Mormon Leader Dies : Dispatches from the Culture Wars

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Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of The Panda's Thumb. He has written for such publications as The Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education, spoken in front of many organizations and conferences, and appeared on nationally syndicated radio shows and on C-SPAN. Ed is also a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media and the host of Declaring Independence, a one hour weekly political talk show on WPRR in Grand Rapids, Michigan.(static)

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Mormon Leader Dies

Posted on: January 29, 2008 9:30 AM, by Ed Brayton

Gordon Hinckley, president of the Mormon church, has died at age 97. Bad news for Romney, as he will have to attend the funeral and that will bring his religion back into public view yet again. Interestingly, the Mormon leadership acts much like the Catholic church. The president is considered not just a manager but a prophet, alleged to have a direct line to god that allows him to pronounce new doctrines.

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Why does that description of the presidency of the Mormon church make me think of Nehemiah Scudder?

OTOH, maybe it's the other way around and the Mormon's were in some way an inspiration for Robert Heinlein.

Posted by: Jim Ramsey | January 29, 2008 10:42 AM

In Heinlein's story, Revolt In 2100, Jews, Mormons and the Catholic Church were all prosecuted under the Protestant / Evangelical Theocracy of Nehemiah Scudder.

Posted by: J-Dog | January 29, 2008 11:03 AM

As a jack mormon myself, there are two things in life I enjoy not knowing: who the current mormon prophet is, and who is playing in the super bowl.

Posted by: mark cross | January 29, 2008 12:17 PM

Rumor has it, Stephen Colbert's writers kill the Mormon leader.

http://www.nofactzone.net/?p=3076

Posted by: H. Humbert | January 29, 2008 12:44 PM

I have to admit, that was a moment that really cemented my exit from the LDS church. I think it was 1978 when the prophet got a revelation that black folks were people too and could enter their priesthood (I was about 10). Why didn't god tell all the other prophets since Joe S. about it? What changed?

BTW mark -- how many wives do you have? ("Jack Mormon" may have a slightly different meaning for me where I grew up in Southern Utah.)

Posted by: Janicot | January 29, 2008 2:54 PM

Interestingly, the Mormon leadership acts much like the Catholic church. The president is considered not just a manager but a prophet, alleged to have a direct line to god that allows him to pronounce new doctrines.

I am not a theologian by any means, but I did go to 8 years of religious classes and 4 years of a Catholic high school. I think you are off the mark on the comparison, Ed. As I understand it, Mormonism allows for direct revelation from God - to any Mormon, not just the prophet, at any time. Popes may be considered God's representative on earth and have the ability to speak infallibly on matters of faith and morals (although that power is strictly limited), but there is no doctrine of continuing revelation from God - at least not in what I was taught. Certainly the church has changed its ceremonial trappings (in fact, Pope Ratzinger is currently working to bring back the Latin Mass) and some esoteric doctrines, like Limbo, but not because God suddenly said "Oops." Rather, the church has corrected mistakes it has made in the interpretation and analysis of the Bible - which is the complete set of God's revelation (thus the Book of Mormon is a blasphemy to the Catholic Church).

The entire exercise of Vatican II was an attempt to go back to the early church's worship styles, rather than relying on the centuries of tradition that had built up. The nun's habit, for instance, had originally been a means of blending into the populace, and evolved into a mark of distinction and difference; therefore, modern sisters (who are not cloistered like traditional nuns) wear simple, but modern, clothing.

Posted by: CPT_Doom | January 29, 2008 3:07 PM

As I understand it, Mormonism allows for direct revelation from God - to any Mormon, not just the prophet, at any time.

I don't think this includes women though, does it?

Posted by: Bruce | January 29, 2008 8:11 PM

It does include women. People are, according to Mormon doctrine, entitled to revelation regarding their area of responsibility. The Prophet for the whole church, a local bishop for his congregation, a man or woman for themselves and their family. The difference between men and women is that only men can hold the priesthood, which essentially means that only men can perform certain ordinances like baptisms or blessings on the sick.

Posted by: Matt | January 30, 2008 11:26 AM

I think this is very good idea, but I am affraid but not for me

Posted by: sex shop | April 4, 2009 8:34 AM