Mormon Religion and Its Effects on Family Life

Introduction

The members of the modern Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church, have experienced their fair share of hardships since their founding by Joseph Smith in 1847. Although church members were driven from one place to another out of fear and, in some cases, envy, the Mormons found a home in Salt Lake City, Utah, where their headquarters remains today. Much of the controversy surrounding the Mormon Church relates to a number of popular misconceptions. However, there is little debate concerning the positive influence that the Mormon religion has on its family members in certain respects, with many church members outscoring the rest of the American population in terms of longevity and health. To explore how they achieve this, this paper provides a review of the relevant literature to determine the effects of the Mormon religion on family members, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.

Social Perceptions and Family Cohesion

Much confusion still surrounds the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints among some mainstream Americans, who may believe that church members still practice polygamy. While that practice was abandoned long ago, such misperceptions linger on. This virtual ostracization by the rest of American society may have contributed to the close-knit appearance of Mormon families, as they seek out the comfort and companionship of those who understand them. As one authority points out, "Whatever the theological differences between Mormonism and mainstream Protestant and Catholic denominations, Latter-day Saints' otherness appears to have been defined around specific points of cultural negotiation and contention. Mormons have been simultaneously feared and envied on the basis of a perceived sense of group cohesion extending to the point of tribal and even conspiratorial tightness" (Wollheim, 2006, p. 26).

Amid such perceptions, Mormon families can perhaps be forgiven for their closeness, and it is clear that the church's doctrine contributes to the moral and physical well-being of its younger members. For example, as Howard and Powell (2004) point out, "Family structure influences contraceptive decisions in that women raised by both parents from birth to age 14 are likely to use more effective methods of contraception. Additionally, any family structure that is unchanging has this effect, implying it is the stability of the structure rather than of whom it consists that created the effect" (p. 3). Research also shows that Mormon adolescents are less likely to smoke tobacco than their non-religious counterparts (Weaver, Flannelly & Strock, 2005).

Conclusion

As one of the fastest-growing religions in the world, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must have something going for it. The research showed that one of the most appealing aspects of the religion for many people is its emphasis on a well-rounded family life and the need to instill certain values in Mormon children—including avoiding premarital sex, alcohol, tobacco, and other behaviors associated with higher mortality rates among their mainstream American counterparts. In the final analysis, it is difficult to argue with clean living and piety, notwithstanding any doctrinal differences between the Mormons and the broader American population.

References

The family: A proclamation to the world. (2008). Official Web site of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved April 4, 2008.

Howard, B. K., & Powell, M. A. (2004, August). Effects of family structure, education and religion on contraceptive decisions by women in their twenties. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Hilton San Francisco & Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel, San Francisco, CA.

Weaver, A. J., Flannelly, K. J., & Strock, A. L. (2005). A review of research on the effects of religion on adolescent tobacco use published between 1990 and 2003. Adolescence, 40(160), 761.

Wollheim, P. (2006). Latter-day screens: A history of Mormons and the movies. Afterimage, 33(6), 26–27.