We invite you to watch this video produced by CNBC. It’s good-natured, but not without bias. Here’s some answers to some points raised in the video…
Q: Do Mormon missionaries really sell the gospel?
A: No. Mormon missionaries are trained to seek out people who have been spiritually prepared by the Lord to receive the gospel. Most of these people have been actively seeking a change in their lives, even praying to find the true church of God on the earth. The missionaries arrange to visit with people they meet. They tell them a little about the gospel and invite them to read the Book of Mormon and ask God whether it is true. Most people receive an answer directly from God, even if they have never prayed before. People who receive that witness from the Lord, then desire to learn more, and may decide to enter the Church. Only this kind of witness will lead to a lifetime of happiness in the Church. However, the intitial impression made when people meet missionaries could be compared to an encounter with door-to-door salesmen. Missionaries learn to be personable, and confident in the face of repeated rejection. Nothing in the business world seems very scary after serving a mission.
Q: Is there some sort of “old boy’s club” with Mormons hiring Mormons?
A: No. Mormons like to hire Mormons, especially returned missionaries, because they know what to expect — honesty, uprightness, and clean-cut living. They know that a mission creates leaders who can also follow, and that a foreign mission develops in missionaries a true cultural understanding along with foreign language fluency. Mormons tend not to get too full of themselves, and are very approachable, even in high positions in business, because they value the things of God over the things of the world. They also value family life, and tend to be in good health. There are rarely worries regarding alcoholism or gambling, either. In fact, many companies not run by Mormons like to hire Mormons, especially returned missionaries, for these reasons.
Q: Some scary words used in the video, like “Mormon mafia” and “Cult”…
A: There’s no such thing as a Mormon mafia; that’s a joke. Mormons are the most innocent people on earth. They know the value system and abilities of other Mormons, so they tend to hire them. Also, a cult is a strange religion organized around the worship of a charismatic person. Mormons worship Jesus Christ, and the doctrines are those of Christ‘s ancient Church, and based on the Bible. Mormons are Bible-believing Christians. Mormons do not practice polygamy, either.