Baffled Quote by Laurence Moore
““Mormons invented themselves just as other religious and ethnic groups invented themselves. But Mormons did so in such a singularly impressive way that we will probably always remain baffled as to how exactly it happened.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The Atlantic, 2015
He observes that Mormons uniquely constructed their identity, leaving many puzzled about the process behind their distinct development.
In simple terms: Mormons formed a distinct identity in a remarkable way.
Key Takeaway
Study how groups shape unique identities.
Themes
religion
identity
history
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
essay
historical
When to use this quote
- religious studies
- anthropology
- community building
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
sociology
cultural formation
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors contributed to Mormon distinctiveness?
- How do other groups compare?
A Different Perspective
Complex histories can be oversimplified.
![“Speaking in the tabernacle to a large assembly, he [John Taylor, Mormon] said: Who would not rather die than bow to the yoke of the enemy? It would sweeten death to a man to know that he should lay down his life in defence of freedom and the kingdom of God, rather than to longer bow to the cruelty…” quote by Juanita Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/232/juanita-brooks-33595_kingdom-of-god_speaking-in-the-tabernacle-to-a-large-as_555686.jpg)
![“It was not until the spring of 1859 [two years later] that the children [the survivors of the murdered emigrant train] were officially turned over to the government officials, and bills for their care were made… The policy of letting the government pay seems to have been general…” quote by Juanita Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f15/juanita-brooks-33595_children_it-was-not-until-the-spring-of-1859-two_372854.jpg)
