The LDS Church and Globalization

Emily Bashaw

Blog Post #10

            Although the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints only started out in upstate New York in the United States, it has spread with relative rapidness across the entire world. It has become what one would consider globalized. Because the Church of Jesus Christ is for all people no matter where they live or come from, the globalization of the church has been a good thing.

            Globalization is defined by Samuels as “the spread of political, economic, and cultural dynamics among governments, groups and individuals beyond the borders of any one particular country,” (Samuels 346). But more specifically, in the book Unto Every Nation written by LDS authors, globalization is talked about as, “Globalization is an oft-mentioned, all-important matter in today’s world… For the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, globalization is more than just an interesting topics; it is an urgent priority. The mission of the Church is to bring all people everywhere to Jesus Christ so that they might enjoy the eternal fruits of His gospel. A worldwide Church is certainly in a better position to accomplish this mission than one that is only local or even regional” (Cannon). The growth of the church since its very beginnings pushed for globalization. An idea that was founded in New York quickly made its way throughout the United States and over to Europe in a matter of years. Along with its religious forefathers, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints became globalized at a quicker rate than many other things in the world and continues to at a faster and faster rate as more and more missionaries go to all corners of the earth to preach the gospel. Globalization can sometimes dilute and change ideas so that people are eventually all speaking the same languages, listening to the same music, eating the same food, etc, but that is exactly what the church wants.

            Globalization sometimes results in the dissolving of some cultures and this is exactly what the LDS church does not want. To prevent this as much as possible, the Book of Mormon has been published in 107 different languages so as to reach people around the world in their own language and culture. The church is in over 162 countries going straight to the people, not just operating from Salt Lake City (Richman). Because of its now global nature, the size of the church in even just the past 30 years, with the use of new innovative technologies, has tripled (Statistical Reports).

            Although sometimes globalization is viewed as a bad thing in the world, it is the churches goal so that all people can have the opportunity to hear the good news that the gospel is. The LDS church does its best to preserve the cultures that it comes across all over the world so as to not bring with it the damaging effects of globalization. The church’s whole goal is to spread beyond the borders of one country and be proclaimed throughout all the world; because of that, in the eyes of the church, globalization is a miracle.

Bibliography

Cannon, Donald Q., Richard O. Cowan.  “Unto Every Nation”.  Deseret Publishing, 2003

Richman, Larry. "Translations of the Book of Mormon." LDS Media Talk. WorldPress Admin, 30 2010. Web. Web. 5 Dec. 2012.

Samuels, David J.  “Comparative Politics”.  Pearson Education,  2012.  p. 346 

Statistical Report.  Ensign, May 1981.  Web.

Statistical Report.  LDS Newsroom, April 2012.  Web.