posted
LDS General Conference is carried live on KSL radio and television here in Salt Lake, and usually during the two-hour break between sessions there is a special program on television focussing on the LDS church in some part of the world. For this particular conference that special program was preempted by coverage of the passing of the Pope. Somehow the coverage of the passing of the Pope did not seem out of place between conference sessions.
I had certain feelings as I listened to the coverage, and I went outside to set my flag at half staff. I do not yet know how to put those feelings into words, but I would be interested to know the feelings of others here of the LDS faith regarding the passing of the Pope.
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Mormons have celebrated and thanked God for the opening of the Eastern Bloc countries to the missionary work and for the building of LDS meetinghouses and temples.
Today we were reminded of the large part that Pope John Paul II played in opening those countries.
The fact that Pope John Paul II was the first non-Italian Pope in 450 years, and that he happened to come from Poland, and that his background and personality were uniquely suited for influencing the leaders of the Eastern Bloc...this unique Pope at the head of the world's largest and most powerful Christian denomination...possibly the only organization that could have influenced the leaders of the Eastern Bloc...it seems miraculous to me.
There's is no doubt in my mind that Pope John Paul II was acting under the direction of the Lord.
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posted
Why would the LDS reaction be anything other than RIP? It's not like this Pope and the LDS church had much contact or anything, right?
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posted
Is the success that the LDS missionary effort has seen in Latin America due in part to the renewed religious zeal inspired by Pope John Paul II and his particular attention to that part of the world?
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posted
Actually, despite Theological and Authoritative differences, the Pope held many moral and political views similar to LDS members. As such, he was seen by many LDS as guided by the Lord as as one of His Servants. During his time, I have seen more positive statements about the Catholic Church among Mormons than at any other time that I am aware.
The only other people I know of that a non-LDS person was seen in such light during their life would be C.S. Lewis, President Reagan, and Mother Teresa.
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I think President Hinckley expressed the love of the LDS people for the pope very well during the two Saturday session of conference.
During the first session, when the pope was in his final hours President Hinckley said, "I extend to our Catholic neighbors and friends our heartfelt sympathy at this time of great sorrow. Pope John Paul II has worked tirelessly to lift the burdens of the poor, to speak fearlessly on behalf of moral values and human dignity. He will be greatly missed."
At the beginning of the afternoon session, shortly after the pope had died, President Hinckley said, "We join those throughout the world who mourn the passing of Pope John Paul II, an extraordinary man of faith, vision and intellect, whose courageous actions have touched the world in ways that will be felt generations to come. The pope's voice remained firm in defense of freedom, family and Christianity. On matters of principle and morality he was uncompromising. On his compassion for the world's poor, he has been unwavering."
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