LDS Treks - Why invite Catholic teens to join?

[lax16]

Two Catholic teenage boys that I know have been invited to join some LDS youth on a LDS “trek.” This is a re-enactment of the trip west made by some of the early Mormon pioneers pushing handcarts to carry their belongings.

I am wondering why Catholic teens would be asked to join in and what relevance does it have to our teens?

Thanks!

 

[ESMDHokie77]

to convert the Catholic teens to their heretical beliefs.

 

[Stepson]

Or so the Catholic teens will never be tempted to think it’s a good idea to walk across the plains with a wheelbarrow. Silly Mormons, that’s what wagons and horses were for.

 

[ParkerD]

Two Catholic teenage boys that I know have been invited to join some LDS youth on a LDS “trek.” This is a re-enactment of the trip west made by some of the early Mormon pioneers pushing handcarts to carry their belongings.

I am wondering why Catholic teens would be asked to join in and what relevance does it have to our teens?

Thanks!

Lax16,

Some teens living in Utah feel like they are excluded when events such as that are planned for other teens in their neighborhood and they aren’t invited to participate.

I would look at it that way, and be aware that it is planned as a way for the teens to connect with each other through a somewhat “tough experience” (hot sun, long walk, pulling a handcart as a group, sleeping under the stars, no showers, etc.) to remember what the handcart pioneers had to go through getting to Utah, just like would be the case for a Boy Scout high adventure experience except that the latter wouldn’t have the devotional kinds of things.

They certainly could turn down the invitation and I think that would be understood–totally their personal decision.

 

[ESMDHokie77]

Some teens living in Utah feel like they are excluded when events such as that are planned for other teens in their neighborhood and they aren’t invited to participate.

I would look at it that way, and be aware that it is planned as a way for the teens to connect with each other through a somewhat “tough experience” (hot sun, long walk, pulling a handcart as a group, sleeping under the stars, no showers, etc.) to remember what the handcart pioneers had to go through getting to Utah, just like would be the case for a Boy Scout high adventure experience except that the latter wouldn’t have the devotional kinds of things.

Indeed. religious origin of the event non withstanding, this is pretty similar to what the more famous Oregon Trail was like. And I’m sure plenty of Catholics, much less non-Mormons, went out west.

Apologies for my first comment.

 

[lynnettejane]

it’s to get the to join up, make no mistake about it

 

[lax16]

Lax16,

Some teens living in Utah feel like they are excluded when events such as that are planned for other teens in their neighborhood and they aren’t invited to participate.

I would look at it that way, and be aware that it is planned as a way for the teens to connect with each other through a somewhat “tough experience” (hot sun, long walk, pulling a handcart as a group, sleeping under the stars, no showers, etc.) to remember what the handcart pioneers had to go through getting to Utah, just like would be the case for a Boy Scout high adventure experience except that the latter wouldn’t have the devotional kinds of things.

They certainly could turn down the invitation and I think that would be understood–totally their personal decision.

Hi Parker - Yes the teens are aware that it is an invitation.

Since this trek will have “devotional kinds of things” as you have said, it seems to me that it is to introduce the teens to Mormonism along with the other stuff.

I still don’t see the relevance for Catholics.
Now, if the LDS teens were interested in re-creating the passion of Our Lord on His road to Calvary…then I would think they were on to something good! Do the Mormon teens ever re-enact the Stations of the Cross?

 

[FabiusMaximus]

to convert the Catholic teens to their heretical beliefs.

Bingooooooooooo!

 

[midori]

I remember when I was a kid, another girl in my class invited me to her church’s VBS. It was very odd, since we weren’t particularly close, and once we got there, we didn’t really hang out together. I think the kids were asked to bring a friend, or got incentives for bringing a friend, or whatever.

Since then, other friends have invited me to attend their churches. It’s tough to appreciate what you have when you have nothing to compare it to. It’s also refreshing to pick up on differences in perspective or core beliefs when you listen to others on their home turf.

So, yeah. If my kids were invited, especially if I lived in Utah, I wouldn’t have much problem for them to get out and experience what other denominations do. But I’d make sure they knew ahead of time key doctrinal differences between the LDS and the RCC.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Two Catholic teenage boys that I know have been invited to join some LDS youth on a LDS “trek.” This is a re-enactment of the trip west made by some of the early Mormon pioneers pushing handcarts to carry their belongings.

I am wondering why Catholic teens would be asked to join in and what relevance does it have to our teens?

Thanks!

You’re essentially turning your teen over to several straight days of Mormon indoctrination, as that is what these things are…a hard core indoctrination tool for Mormon teens. They break down the kids and then build them back up, calling this “feeling the spirit”. It is emotional manipulation.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=266312

 

[ParkerD]

Hi Parker - Yes the teens are aware that it is an invitation.

Since this trek will have “devotional kinds of things” as you have said, it seems to me that it is to introduce the teens to Mormonism along with the other stuff.

I still don’t see the relevance for Catholics.
Now, if the LDS teens were interested in re-creating the passion of Our Lord on His road to Calvary…then I would think they were on to something good! Do the Mormon teens ever re-enact the Stations of the Cross?

Hi, Lax16,

I agree that it would seem irrelevant to Catholic young men, unless they had an interest in a young woman that was going since there is interaction along those lines, helping each other with the handcarts and separated at night, and maybe a square dance.

I think since the “trek” experience really is hot and really is tiresome, that they would probably wonder “why did I do this”, so it’s kind of a no-brainer unless there is the above interest.

Answer to final question–no.

There is an interest in the youth learning more about Mormon pioneers, some of whom are ancestors of some of the youth.

There is a movie out in the SLC area, “Seventeen Miracles”, that might be a better use of time for someone just curious but not “that curious”.

If they never want to be invited to anything, they can certainly let people know.

 

[lax16]

Hi, Lax16,

I agree that it would seem irrelevant to Catholic young men, unless they had an interest in a young woman that was going since there is interaction along those lines, helping each other with the handcarts and separated at night, and maybe a square dance.

No, just friends.

I think since the “trek” experience really is hot and really is tiresome, that they would probably wonder “why did I do this”, so it’s kind of a no-brainer unless there is the above interest.

Why are the teens encouraged to invite non-members then?
Certainly Catholics are familiar with pilgrimages that are difficult. It seems quite personal though and not something you would invite a non-member to.

Answer to final question–no.

Do you think LDS teens would accept an invitation to Stations of the Cross during Lent?

There is an interest in the youth learning more about Mormon pioneers, some of whom are ancestors of some of the youth.

Yes, I am aware that they dress up like pioneers and attempt to re-enact parts of the journey. Our friends kids that did it did not have ancestors that were pioneers.

There is a movie out in the SLC area, “Seventeen Miracles”, that might be a better use of time for someone just curious but not “that curious”.

Too bad we can’t get some good Catholic movies here in Utah such as There Be Dragons.

If they never want to be invited to anything, they can certainly let people know.

They are very likeable kids and I am sure they will continue to socialize with everyone.

 

[valentino]

Ive never heard that the LSD is a closed sect.If fact they recruit members from all different backgrounds i believe.

 

[rock17]

These treks sound like a great opprotunity to indoctrinate non-lds teens. It sounds like if you get someone who is not mormon out into the wilderness for long enough you can break them down and build them back up, like a boot camp.

 

[lax16]

You’re essentially turning your teen over to several straight days of Mormon indoctrination, as that is what these things are…a hard core indoctrination tool for Mormon teens. They break down the kids and then build them back up, calling this “feeling the spirit”. It is emotional manipulation.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=266312

That’s what I was afraid of…one of the boys is thinking of going and I feel he might be vulnerable right now.

Any suggestions on what to tell him? He says Mormonism is a bunch of baloney but I think he likes the attention that he is getting right now and the invitation, etc.

Help!

 

[ParkerD]

Why are the teens encouraged to invite non-members then?
Certainly Catholics are familiar with pilgrimages that are difficult. It seems quite personal though and not something you would invite a non-member to.

Lax16,

It really is usually the case, unless it were a seminary activity, that there is a felt obligation to invite neighborhood youth to a “youth conference” activity so they don’t feel excluded, but that would also mean they should explain a pretty good level of detail about the experience so the youth could make an informed decision. I assume the expectation would have been that the invited youth would just say, “no thanks–but thanks for thinking of us and considering us friends”.

Do you think LDS teens would accept an invitation to Stations of the Cross during Lent?

I have no idea, other than that I have a son who probably would have said “yes” if a Catholic friend had asked him, just to show a mutual friendship and non-exclusivity.

They are very likeable kids and I am sure they will continue to socialize with everyone.

I honestly think that’s super, and I only mentioned that sentence because that sets a boundary of options that are available if a youth was going to feel uncomfortable being invited time after time where some activities might seem “personal” or too “devotional-oriented”, as you noted.

The kinds of “faith” experiences that would undoubtedly be talked about concerning the Mormon pioneers might be able to be considered as “generic” to religious people. I have heard of non-LDS youth at fireside type “testimony devotionals” who felt OK about being there, but others might feel like they were on the outside looking in. So it just depends on the individual youth. They might also feel uncomfortable not knowing the hymns and campfire songs.

 

[lax16]

Lax16,

It really is usually the case, unless it were a seminary activity, that there is a felt obligation to invite neighborhood youth to a “youth conference” activity so they don’t feel excluded, but that would also mean they should explain a pretty good level of detail about the experience so the youth could make an informed decision. I assume the expectation would have been that the invited youth would just say, “no thanks–but thanks for thinking of us and considering us friends”.

These were not neighborhood kids but have been trying pretty hard to get these two to attend LDS services lately - and the trek invitation came the other night.

I have no idea, other than that I have a son who probably would have said “yes” if a Catholic friend had asked him, just to show a mutual friendship and non-exclusivity.

Maybe it would be a good idea. I am sure no one would object to reflecting on the Lord’s Passion.

I honestly think that’s super, and I only mentioned that sentence because that sets a boundary of options that are available if a youth was going to feel uncomfortable being invited time after time where some activities might seem “personal” or too “devotional-oriented”, as you noted.

I am the one who thinks that it is too personal, or so it seems, from the comments.
Catholics would not feel too much of a connection to pioneers - from a religious standpoint, anyway.