Part Three: Features of a culture.

There are many features of a culture some of these where highlighted in my study. Examples are shown below.
Attraction to be part of the culture:
“This group is like a second home for the young people in the church....The teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ encourage healthy behaviours that seem to benefit individuals and their relationships.
The group organise different social gatherings which provide a fun way to meet and bond with people from the same ward.”
Rites of passage:
“For males one rite of passage is completing missionary service for two years when they are nineteen. Another is teenagers completing four years of daily early morning Book of Mormon studies. Baptism and visiting the temple are also momentous achievements in the life of a Latter-day Saint. Members must be interviewed to be granted permission to visit a temple.
Symbols:
“The Book of Mormon and the Teachings of Prophets... clothing is a noticeable difference in that they wear suits and shirts and the women wear skirts... They address each other as ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ and usually don’t swear. They don’t drink any caffeine, drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. The missionaries can be identified by name badges which all wear”
Language:
The Latter-Day Saints refer to their churches as ‘wards’ or ‘branches’. As above they address each other as ‘brother’ and ‘sister’. They don’t swear. Temple wear is sacred so they don’t talk about it more than when necessary. Members are called ‘Latter-day Saints’, when shortening the name of the church they prefer ‘The Church of Jesus Christ’ or simply ‘The Church’.
Please visit the Latter Day Saint Church website, it provides a lot of insightful information: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e419fb40e21cef00VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD
References:
K.J. Jung Huh, D. Laupa & T. Hakopa, (personal communication, 7 October 2007).
Meetinghouse locator. 2007. Retrieved on 8 November, 2007, from http://lds.org/basicbeliefs/meetinghouse/0,6017,352-1-NEW+ZEALAND,00.html
Style guide. 2007. Retrieved on 8 November, 2007, from http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ca07ae4af9c7e010VgnVCM1000004e94610aRCRD