Mormons of Manhattan!
Come on in, Mitt, the water’s fine! The number of Mormons in New York City has increased by 50 percent over the past decade. Did the city really get so clean—or do they just want to get dirty?
On a Sunday afternoon in late December, Elna Baker stood in front of a class of around 20 young men in ties and women in skirts. Ms. Baker, who is 25 and has red hair and a bright red vintage coat, was wearing a plaid miniskirt, a black turtleneck sweater and black suede high heels. These shoes had replaced the black low-top Converse she had been wearing earlier, before she stepped through the threshold of the Union Square ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Ms. Baker, who has never been married, teaches a Marriage Prep class every week at her church. The day The Observer visited, her class was supposed to be focusing on what to do when you and your spouse get into a fight, but she had agreed to turn the class over to discussing how her students felt about the spotlight Mormonism has been placed under recently. Or as Ms. Baker put it, “I’m supposed to be talking about what you would do with your hypothetical spouse when you get into a hypothetical fight,” since none of the people she was talking to were married either.
Ms. Baker is a member of the Union Square “singles’ ward,” for church members ages 18 to 30, and every Sunday its 240 or so members show up for three hours—an hour of a more or less traditional church ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon, a mixed-gender class from noon until 1 p.m. and a single-gender class from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The Mormon church has no paid clergy or teachers, and so members like Ms. Baker are assigned volunteer tasks by the ward’s bishop.
New York used to be a spiritual Babylon for the world’s 12 million Mormons; theirs was a religion more at home in the West (the church is headquartered in Salt Lake City), with its pioneer ethos and its libertarian leanings and its divorce from the East Coast political, social and religious establishment. Still, Mormons’ numbers in Manhattan have increased by about 50 percent in the past 10 years, though overall they remain a tiny percentage of the population—the community has gone from 3,225 practicing Mormons in December 1997 to 4,853 by the end of September 2007, according to figures supplied by a church spokesman. The numbers are probably relatively low because the church still has trouble converting New Yorkers—the growth is “not all organic,” said newly installed stake president David Buckner. (A Mormon “stake” is roughly like a Catholic diocese.) “Many people have moved in—transplants from the suburbs, or people did Wall Street internships and stayed.”
The church service I attended with Ms. Baker during the first hour was billed as a special holiday service, and it turned out to be part talent show (three women doing a warbly rendition of “Away in a Manger” ); part what Ms. Baker referred to as “kind of chicken-soup-for-the-soul moments” when congregation members “gave testimony”; and part religious observance (Mormons, like Catholics, take the sacrament, but with water instead of wine), with hymns from a Mormon hymnal.
When she’s not in church, Ms. Baker is a stand-up comedian and a hostess at Nobu. “I don’t want to be pegged as the Mormon comedian, or to be known for telling jokes for a religion that’s not that funny—it’s kind of a one-trick pony,” Ms. Baker said earlier that week by phone. “And yet, if I don’t include the fact that I’m Mormon, it’s almost like it doesn’t quite make sense. Why is the character making these choices?
“I think that everyone chooses to believe I’m their token ‘normal’ Mormon,” she continued. “In their minds, Mormons are still weird and crazy and I’m the only normal one. Everything that ever happens about Mormons, no matter where I am in life, I become the authority.”
But in a city like New York, the very existence of a thriving community of “normal” Mormons is almost head-scratching. Isn’t New York supposed to be a mecca for weirdos and drunks and late-night clubgoers and artists? Besides, aren’t there too many, you know, temptations here for Mormons, who, thanks to a code of beliefs called the Word of Wisdom, do not drink alcohol or caffeine, or do drugs, or have premarital sex (or any kind of premarital sexual anything beyond kissing)?
Apparently not. If there’s one theme you hear over and over again from young Mormons, it’s that the Word of Wisdom ultimately gives them a leg up in the ultra-competitive New York business world—they’re never hung over, after all, and they never have to worry about STDs or being pregnant or blacking out and knocking their teeth out. “I think it’s exciting to be in New York and experience the city in a more wholesome manner because I’m Mormon,” said Colin Wheeler, 30, who recently moved to Manhattan from Sacramento and works for the CW network’s morning show. “This city would be very cold and very lonely and very depressing if I wasn’t Mormon.”
“I like having rules that define my morality,” said Kieran, a flight attendant in Ms. Baker’s Marriage Prep class. She had dyed blond hair and was wearing a low-cut blue dress. “I need moral guidelines.”
Of course, there are other religions that subscribe to some or all of these tenets, but they’re usually sequestered in their own little communities—they’re not among us in the way that Mormons are—and the clothing they wear almost immediately identifies them as members of a conservative religion. Next Page >
Just remember that they care very much about getting 10% of your income and 10% of your well-being, and that Joseph Smith was definitely not a pedophile, convicted con-man, bigamist, adulterer, and excomunicated Methodist, the Mountain Meadows mass slaughter of 120 unarmed men, women and children by Mormons never happened, and you will get along fine with them and their superior paranoid secretive cult-like religion. Obey.
That comment is simply not true. It makes me sad that anyone would think that. You have obviously had some bad experience with the LDS Church and feel justified in being so hateful. I am sorry for you. Mormons are just Christian people trying to do their best to live good lives and make a positive difference in the world.
Wow- talk about some imflamitory blanket-statements. Any time you write about a group of people 12 million+ stong, and state universally what "they" beleive, you toss your credibility out the window.
As to the first comment, you couldn't be more wrong.
Why is it necessary to point out what Elna is wearing...Do you know her? Are you the authority of mormon fashion? Does clothing define a person? NO.
When I was young, I was taught to be polite, to smile at people and be friendly, to dress decently, to have moral standards, to be temperate. How come these things are now considered "quirky"? I've noticed that decent people of every religion pretty much act and dress the same way. How come Mormons are looked at like bugs in a jar, while their good Catholic or good Presbyterian or good Jewish neighbors, who live pretty much the same way, are pretty much ignored?
Interesting, though this of all things stuck out at me:
"Ms. Daines, who is tall and rather birdlike, spoke to The Observer over a plate of French fries and a diet Coke at the Viand Café, on Madison Avenue and 78th Street."
Wait, I thought Mormons weren't supposed to consume caffeine. Diet Coke has caffeine I believe...
The word of wisdom doesn't specify caffeine as a no-no (it is just assumed). Mormon prophets in later years did specify that coffee and non-herbal teas were the "hot drinks" outlined in the word of wisdom and asked members not to drink them. Things like sodas and chocolate, which contain caffeine, have never been pin-pointed by prophets to be off limits. Members are left to their own discretion on these items. The word of wisdom is a health code...so being addicted and dependant on caffeine or any substance is obviously not in one's best health interest. But if a Mormon choses to drink a diet coke or have chocolate cake, they are breaking no "rule". I find it humorous that so often it's the drinking of caffeinated sodas that make Mormons "hypocrites".
As a member of the church i consider this a pretty unbiased article. Obviously it could have been a lot worse. What puzzles me is the fact that someone, except for a member of the church, would actually be interested in reading this article. Isn't there anything more interesting going on in the world?
As a member of the church i consider this a pretty unbiased article. Obviously it could have been a lot worse. What puzzles me is the fact that someone, except for a member of the church, would actually be interested in reading this article. Isn't there anything more interesting going on in the world?
Ha ha ha! I love the intro: "Did the city really get so clean—or do they just want to get dirty?" It's exactly what I want to know... I'm intrigued with Mormons in New York, thanks for the info.
The author expresses surprise that the number of Mormons in the city has grown by 50%, but over that same time the population of New York City has grown faster than at any time since the 30's . . . those people are coming from somewhere. I guess it just doesn't surprise me very much that young, ambitious professionals would look toward America's largest city as a place of opportunity.
Very interesting, it kept my attention,but as a practicing Mormon I found the author a little flippant. I feel that more respect for our religion could have been shone. Whats with, low cut, birdlike, warbly and OH MY GOSH, DIET COKE! I also have a problem with the way the author as with most media has to include input from excommunicated Mormons. Overall, kudos to the New York Mormons!!!
w/ mention of the 'famous' Mormon smile you would have thought they could have got Elna to actually smile.
w/ her mention of being a "normal" Mormon and the authority on all things Mormon I would add, that most of us feel that way w/in our own circles. the majority of Mormons are "normal". instead of having to always defend our "normalcy" we should expect outsiders to be up to speed and to know better than to buy into every ridiculous sterotype.
I'm no ornithologist, but Ms. Daines is far from birdlike. Not only is she highly attractive, but she's also exceptionally smart. The author should have asked her to verify portions of the article’s veracity, or even proof its grammar. The prepositional phrases needed the same attention afforded to Elna’s attire and Katie’s consumption.
What's with the last paragraph? Why did you have to state what Kieran was wearing–-especially the low-cut dress comment? You juxtapose that comment with the quote, "I need moral guidelines" as if her wearing a low-cut dress makes her immoral. That's ridiculous.
"Wait, I thought Mormons weren't supposed to consume caffeine."
Ask 10 active, Church-going Mormons what the rule is on caffeine, and you will get 10 different answers.
The relevant Mormon scripture on this, the "Word of Wisdom" doesn't say caffeine. It says "hot drinks" -- interpreted by the Church to include coffee. Members and some leaders of the Church have extended that interpretation to also include anythink with caffeine in it.
I don't know how common it is, but from what I've seen, a very large portion of Mormons drink caffeinated soft-drinks.
The exclamation point in the headline of this article makes me think that the Observer is surprised that there are Mormons on Manhattan.
In fact, Mormons have been present in New York City since 1837, longer than anywhere else in the world. See www.nycldshistory.com
I have taught freshmen level courses at Midwestern university and have never had to deal with more close-minded, racist, misogynistic group than Mormons. The things they would say and write in their essays would make your eyes pop at the ignorance displayed. I can only hope that exposure to critical thinking in an academic setting made them a little more open minded.
I think anyone who targets an entire group of people or an entire religion for that matter and whether or not they are open minded or a racist people is a pretty generalized statement. Sure, there are some close-minded and racist Mormons, but there are also a lot of very smart and open-minded ones and tolerant ones. I know a lot of close-minded racist and mysoginistic people who are of various religions, but that doesn't make them bad people. Just sadly ignorant. Generalizations like that are a form of ignorance.
If your going to make negative or controversial statements have the courage to include your name. The second person who commented said it well "We're (Mormons myself included) generally good Christian people who are simply doing our best to lead good lives and have a positive influence on the world we live in."
If you're curious about the mormon religion, go to the source. Go to www.mormon.org or www.lds.org. Do your own research and don't depend on others, especially journalists for your information.
I'm still trying to understand why it's strange or even a big deal for a Mormon to live in New York. If so, how is it different from those of other Faith's? Mormonism is a world-wide religion and has more members outside the United States than inside.
I also teach literature and writing at a college in the midwest, but my experience with Mormons has been quite different from that posted above. I find my Mormon students and colleagues to be open minded, intelligent, and articulate. Further, their vast experiences as humanitarians and missionaries abroad (including their foreign language ability) enriches our discussions, informs our debates, and deepens the eloquence of their writing. I lived in Manhattan for many years and had many positive experiences with Mormon friends and co-workers there. Because of their openness and genuine humanity, I was not afraid to move out west. Pray we all learn to embrace each other, regardless of the name of our god(s)or the choice of our soft drinks. Please, let's not descend to the petty factionalism we see demonstrated elsewhere.
I am a christian: a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I doubt that many, if any, of your readers would notice a mormon passing them on the sidewalks of Manhattan or working in the cubicle next to you. I am a computer security analyst who has worked a lot in the NY metro area. In fact I was there all last week.
I assume, like me, that most professional LDS christians interact with many of you on a daily basis and we appear so 'normal' as to not even raise the question as to whether we are mormons or not. We buy and sell stocks with you, we sell you clothes, we plumb your houses, we ensure the reliability and security of Fortune 100 data systems. We do all that--and we believe in Christ--which means we may not do a few things that some of you do, but we are really not that different in day in, day out life.
A humorous note worth mentioning is that media examples of the 'standard' mormon are mostly those of us in the church would see as a cultural outliers: i.e. Miss Baker, Julie Stoffer, etc. If you want to know what a mormon thinks or does, just ask us. It really is not that scary.
there are many members of the LDS church who work in Manhattan and surrounding areas, even though we don't live there. It is really not a big deal, just another city along with the others in which we work: Tokyo, Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Jerusalem. And even some of based in Utah wear black every day.
I am a christian: a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I doubt that many, if any, of your readers would notice a mormon passing them on the sidewalks of Manhattan or working in the cubicle next to you. I am a computer security analyst who has worked a lot in the NY metro area. In fact I was there all last week.
I assume, like me, that most professional LDS christians interact with many of you on a daily basis and we appear so 'normal' as to not even raise the question as to whether we are mormons or not. We buy and sell stocks with you, we sell you clothes, we plumb your houses, we ensure the reliability and security of Fortune 100 data systems. We do all that--and we believe in Christ--which means we may not do a few things that some of you do, but we are really not that different in day in, day out life.
A humorous note worth mentioning is that media examples of the 'standard' mormon are mostly those of us in the church would see as a cultural outliers: i.e. Miss Baker, Julie Stoffer, etc. If you want to know what a mormon thinks or does, just ask us. It really is not that scary.
there are many members of the LDS church who work in Manhattan and surrounding areas, even though we don't live there. It is really not a big deal, just another city along with the others in which we work: Tokyo, Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Jerusalem. And even some of based in Utah wear black every day.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Mormons are wonderful so vote for me. It is about time a wonderful president took office, especially now with so much to clean up after eight years of the anti Christ running things.
This is the umpteenth article I've read as of late about my very own Mormon faith ... an expose/'enquiring minds want to know' kind of article, which, like the rest, is largely accurate on the surface, and yet doing its best to get its tabloid digs in.
Is it true that we mormons care so much about what the rest of the world thinks of us? If so, I would say we could use healthy dose of punk rock indignation. Who the f.. cares what other people think of us? This is America, damnit. We're all freaks and outcasts...and proud of it. Besides, it's not like we're hurting anyone. We're not sacrificing any animals. We're not holed up in any backwoods retreats with guns and bibles...(except for maybe that one distant cousin in southern Utah. But he's a freak even by our standards...and we love him for it.) And are people seriously that intrigued by our underwear? Is anyone else at least slightly amused by that?
Is it true that we mormons are just pining away to be a part of the world (read: the 'in' crowd) as the author seems to depict it? I say no. Listen, author lady (and certain commentators), NYC is the city of freaks and that's what makes it so great and so fun. And just cuz we're here, doesn't mean we want to subscribe to your particular brand of freakishness. We'll stay with our own, thank you very much, cuz it makes us happy. So sue us if we smile a lot and wear low cut dresses and party down Mormon style without the next-day hangover.
And PS...I'll take that 'bird-like' Katie Daines any day of the week, including the sabbath. She's a hot tamale.
One pitfall that can be avoided is judging the people by their church and the church by its people. The gospel is true no matter how many Mormons may seem quirky or drink coke or are rude or have prejudice themes in their papers for school. And I love all my friends and family no matter what church, if any, they go to. Being a Christian is ultimately about charity.
PS generalizing the traits of Mormons, New Yorkers, Christians, women, freaks, or any other group is your brain's way of being lazy and sounds very unintelligent.
I like the glamour-shots photo of herself that Elna supplied the paper with! The trees in the background all have green leaves so it certainly wasn’t taken in connection with the author’s visit in December. Elna, self-aggrandizing as usual.
THANK YOU. Its incredible the banter people decide is worth their time. I appreciate your comment tremendously.