens attain individual and public goals
United States History
31. Understands economic, social, and cultural developments in the contemporary United States
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