Mormons have “fundamental” PR problem
Email 
Print
The Mormon faith — or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as it is officially called — has a “fundamental” PR problem.
It may have renounced polygamy over a century ago but the breakaway sects which continue to practice plural marriage are the ones that often catch the public eye, leading to the popular misconception that all Mormon men have, or strive to have, more than one (often underage) wife.
This was driven home to me as investigators late last week swooped on a polygamist compound in a remote part of west Texas in response to an abuse complaint.
The compound belongs to followers of jailed polygamist leader Warren Jeffs and is linked to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which broke away from the main branch of the faith decades ago.
Over 400 children were yanked from the Texas facility over the course of the weekend and into the early part of this week, providing a riveting spectacle in a dusty corner of the state.
Television footage showed young girls in long, apparently homemade “pioneer dresses” boarding buses. Some who looked to be in their early teens carried infant children. Texas child welfare officials said it was their biggest operation ever.
As all of this was unfolding my wife happened to mention to a friend of hers in South Africa — a friend who is well-educated, a journalist and a devout Christian — that I was covering the story. Her friend’s response? “Those Mormons, they’re weird. I don’t answer the door when they knock,” she said. My wife said as far as her friend was concerned, Mormons were Mormons and that was that.
Of course, the mainstream Mormon church, which claims a worldwide membership of around 13 million, is the one sending missionaries around the globe to knock on doors and spread the faith.
The renegade polygamist sects whose followers number several thousand (some estimates are as high as 40,000 or more) are not knocking on doors in Johannesburg. But the perception is clearly there: Mormons are the funny fellows taking multiple wives and living in isolated retreats in remote patches of America.
In places like Texas, the mainstream Mormon faith — based in Salt Lake City, Utah — has to contend with plenty of suspicion anyway.
Southern Baptists and other evangelicals widely regard Mormonism as an almost sinister cult which is successfully competing for souls among the faithful. They regard Joseph Smith, who founded the faith in New York state in 1830, as a false prophet. Southern Baptists are taught in Sunday School to be wary of that “knock on the door” from Mormon missionaries.
Against this backdrop the last thing the mainstream LDS needs is more bad press stemming from its fundementalist kin. The Texas media is abuzz about the probe and court documents alleging a compound rife with sexual abuse and girls being forced into “spiritual marriage” after reaching puberty.
One also gets the impression that Texas authorities were chomping at the bit to take the place down, given the scale of the operation in response to complaints allegedly made by one person.
But it has all served to reinforce popular stereotypes of the Mormon faith — and that must be causing discomfit in Salt Lake City.
Comments RSSPost Your Comment
-
Author Profile
-
Thanks for writing this article.
You’re right- I’m a real “Mormon” or a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (My ancestors on both sides of the family came out to Utah with Brigham Young and were originally from Norway, Denmark, England, and Switzerland. I’m currently working on my Ph.D. at Purdue, but I’m originally from Utah.)
When I hear about these psycho polygamist sects making national news and the news agencies referring to them as “Mormons” and “followers of Joseph Smith,” it just makes me sick. These people are about as much followers of Joseph Smith as terrorists are followers of the Muslim faith! There practices are considered apostate and evil, and anyone who abuses a child, in OUR faith, is worthy of death (subject to the laws of the land, which we put before our own laws). Oh, how I wish people would search out the truth about us instead of believing what they hear from whoever they hear it from.
Unfortunately, as you say, some of the false information is spread by evangelical/baptist preachers who fear losing their flock (and hence their income) to Mormon missionaries. This strikes me as kind of funny, because in our Church, we’re actually encouraged to invite anyone into our home who has a sincere and loving concern for our souls. The idea is that together, the truth will eventually be found out, as long as people have a genuine love/concern for eachother and they are open-minded. (In fact, I heard that when Mike Huckabee and the Southern Baptist Convention came to SLC, Utah a few years ago, a number of them actually ended up joining our faith because how well-received they were…) I wish we could teach the world the power of 1) love (instead of fear) and 2) open-mindedness in the search for truth of all kinds- scientific and spiritual.
The people of my faith do indeed claim to have some things that others do not. But, we do not believe we are superior or that we need to FORCE anyone to do anything. We are followers of Christ and if Christ did anything, it was love. He did not judge. Our Church teaches that truth does the judging ok by itself; people should do the loving.
Thanks for writing this article. Hopefully it will help!
Shaun Hansen
this article is lacking in truth. the name of the polygamist group is “the fundamentalist church of latter day saints” not the fundamentalist church of (Jesus Christ) of latter day saints. The mormons abandon plural marriage over a hundred years ago.Iam a mormon and if I marry more than one wife, I will be excommunicated. Also,our late president Gordon B. Hinckley said there’s no such thing as a fundamentalist mormon. You are either a mormon or a non mormon. If you form another church , then that church no longer fall under the umbrella of the The Church Of Jesus Christ of the Latter day Saints. The writer of this article has a hidden agenda, and that is to connect this polygamist group to the mormon church which is far from the truth.
The misconceptions put forth by the media is more of a reflection on the “Media’s ignorance”, lack of scholarship, and in some cases, even outright deception,
than it is on the Mormons.
The Associated Press style guide states clearly that the term “Mormon” is “never” to be used, unless referring to members of the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”, period. Any other group should not be referred to with that term in any way, whatsoever.
You would never refer to a Lutheran or an Anglican as a fundamentalist Catholic. This PR problem is the media’s
agenda. The LDS Church increases it’s membership by a million people every 2.5 years. Honest people seeking truth don’t look to the lying media for their guidance.
This group in Texas is the absolute antithesis of anything a Mormon believes or teaches.
These people in Texas are in no way akin to the actual Mormons, nor does their style of polygamy in any way resemble the polygamy of the 1800′s Mormon church.
There was no marrying nieces and or isolationism in the 1800′s. In reality, only 5-10% of all 19th century adult males ever entered into polygamy. Also remember that polygamy is not just a Mormon thing, Biblical Prophets such as, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Solomon, David, etc. were all polygamists. The worlds three major religions still consider all of them to be men of God.
True journalists would never make these mistakes, Baptists, propogandists and shoddy journalists do.
If the media wants to put their bias on display for the world to see, who are we to intervene. Like all dishonest endeavours, the truth will out!.
ajarizona
There are many Mormon sects, of which the LDS church is just one – the largest and best known, but just one more sect.
If the LDS church had the courage to instruct it’s members in law enforcement and the courts to enforce the laws and protect the children in the smaller sects, this problem could have been dealt with long ago. Instead, generations of girls have been raped. It’s a shameful failure of the Utah and Arizona power structures which are LDS dominated. Thank God for Texas. The Utah Attorney General just gave an interview in which he admitted he ‘almost’ did the same thing. Almost isn’t good enough.
LDS canon still claims that polygamy will be practiced in heaven, and the main canon of the LDS church (the D&DC) still has the commands to Joseph Smith to practice it, but nothing to stop practicing. The FLDS church is actually following Smith’s commands more acurately than the LDS church.
Yes, finding PR contrast and real or imagined differences between the breakaway sects of Mormonism and the S.L.C. ‘Brighamite’ version is a real problem. . . it may even approach the difficulty of specifying on some basis other than color, a telling difference between the light and the dark divisions of chicken droppings.
This message is in reply to the posting of Janet Wade, whose post contains some very odd assertions, and some incorrect, or misleading statements.
First of all, she seems to think that the church should instruct its members in ‘law enforcement’…? Since when do members of the LDS church assume the responsibilities of law enforcement? Are we to form a posse? Does she expect that members of other churches also are to be a part of law enforcement?
Secondly, the D&C is not the ‘main canon’ of the church. The canon consists of the Bible, Book of Mormon, D&C, and Pearl of Great Price. No one of these is considered the main canon.
Finally, the she claims that the canon contains no instructions to stop polygamy. This too is not correct. The Doctrine and Covenants does include the ‘manifesto’, instruction that members are to no longer practice polygamy, and this manifesto has constituted the church’s vieww on the practice of polygamy since. Anyone who enters into polygamy is going contrary to this doctrine, and is excommunicated.
Janet Wade said “If the LDS church had the courage to instruct it’s members in law enforcement and the courts to enforce the laws and protect the children in the smaller sects, this problem could have been dealt with long ago.”
I don’t know how many times we have to mention that these splinter groups have nothing to do with the LDS church. Blaming the LDS church for them (or for the lack of prosecution of them) is akin to blaming the Pope for not policing the things that Protestant church members do. Janet Wade must bang on the doors of the Vatican every time Protestants behave badly.
They are following Joseph Smiths teachings. The LDS church changed the Mormon prophets teaching to fit into society….
The Mormons have been adapting the teachings to fit better into society constantly. Mormons have quite a few problems that can make them viewed as a cult…
I must respectfully disagree with several of the above statements. This article seeks to distinguish members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from break-away polygamist sects and does a good job of it. In the heads of most people, as this article demonstrates, “Mormons are Mormons.” Main-stream Mormons should be grateful for this article, not condemn it.
The debate over who may or may not be labeled Mormon reminds me of the fight over who may call themselves Christian. Most Christian sects deny Mormons the label of Christians while Mormons claim to represent pure restored Christianity. If a person believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ, aren’t they Christian? If a person believes in the prophetic role of Joseph Smith, aren’t they a Mormon? Or should they be called Josephites? Latter-day Saints? Restorationists? Who gets to control labels?
Mr. Stoddard, this Mormon appreciates the great article. It highlights the struggle the Church faces in defining itself in both America, and throughout the world. With what many Americans believe about the faith, no wonder Republicans were suspicious of Mitt Romney.
Were New Testament Christians a “Cult”?
Mormons are not Creedal Christians. However, they do believe in the Jesus Christ of the New Testament:
The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often accused by Evangelical pastors of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity’s comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres more closely to First Century Christianity and the New Testament than any other denomination. For example, Harper’s Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.”
One Baptist blogger stated “99 percent of the members of his Baptist church believe in the Mormon (and Early Christian) view of the Trinity. It is the preachers who insist on the Nicene Creed definition.” It seems to me the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock (and their livelihood).
Further reading; http://jesuschrist.lds.org/SonOfGod/eng/
Why don’t Evangelicals have a “fundamental PR problem”?
Evangelical polygamists have about 50,000 members in the United States. One group, LoveNotForce.com, teaches the “Standard of Christian Polygamy.” Men are instructed on how to “unlock the gate,” so wives will be more open to their men having more wives.
So the Evanglicals have more polygamists than the offshoots. Are they competing with one another?
http://www.chron.com/commons/persona.htm l?newspaperUserId=kengurley&plckPersonaP age=BlogViewPost&plckUserId=kengurley&pl ckPostId=Blog%3AkengurleyPost%3A7c898aac -d02d-4ad3-a62e-7acff57db0fb&plckControl ler=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript &plckElementId=personaDest
I would encourage Janet Wade (and anyone following the events in Texas) to do some research into the Short Creek raid in 1953. Utah, Arizona, and (unofficially) Mormon leaders once did something, and it backfired. Is force the best way to solve a difficult situation? It didn’t work last time.
Certainly society must stand up against child abuse. I’m just not certain that this action was the best way to do it. We’ll have to wait and see if things turn out differently this time.
The Mormon’s fundamental (without the quotation marks) problem is that Joseph Smith made the whole thing up.
Later, Brigham Young took over to satisfy his personal power trip.
Were New Testament Christians a “Cult”?
Yes.
I wonder who perpetuates that “PR problem”?
Surely not Reuters or any other news source.
The problem lies with you Reuters.
Thanks for all your “help” Reuters.
The “fundemental problem” here is folks have itching ears, and Reuters and many “Christians” make good money catering to those with itcing ears.
Letting Reuters and Southern Baptists define the LDS faith is like letting the pharisees define Christ’s doctrine.
If Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were around today, which religious organization would they see as closest to the one they started or led west? I would say it is the Fundamentalist group(s) that mainstream Mormons eschew. In addition, where is Utah in all of this? The states leaders and citizens hide and ignore these same practices because they know how many of their fore fathers were involved in exactly the same practice. Shame on them. “Thank you” to Texas authorities who have dealt with this important societal issue and the crimes involved.
Its amazing how mormons always justify thier beliefs. This is America and they have that right but if your always having to clarify it then theres a problem. I used to work at the Mormon Church and I am a christian not a mormon. They believe jesus was in south/latin american and this regular joe joseph smith found these tablets that only HE could read and then they Suddenly disappeared. PLEASE. You might as well follow scientology…. They pretend like they believe the same things but then come to find out its a bunch of ADD-ONs by this JOE guy. If you can be EXCOMMUNICATED ITS A CULT PEOPLE> I know i saw first hand…..
one more thing…. they also believe that gordon hinckley is a man GOD which is crap. There is no such thing as a guy who gets promoted being a god and also believe they will turn into gods themselves and have a planet of thier own in the afterlife…. COOOOMEE ONNN and thats NORMAL all they did was let some con man add a few chapters on to the bible and dupe them… if they come to my door i will ask them how could they be so naive….
I rest my case.
And Reuters, thanks for the “PR” help during the primaries.
As a “Mormon,” I find it especially interesting when some people, (like Janet Wade who are obviously not Mormon) tell others what we as Mormons believe. If somebody wants to know more about the Mormons (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), the best way to find out what we believe is to ask us … maybe more people should open the door when those missionaries knock to get some answers to their questions.
As far as adapting our teachings to society, as M Greene said, I don’t know what he’s referring to if we do not drink, smoke, do drugs, or have premarital sex.
It all comes down to the fact that we believe in modern-day revelation. We believe that God speaks to our Prophets like he did to Moses and other prophets of old.
The Roman Catholic Church can excommunicate its members as well and it’s an official “Christian” religion.
I have a childhood friend who is Mormon and he’s an amazing man with a wonderful family. I also have friends who are Jewish, Muslim and Christian. I was raised Catholic but would generally consider myself “Chrisian” with no strong religious affiliation. I do not believe the Church of Latter Day Saints condones polygamy any more than say, the Catholic Church does. However, all states must vigorously root out these cults that harm children and force young girls to marry men often old enough to be their grandfathers. It’s appalling that these girls are so casually raped and that it has taken so long for any state to do anything about it. Wake up Arizona, Colorado and Utah!
For anyone that is above bigotry and wants the facts unlike a few of the people of the above….
We belive Jesus appeared in the Americas to descendents of the Israelite people. They kept records and gold plates that were buried in the earth from about 400 to 1828 A.D. Joseph Smith was visited by God the Father and Jesus Christ, and later by an angel who directed him to the plates. He translated the plates into what is known now as the Book of Mormon. This record corroborates the Bible and will lead all followers of Christ to a better understanding of Him. Most critics of this book never read it. We don’t ask anyone to take our word for it, unlike preachers and bigots who want you to truth their word only. Read it for yourself and find out, if you truly want to know Christ and have some hope in this world.
As far as the PR issue goes, yes it is problematic because so much of the media irresponsibly lump these factions into the same group as the LDS church. Under your criteria, Lutherans are cult followers of Martin Luther and fundamentalist Catholics. Muslims are cult followers of Mohammed, Buddists ad infinitum.
For any real – not professed – truth seekers who want a more logical explanantion of these things, see the addresses of just a few days ago from those we believe are ordained apostles and witnesses of the resurrected Christ:
http://lds.org/conference/sessions/displ ay/0,5239,23-1-851,00.html
Karl Marx said that religion is the opium of the people. So easy to read how differing points of view escalate into outright agression ( verbal in this instance). We should probably ponder on the impact of this “I am holier than thou” attitude, and why are muslims pithcing against jews, or catholics against protestants, or as in this case.
I suggest that if we’d worship piles of mud and sticks, we would -perhaps-have less conflict in this world.
First of all, i thank you all for your ideas. I am from Uganda-Africa and have so far lived in American for five years. On my arrival here i got confused with so many churches! For instance, there are some for and against homosexual-suprise.Seeing all this cultural norms for the first time i withdrew going to church but later joined. In my neighborhood I happened to have met Mormon followers! We interracted for quite some with lots of convictions, but i had my own stand as prostestant and that was it. Reading from the book of Mormon that i still have this faith is a nebulous one! Whoever has said that they knock on people\’s doors like crazy yes they do. Those believes of polygmy meet them and ask for their opinions! don\’t be puzzled with the answers. It\’s unfortunate that such cults are spreading all over the world like a flue virus. A case in point is that most African countries were unaware of such churches and now days this sort of churches go confuse people that they\’re helping them out of poverty next thing you know is a church that\’s their to help people. All churches involved in such episode must know it\’s sinful to confuse people in the name of God. I have no big issues with polygmy because iam from one. I do not back it but since i grew in it my perception is totally different compared to you who has never.
The whole idea am writing this is to react to Shaun Hansen. If you don\’t him refer to first respond on this article. Shaun, I am a student like you and it\’s rude for you to name terrorist as only followers of Moslem religion. I believe terrorist can be from any religion. I note that most schools (purdue included) are tought by moslem elites. I don\’t think this people are terrorist but it\’s just their faith. Shaun,I have not researched on this word, but if this is what it\’s affliated to then i apologize. I am from a secular country and to be honest majority of moslems are as innocent as you are. I have eaten, played and lived with them no problem at all. For your own information, there are those who can be bad because they belong to gangs! From reading books there are gangs and serial killers all over the world and am sure they are non moslems to.Men like Hitler, Napoleon, Musolin where Moslims to you?
few accounts of Joseph Smith\’s declarations. I do love the one about the angel with the fiery sword threatening to kill poor Joe if he doesn\’t have sex with a lot of women and children. Love that one.
\”The same God that has thus far dictated me and directed me and strengthened me in this work, gave me this revelation and commandment on celestial and plural marriage, and the same God commanded me to obey it. He said to me that unless I accepted it, and introduced it, and practiced it, I, together with my people would be damned and cut off from this time henceforth. We have got to observe it. It is an eternal principle and was given by way of commandment and not by way of instruction.\”
- Prophet Joseph Smith, Contributor, Vol. 5, p. 259
\”When that principle was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith … he did not falter, although it was not until an angel of God, with a drawn sword, stood before him; and commanded that he should enter into the practice of that principle, or he should be utterly destroyed, or rejected, that he moved forward to reveal and establish that doctrine.\”
- Prophet Joseph F. Smith, \”Plural Marriage for the Righteous Only-Obedience Imperative-Blessings Resulting\”, Journal of Discourses, Vol.20, p.28 – p.29
\”Joseph was commanded to take more wives and he waited until an angel with a drawn sword stood before him and declared that if he longer delayed fulfilling that command he would slay him.\”
- Hyrum Smith, Elder Benjamin F. Johnson\’s Letter to George S. Gibbs, 1903
Members of the LDS do believe in “a” Jesus. The Jesus they believe in is fundamentally different from the Jesus that orthodox and historic Christians believe in. LDS Jesus is the spirit brother of Lucifer and at one time was like us and became ‘god’.
Orthodox and historic Christians believe that Jesus is the second ‘person’ within the Trinity. Jesus was and has always been been part of the Triune God. Here are some links about Mormonism…
http://www.equip.org/site/apps/nlnet/con tent2.aspx?c=muI1LaMNJrE&b=2616123&ct=36 15349
and
http://www.utlm.org/faqs/faqgeneral.htm
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or “Mormons” as they are called is about as Christian as you can get. If anyone has ever studied the church with a sincere and open mind they would know that. We believe in the Christ of the new testament. We believe he died on the cross for our sins, and on the 3rd day was ressurected. We beleive that Jesus called 12 desciples or apostles just as He has today. The LDS church teaches today just as the early day members of the church were taught in Christ’s day.
Hey moderator…
Nice and fair of you to permit/post comments of people calling other people belief’s “crap” etc. but then censor comments that rebuke them personally for this. Your personal agenda and selection of what is isn’t published reveals your own lack of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to the free press.
Reuters should be ashamned of you…
If you disagree, then publish this post, otherwise every accusation here is true. I’d like to be proven wrong.
Jack and Janet and others that don’t know what they are talking about, this is for you.
When you don’t know what you are talking about, you shouldn’t talk. Catholics have been excommunicated, I guess they are a cult too according to Jack.
Janet, let me point you to Official Declaration 1 in D&C that says pretty plainly that plural marriage was stopped and would not be praticed anymore.
If you say Joseph made it up, you haven’t read the Book of Mormon obviously. There is no way with his education that he could have come up with that. Stop listening to your pastor.
More than likely the Book of Mormon takes place in Central America (Guatemala and Mexico) than in South America Jack. And you say “joseph smith found these tablets that only HE could read and then they Suddenly disappeared.” You claim you are a Christian but don’t believe the Lord could take these up, have you read the Bible?
As for the article, I thought it was good. I do agree that people do tend to think of us all as Mormons and don’t see the difference (like Janet). But we do not have anything to do with them, they are not part of our church and we have no control over them and can’t tell them what to do. The law of the land is the ones that set the laws and have to enforce them, not the church that they broke away from.
Last thing to say, get educationed before you say something. Some of you claim to be Christian yet because you don’t know the truth and you spread it on places like this you are spreading false truths, which others take for truth. Are not false truths and half truths the same thing Satan uses to get us to sin. Therefore you are sinning by doing this and you will have to answer for your actions eventually.
I hate to say it folks, but the LDS Church still believes in polygamy. Ask any honest Mormon.
Why do non-Mormons confuse the LDS with the FLDS? The confusion stems largely from the fact that JS and BY both so strongly advocated and practiced polygamy. Most people are not familiar with the idea of “continuing revelation.” They have this odd habit of associating words like “religion” and “revelation” with “eternal truth,” with truths that do not change, not with mere practices that are taken up and then put down depending upon changes in worldly circumstance.
Janet Wade and her respondent Val have things only half right. Val is correct to say that the Woodruff Manifesto is (sort of) included in D&C. But Wade is right that D&C 132 remains on the books. D&C still tells us unequivocally that if a man espouse a virgin and she not be espoused to another man it “cannot be adultery.” It might be illegal in the eyes of the government, but it is not itself immoral in the eyes of the Church.
The Church has suspended the PRACTICE of plural marriage, but it retains the PRINCIPLE of plural marriage. So there’s a sense in which it is perfectly fair to say that Mormons, to this day, continue to “believe in” polygamy.
On another point, Alan has it just right: “If a person believes in the divinity of Jesus Christ, aren’t they Christian? If a person believes in the prophetic role of Joseph Smith, aren’t they a Mormon?” Whether the LDS Church likes it or not, FLDS beliefs are grounded in the Book of Mormon and revelations of JS and BY, and hence it only makes sense to consider them a Mormon sect. Just as moderate Baptists cannot plausibly claim that Fred Phelps’s group is not Christian, the LDS Church cannot plausibly claim the FLDS is not Mormon.
Most Mormons will claim that polygamy a practice relegated to history, they are quick to point out that polygamy was banned over one hundred years ago and is now an excommunicable offense.
However, attempts to disavow polygamy are misleading as the Doctrine & Covenants, Section 132 remains as canonized church doctrine.
Polygamy is still practiced in the sense that a man who remarries after the death of his wife can be sealed to his new wife and expects to live with both women in heaven. This also applies to men who have obtained a civil divorce but have not canceled a previous temple sealing(s).
Joseph Fielding Smith, tenth president of the church, married Louise E. Shurtleff in 1898 who died in 1908. In 1908, Smith married Ethel G. Reynolds, who died in 1937. The following year, Smith married Jessie Evans, who died in 1971. He was sealed “for eternity” to each of those women.
Paraphrasing the question asked of Jesus by the Pharisees: which woman will be married to Smith in the celestial kingdom? According to Mormon doctrine, ALL THREE will be his wives. Isn’t that polygamy?
Additional examples include Howard W. Hunter, the 14th president, who married Clara May Jeffs in 1931. After she died in 1983, Hunter married Inis Bernice Egan in 1990. Both women were sealed to him for “time and eternity”. Before his death in 1995, Hunter stated that he was looking forward to being reunited with his two wives in heaven. “President Hinckley affirmed the eternal nature of the marriage between Sister Hunter and the former church president, whose first wife, Claire Jeffs, died after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease and is now buried beside him in the Salt Lake Cemetery.
Inis Hunter “will now be laid to rest on the other side,” he said. “They were sealed under the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood for time and for all eternity,” he said, recalling the marriage ceremony he performed for them in the Salt Lake Temple in April 1990.” (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,51 43,695221068,00.html)
In April 2006, Church Apostle Russell M. Nelson married for a second time. His first wife had passed away the previous year. Both his first and second marriage were “solemnized” in an LDS Temple ceremony which, according the LDS beliefs, means that he will spend eternity married to both women. While these church leaders cannot be cannot be labeled practicing polygamists in this life, according to Church teachings they will be in the next.
(Of course, Jesus answered that there was NO marriage in heaven, but he obviously didn’t understand Mormon doctrine.)
It amazes me how a news article about a polygamist sect that is doing disgusting things can erupt into a religios discussion about doctrines of a church that have nothing to do with the people spoken of in the article. Why are we bad-mouthing religions when we should be praying for those affected in Texas.
This is for David and others that believe as him about us.
Duh, Jesus was like us. Remember, he was born of Mary, grew up and then died for us.
Yes, we do believe in a premortal life and that Jesus was there, as were we and Satan/Lucifier. We are all spiritual children of our Heavenly Father. Jesus was the God of the Old Testement, Heavenly Father was the God in the NT. Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost/Spirit are the God Head.
Tips for others that don’t know about our church, don’t get your information about what we believe from sites that are against the church, they are full of lies. Oddly enough usually written by people that claim to be Born Again and don’t sin. HAA, hate to tell you but everyone sins, that is what Jesus came for.
This brings to mind a protest sign I saw directed at Scientologists: “Get a Real phony religion!”
I am Mormon. I have been all my life. I have gone to other churches with friends and even other family members. Of course there were jokeson how many husbands i would have but they all stopped when i told them “WE DO NOT BELIEVE OR PRACTICE MULTIBLE MARRAIGES!!!” If any of the people who have posted such terrible things on this post would just open there minds and try to understand unless they truely research a subject they have little idea of what they speak of. I am proud to be mormon. my family is proud to be menbers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was not pressured to have more that one husband or to be one of many wifes. I know this church is true, i know Joseph smith is a true prophet of God, and i will glady give my testimony of it. A truely good and christ like person doesnt persicute anothers believes without knowledge. I do not say i am better than anyone else. But it seemes to me that all of you who “throw stones” are simply throwing them at yourselves. i’m sure your religion wasnt always the popular one. read some history for heavens sake.
and another thing. The people in texas deserve an help the can get. no one deserves to be rasied or forced into a situation like that. they need prayers and kindness and compassion, regardless of their religion.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I appreciate the author of this blog distinguishing between the LDS Church and the Fundamentalist Church. They are two separate churches. The LDS Church continues to make this known to those who will listen. Please see:
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/ commentary/polygamy-investigation
To address the other comments that have been made, the issues appear to come down to believing in Joseph Smith and modern revelation. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and The Book of Mormon is the word of God. To find out why I believe and to learn more about my Church’s beliefs and doctrines, I invite you to visit:
http://www.mormon.org/
Mormon.org is an official website of the LDS Church. It helps you can find information and answers about the Church from the source.
I really reject the assertion that these events cause any doscomfit in SLC. Actually, I not only reject, it just simly isn’t true. Further, i think it revelas the author’s ignorance of his topic. The events surrounding these polygamists have the same impact in SLC (where I once lived) as they do anywhere. Folks in SLC I’m sure find the stories of child-brides and abuse sad and reprehensible. Basically the same reaction folks have in California where I live now. What DOES distress the LDS community are the efforts of a minority in the media to portray a connection (other than long past history) between the two goups (LDS and Polygamists). But don’t imagine that we really lose much sleep over any of this. I tend to find that those whose equate the modern LDS faith in any serious way with polygamists also haven’t read a paper, or listenend to any sources beyond their pastor in some time. In other words, equating the two groups isn’t the viewpoint of informed, thoughtful people.
I appreciate everyones comments. It’s nice to see we have such a diverse world with different opinions. God granted each of us free agency and our democracy grants us freedom of religion. The Lord loves all of us because we are all His children.
The Bible say that by their fruits ye shall know them. This litmus test is one of the most cited in religion and has a practical appeal to it.
The fruits of Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine & Covenants are not only the mainstream LDS faith, but all people that believe in and follow the Book of Mormon, the Prophet Joseph Smith and the other scripture that he produced.
The legacy of Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and the “Mormons” are not the exclusive realm of the mainstream LDS faith and it is blatantly arrogant to assume that is the truth.
If the Latter-Day Saints look at a fundamentalist group and do not see something in common, a reflection of their own faith, they are blind. The LDS population (and the Christian world for that matter) has more in common with these people than they have differences.
There are to my understanding two times that the Church lost significant numbers of their memebership.
First, was the succession of authority from Joseph Smith to Brigham Young. The second was the time that the LDS leadership declared, by the Manifesto, that polygamy would cease.
Ironically, the people that left the church following the death of Joseph Smith generally rejected the practice of polygamy. The people that left the church or were excommunicated from the church at the time of the Maifesto were among the strongest supporters of polygamy.
The transitions in an out of polygamy are interesting. If you listen to the indivisuals of the RLDS church talk about their believe regarding the transition of power to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. You will find that there is no clear logical way of distinguishing whether they should follow Brigham Young or not. In the first instance, the LDS faith mandated marriage of one woman to one man. Then, that doctrine was repealed and replaced with the New and Everlasting Coventant that authorized plural marriage. At the time of the Manifesto, the LDS church had defied for several years the secular government of the United States in a manner similar to the FLDS. Then, they stated that the LDS Church would subject themselves to the secular authority of the Church (only at a time of duress). The polygamists that left the Church subject to that time, do not view that departure to be consistent in any way with what they were taught before the Manifesto. The FLDS members have shown an uncompromising spirit that would foster the admiration of Joseph Smith (they just believe something different from the mainstream LDS faith.
There are other similarities between the practices and teachings of Joseph Smith and the FLDS. For example, it is fairly well documented in the journals of faithful members of the church that Joseph Smith married a 14 year old and her 16 year old sister.
Joseph Smiths incarceration in Carthage was not because he destroyed the Nauvoo Expositor for printing lies about him. Rather, the Nauvoo Expositor was printing a very credible account of the practice of polygamy which included Joseph Smith taking to wife, women who were married at the time to their living spouses.
The racist, anti-african, garbage that was spewed from the mouth of Warren Jeffs comes right from the well documented teachings of Brigham Young.
The FLDS are not the fruits of the modern LDS faith, but they are the fruits of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, the Book of Mormon and other scripture brought forward by Joseph Smith. They believe and follow it to the best of their understanding.
HEY KATHERINE, YOU WAKE UP! UTAH WAS THE FIRST TO START PROSECUTING THESE ABUSERS.
JEFFS WAS CONVICTED IN UTAH AND SENTENCED TO PRISON IN UTAH, AS WAS TOM GREEN, MANY YEARS BEFORE JEFFS.
THEY WERE PROSECUTED BY A MORMON DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND A MORMON ATTORNEY GENERAL.
GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE AND STOP ACTING LIKE TEXAS GOT THIS BALL ROLLING.
THE MORMONS OF UTAH HAVE LED THE WAY IN PROSECUTING THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITED CRIMES.
AGAIN, THE ABSOLUTE IGNORANCE OF PEOPLE ON THIS TOPIC IS TRUELY AN AMAZING THING TO BEHOLD.
AJARIZONA
Lars et al Mormon defenders,
I got most of my ‘education’ about the LDS while living in the second LDS mecca – Mesa Arizona. I had a great friends who was a member of the LDS and latter became a Christian (born again in the ‘classic sense’). While a member of the LDS in good standing he would defend the LDS in public forums (news media, etc).
Simply put the Jesus I believe in (as defined by orthodox historic Christianity) is not the same as what the LDS teaches or what most members of the LDS believe in.
I am not saying whether or not members of the LDS are good or bad people. I am not saying their religion is any better or worse than others that are out there. I am saying there is a fundamental difference in beliefs between what the LDS teaches and what the historic orthodox Christian Church has taught for ~ 2000 years.
It is interesting that whenever someone challenges a member of the LDS, the resulting argument usually boils down to (coming from the Mormon): “you are lying” or “anyone against the ‘church’ (LDS) is lying” or some form of personal attack.
It’s funny to hear people argue about what religion is wacky than the other. They are all dumb, especially any religion that thanks a 16 year old kid found gold plates in the woods with special glasses that only he could wear and translate the plates. c’mon don’t be dumb. every person who is listed in the book of mormon as having seen the plates was kicked out of the church. They believed the indians were white people that had been cursed for their sins with dark skin. I believe that every male at the age of 13 is considered a priest, but until the 1970s no blacks males were allowed to hold the title. All religions have used the bible to justify their past racism, but the mormons sound silly. Every religion is pretty stupid, but this one takes the cake
Anne,
A couple of comments:
1. “A truely good and christ like person doesnt persicute anothers believes without knowledge.”
Actually a Christian would not persecute anyone especially about their beliefs (or lack there of). You are not being persecuted nor is the LDS being persecuted. Real persecution is what happens in the Sudan or China or certain Muslim countries. That is persecution.
You and your beliefs are being questioned. That is all.
2. Calm down and take some time to write a logical and thoughtful response rather than one full of emotion. I say that because your response was full of misspellings and poor grammar.
I know that when I have read or heard something which affected me in a personal way I would often respond emotionally. Think first & then write.
Thank-you to Anne for your testimony. I too have been raised in the LDS church and am very proud of it and who it represents (Jesus Christ). If only the whole world practiced what the LDS church teaches it would be a wonderful world we live in.
I am an LDS member of the church. I am greatly disturbed by this news aswell. This is the type of news anti-Mormons love to hear because it gives them the ability to mislead others and stain the reputation of the church. However, every time someone actually learns about our true doctrines and teachings, to me it seems they always develop a great respect for the church and its followers. This news of the polygamist sect is discomforting, but the Lord is in control and he will not allow his work to be frustrated. The mainstream LDS church will continue to grow and spread throughout the nations of the Earth, and the devil and his servents won’t be able to stop it.
People CLEARLY believe (or at least claim to believe) what they WANT to…
Baptist ministers LOVE to propogate such myths as LDS people believe in polygamy etc. because it helps them collect more money from the SCARED parishioners they’ve harvested.
The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints is just that! NO paid clergymen who have their own agenda of scaring unlearned parishioners with their nonsense.
This is stupid. I have been a mormon. part of the ONLY Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints since I was born. I have been taught good principles by my church doctrine and there has never been anything wrong. There is no polygamy, there hasn’t been any practice in my church with multi marriage for over 100 yrs. When our church leaders stated that the mormon church will no longer practice polygamy everyone stopped because this is a good church and we have faith in our leaders. Some didn’t want to stop the practice and belived that our leaders have gone astray when they did not. Our church leaders did the right and true thing. Those who did not believe the mormons should stop polygamy separated and created their own church different doctrine, priciples, leaders, and beliefs. i do not believe that the people who followed their leaders should be persecuted for something others did.
In Australia, there was an aboriginal tradition of, when a young girl first gets her period, an older male relative or family friend would take her out to the bush for a month or so and have sex with her and then bring her back. These young girls often came back pregnant, andd the babies were raised by the grandparents. Mainstream Australian society was outraged, but they didn’t know how to stop it. So they took young aboriginal girls from their homes and placed them for adoption in non-aboriginal communities. Then the “cultural insensitivity” uproar began. Currently, the girls are left in their homes, subject to this systematic rape/incest. The government does provide them with birth control pills so that their young bodies at least don’t have to have the additional trauma of childbirth. But these Texas girls… they don’t even have the excuse of long-standing cultural tradition. This stuff was made up a maximum of a couple hundred years ago. What’s the solution to anything? I don’t know. Love our neighbors enough to know what they’re doing and care about the abuse of their children?
I am 37 years old and my wisdom gained so far on this earth is that it is easy to become confused, get angry and spew hate.
Part of the article is about said confusion and misunderstanding.
Joseph Smith was in the same plight as a young man.
I identify with him.
I also believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that compels me to love those that abuse or maltreat me and forgive our trespassers and turn the other cheek when slighted.
I know this is the true gospel of the Savior.
I also know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are the word of God.
But don’t take my or Reuter’s word for it. Test them yourselves.
And Mr. Wangota from Uganda: check again the comparison made by Shaun. I think you misread it.
Peace my brothers and sister and I love you all.
God does, too, even more than me, of course.
Edward