RELIGION | 43
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n a quiet street in the small town of Abbotsford in British Columbia, Canada, stands the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every Sunday, the church comes abuzz with activity as the congregation comes together to hear words from the Bible, discuss community issues, study and teach
to call the Church by its full name: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jesus is the core of our religion and beliefs.” One of the practices they follow is that of training young people to be ‘missionaries’ or community workers in distant cities. Boys put in two years, while girls put in 18
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Blueridge Drive, Abbotsford
youngsters, play a game of basketball, and talk on all matters of faith. The community is often referred to as Mormons, a nickname that comes from a scripture unique to their Church called the Book of Mormon. “Lots of people use it to describe the Church and its members,” explains the official website comeuntochrist.org, adding, “In the past, we’ve embraced the term and even used it ourselves, but recently we have asked people DECEMBER 2019
months. They cannot choose where they will be sent – one simply signs up to a missionary, and then one goes wherever God wills it. Since the Church is spread across the world, this period of being a missionary is one of intense personal and spiritual development for the youngsters, who are often travelling away from home for the first time in their lives. We spoke to two missionaries in Abbotsford about their journeys.