Reddit Reddit reviews Moroni and the Swastika: Mormons in Nazi Germany

We found 12 Reddit comments about Moroni and the Swastika: Mormons in Nazi Germany. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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Moroni and the Swastika: Mormons in Nazi Germany
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12 Reddit comments about Moroni and the Swastika: Mormons in Nazi Germany:

u/DoubtingThomas50 · 13 pointsr/exmormon

Plus Hitler liked the Mormons!

Recommended read: Moroni and the Swastika: Mormons in Nazi Germany: https://www.amazon.com/Moroni-Swastika-Mormons-Nazi-Germany/dp/0806146680

How is it that Mormons were persecuted in Missouri but welcomed in Nazi Germany? That's fucked up.

u/tksmoothie · 9 pointsr/exmormon

Pro-Nazi



"Dec 9,1933 - [Less than a year after Hitler becomes chancellor of Germany,] 'Church News' article 'Mormonism in The New Germany,' enthusiastically emphasizes parallels 'between the LDS Church and some of the ideas and policies of the National Socialists.' First, Nazis have introduced 'Fast Sunday.' Second, 'it is a very well known fact that Hitler observes a form of living which Mormons term the Word of Wisdom. Finally, due to the importance given to the racial question by Nazis and the almost necessity of proving that one's grandmother was not a Jewess, there no longer is resistance against genealogical research by German Mormons who now have received letters of encouragement complimenting them for their patriotism.'



"Jan 25,1936 - 'Church News' Section photograph of LDS basketball team in Germany giving 'Sieg Heil' salute of Nazi Party."

"Many of those who felt the greatest anxiety about being able to carry on their religious activities are finding that at least one branch of their church work has received its greatest boon since Germany’s adoption of Hitlerism. It was always difficult for Genealogical workers to get into the archives of the recognized church to trace back family records. When the pastor learned of the intention access to the records was often denied. Now, due to the importance given to the racial question, and the almost necessity of proving that one’s grandmother was not a Jewess, the old record books have been dusted off and stand ready and waiting for use. No questions are asked. In fact, some of the Saints instead of being refused by the pastors now have received letters of encouragement complimenting them for their patriotism. All genealogical workers who are interesting in tracing back family history in Germany should take advantage of the present unusual opportunity." –Deseret News 1933

Moroni and the Swastika: Mormons in Nazi Germany http://www.amazon.com/Moroni-Swastika-Mormons-Nazi-Germany/dp/0806146680/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424195771&sr=8-1&keywords=Moroni+and+the+Swastika

u/sanpompon · 6 pointsr/exmormon

No, I don't equate everything to Nazi Germany. I was recalling something I MIGHT have read in a book about Mormonism in Nazi Germany. And, yes, I do actively try to inform myself politically.

The reason you were downvoted is because you come across as uninformed.

u/AWakefieldTwin · 4 pointsr/exmormon

I was coming to say this exact thing! I'm about 1/3 into it and it's SO fascinating. I live in SLC, so I went to his author event when the book came out at Wellers Book Works. He had a lot of pictures and things on display, gave a great talk, and there was some really great Q&A and discussion. It's by David Conley Nelson.

u/[deleted] · 3 pointsr/exmormon

Wow dude, don't exaggerate!

u/GovnerBoggs · 3 pointsr/exmormon

The Mormon church fit in relatively well with Nazi Germany; it is yet another sad chapter in the history of the church.

https://www.amazon.com/Moroni-Swastika-Mormons-Nazi-Germany/dp/0806146680/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474484978&sr=1-1

u/jimmyjamespak · 2 pointsr/exmormon

This is the next book on my reading list. Moroni and the Swastika I've heard focuses on Mormons in Germany at the time but it could touch on what you're asking. Anyone else read this that can shed some light?

u/NonSumDignus · 1 pointr/ExMo_Christianity

"The rise of the Hitler movement in Germany caused a great many to fear that religious activity and missionary work would meet with disastrous opposition. Since the National Socialist party have come to power, a few sects have been prohibited or restricted, but activities in the 'Mormon' church have been carried on about the same as before. As a matter of fact, a number of interesting parallels can be seen between the church and some of the ideas and policies of the National Socialists."

So began the fawning Deseret News op-ed dated Dec 9, 1933. That article can now be viewed here:
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x5dOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0LUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2672%2C4026967

And what were those parallels between Mormonism and Hitlerism? "Fast Sunday" and the "Word of Wisdom". American Mormons could see Mormon theology fulfilled in Hitler's government policies. Clearly, the line separating church and state was not so clear at that time in Mormon eyes.

But wait... there's more: Blood purity. Just as the Mormons of the 1930s were particularly careful that not a single drop of Negro blood gets access to the Melchizedek Priesthood, so were the Nazis very careful that not a single drop of Jewish blood gets into their veins. So the Nazis were quite pleased to know that Mormons can be extremely good at looking into German genealogy charts.

"Many of those who felt the greatest anxiety about being able to carry on their religious activities are finding that at least one branch of their church work has received its greatest boon since Germany’s adoption of Hitlerism. It was always difficult for Genealogical workers to get into the archives of the recognized church to trace back family records. When the pastor learned of the intention access to the records was often denied. Now, due to the importance given to the racial question, and the almost necessity of proving that one’s grandmother was not a Jewess, the old record books have been dusted off and stand ready and waiting for use. No questions are asked. In fact, some of the Saints instead of being refused by the pastors now have received letters of encouragement complimenting them for their patriotism.

All genealogical workers who are interested in tracing back family history in Germany should take advantage of the present unusual opportunity."

So did the Mormon church take advantage? I think an entire book was written to answer that question.

https://www.amazon.com/Moroni-Swastika-Mormons-Nazi-Germany/dp/0806146680

It takes a socialist to recognize a fellow socialist. Mormonism was born out of Protestantism but nurtured with Joseph Smith and Brigham Young's utopian socialist ideals. In the 1930s, these ideals were still pretty much alive. At that time, the US government under Franklin Delano Roosevelt had embarked on the most ambitious socialist expansion of government, and it had all the appearance of success. FDR and Hitler's Nazi Germany were still allies. The Mormon Church didn't see anything wrong with socialism and being friends with fellow socialists. Why would it when the whole idea was such a rousing success?

u/Canucknuckle · 1 pointr/exmormon
u/curioboxfullofdicks · 1 pointr/exmormon

I thought you were making some shit up but you are correct:

From Moroni and the Swastika Book Review

"Chapter Five focuses on how Mormons used their strong belief in genealogy, which they used to provide sacred saving proxy ordinances for deceased family members, to ingratiate themselves with the Nazis, who had a strong belief in genealogy, which they used to determine an individual’s racial purity and whether or not they would lose civil rights or even be imprisoned. Chapter Six is called “Mormon Basketball Diplomacy in Hitler’s Reich”. It covers the German hosted 1936 Olympic games and gives details on how Mormon missionaries were the early coaches and trainers for the German Olympic basketball team. "

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