I suspect that anyone reading the article The Mormon Open-Door Tradition of Hosting Visitors will feel a surge of pride. Having attended the Olympics with my family in 2002, President Hinckley's conference address in which he said the church had joined together in a great expression of hospitality rang true.
So here's my question.
If it's a given that we are hospitable and generous to all that come within our midst, why is it that there are still so many that consider us to be clannish and closed?
As church members we are adept at welcoming dignitaries (whether heads of state or local planning boards) who seek us out. We have been doing this well for over a hundred years, as the article points out.
But how do we do with people that don't seek us out? My sense is that if we're not sought out, we don't seek, missionary work being the exception. Remember the quiz -- of your last five social interactions, how many were with someone with whom the common ground is something other than religion?
With so many of us bruised by the negative PR in recent months, it is rather tempting to circle the wagons. But what if we reframe what has happened saying -- we know we are good at hosting those who seek us out, now let's get good at seeking others out!
Why not look at the past year as a $100 million dollar boon, an expenditure that has brought the church out of obscurity so that the 'Lord can bless all the kindred of the earth' and ask ourselves what can we do to further lengthen this stride?
Why not take our cue from Ammon, 'desiring to dwell amongst others and be their servant'?
In other words, why not add to our open-door tradition, an 'opening the door' tradition, one in which we pro-actively invite others into our home and hearts?
Thoughts?
Related posts:
President Thomas S. Monson -- On Working with Others
Boston Globe Op-Ed: Romney, Mormons and Me
wow - surprising that this is the first time i'd thought of ammon and the how he relates to your message/serves as an example. so on point. -m-
Posted by: melanie | February 25, 2008 at 08:43 PM