How are Mormons seen in world?

[Siddhartha]

This is one of the most important things about our culture, in my opinion. It is not that Mormonism appeals to middle-class people, it’s that Mormon culture leads more of us to make the choices that bring us into, but keep us from rising out of, the middle class.

Here’s why:

First, no matter what your income or education are when you join the church, active membership means that you will hold a calling. Those who thrive in the church, then, are those who have or can develop the ability to fulfill a job we did not choose, and do so effectively week after week, without someone checking up on us all the time.

Anyone who can do that is going to do well in middle-class jobs, period. We are, in effect, training all our active members for well-paying jobs.

Why, then, don’t we rise in greater numbers above that $100,000 mark? First, because so few of us, relatively speaking, are two-income families. I suspect most Mormon couples would be perfectly capable of conducting two $75,000 careers – but instead, one of them stays home and makes sure that the family and the household are well taken care of.

This division of labor keeps our financial totals lower – but our effectiveness as families much higher.

In addition, Mormons in middle management are far more likely than others to refuse promotions and raises that would require them to relocate when their children are of high school age.

Our ambitions are not as likely to be centered on our careers, but rather on our families, so that we aren’t as willing to make the sacrifices of time and inconvenience that rising to the very top of most professions requires.

 

[Marie5890]

Siddhartha:
Depends on where you are.

In the Mormon corridor (Idaho, UT, AZ) very strong presence. Big part of the economy. Also high numbers in CA. Strong in HA too.

The further you get away from that, the more they are seen as an American church, athough they have membership (although not very active) all over the world.

Their welfare program is a big draw for Latino countries.

They are highly recruited by the government because they are known to be to so incredibly patriotic and loyal!! Big numbers of them in the DC-Virgina area. Not to mention, because of missions, many are bi-lingual.

I know when I was at BYU, the DEA, FBI and CIA would heavy recruit from the upcoming graduates (I was often asked by friends if I would be willing to talk with those who were screening possilble recruits for background checks

Mitt Romney (and to some extent Glenn Beck) have put a bit more a spotlight on Mormonism because of their broader, general appeal, though for Mitt, he really has been more of a political moderate most of his career as oppose to either D or R

Beyond that, they really dont make that much of a cultural impact.

Think of it this way, when the Pope got knocked down last week at Midnight Mass, it made world news.

Do most people even know who the head of the LDS church is? No. And when Gordon Hinkley died a few years back, his death may have made for a paragraph in your local paper, the NYT, or even the tickers on the cable networks, but for the most part, people just seen Mormonism as another church.

Outside of the Mormon corridor, their impact is not all that much. Notable exception of CA. They were the driving force (including funds) of opposition to Prop 8.

 

[Marie5890]

Im glad the entitled article was about Mormons in the USA.

But there are Mormons throughout the world who would not fit into that article.

How many of them are devout? Another question entirely

It’s like the nuttiness of say that there are 1.3 billion Caltholics. Sorry there are not 1.3 billion people out there who self-identify as Catholic just like there are not the 13 million people our there who self-identify as Mormon…

Drives me crazy when these numbers are so easily tossed out.

They are inaccurate.

 

[RebeccaJ]

OK, well, interesting article, obviously it is about mormon men (not women).

I’ve worked in the Utah business world for 30 years. The idea that mormons make career sacrifices for their families? Very true, for women. Not so true for men. In my experience, it isn’t a very accurate portrayal of mormon ambition in the workplace, and doesn’t align well with the mormon claims of success in the business world.

And seriously, a resume had better have something a lot stronger than Sunday school teacher, as a qualification!

And last, it is the other way around…mormons tend to put successful business people in their higher positions of lay leadership.

OK, so yeah, mormonism is run like a business.

 

[Marie5890]

And last, it is the other way around…mormons tend to put successful business people in their higher positions of lay leadership.

OK, so yeah, mormonism is run like a business.

Ahhh…VERY good point…I lived in UT for 12 years, the rest in the so-called mission field…all the bishops and stake pres I had were taken from successful white collar career men…

Not the blue collar workers…never…ever…