L.D.S Allow Muslims To Worship In L.D.S Church . . .

[zerinus]

Good blog! I also enjoyed seeing the pictures. Dan, I had heard that the Church itself donated a considerable some to the work of the Cathedral of the Madeleine in SLC, was that not accurate? Was it only individuals?

I don't recall that the Church donated money directly, but they did help with the fund raising effort, at which President Monson played a prominent role--which encouraged many LDS to donate, which otherwise they might not have done.

The Church, however, did donate considerable amount to the rebuilding of a black Protestant church which was burned down. As I recall, that was not in Utah; it was in another state. That was a particularly interesting case. Their church had been firebombed by right wing "Christian" extremists. There had been a string such arson attacks on black churches in that area, one of which had resulted in the complete destruction of this church. After the LDS Church had donated considerable sums towards rebuilding it (and all the positive publicity that came with it), the arson attacks stopped!

Edited May 30, 2012 by zerinus

[Storm Rider]

I think that the Church itself donated a substantial sum for the renovations of the Cathedral of the Madeleine. I'm pretty sure of it, in fact. But I'm not absolutely certain, so I decided not to mention it without confirmation.

I know for a fact, though, of a million-dollar donation from a very wealthy Latter-day Saint, now deceased. President Monson, he told me, called him to thank him for doing it.

I recall the million dollar donation, but like you I am almost certain that the Church donated a substantial sum for the renovations itself. If you should ever find out the real story, please share it.

[Hamba Tuhan]

I posted a blog entry on this topic today, prompted by this thread.

Thanks, Daniel. After watching the clip, I thought I'd post something about Islam and images, but you beat me to it. It's Islam's opposition to images/icons which explains why so much art in Indonesia became abstract as the faith spread. In predominantly Muslim areas, traditional batik patterns now are all stylised since even animals cannot be depicted in anything like their natural form.

One correction if I may: There is no Banda Aceh Province in Indonesia. The province name is Aceh. Banda (Harbour) Aceh is the name of its capital city.

ETA:

One other point: It's not just Evangelicals who make it hard for us to build our own buildings. Opposition to the Boston Temple took a decidedly atheist tone.

Edited May 30, 2012 by Hamba Tuhan

[zerinus]

On the Cathedral of Madeleine saga, people may be interested to know that after the renovation was complete, President Monson attended the rededication ceremony; and a few years later when the Catholic archbishop left Utah, having been reassigned by the Catholic Church to other duties, the LDS Church gave a big party for him to which the leaders of all non-LDS churches in Utah were invited. President Monson was the keynote speaker on that occasion, at which he made some good jokes, and made everybody laugh. I think it was the same Catholic archbishop who later in California asked the LDS Church's help in support of Prop 8, which is how the LDS Church became involved in that affair. All typed from memory of course. Haven't looked up the details.

Edited May 30, 2012 by zerinus

[Calm]

I found some claims for a donation to the Cathedral for $5 million, but can't find anyone to accept responsibility for that claim. Don't know if it has the least bit of credibility.

[zerinus]

I found some claims for a donation to the Cathedral for $5 million, but can't find anyone to accept responsibility for that claim. Don't know if it has the least bit of credibility.

I am fairly certain that the Church did not make a direct donation, but assisted in the fundraising. Also, if my memory serves me right, the request for support initially came from the Catholic side, to which the LDS Church responded generously as described. The population of Utah is predominantly LDS. The Catholics are not large enough or wealthy enough to have supported the cost of the renovation by themselves. The Catholic cathedral in Salt Lake City is a historic landmark. It belongs to all Utahans, not just to the Catholic Church, and they all have an interest in its preservation.

[mbh26]

My point was that regardless of how Jewish people felt about our chapels, they would have no access if the members weren't trying to be kind.

It doesn't really matter what the members think. It just depends on whether the Mormon leadership wants to let them use the building or not.

[bluebell]

It doesn't really matter what the members think. It just depends on whether the Mormon leadership wants to let them use the building or not.

Last i heard, Mormon leadership are members.

[zerinus]

On the subject of LDS donations to the reconstruction of the Catholic Cathedral in Salt Lake City twenty years ago, I posed the following question to a librarian on the Church's official Church History library as follows:

Hi, around twenty years ago when the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City was renovated, the LDS Church helped with the fund raising effort, and some wealthy Church members made generous donations. What I do not know is whether the Church itself contributed, or made donations, to the reconstruction fund. Would you be able to determine for me if the Church directly contributed funds to the project, and if so by how much?

to which I have just received the following reply:

I am sorry, but we do not have that kind of financial information. The following quote from a Church News article is all that I know.

Cardinal Mahony commended the Catholics of Utah and the Salt Lake community for making the renovation possible. "Many who are not of the Catholic community donated generously to the restoration project," he said. (The LDS Church and the Episcopal Diocese were among those who gave financial assistance to the project.) Cardinal Mahony mentioned that only one of four co-chairmen of the fund-raising team, Jack W. Gallivan, is Catholic and half the members of the executive committee are not Catholic. The Latter-day Saint on the fund-raising team was Elder Jon M. Huntsman, regional representative of the Kearns Utah region, who served as a co-chairman of committee. The other two co-chairmen of the committee were Ian M. Cumming and Richard W. Kieffer. (Pres. Monson represents LDS Church at ceremony in Catholic cathedral. Church News, 27 February 1993).

I let you draw whatever conclusion you like from that!

Edited May 31, 2012 by zerinus

[BlueDreams]

You sound sceptical! Not sure if links are allowed; but you can always try CARM.

Yes I am. I googled it and CARM was the only active thread I could find on it. One thread to me doesn't equal ev's having "fits all over the web." It just seems exagerative. And though concerns mentioned point more to blatant ignorance of islam, mormonism, and what constitutes disrespect for many of those voicing them, it's also not a good sample of all evangelicals. It seems hyperbolic and places a larger number of ev's in the same boat. It just seems unnecessarily incorrect to state such.... that's all. And in a way that puts another group in a poor light.

With luv,

BD

Edited June 1, 2012 by BlueDreams

[zerinus]

P.S. I had posed the same question to the BYU Harold B Lee library, and just received the following info:

We could find nothing in Church publications to indicate that the LDS Church gave a cash donation to the Cathedral of the Madeleine. There is no mention of it in the Church News or the Ensign. We could not find mention of it in the Deseret News. When the LDS Church offered the Tabernacle Choir’s services for a fund-raising concert, the Catholic Church appreciated the offer but asked instead if the Choir would sing at the celebration when the restoration was complete (which the Choir did). This information can be found here (scroll down a ways).

Individual members of the Church such as Jon M. Huntsman and James L. Sorenson donated to the cause. Sorenson donated $500,000 as indicated here. There are references to an LDS Church donation here, but I do not have access to the article to see what is being said exactly. Indications that the LDS Community came together to help raise funds for the project is indicated here.

I suggest you contact the Church History Library here to inquire if they have more detailed information than we are able to provide.

Mike