In the last few years, Mormonism has burst into the national consciousness. The Presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney, the hit HBO series "Big Love" (although the mainstream Mormon church, it should be pointed out, abandoned polygamy in 1890), plus the great PBS documentary series "The Mormons", have put a bright new light on this most controversial of religions.
Mormonism is a complex faith. It claims to be part of Christianity but differs in certain ways. Mormons believe God is an actual person with a body; they believe people can be baptized after death; they believe the Garden of Eden is in Missouri; besides their past practice of polygamy, they used to believed that black people were put on Earth to represent the devil, white folks to represent Jesus (they have since abandoned this belief, thankfully). They believe, in essence, that they have 'righted' Christianity. You can see why it's been so controversial.
The Mormon health code is notoriously strict: no booze, no tobacco, no caffeine, no narcotics, no premarital sex. Do lots of exercise and get lots of sleep. Eat meat sparingly. As a result, Mormons have fewer health problems and live longer than most Americans. Why this strict health code? Mormons believe the body and soul are of equal importance and both should be kept pure.
So what does this have to do with NYC? Well, there are over 42,000 of them here. In fact, there is a Mormon temple in that most non-Mormon of places in this town, the Upper West Side. You can find it on 65th street and Columbus, right near Lincoln Center and ABC Studios. You can visit it if you like and learn more about this booming religion.
Mormonism is a complex faith. It claims to be part of Christianity but differs in certain ways. Mormons believe God is an actual person with a body; they believe people can be baptized after death; they believe the Garden of Eden is in Missouri; besides their past practice of polygamy, they used to believed that black people were put on Earth to represent the devil, white folks to represent Jesus (they have since abandoned this belief, thankfully). They believe, in essence, that they have 'righted' Christianity. You can see why it's been so controversial.
The Mormon health code is notoriously strict: no booze, no tobacco, no caffeine, no narcotics, no premarital sex. Do lots of exercise and get lots of sleep. Eat meat sparingly. As a result, Mormons have fewer health problems and live longer than most Americans. Why this strict health code? Mormons believe the body and soul are of equal importance and both should be kept pure.
So what does this have to do with NYC? Well, there are over 42,000 of them here. In fact, there is a Mormon temple in that most non-Mormon of places in this town, the Upper West Side. You can find it on 65th street and Columbus, right near Lincoln Center and ABC Studios. You can visit it if you like and learn more about this booming religion.
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