Cause of Violent Social Disruptions in Latin America
The Mormon flock and other non-catholic groups are flourishing in Latin America, especially in Mexico and Brazil, with some 5.2 million members and 5,500 chapels. Mormonism is growing in Latin America where new members are attracted by such factors as the Mormon's affluence and stability, as well as its family image and the belief that Jesus Christ visited the Americas after he was resurrected. Today, about 50,000 missionaries - often young men in business suits walking the world's streets in pairs - project a wholesome, family-oriented image that has helped swell global Mormon adherents by 36 percent from 1995 to 2005. According to the Mormon Community, there are 12 million members worldwide with 4.5 million members in Latin America alone. In comparison, there were only 700,000 Mormons reported in Latin America in 1980.
Twenty years ago the Mormons would have been among a tiny minority in Guatemala, a country whose Catholic roots stem to the 18th century when Spanish Conquistadors set out to Christianize most of Latin America.
Guatemala is still largely Catholic with nearly 75 percent of the population, but Evangelical and other Protestant Communities have made headway in the last 25 years.
Guatemala is still largely Catholic with nearly 75 percent of the population, but Evangelical and other Protestant Communities have made headway in the last 25 years.
Mormon missionaries, for their part, arrived in Guatemala in 1947 with only 66 members. By 1984, when the Guatemala City Temple was dedicated, membership had risen to 40,000. And by 1998, membership had quadrupled to 164,000.
In Latin America there are many Communities who have given Catholicism a run for their money," said Dr. Manuel A. Vasquez, Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Florida, Gainesville. "And in large part the success of the Mormon in this region is because it is almost like a vicarious enjoyment when you go to the Mormon Community -- you escape the drudgery of every day life. It is almost like a catharsis."
Looking at the historical development of the Protestant revolution this is indeed the case- once The English protestant got control of the immense wealth of The English Catholic Church they financed a war that changed the course of history and turned Europe into a battle ground.
Now we see the same thing happening in Latin American as well as in many Islamic Countries.
Most of the people in the host countries see these so called missionaries as representative of the American government and the Mormons even use terms such as I shall check with the president and see if I can get some monetary help for you.
One example of the problem of the Mormon missionaries happened September 17, 2008 when the Mormon Community missionaries from the United States and Canada were withdrawn from Bolivia, according to a September 16th press release from the Mormon Community as a precautionary measure.
The country has suffered a week of violent conflict between rebels in its lowland, gas and agro-business rich states and its national government. Apparently backed by the United States, lowland governors promoted the rebellion to obtain greater autonomy, a larger share of taxes from hydrocarbons, and to stop the current agrarian reform from dividing the extremely large estates of the savannahs and jungles.
Despite the diplomatic crisis and the unrest in Bolivia, Latin American Mormon Community missionaries remain in the country and the Mormon Community continues. Mormons are members of the government and are probably involved in the rebellion. Despite the drama of the departure of North Americans from the country, and the overall weakening of US influence in the country and region, Mormonism has become part of the background of ordinary life and has members on both sides of the country’s social and political conflicts.
Due to the efforts of Mormon Community public relations and its increasing Bolivianization, as well as its size and the time depth of its presence in the country, it is now a Bolivian Mormon Community and its members are widely distributed in government, business, and social movements both pro- and contra- the current government. This is an important change and is a sign of the maturity of Mormon Community growth in Bolivia and Latin America. It is indeed a new time.
Another example the Mormon Presidents of all four Venezuelan missions received surprise calls on Wednesday, 19 October, from their area authority asking them to have their missionaries on "lock in" the next day, meaning that they were not to leave their apartments. On Thursday evening, mission presidents were again contacted and informed that all non-native missionaries would immediately be reassigned to other missions. "We were told not to say anything," wrote Mormon Community President Rogers, "We were told that the Prophet and his counselors and the 12 Apostles had been in the temple all day and they felt it was time to take all North Americans out of Venezuela. Wow, we were really shocked and were still not allowed to say anything."
Furthermore The Venezuelan government suspended missionary visas in August 2005 after Evangelist Pat Robertson, a former presidential candidate in 1988, said that U.S. government should kill Chavez to protect American petroleum interests and because the Venezuelan president "has destroyed the Venezuelan economy, and he's going to make that a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism all over the continent."
On 12 October, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez issued an expulsion order for American missionary group, the New Tribes Mission. Chávez proclaimed that New Tribes constituted a "true imperialist invasion" and was working with the CIA. He added, "We don't want the New Tribes here. Enough colonialism! 500 years is enough!"
This is not the first time that the Mormons have pulled missionaries out of a country. At the start of World War II, for example, missionaries returned home from every country. Missionaries have been pulled out of countries at times for a variety of reasons.
Are they really doing more harm than good by causing divisions among the people of their host countries? Can we stop the rape and plunder of our Latin American friends?
john Vondra
Twenty years ago the Mormons would have been among a tiny minority in Guatemala, a country whose Catholic roots stem to the 18th century when Spanish Conquistadors set out to Christianize most of Latin America.
Guatemala is still largely Catholic with nearly 75 percent of the population, but Evangelical and other Protestant Communities have made headway in the last 25 years.
Guatemala is still largely Catholic with nearly 75 percent of the population, but Evangelical and other Protestant Communities have made headway in the last 25 years.
Mormon missionaries, for their part, arrived in Guatemala in 1947 with only 66 members. By 1984, when the Guatemala City Temple was dedicated, membership had risen to 40,000. And by 1998, membership had quadrupled to 164,000.
In Latin America there are many Communities who have given Catholicism a run for their money," said Dr. Manuel A. Vasquez, Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Florida, Gainesville. "And in large part the success of the Mormon in this region is because it is almost like a vicarious enjoyment when you go to the Mormon Community -- you escape the drudgery of every day life. It is almost like a catharsis."
Looking at the historical development of the Protestant revolution this is indeed the case- once The English protestant got control of the immense wealth of The English Catholic Church they financed a war that changed the course of history and turned Europe into a battle ground.
Now we see the same thing happening in Latin American as well as in many Islamic Countries.
Most of the people in the host countries see these so called missionaries as representative of the American government and the Mormons even use terms such as I shall check with the president and see if I can get some monetary help for you.
One example of the problem of the Mormon missionaries happened September 17, 2008 when the Mormon Community missionaries from the United States and Canada were withdrawn from Bolivia, according to a September 16th press release from the Mormon Community as a precautionary measure.
The country has suffered a week of violent conflict between rebels in its lowland, gas and agro-business rich states and its national government. Apparently backed by the United States, lowland governors promoted the rebellion to obtain greater autonomy, a larger share of taxes from hydrocarbons, and to stop the current agrarian reform from dividing the extremely large estates of the savannahs and jungles.
Despite the diplomatic crisis and the unrest in Bolivia, Latin American Mormon Community missionaries remain in the country and the Mormon Community continues. Mormons are members of the government and are probably involved in the rebellion. Despite the drama of the departure of North Americans from the country, and the overall weakening of US influence in the country and region, Mormonism has become part of the background of ordinary life and has members on both sides of the country’s social and political conflicts.
Due to the efforts of Mormon Community public relations and its increasing Bolivianization, as well as its size and the time depth of its presence in the country, it is now a Bolivian Mormon Community and its members are widely distributed in government, business, and social movements both pro- and contra- the current government. This is an important change and is a sign of the maturity of Mormon Community growth in Bolivia and Latin America. It is indeed a new time.
Another example the Mormon Presidents of all four Venezuelan missions received surprise calls on Wednesday, 19 October, from their area authority asking them to have their missionaries on "lock in" the next day, meaning that they were not to leave their apartments. On Thursday evening, mission presidents were again contacted and informed that all non-native missionaries would immediately be reassigned to other missions. "We were told not to say anything," wrote Mormon Community President Rogers, "We were told that the Prophet and his counselors and the 12 Apostles had been in the temple all day and they felt it was time to take all North Americans out of Venezuela. Wow, we were really shocked and were still not allowed to say anything."
Furthermore The Venezuelan government suspended missionary visas in August 2005 after Evangelist Pat Robertson, a former presidential candidate in 1988, said that U.S. government should kill Chavez to protect American petroleum interests and because the Venezuelan president "has destroyed the Venezuelan economy, and he's going to make that a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism all over the continent."
On 12 October, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez issued an expulsion order for American missionary group, the New Tribes Mission. Chávez proclaimed that New Tribes constituted a "true imperialist invasion" and was working with the CIA. He added, "We don't want the New Tribes here. Enough colonialism! 500 years is enough!"
This is not the first time that the Mormons have pulled missionaries out of a country. At the start of World War II, for example, missionaries returned home from every country. Missionaries have been pulled out of countries at times for a variety of reasons.
Are they really doing more harm than good by causing divisions among the people of their host countries? Can we stop the rape and plunder of our Latin American friends?
john Vondra
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