Blog 10: Globalization and the LDS Church

            The phenomenon of globalization has an effect on every aspect of our lives. Whether we’re shopping for a new luxury sedan, communicating with friends through the internet, or even getting a sandwich, there is the distinct possibility of involving ourselves in a worldwide market and network. Religion cannot even escape the pull of globalizing forces. As a worldwide church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had to adapt to globalization as well. On the whole, though there are some downsides to globalization for the church, the gains far outweigh the losses. Globalization is a phenomenon that can best be defined as the merging of political, economic, social, and technological systems across national borders.

            Potentially damaging effects of globalization on the church include difficulty in maintaining stability in increasingly far-flung units and a difficulty in maintaining orthodoxy in the face of cultural traditions that run counter to doctrine. The problems with having a widespread church have mostly to do with cultural globalization—as the church spreads ever wider, it has to adapt to accommodate other cultures without expending doctrinal purity.

Elder Oaks addressed this issue admirably in an article entitled “The Gospel Culture,” where he said that while “many… traditions are consistent with the gospel culture and help our members keep the commandments of God,” still the church teaches us “to give up any personal or family traditions that are contrary to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ” (Oaks 2012). He decried cultural practices that are against the teachings of Christ, such as dowries or inappropriate family relationships, and recounted the importance of traditions that help the family and are aligned with gospel culture.

However, the benefits of globalization for the church are more impressive by far than the costs. First of all, the church has the benefit of increasing its membership all around the world. Due to technological innovations that have spread all over the world, one need merely have an internet connection to talk to missionaries and learn about the gospel. As never before, people in countries where missionaries are not yet allowed can gain exposure to the church and its teachings. Secondly, globalization on the political front is tending to spread democratization to countries that haven’t before had democracy and more freedom of religion. This form of political globalization also helps the church grow.

The most obvious answer to globalization that the church has produced is its “I’m a Mormon” flood of advertising. Mormon.org has been massively revamped to show profiles and video vignettes of members of the church from all over the world and from all walks of life (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2010). Additionally, they allow anyone from anywhere to speak to missionaries and to participate in church services. This is an excellent answer to globalization in the church, because it allows the church to highlight its effect on all people across the globe. In this way, globalization has been a giant boost to the church and its growth.

REFERENCES

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2010. New mormon.org brings Mormons to the forefront. July 15. http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/new-mormon-org-brings-mormons-to-the-forefront (accessed December 5, 2012).

Oaks, Dallin H. 2012. The gospel culture. http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/03/the-gospel-culture?lang=eng&query=culture+(name%3a%22Dallin+H.+Oaks%22) (accessed December 5, 2012).