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SALT LAKE CITY — A New York Times article offers an in-depth look at the work of some Mormon missionaries in the African nation of Uganda.
The article, titled "At Age 19, From Utah to Uganda," points out that Mormonism is still "basking in the mainstream spotlight" in the U.S. due to Mitt Romney's run for president, and the Book of Mormon Broadway musical, which is about Mormon missionaries in Africa.
The article by Josh Kron details the real-life, day-to-day experiences of missionaries serving in the "urban wilderness" of Kampala, Uganda for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It notes the adherence to mission rules and sacrifices the young men make, devoting time to prayer, scripture study, proselytizing six days a week, 52 weeks a year in the predominately Christian country.
The article calls Mormon missionary work a fundamental tenet of the faith and a well-oiled operation that supports some 52,000 missionaries around the world. It explains how the missionary system works, from the Missionary Training Center, such as the one in Provo, Utah, to locations near and far. Mormon missionaries, most of whom are young men, serve in nearly 350 missions throughout the world.
The article mentions the young men's lives at college before they entered the mission field, and tells of the realities of serving in Uganda.
"At 8 a.m. they are at their desks for an hour of personal scripture study. They then study with one another for an hour. By 10 a.m. they are out the door, visiting homes of families they already work with or scouring the streets for new recruits. Sometimes it is 9 p.m. before they return home, where they pray, compile the day's results, cook dinner and switch off the lights by 10:30," reported the Times.
The article also states:
- Currently there are about 5,000 Mormons in Uganda
- One-third of those were converted last year
The author also points out the life-changing effects their missions have on the young men.
"Through it all, their own lives are changing. Their personal values sharpen, and they begin to understand whom they want to be when they return to college," Kron writes.
He quotes Elder Micheal Zackery Lee of Utah, who says, "I have learned more about myself in the last 20 months than I could if I was back home. You begin to understand what really matters in your life."
Read the article here and the Mormon Newsroom blog about it here.
(Photo: File)
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