Religious Culture and Food...

I've always been fascinated by certain Mennonite traditions, especially those concerning food. Having grown up in the Mennonite Church I had ample opportunity to experience the Church's traditions on food. In my opinion the grandest of all food related traditions that the Church holds to is the Potluck. The Potluck is a focal point in the Church for great food and even better fellowship. Many wonderful memories are to be had at a Potluck, from the creamy taste of a chicken casserole to the heavy laden dessert table, oh and not to forget the fellowship.

Continuing with my opinion, the second of all great Mennonite food traditions would be the Mennonite Relief Sale. Here is a sale and auction event where the collected funds are used by the Mennonite Disaster Service. So what Mennonite Relief Sale would be complete without many traditional foods. And I'm talking large quantities of food, like donuts, brunswick stew, apple butter, ice cream, BBQ chicken, and an equal number of other foods that I don't have time or space to mention.

I've never limited just the Mennonite Church to having food related traditions. I'm sure many other religions have there own food culture that gives meaning to the fellowship they have within their religious experience. Since moving to Utah I've begun hearing several traditions that the LDS Church practices. Silly little traditions that give great meaning to their religious experience, much in the same way that Relief Sale donuts give meaning to my own Church experience.

Today I came across a well written travel article that explained several food traditions coming from the state of Utah. I'll clarify by saying that each of these traditions are in fact ones that I have heard belong to the LDS Church. I have copied this article from www.fodors.com and will close by allowing you the privledge of reading this information for yourself.

Mormon Munchies

The Mormon religion has helped to shape the state's cuisine as well as its culture. The church advises followers to refrain from drinking beverages containing alcohol or caffeine. Some people theorize that this has led to the development of a collective sweet tooth. Sweet red punch is perhaps the state's most popular beverage, ice cream is consumed in great quantities (though the weight-conscious have switched to frozen yogurt), and shops that serve fresh pastries are all the rage.

Green Jell-O gelatin -- topped with miniature marshmallows and mixed with grated carrots or cottage cheese and pineapple -- appears at every Mormon social function. In 2001, when Salt Lake City lost its title as the number-one consumer of Jell-O to Des Moines, Iowa, the state legislature got into the act. During a visit by Jell-O Company spokesman and comedian Bill Cosby, lawmakers declared the wiggly stuff as Utah's official state snack. The tide turned and for the time being, more of the stuff is consumed per capita than in any other state.

At family functions such as potluck dinners, weddings, and funerals you'll often see a dish that's dubbed "funeral potatoes." It's made from potatoes, cheddar cheese, canned soup, and sour cream -- all baked and covered with buttered bread crumbs. One favorite that's readily available at restaurants is fry sauce. The originator of a local hamburger chain, Arctic Circle, invented this combination of ketchup, mayonnaise, and spices. It caught on, and most locals demand the sauce for their french fries at all burger joints.

Separation of Church and State...does that still exist in Utah?

Okay, I'll be fair, there does exist a separation between Church and State in Utah, but only by a VERY FINE GRAY line. What can you expect for a state where the majority of its residents are members of the LDS Church? I can't be exact (since I've heard at this point many possible percentages), but as far as I'm able to determine about 85 percent of Salt Lake City is Mormon and 97 percent of Provo. Those are huge majorities.

Ultimately, these majorities lead to Mormon city officials, judges, mayors, congressmen and senators. The policies of the state of Utah are determined by the will of the LDS Church through its elected members.

So how does this Church/State play out you might ask? Let's start with a little fact I picked up this week, it truly is minor and inconsequential in the whole scheme of the situation, but at least it's interesting. It came to my knowledge this last Sunday that the LDS Church owns a street in Salt Lake City. This is not just any street in the city, it happens to be Main Street, the very center of the city. I'll ask you, when have you ever heard of a Church owning a street, especially in a large city such as Salt Lake? More importantly, why would a Church want to own a street?
I really don't have an answer to that second question, I more or less asked the question out of my own curiousity. For I find the whole circumstance of buying a street a little ridiculace. I wish at this that I had the figure for which the street went for, this is something I'll have to reference at a later date. I can only imagine that it would have cost in the millions, and that leads me to ask, how better could that money have been spent?

Instead of buying a frivilous item such as a road, could the money have gone to feeding the homeless or providing help to a single mom? In a world beset by need and pain, should we not be giving of our blessings to others less fortunate? So, I ask this of the LDS Church, why buy a street, why not support those who would be living on your street?

Holy Cow...What a Tasty Treat

So this past Saturday my evening was spent with two new friends at the Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah. This wasn't my first time at a Hindu Krishna Temple, my first time was actually with my World Religions class at EMU.

I saw no issue in attending the Festival at the Krishna Temple, I saw my part as that of an observer. The festival was in celebration of Nepal's History; with videos, plays, dances and special music. It was an interesting cultural experience.

As mentioned earlier I did attend with two new friends that I've met since arriving in Utah; Tyler and Maija. Before arriving at the festival Tyler decided to stop at a Carl Jr's for a nice tasty burger, since he had missed dinner earlier in the evening. There was a problem, being that Tyler was our driver to the event, so he had to hold off on eating his meal.

Once we arrived to the festival Tyler grabbed his Carl Jr's meal bag and left the car for the Krishna Temple area. All along I'm thinking he was going to finish his hamburger before arriving at the Temple. Not so, Tyler takes his meal bag all the way up to the Temple steps and sits down to begin his meal.

At this point I couldn't take it any more, I couldn't believe he was being that rude. Though I don't hold to Hindu beliefs myself, I don't believe in directly insulting another person and their religious beliefs. So I say to Tyler, "Man, what do you think you're doing?"

"HUH?" Tyler questions with a mouthful of juicy redmeat.

"You know, eating what Hindus consider sacred right on the Temple steps."

"WHAT!! Are you serious?" Was his response all the while taking his hamburger throwing it back into the bag and hiding it all tucked under his arm.

At this point my only reaction was to begin laughing, for I realized that by Tyler's look of guilt he hadn't known that the cow was considered sacred to all Hindus.

After realizing that I wasn't joking or playing him for a fool, Tyler practically took off at a run for the safety of his car to be finishing his nice tasty treat. He came back with a satisfied smile and a remark that "illegal" foods were the most tasty of all.

A Saturday Afternoon in Utah

It's an absolutely beautiful Saturday afternoon here in Salt Lake City, Utah. From my viewpoint (sitting on the carpeted floor of my bedroom) I can see heavenly blue skies with a fluffy assortment of pristine white clouds. If I were stand by the window of my bedroom I would be assured to see majestic mountains with the peaks still covered in snow. It's all such a wonderful display of God's nature and an overwhelming evidence of God's love for us.

Yet, I can't help but think that this beautiful day is somewhat marred by events that are taking place here in Salt Lake City. For today a young woman named Ashley has left the Christian Church to marry her fiance an LDS Church member. This afternoon she will enter the Mormon Temple for the first time and participate in the Temple rites before she is sealed to her husband for all eternity (The Mormon Church believes that marriages are for all eternity and do not dissolve in death).

My heart and prayers go out to Ashley, who is blindly following her fiance David into the Temple and the LDS Church. It is difficult to actually know how to pray in this situation. My own understanding is unable to fathom the question, "why?" So it is in times like these that I am reminded to lean not on my own understanding, but upon God's word and message.

My prayer today is for Ashley and her new husband David, that God would be at work in their lives prompting them by His Holy Spirit. That this new union of theirs would become a testiment to God's power and ability to change even the most seemingly hopeless situations. For in God we know that no circumstance is without hope and nothing is beyond His control. Amen.

Women of Faith Rise Up...

During this past week I had the wonderful privledge of being able to attend a Ladies Biblestudy held at one of the local Churches here in Salt Lake City. What I had anticipated being an hour long study in the book of Luke, turned into a three study and prayer meeting. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't displeased by the turn of events; I was only yet again remind of how God is often calling me to be flexible.

The three hours were spent accordingly; two hours discussing about eight chapters in the gospel of Luke, with 30 minutes for prayer and praise requests, and the final allotment of time was spent in prayer together. I enjoyed the biblestudy as a whole, and learned several new insights into passages found within the gospel of Luke. There was though a particular time within the three hours that I found more interesting than the rest of the discussions, and that was during the group's prayer and praise requests.

Here was a collective group of women that came from different backgrounds and family situations that had two important links in common. Each of these women had spent a majority of their lives living in Utah, and each were part of the Christian Church that is a minority here in Utah.

And oh did they have stories to share. How fascinating it was for me to hear what each of these women dealt with on a daily basis, the triumphs and the continual struggles. Some of these women had the support of their extended families, others did not. Some had the support of their husbands, while others still prayed in faith that their husbands would find Christ. Some had children in the Christian Church, while others in much sadness watched their children fall into the LDS Church.

Each of these women had lived through their own trials, and had grown in their relationship with Christ through the experience. Many of the struggles they faced dealt directly with opposition they received from the LDS Church, and yet as women of strong faith they remain here in Utah ready to minister where the Lord leads. It makes me rejoice to meet women of such faith and love, and I'm encouraged in my own walk with the Lord.

My prayer today is that we are all able to openly acknowledge and celebrate the love, faith and hope shared in the Family of Christ. And a special praise to mothers, wives, daughters and sisters, who each day rise up in faith to be living examples of Christ's love in a world that doesn't always understand the meaning of love. Amen.