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NY Times article on Mormon Church in Navajo Nation

#123: Sept. - Nov. 2013 (Non-Fiction)
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KayR
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NY Times article on Mormon Church in Navajo Nation

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This interesting article in this morning's Times points out what secularists too often overlook:
As converts here on the reservation tell it, becoming a Mormon has brought them closer to the fundamental Navajo values of charity, camaraderie and respect for the land.
There is a lot of crazy and a lot of horrible in the Mormon Church--but it is clearly satisfying a need that secular society is missing.

Some Find Path to Navajo Roots Through Mormon Church
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DWill

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Re: NY Times article on Mormon Church in Navajo Nation

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The article describes an intersection of Mormon beliefs and the help these Native Americans receive from Mormons. Could it really be that Mormons care about Indians because Jesus encountered them in the New World and ministering to these "Lamanite" descendents will lead to establishing God's kingdom? I suppose that if this is the motivation, it doesn't matter much to the people who are grateful for the help. But how strange just the same.
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Re: NY Times article on Mormon Church in Navajo Nation

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It's sort of like evangelists who are big supporters of Israel because re-establishing Israel is fulfilling Biblical prophecy.
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Re: NY Times article on Mormon Church in Navajo Nation

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Yes, very similar. What does happen though, I think, is that a more normal human concern and relating takes over once these Mormons are involved with the Native Americans. Most of them probably feel the primary satisfaction of helping others and aren't just doing it out of duty to their theology. Theology could be what brought them there, but fortunately a better motivation keeps them there.
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