On 27 January 2012 01:45, Roland Francis <roland.fran...@gmail.com> wrote: > > About 10 years ago, the Mormons of Salt Lake City, Utah embarked on a > project to microfilm the birth, marriage and death (BMD) records of as many > churches in Goa as they could. In this, they received the consent and > co-operation of the Goa Church authorities. Their reason for doing this was > that a British project had done the same but only for people of British > origin born in India. The Mormons felt that more people should be included > and they undertook the work at their own effort and expense, starting with > Goa.
Someone discussing the issue about the Mormons having the largest database in humankind described them thus, "The Church of the Latter Day Saints are viewed here in the UK as being a cooky / odd bunch of religious nutcases." [1] Even while fighting with myself to avoid arguing "against the person" or the organisation itself (because that is subjective anyway, and one person's nutcase views are very routine for someone else), I couldn't help pointing to some of their beliefs: QUOTE During the 19th century Mormon converts tended to gather to a central geographic location, and between 1852 and 1890 many Mormons openly practiced plural marriage, a form of religious polygamy. Mormons dedicate large amounts of time and resources to serving in their church, and many young Mormons choose to serve a full time proselyting mission. Mormons have a health code that eschews alcoholic beverages, tobacco, coffee, tea, and other addictive substances... [2] More to the point is the reason why they set up this database, which Roland doesn't touch on in enough detail, in my view: QUOTE The Genealogical Society of Utah, founded in 1894, later became the Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), commonly called the Mormon Church. The department's research facility, the Family History Library, which has developed the most extensive genealogical record-gathering program in the world,[citation needed] was established to assist in tracing family lineages for special religious ceremonies that Mormons believe will seal family units together for eternity. Mormons believe that this fulfilled a biblical prophecy stating that the prophet Elijah would return to 'turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.'[3] ENDQUOTE Possibly, this may be good for genealogical research as such. But then, there are other issues that come up. Privacy, for instance. What if you want to get your name out of that database? Check [4] There is an e-how on how to do this specifically. Till we understand such issues better, I suggest we SHOULD look at the 'gift horse' in the mouth. Or is it just doing something with good potential for a "cooky" reason? The law of unintended consequences has also shaped Goa and Goans, sometimes in ways we are not unhappy with, many times in the past. Since Timoja and probably before. Finally, to complicate matters even further, the Catholic Church has apparently sent out letters, asking bishops to keep their records away from the Mormons! [5] Too late, my greatgrandparents names have already been sealed :-) FN [1] http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread640197/pg1 [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormons [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogy [4] http://www.ehow.com/how_8051104_name-out-lds-genealogy-records.html [5] http://genealogyblog.geneanet.org/index.php/post/2008/05/Vatican-letter-directs-bishops-to-keep-parish-records-from-Mormons.html -- FN +91-832-2409490 or +91-9822122436 f...@goa-india.org Books from Goa,1556 http://scr.bi/Goa1556Books Audio recordings (mostly from Goa): http://bit.ly/GoaRecordings --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
