Prof talks on Mormon faith

With the 2002 Winter Olympics going strong in Utah, some have expressed concern that due to Salt Lake City's large Mormon population, church members may attempt to convert Olympic revelers.

This perception was addressed by Anthropology Professor Melvyn Hammarberg, a specialist on the Mormon religion, last Wednesday evening during a dinner discussion on the Mormon faith.

The discussion took place in Harrison College House and was attended by roughly a dozen of the house's residents.

Hammarberg provided an overview of the Mormon faith, the Church's involvement with the Winter Olympics and pictures of his recent visit to the city.

"The president of the church announced to the [church's] membership that the state of Utah was hosting the games, and that the church was there to be a good member of the community," Hammarberg explained. "That seemed to lift a burden off the shoulders of members who wondered if they needed to be proselytizing, and the president said, 'No, this is not the time nor the place.'"

Hammarberg explained that due to the Mormon culture, many of Utah's youth are trained in a second language through participation in mission programs. He said the language proficiency of the Salt Lake City residents has helped Olympic athletes to feel more at home in the United States.

This comes in contrast to the 1998 Winter Olympics -- held in Nagano, Japan -- when Ukrainian athletes were unable to find local residents to converse with. This year, Ukranian Olympians have found 15 fluent speakers in Utah.

"As people arrived for the Olympics, they had welcoming delegations," Hammarberg said with a smile.

Hammarberg said that the 2002 Olympics have also provided a means for the Mormon Church to act as part of the community and clear up past misconceptions.

"The publicity they're getting from it gives the Church a different image for the 21st century than its image at the start of the 20th century, when it was coming out of its difficulties of plural marriage," Hammarberg said.

Like the religion's symbol, the beehive, Hammarberg said that members of the Mormon Church have been working like busy bees to provide a positive experience for participants and spectators alike during this year's Olympics.

Next Tuesday, Harrison College House will sponsor a second dinner lecture. Continuing with the Olympic theme, Mediterranean specialist David Romano of the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology will discuss the ancient Greek athletic ideal.

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