A global religions expert believes the experiences of Asian Mormon pioneers are just as much a part of Mormonism's heritage as are the experiences of the early Mormon pioneers who trekked westward to the Salt Lake Valley.
Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye visits with a guest after her lecture for the Pioneers in Every Land series put on by the LDS Church History Library. (Allie Arnell)
'Mormonism is an increasingly global and multi-ethnic religion,' professor and researcher Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye said in a presentation titled 'China, Japan, and Utah: The Transitional Passages of a Mormon Family.'
Inouye said although the church continues
earned
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In her talk, Inouye shared stories of how her grandparents on both sides became members of the LDS Church and described some of the discrimination they faced for holding the status of a 'double minority,' or being Mormon and of Asian descent.
During World War II, Japanese and other Asian Americans were put in prison camps and viewed as traitors. Inouye compared her ancestors' experiences to history's mistreatment of Mormons, who were at times labeled as 'un-American' for their beliefs and heritage. She said both groups have rich histories that help make up the heritage of Mormonism.
She compared the church to a flowing river that gradually picks up sediment as it carves out its path. Each new piece of sediment, or each convert, contributes to the river, or the church.
'Mormonism is a lived religion, and those who live it also define it,' Inouye said.
Rachel Riter, who works at the LDS Church Office Building, attended the lecture and was impacted by Inouye's metaphor.
'When we stop focusing on us as Mormons and have a more open view of the world, we can relate to more people, and more people come to us,' she said.
Many of Inouye's family members were also in attendance. Relative Lily Lew said she liked the message that the church truly is global.
'As long as families are important, then the gospel is relevant,' Lew said. 'You don't have to turn away from your culture or your ethnicity.'
Lew and her husband currently live in China, where are only five approved religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Protestantism and Catholicism. All other religions have either 'black market' or 'gray market' status, as Inouye explained it.
'Black market' religions are banned as illegal; practicing them can result in punishment. 'Gray market' religions, on the other hand, do not have as many restrictions. The LDS Church falls under the category of 'gray market' religion.
Chinese members of the LDS Church are able to attend church on Sundays. The church's website on relations with China explains that this has been the case since 2004. Law does, however, require that worship services for foreign-passport-holding Latter-day Saints are separate from services for Chinese members.
Relations with the Chinese government continue
The next lecture, titled 'Fire on Ice: The Story of Icelandic Latter-day Saints at Home
history.lds.org.