by Chris Bodenner
A reader writes:
I think you overlooked a key insight of Mark Hemingway’s piece:
But I also think the [Jack Mormon] comparisons to Reform Judaism are curious — barring a really, really radical change in the culture of the laity and Mormonism’s governing structure, a similar movement would a) probably not emerge and b) if it did, it would be unlikely to remain in the LDS church. But it is an attractive concept to a lot of liberal Mormon intellectuals (yes, they do exist).
As someone whose Mormon roots go back to before they came to Utah, whose family literally helped found Salt Lake City, and who has polygamous ancestors, I might be considered a Jack Mormon (except of course as a gay man who long ago left Mormonism behind, I doubt I’d be granted that status). As a result, I’m something of an insider in the world of Mormonism (for a deadly dull read, check out James Stephens Brown’s book Giant of the Lord – he’s my grandfather’s grandfather and was among the earliest Utah settlers).
Stories emerge very few years in Utah about a new openness in the church or evolution of church members attitudes; these stories are the expression of an often inchoate yearning on the part of liberal Mormons for a more tolerant, less authoritarian church, and they are unlikely to be realized in our lifetimes. The hierarchy in the Mormon church has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to sacrifice members in the name of orthodoxy and order; they will gladly disfellowship and even excommunicate someone who openly questions church leaders, no matter their public stature. Mormonism is a deeply rule-bound faith, strictly hierarchical – far more so than the Catholic church.
That glass of wine Hunstman’s kids drink keeps them out of Mormon Temples, meaning they don’t have access to some of the church’s most important rites. They are breaking the Word of Wisdom, which Mormons take very seriously. If you want access to the Temple you must obey the Word of Wisdom – no alcohol, no tobacco, no caffeine (there are more, but those are the big three). You don’t get a pass on it. Your bishop will have no problem refusing to give you a temple recommend. The church leadership is unbending on this issue. There are ways around it – my deeply Mormon grandmother never lost her temple recommend despite being a coffee fiend – she just lied through her teeth and never openly challenged her bishop’s authority. It’s a strategy lots of Mormons use.
If you want an interesting take on Mormonism, check out Paul James Toscano’s books The Sanctity of Dissent and The Sacrament of Doubt. Toscano was excommunicated by the church for daring to question the leadership’s position on a range of issues, including the role of women. He was a very public figure for a while in Utah. He was also kicked out the minute the leadership thought he was too heterodox.
Another writes:
In his novel The Monkey Wrench Gang, Edward Abbey writes about his character Seldom Seen Smith (who is 'Seldom Seen' because he has three geographically-separated wives):
Born by chance into membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), Smith was on lifetime sabbatical from his religion. He was a jack Mormon. A jack Mormon is to a decent Mormon what a jackrabbit is to a cottontail.
For the full version of the great work of fiction on the life of a Jack Mormon previewed above, go here.
The Dish 