INSTITUTION OR CULT

Why attempts to institutionalize plural marriage

Do not fit the institutional model

          What is the difference between a religious institution and a religious cult?  According to “Webster” it is “establishment, size, charity and devotion.”

            If we pick and choose words from “Merriam-Webster” we can polemically twist things around and argue that the LDS Church is a cult and that AUB is an institution, but that would be like saying because Barak Obama as an individual is extremely popular whatever liberal changes in our established government he initiates should automatically be considered correct, advantageous, and in the best interest of the people, like or not.

            An institution becomes established when its structure is organized in such a manner that its rules, habits and character protect its perpetuity and protects those adherents within the institution.  If an individual or group of individuals attempts to alter the structure of a stable institution so that power is centered in one individual or an oligarchy then the benevolent nature of the institution and the freedom of its adherents are in great jeopardy.

            AUB devotees look upon their corporation (The corporation of the Presiding Elder of Apostolic United Brethren) as a religious institution.  AUB has patterned itself after the LDS Church hoping to create the illusion of an institution but because of the following characteristics it falls way short.  In AUB emphasis is focused on prophet, priesthood and authority.  In other words, the corporate image is used to reinforce priesthood authority.  Priesthood rhetoric is designed to manipulate devotees into being dependent upon the priesthood for their irrational compensators (salvation and exaltation).  In order to do that the AUB priesthood attempts to orchestrate a high degree of tension between the devotees and the LDS Church.  AUB’s feigned legitimacy is contingent upon the LDS Church being out of order. 

            Christianity got its start by remonstrating that Judaism was out of order.  Islam got its start by remonstrating that both Judaism and Christianity were out of order.  Mormonism got its start by remonstrating that Christianity had it wrong.            

            The LDS Church began as a cult but as it grew and abandoned those tenets that induced tension it gradually fell into step with mainstream society and evolved into an acceptable institution.   Even though the LDS Church is structured with a presiding, authoritarian priesthood that allegedly holds the keys to the member’s salvation, authority is deemphasized.  The LDS priesthood conveys the image of serving the institution and its devotees which is the exact opposite in AUB and the other Mormon fundamentalist groups.  Because of LDS Church’s establishment and phenomenal growth, the fundamentalist sects are forced to perpetually denigrate the Church.

            Principles Voices is attempting to portray an established image of Mormon fundamentalism but from a sociological perspective it cannot succeed until all the fundamentalist groups are united under one priesthood and its legitimacy established to the point that the LDS Church and other artificial enemies are shelved.  This is not apt to happen because of the selfish motives of those fundamentalists in positions of power. 

            As long as the existence and perpetuity of a cult is contingent upon inculcating the negativity of a cognate, cogent institution it will never reach institutional status.  Until both the devotees and the leadership place the good of the institution over the power of individuals, where everyone benefits, it will not be on the read to growth and perpetuity.

            With the above in mind, the conservative faction in the United States is gravely concerned that President Barak Obama is attempting to subtly convert our capitalistic system into a socialistic state.  This fear is convincingly dramatized on Fox TV News.

            Socialism means government control over ownership.  It also means that under that system all power rests with the government and instead of government serving the people, the people are manipulated into serving the government.

            The more urbanized, the more dependent upon welfare and government subsidies, the more the people become renters as opposed to property owners, the more depressed the economy becomes, the more distribution of wealth is emphasized, the more attractive socialism and communism becomes. 

            Mormon fundamentalism purports to be a theocracy.  And in the organized polygamist groups even though they have founded incorporated towns with mayors, councilmen, etc., it is the theocracy that pulls the strings.  Many of those groups promote what Mormons call United Orders where all thing are allegedly community owned.  These United Orders seldom succeed but their efforts underline the Mormon theocratic leaning towards communism.

            A further characteristic of a healthy, successful institution is charity.  The USA is the most charitable nation in the world and next to Israel probably the most hated.  In a  no holds bared war like the one we waged against Tojo and Hitler, we may be the most powerful nation in the world; but with Barak Obama as a Commander In Chief we are about to let the theocratic Taliban whip us.

            The LDS Church has a respected welfare program where they not only help members but non members in case of natural disasters.  The fundamentalist cults help no one except those elite members in power.  Take the Big Valley Credit Union for example.  It was organized ostensibly for the AUB members but in reality is benefits the Presiding Elder, J. LaMoine Jenson and his business, Jenson Lumber, first and foremost.  AUB and the other polygamist groups are takers not givers.

            As for devotion, devotion is measured by the degree of tension between devotees and outsiders.  The more cult-like the organization the higher the tension.  For example, compare the tension between LDS member and FLDS members. 

            If it were not for the merchandising of plural wives, the organized polygamist cults would not survive.