Tomorrow the world
The LDS Church was started in 1830 when American Joseph Smith claimed to have received a revelation from God and began preaching from the new "Bible" (the Book of Mormon). This new religion would spread across both America and Europe on its way to becoming the fastest-growing Christian sect. The Semiannual World Conference held in Salt Lake City is regularly interpreted into 86 languages and broadcast around the globe. The Book of Mormon has been translated into 105 languages.
American sociologist Rodney Stark once predicted that Mormonism would become the next "global religion" following the founding of Islam in the fifth century and that it would claim more than 260 million adherents by the middle of the 21st century. Although this number proved to be high, at a time when other major world religions have stagnated, the LDS Church has done relatively well, swelling to 127 million members by 2006.
The Mormon Church as a whole is astonishingly passionate about the "mission of mission." This is personified in current world president Hinckley. At age 96, he continues to personally preside over constructing plans for churches and temples around the world. To supervise church activities, he has been to more than his share of countries. He's visited Taiwan alone eight times.
"Our work keeps us busy almost nonstop from 6:30 in the morning to 10:30 at night every day," Spjute explains as he opens his notebook crammed full of notes. The mishmash of English and Chinese, almost too small to read, includes a detailed daily to-do list: "Get up early, read scripture, study Chinese...." Home visits start at 10:30 a.m. The church generally has various small group meetings in the afternoons and evenings and those don't usually let out until 8:00. "After I get back to the dorm, I make a few phone calls to contact the people I'll be visiting the next day. After that, Nathan and I review progress made during the day and decide our schedule for the next day," Vierra explains. "After we finish, I go to bed and am so tired that I'm asleep before my head even hits the pillow."
In the past, missionaries were predominantly Caucasian, but in recent years, more Taiwanese have been joining the mission ranks as they fulfill their obligation to spread the good news--part of the LCD Church's "Three-Fold Mission."
"Most believers convert to Mormonism as entire families," relates Jared Yang, chairman of the LDS Church's Taipei Key City Public Affairs Council. "Children in Mormon families, especially boys, are taught from a young age the importance of mission. They are strongly 'encouraged' go out and spread the gospel."
Although not compulsory, many believers choose their spouses from within the Mormon fold. That coupled with encouragement from the family tend to make the number of believers grow quickly. Yang Tzung-ting became a believer in 1973 and led his older brother to the church the following year. The two of them would later take wives from the same church district. With the birth of each of their children, the Yangs opened bank accounts, so that their children can start putting into their "mission funds" from a young age. "My son did his mission in Taichung and my daughter took off two years, starting in her third year at university, to do her mission in Kaohsiung," Yang explains, "They withdrew NT$10,000 out of their mission fund accounts each month for expenses. My wife and I pulled up the slack if they needed help."
As to overseas missions, "Over the past few years, an average of five "young elders" have been going abroad for their mission," Nielson says.
With the exception of Wednesday "preparation day," these youngsters follow the same unrelenting schedule day after day, week after week without a break for a total of two years. "Preparation day is for washing clothes, cleaning your room, hunting down an Internet cafe from which to write home, and if time permits, shooting some hoops in the afternoon," explains Spjute. Sitting in his austere dorm room (no television, no computer), he continues in slow but clear Chinese, "Once in a great while, we catch a movie."
Born and raised in Hawaii, Spjute has had girlfriends and loves to play video games, but in Taiwan, he never plays video games or dates. Motivated by his unwavering faith, he leads a life resembling that of an ascetic monk, living, eating, and breathing his mission--and he is by no means the exception to the rule.
"They learn a lot during their two-year missions. They receive training in self-management and after knocking on doors, they are constantly snubbed by strangers. When they do get the opportunity to share with somebody, they need to make sure they leave a good first impression and explain the doctrine as succinctly and clearly as possible. They also need to work hard to maintain contact with prospective converts. Training like this is also a great benefit as these kids grow up emotionally," asserts Taiwan Domino's Pizza chairman and fellow Mormon Scott Oelkers, "Based on the benefits reaped during their own missions when they were younger, many parents are more than happy to see their children take their turn. In addition to serving God, it affords them the opportunity to undergo similar tempering."
A number of LDS Church missionaries to Taiwan have gone on to become prominent figures in their fields. In addition to Scott Oelkers and Scott R. Watterson, CEO of sports equipment company Icon, the most famous is current Utah governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. The influence of the LDS Church in government and business circles in the US is on the rise. One Mormon of note, Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, is considered a possible contender for the US presidency, which would make him the first Mormon presidential candidate.
Similar scenes of individuals like Vierra and Spjute pedaling around in white shirt and black pants is repeated in countries around the world. They are breaking down language barriers and enduring long days of going from door to door and shaking hand after hand in search of the next new believer.
This motivation is the source of their growth. As long as the spiritual need exists, they will continue in their mission.
Everybody is supplied with a map and Chinese language teaching materials complete with flash cards. Advances in both equipment and methodology have been an important factor in the accelerated progress of mission work abroad.
The church is experiencing tremendous growth in both male and female members. Seated inside a NT$230 million church (left), young women missionaries (one foreign, one Taiwanese) are discussing their schedule (below).
Everybody is supplied with a map and Chinese language teaching materials complete with flash cards. Advances in both equipment and methodology have been an important factor in the accelerated progress of mission work abroad.
In many ways, including one veteran taking a rookie under his/her wing and the emphasis on discipline, mission work is very much like life in the military. This enables these youngsters to fearlessly face unfamiliar circumstances as they perform their mission work. These photos show Blake Vierra and Nathan Payne Spjute spreading the word in the streets of Hualien.
The church is experiencing tremendous growth in both male and female members. Seated inside a NT$230 million church (left), young women missionaries (one foreign, one Taiwanese) are discussing their schedule (below).
They lower their heads and pump harder as they take on gusts of wind from the north. The two young men seem so tiny alone on the empty highway and against the green mountains in the distance.
In many ways, including one veteran taking a rookie under his/her wing and the emphasis on discipline, mission work is very much like life in the military. This enables these youngsters to fearlessly face unfamiliar circumstances as they perform their mission work. These photos show Blake Vierra and Nathan Payne Spjute spreading the word in the streets of Hualien.