In June (2015) Deseret News posted a light-hearted article recounting journalist Jerry Johnston’s encounter with a street poet. The poet sits on the sidewalk with a sign that says, “Pick a topic, get a poem.” For a donation of any amount, the poet will spend 90 seconds of his life writing a custom-made poem for his benefactor.

Mr. Johnston asked for a poem about Mormons. The resulting verse talked about devotion, dedication, faith and communion. Mr. Johnston described the prose:

“The poem seemed a tad self-conscious and had a hint of pandering about it. And I’m sure with a rewrite, he’d clean up a couple of the clunky lines. But hey, the dude tried to speak the truth.

“And in this day and age, getting a slice of truth for $5 — even truth tossed off by a resourceful, out-of-work liberal arts graduate — has the feel of a real bargain.”

I thought it might be fun for us to take up Mr. Johnston’s challenge to the street poet. While the article was titled, “You have 90 seconds – describe the Mormons,” here on Mormon Coffee let’s change it up a bit: You have 90 seconds – describe Mormonism.

I undertake this challenge to describe Mormonism all the time (although I take considerably longer than 90 seconds to do it!). So today I’m bowing out and giving the greater Mormon Coffee community the floor. You can write poetry if you’d like, but if you are more comfortable with a different form of communication, go for it. The goal is for you to share “a slice of truth” in describing Mormonism.

And this will be an even better bargain than Mr. Johnston got from the street poet because, with regard to the Christian commenters at Mormon Coffee, not only do they endeavor to speak truth completely free of charge, but the truth they speak has the incredible potential to set people free.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
-John 8:32