In October, when the Latter-day Saint Student Association (LDSSA) scheduled its first-ever information night for November 14, it was unclear how much demand there might be. If Mitt Romney were elected, said Paul Hawkins, ’14, LDSSA’s president, “we might need a bigger room.”

As it happened, “Meet the Mormon Faith” is held in Stuart 105 as planned. About 25 students load up on Thai food, cookies, and, more controversially, Coke.

The first speaker, law student Benjamin Brown, gives a brisk overview of church origins: Joseph Smith’s revelations in upstate New York in the 1800s, persecution of church members, settlement in Utah. Every single person is listening intently; a few take notes.

Next is Jacob Johansen, SM’11, “I’ve been given eight minutes to cover church doctrine,” he says. The audience laughs.

Quickly Johansen speaks of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, and how “God, our loving, perfect Father, wants us to be happy.” He concludes, “The church is very family oriented. The greatest blessings require family—joy doesn’t even make sense to receive alone. No success can compensate for failure in the home.”

Then a panel of four students introduce themselves. Spencer Duncan, a master’s student in Middle Eastern studies, served his mission in Puerto Rico. Miranda Cherkas, ’15, from north Georgia, participates in University Ballet, UC Dancers, and PhiNix Dance Crew. Econ grad student Nolan Pope is “a big soccer fan.” Emily Greenwood, ’13, vice president of LDSSA, majors in psychology and loves cookie dough.

A man in a black T-shirt asks about persecution: “Today, do you feel there are any remnants of that?”

“I’m from a pretty evangelical place in the South, in the Bible belt,” says Cherkas. “People will say off comments—ridiculous stuff about us. Maybe the intent of their heart isn’t hatred, but it’s still a foreign thing to a lot of people.” 

“I do feel like somewhat of a curiosity,” says Pope.

Pedro Moncada, a community member in the audience, jumps into the conversation: “There’s not a lot of Mormon Mexicans. In my family in Mexico, there’s a lot of persecution against us.”

“Are there any topics of debate within the Mormon Church?” a woman in a yellow sweater wants to know.

“That’s a great question,” says Hawkins, who’s been serving as a quiet, unobtrusive moderator.

“With doctrine, no,” says Cherkas. “With interpretation, yes. The biggest example is going to be caffeine. We can drink caffeine—”

“I got a Coke,” says Moncada, holding up his can and smiling. In fact he has two.

“In the Doctrine and Covenants, he (Joseph Smith) warns us against ‘hot drinks,’” says Cherkas. “Since then, modern revelation tells us we’re not supposed to drink coffee or tea. What do those two things have in common? That’s why some people think we can’t have caffeine.”

“A lot of things are open to interpretation, and I think that’s a good thing,” says Greenwood. “It allows us to turn to the Heavenly Father ourselves.”

“To Pedro’s comment about going down to Mexico, is there room for syncretism in practical expressions of the church?” asks a man in a striped sweater. “Can you mix and match?”

Moncada tells a story about a Catholic cousin who asked his father to be a godparent. When his father sought the advice of the bishop, he said, “‘Of course! That’s your family! You shouldn’t even be asking me that.’ Excuse me”— Moncada has a brief coughing fit—“I need another Coke.”

Next comes a question about families: “You said that husband and wife would be bound in eternal marriage. Why would that be necessary?”

“In other kinds of marriage ceremonies, you hear them say, ‘Till death do you part.’ Well, I think that’s sad,” says Cherkas. “I was adopted. I have no blood relation to my adoptive parents. But when I was one year and 12 days old, I was sealed to them in the temple for all eternity. If heaven is the reward, then I have to be with my family.”

The man has a follow-up question: “My understanding of heaven is brotherhood and sisterhood with all men and all women. If you spend the afterlife with your family, doesn’t that contradict that?”

“First, I have to say, I haven’t been there,” says Duncan. “I don’t know for sure how it works.” The audience is laughing again. At last, there is a statement on which everyone in the room can agree.