Enough Already…
Last night, I was doing my usual Wednesday night thing, which is lead a small church group for young adults, mostly immediately post undergraduate graduation. We were joined by our resident seminary student, home for the summer from the academic wars. For some reason, he was full of “what Mormons believe.” I do not need to recount it, I am sure the audience of this blog knows the litany all too well.
What was amazing about the encounter was his unwillingness to separate what some Mormons believe versus what the CJCLDS represents as church doctrine, even when I pointed out to him that those not blessed with a seminary education like himself (and me which gave me a bit of an advantage here) in our own tradition could not adequately describe our own doctrines. Also, for whatever reason, the label “different” was inadequate, it had to be “weird.” This was truly amazing since the seminary he attends is so liberal that much work to debunk the divinity of Christ comes from its faculty! He seemed unable to grasp the deep weirdness of some of what we believe, which is where the Jesus debunkers come from.
I could not get the boy to slow down, and I could not get him to understand that while different, even “wrong,” Mormons were not bad, or evil, or . . . .
And then this morning, I ran into this bit of typically “mean substituting for funny” from the Wonkette (discussing the reported posthumous baptism of Barack Obama’s mother by some Mormons, even including an official declaration of CJCLDS policy on the matter):
Hmm, “serious matter,” doesn’t really get to the heart of it here, the question is, why do you people — YOU PEOPLE — create situations where a few nuts can officially baptize famous peoples’ dead mothers into the Mormon faith? Not that this has many “practical effects,” except to creep Barack Obama out to the point of vomiting.
I realize, to whatever extent I can, the controversial nature of baptism for the dead in Mormonism, but for better or worse, these people were trying to offer a blessing! It was a well intended action, even if theologically wrong from a non-Mormon perspective. If I believe Mormonism to be a false religion, how can anything they do harm me? (OK, the Catholic understanding of baptism does give them legitimate grounds to be offended by this particular practice, because they believe baptism is the actual gateway to heaven and a false baptism can send you in the wrong direction, and I have no idea the religious affiliation of the Wonkette, but . . . .)
But my point is this – there are so many places we disagree – but we do not need to take offense at them, nor do we need to describe the other as “strange” or “weird” or “evil.”
I have just about had it with this mindset. Argument cannot overcome such bias, for it is of a type that will refuse to listen to reason. So how is it combated? May I suggest that Mormons need to get a little more combatively defensive? I know you all view yourselves in a suffering servant role, and that is great, but let’s face it, Christ was crucified for genuine charges – he really did claim to be God, which is blasphemy, unless, of course, as in His case, you really are. You see what I am saying? If you all want to be maligned for my sake, that’s your business, but I think you should insist that it be for something real, not trumped up, and not merely the attachment of a label.
Lowell adds:
Well, this is a much-debated subject. People ask us, “Where’s the Mormon Anti-Defamation League?” A few thoughts, which are entirely my own opinion:
First, I am sure this will seem odd to you, John, but in my experience the institutional Church of jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the “Church”) does not make a big deal out of persecution. Growing up in Salt Lake City as a life-long member, I never heard about Haun’s Mill, for example. I was aware there was an Extermination Order, but to know the details I had to study about it on my own. (I moved away from Utah in 1982, so maybe the mentality there has changed. A lot has happened in the meantime.)
In my Los Angeles LDS congregation now, I don’t hear about persecution as a modern-day reality. We talk to the youth a lot about opposition (and they need to hear about that), and in adult Sunday School and other classes we talk about that as well. But I don’t hear the word “persecution,” except in a historical context. It just seems to me that it is not something we dwell on. That is not to say we should not do something more than we are doing; I’m just describing the culture.
By way of contrast, I have many Jewish friends and read a lot of work by Jewish thinkers and authors. For good reason, Jews, it seems to me, are much more preoccupied with the wrongs they have endured in the past than Mormons are. We can’t hold a candle to them on that front, and I think I would feel the same way if I were Jewish.
This discussion reminds me of the 1980s, when a movie called “The God Makers” came out. It was a malicious smear of the Church. That degree and type of attack on our faith was then new to most members of the Church. I remember teaching a lesson on the subject in church, and reading from a letter the Church’s First Presidency had issued, which urged members to “pray for the enemies of the Church,” not to retaliate, not to get too wrapped up in any fights, to remember that our work is divine and will go forward, and just to keep living our religion, especially the first two great commandments.
I do think that the modern Church’s attitude has been more of “turning the other cheek.” The Church’s Public Communications department does issue corrections and denials, but there seems to be a conscious effort to avoid acting like victims. As has been quite obvious recently, in the ugly aftermath of Prop 8 there were many who wanted the Church to hit back, to come out swinging, but that did not happen. (The Church did get relatively feisty about the news media confusing the FLDS polygamist group with modern mainstream Mormonism, as we noted here.)
I have an ancestor who was burned out of his house — which he had built himself – in Far West, Missouri, during what has come to be called the “Mormon War” there. I had to learn about my ancestor’s troubles in a Church history book, in a footnote. It was never part of our family lore. But the larger point is this: For most of us, the occasional social disapproval we have to put up with is nothing compared to being burned out of one’s house, or getting tarred and feathered. Our general sense is that we ought to just buck up, avoid whining, and keep moving, and hope that if we ever are persecuted like the early Mormons were (or like early Christians were) we can bear it as well as they did.
A final thought: Hugh Hewitt interviewed Lawrence O’Donnell, a “McLaughlin Group” commentator (I call those people “guest shouters”) who had gone off on a rant about Mormonism in the context of Mitt Romney’s candidacy. Here’s the exchange:
HH: Would you say the same things about Mohammed as you just said about Joseph Smith?
LO’D: Oh, well, I’m afraid of what the…that’s where I’m really afraid. I would like to criticize Islam much more than I do publicly, but I’m afraid for my life if I do.
HH: Well, that’s candid.
LO’D: Mormons are the nicest people in the world. They’re not going to ever…
HH: So you can be bigoted towards Mormons, because they’ll just send you a strudel.
LO’D: They’ll never take a shot at me. Those other people, I’m not going to say a word about them.
HH: They’ll send you a strudel. The Mormons will bake you a cake and be nice to you.
LO’D: I agree.
HH: Lawrence O’Donnell, I appreciate your candor.
I think that is fascinating. frankly, I hope it reflects an understanding among at least some people that that’s the way Mormons are. And I really hope that is the way we are — or at least try to be.
So John and I see this differently. The approach the Church has taken so far does not make great political sense. But maybe that’s the beauty of it.
Posted in Religious Bigotry, Understanding Religion | 16 Comments » | 
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Swertfeger on 07 May 2009 at 9:15 am #
The story about Barack’s mom being posthumously baptized by proxy is a little fishy. The lady who discovered the baptism(http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20090506/NEWS01/905060332/1002/rss) is very anti-mormon, her whole career is founded upon discrediting the mormon faith, especially the practice of baptisms for the dead. She gets most of her publicity from finding jewish holocaust victims among the names in the records of the LDS church and exposing them with what I believe is mock outrage. Her comments almost beg the question, “Did she submit the name so that she could bring in more publicity to her cause?”
I would love for BO or the whitehouse to issue a statement saying something like “while Barack Obama does follow the tenets of the Mormon faith, he understands the doctrine associated with the posthumous baptism of his mother and is not offended by the action, but is honored by the sentiment.”
It would do a lot to raise his stature among mormons, but I have no expectation that anything like that will come forth.
Lori on 07 May 2009 at 9:19 am #
With all the different Christian religions claiming to have truth, it is peculiar that such animous and effort is spent trying to debunk and criticize only one of them, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The effort is systematic and organized in seminaries, sunday schools, and bible study groups. Even children are instructed to despise what they call cults. How is it that other Christian faiths escape their scrutiny? Why focus so much on this one?
The early Latter-day Saints had to escape in order to worship and practice their religion without torment, harassment, or abuse from a nation curiously founded on religious freedom. The irony of the founding of a church in a religiously free nation, where no other nation on earth would have permitted such a church, yet to be driven from that same nation by the denial of those same freedoms is remarkable.
And it seems today, that some still wish to drive them away. “Religious freedom for me but not for thee.”
Phil on 07 May 2009 at 10:23 am #
Enjoyed your posts, John and Lowell. The people who waste their time criticizing and ridiculing other religions, such as the LDS religion, remind me of gossipers who enjoy spending their time finding fault with other people, and who grasp at any straw which causes controversy or sensationalism. They get the illusionary “high” of feeling better about themselves by tearing others down. I believe that they tend to be insecure about their own lifestyle and/or beliefs, and so feel that they can somehow justify themselves by tearing down the lifestyle and/or beliefs of others. It is also a similar mentality to schoolyard “bullies” who pick on others who they perceive as not willing to fight back, to make themselves appear strong or somehow “better” than those they pick on.
As such, it makes sense for us to pray for those with such weaknesses, and to perceive them as souls who have temporarily lost their way. We can and should stand up for what we believe by firmly stating our position, without condemning them or attacking them personally.
Their is a passage in the Book of Mormon which might explain perhaps part of the reason for the LDS response to such attacks and ridicule: there is a relation of a dream of an ancient prophet who, along with other people, is attempting to follow the strait and narrow way to the “Tree of Life” (a metaphor for God’s love and approval). In the process of doing so, he and the others are ridiculed and laughed at by a large crowd of wordly people in a “great and spacious building”. Those people and the building are a metaphor for the pride, wickedness, and foolishness of the world and of men. Those who make wise choices will take no heed of this ridicule and continue on in the path to God. Those who make foolish choices are distracted and ashamed, and veer from the path and wind up either temporarily or permanently losing their way.
So I believe that, whatever our religious beliefs, we should defend ourselves in a dignified and uplifting way, without responding in kind to mean, vicious, and demeaning attacks, and not to waste time trying to respond to every perceived slight, but to concentrate on simply living our lives the best we can and providing a good example for others to follow. When we are sincerely striving to follow God’s will, He will help and strengthen us regardless of what others might do or say to discourage us.
craigw on 07 May 2009 at 10:44 am #
John,
Thank you for your post. I have followed this blog for quite a while, but I have never commented. I appreciate your efforts with this blog. I am one Mormon who very much appreciates it.
Your experience last night is reminiscent of my own experiences with some Evangelicals. My guess is that most evangelicals have an attitude like yours, more interested in promoting the common good and getting along.
However, I grow weary of individuals such as this young man you encountered last evening. I have arrived at the point where it no longer matters to me what people like him think or do. I just accept it that these people exist. Unfortunately, they are the loudest and most heard within the Evangelical community when it comes to discussions of other religions. (From my perspective.)
Keep up the good work. Thanks
ScottK on 07 May 2009 at 10:51 am #
Thanks, John, for your desire to defend your LDS friends from the all too common verbal assaults of those we otherwise have so much in common with. Lowell did a great job describing the culture that Mormons live in when it comes to this subject. I have lived in the “Bible Belt” all my life and have seen and heard every anti-Mormon rant ever invented. I guess I have become so accustomed to and bored by it that instead of being offended I usually just shrug my shoulders and move on as Lowell suggested. At least they aren’t burning down my house, raping my sister and stealing my land (while the government encourages or turns a blind eye to it at best). The official church responses to big issues more than suffice for me. As individual church members we are simply asked to live our religion and follow the example of our Savior as best we can.
pdale on 07 May 2009 at 11:03 am #
We Mormons believe that true conversion comes as a gift of the Spirit, not because we argued our point better than the other side. The inarticulate farm boy missionary from Idaho (or wherever) occasionally has success teaching the Ivy League educated professional, provided the professional can look past the flawed delivery and is sincere and prayerful about understanding our message. The more gifted missionaries we send out will not be so successful unless they also teach with the Spirit. The messenger teaches, but the Spirit converts.
I do think that in the past we were more likely to fall into a debate style. But like Lowell, I think in recent decades we’ve moved away from that for the most part. I like his point that this is small stuff relative to the blood and tears of the past.
John brings up that for some the “weird” label must be attached to any discussion of the Mormons. Reminds me again of Dr. Walter Martin, “The Bible Answer Man”, who used to refer to Brigham Young as “Bring ‘em Young”. Emphasize the weird, entertain, sell more books, marginalize the Mormons a little more. I think his books are still selling pretty well in Christian bookstores worldwide.
Having read a few books on the Reformation and Christianity in America myself, there’s enough weirdness out there for each of us to write a book or two and not even scratch the surface. Then again, one of the reasons wars were fought and people were burned at the stake and oceans were crossed was so we can each just simply worship God the way we want to. Oh, and not be eliminated as a candidate because we belong to the wrong faith.
coltakashi on 07 May 2009 at 12:21 pm #
When John mentioned that the seminary student who was tripping out on the “weirdness” of the Mormons came from a seminary where some of the professors question the divinity of Christ, it made me think that the motive behind the student’s fixation on the Mormons is the recognition that Mormons REALLY BELIEVE the reality of all the miraculous stuff we encounter in the pages of the Bible, including that a man could rise from the dead with a physical body and ascend into heaven. Many of those who were attracted to Mormonism in the beginning were people who felt that many churches of their day had abandoned a real belief in the God who speaks to prophets and performs miracles. That strain of secularized Protestantism is still with us.
When you point out to someone who has a secularized mindset, who has rejected the idea that God operates miraculously in the modern world, that Mormons are rational and good people who are law abiding citizens, care for their families, and include many high achievers in intellectual pursuits, they simply cannot comprehend how anyone who sincerely believes in the supernatural doctrines of Mormonism can be fully rational or intelligent. They try to search for evidence that reveals an irrationality in Mormonism that affects Mormons’ behavior, or just good old fashioned hypocrisy. They love to find Mormons who have abandoned their faith, or who commit evil or irrational acts, as if that proves something about Mormonism rather than human nature generally, where loss of faith, and occasional evil and insanity are the common lot of all people.
The fact that the Mormons believe so actively and sincerely things that challenge the fundamental understanding of so many people, whether religious or secular, raises a question that many people are uncomfortable with: Could any of it be true? Even as soft-spoken as Mormons generally are, the message of their dedication to their beliefs–including significant voluntary service throughout their lives, sacrifice of income, sacrifice of pleasures like alcohol–makes it hard for many people, both religious and secular, to avoid the question of what makes Mormons tick. If it is not the actual truth of their beliefs, then it has to be something else, and often the hypothesis is that it is something sinister. Many recognize the power of Mormon beliefs, but if they reject God as the powerhouse, they have to come up with some other explanation, and some of those alternatives are scary to them.
The interesting thing is to realize that it is from the ranks of people who are genuinely puzzled by Mormonism that many people convert to Mormonism. Certainly not all, but some percentage of people who think seriously about the options for interpreting the obvious “weirdness” of Mormonism come around to the explanation the Mormons themselves offer as the most reasonable one. People who don’t think about Mormons one way or the other tend not to become Mormons. It is often the people who are trying to figure them out who are prospective new Mormons. So it is in the long range interest of the CJCLDS Church to support the discussion about Mormonism, to encourage curiosity, to get people to ask questions.
If the Southern Baptist Convention is correct in estimating that some 40,000 on their membership roles every year join the CJCLDS Church, despite the constant propagandizing against Mormonism, then most of those people did so as their own response to the propaganda. Those are people who might not have even thought about Mormons except for the energy the SBC puts into keeping “Mormonism” on their minds.
So there is a very pragmatic reason, beyond the religious one, why the CJCLDS Church does not want to shut down discussion about Mormonism, but rather seeks to use it as an opportunity to communicate. While the rate of conversions to Mormonism could be higher in the US (it is in some countries in Latin America and Africa), the rate of growth is actually keeping pace with the resources of the Church to train volunteer local leaders and provide meetinghouses and temples and instructional materials and sustain higher education. Short of motivating people to deny Mormons their civil rights (which was done often in the 19th Century), controversy about the Church serves to increase public awareness and interest, which in turn advances the Church. The goal of the Church is not to advance in secular power over people who don’t belong to it (which seems to be the goal of many Evangelicals these days). It is not to amass wealth for its own sake. Rather, the Church seeks to create a more godly society within its membership, and invite others to participate.
bensauer on 07 May 2009 at 3:53 pm #
Lowell,
While I don’t disagree with the general sentiment you are expressing here. You may have overstated the case a little bit. This is most ironic given that the lesson regularly scheduled for RS/Priesthood this Sunday is on having Courage in the face of Persecution.
–Ben
Jerald on 07 May 2009 at 8:13 pm #
John and Lowell, thanks again for another good post.
Reading the comments by the LDS folks somes makes me worried that the Evangelicals are going to start accusing John of aiding and abetting the Mormon missionary program and not pay attention to the central message of the Article VI Blog. (Only half joking)
John, I appreciate your good intentioned advice that we Mormons should stand up for ourselves more. And believe me, a lot of us do have some “fighting” spirit, but over time most of us come to realize that it is much better to fight to be more Christlike and to pray for our enemies than it is to engage them other than to just calmly and accurately state our position. The best weapons in a culture war or “religious” war are well thoughtout explanations, a good example, and Christlike love.
I feel sorry for young people like this seminary student. Being stirred up in such a manner with an adversarial demeaner is such a waste of a seminary education.
Some of the greatest blessings I received from my LDS mission were more humility, a decreased tendency to judge others, and a closer relationship with the Lord that gave me a greater desire to hope for the best for others. It really took the edge off of me.
The young people in seminaries deserve to be shown the positive path of Christian service that brings peace and love into the world and serves as the salt of the earth, a city on a hill.
That this young man has become filled with such negative feelings is truly a misfortune for himself and a loss to all of those he could influence for good.
TVHall on 07 May 2009 at 8:40 pm #
While I enjoy reading John’s and Lowell’s take on current events with respect to this site’s subject matter, I must say that coltakashi’s posts augment the experience greatly. His post above is another bulls-eye.
My own take on this particular topic is that experience teaches that agressive defense tends to be counter-productive. Which, I suppose, provides probative evidence on the source of the spirit of contention.
coltakashi on 08 May 2009 at 9:58 am #
I have seen all sorts of different reactions from ministers of various Christian denominations to the Mormons. When I was a missionary in Japan, a Protestant missionary helped me find a place to live temporarily when I first arrived in a city to open a new branch of our church. On a later occasion I was visiting the head of the CJCLDS congregation at a US Air Force base in Japan at the base chapel. When one of the Protestant chaplains walked in, the Mormon branch president introduced us, but the chaplain hung back, did not even come forward to shake hands, and literally backed out of the room.
A decade ago, two Evangelical PhD candidates, Owen and Mosser, wrote an insightful paper about the failure of Evangelical Christian ministers and theologians to actually study what Mormons believe and why, such that they go on repeating lots of claims about inadequacies in the Book of Mormon or other Mormon beliefs without engaging the very capable Mormon scholarship in ancient history and languages that was making cogent rebuttals to many of the self-proclaimed scholarly critiques of Mormonism. Indeed, the current generation of Mormon scholars include people who have studied theology and philosophy alongside seminarians of many different denominations–occasionally before their conversion to Mormonism.
Any modern Christian seminary student who claims to be a scholar of religion is not maintaining standards of professionalism if he or she does not engage the Mormons on a scholarly level and see what the Mormons who have learned the language of divinity schools say to explain what Mormons actually believe and why. A good place to start is the web page of the Neal Maxwell Institute at BYU (one link is through FARMS.byu.edu), which includes the full text of many complete books as well as years of journals. It will cost them nothing but their time.
It is true that many ordinary Mormons in Utah don’t learn a lot about other Christian beliefs (in contrast with LDS scholars of religion and history). On the other hand, the CJCLDS Church does not publish literature attacking other churches, does not train its missionaries or ministers to attack other churches, does not picket other churches, and does not oppose political candidates because of their church affiliation. The Mormons do believe that early in Christian history there was an apostacy or rebellion against original doctrine, but that is an assertion that is also at the root of the Protestant Reformation, and Mormons have always promoted full religious freedom. Additionally, at any given time, about half of living Mormons are converts from other beliefs, are familiar with the teachings of their previous churches, and often have family members who are still affiliated with those churches. I cannot recall ever hearing a sermon over the pulpit in my 59 years of life that ever attacked members of another church for being stupid, ignorant, lying, or evil. Indeed, Mormon theology says that good people in other churches will have an eternal reward that includes escape from all sorrow and pain in the presence of Christ, pretty much what their churches teach them to expect. Mormons do not believe that good people are bound to hell.
There are many Christian ministers and religious scholars who have come to a peaceful and mutually respectful dialogue with Mormons, such as the late Krister Stendahl, and Margaret Barker. The Mormons are more than willing to answer the sincere questions of any seminarian who is really interested in learning the reasons for our “weirdness”.
As I pointed out in a letter in a recent issue of First Things journal, current Christian scholarship (as reported in First Things) is affirming that some of the most criticized Mormon doctrines have counterparts in the authentic teachings of early Christianity (such as the salvation of those already dead, and the pre-mortal existence of the spirits of mankind). No Christian scholar owes the Mormons the obligation to join their church, but they do owe to God, to themselves, and to the people they teach and lead, the duty to find out the truth about what Mormons believe before they hold Mormons (or any other people) up to ridicule for their beliefs, claim they are “not Christian”, or that they threaten the republic.
sewinglady on 08 May 2009 at 10:05 am #
I am grateful to both John and Lowell for their willingness to address these issues. Thank you for your courage to dialog about the Constitution. May we never forget its importance!
I agree with some of the other commenters here. I believe this young man John encountered is conflicted. I have read some of the drivel that “scholars” turn out attempting to debunk Christ’s divinity. This young man probably doesn’t know what to do with this, so he sees his outlet in the “weird” teachings of the CJCLDS. I think he may be struggling with his own faith, even if he can’t admit it to himself. Perhaps he needs to be encouraged in his faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ.
I appreciate many of the excellent comments made here about how we CJCLDS react to false accusations. I have found that many people will speak to me about faith when I encourage them and create a safe place for them to share. I don’t make a secret of my religion, but I am willing to speak with them about theirs, as well. I know it creates a greater understanding.
I have to laugh about this one, though. For those who are not aware, every General Conference protestors show up in Salt Lake City who claim the “Christian” title. They hold signs and shout about how “Mormons are going to hell” and other such slogans. It actually was difficult to explain to my young children why people would tell them they’re going to hell…. Since, ostensibly, the Gay Rights Activists were going to show up (Thanks to Prop
this last Conference, I had a picture in my head of the gays and the Christians shaking hands as they protested near Temple Square. “We agree that Mormons are going to hell, we just don’t agree on why.” Does anybody else find this funny, or is it just me?
Doug King on 08 May 2009 at 11:27 am #
Most Mormons have had encounters with people like this young man — self-appointed “experts” about what others “really” believe. When I was younger I enjoyed the intellectual (and egostical) thrill of debating the Bible with people of other faiths. But I’ve learned doing is a waste of time at best, and sometimes even harmful. Those who fight over the true Jesus do not understand Him. Now I try to learn from others and see the good they do. I hope this young man outgrows his childish attitudes too.
There will always be anti-Mormon paparazzi, but let’s not loose sight of what is truly important. Isn’t it great that the young man has the freedom to say such things, and that we have the freedom to respond? And isn’t it great there are many millions of good people (the overwhelming majority are non-Mormon) who believe in freedom of religion and speech and are willing to stand up for it? Let’s not forget to thank and pray for those serving in the armed forces, many of whom come from the Bible Belt and some of whom, no doubt, have attitudes similar to this young man.
If conservative Mormons want to help influence the course of our government, we are going to have to learn to get along with individuals who, for whatever reason, don’t particularly like us.
teresamerica on 08 May 2009 at 4:15 pm #
I believe with all the struggles against the liberals and Democrats that Republicans would have more important things to do than attack one another from within, especially regarding the subject of religion. As a catholic, I think that we need to respect all religions and start to work together, instead of this religious devisiveness happening. I don’t think that there is any one correct religion. A person usually ends up following a certain religion because of what their parents teach them during childhood. Catholics believe in Baptism of the Holy Spirit so I don’t think it is that farfethed that Mormons would believe in baptizing a person after they have died. Let each of us work together to fight against this socialism and our freedoms being violated everyday by the Obama administration. Let Republicans focus on rebuilding the party and energizing and informing citizens’ on Republican or conservative beliefs. Freedom reigns.
Lowell Brown on 11 May 2009 at 7:49 am #
Ben:
Thanks for the comment about the Gosepl Doctrine lesson on persecution. In fact, thinking about that lesson is what prompted me to respond to John’s comments as I did. My own experience is that modern Mormons as a people are not hung up on persecution, although we are certainly aware of it and try to be prepared for it — as any Christian faith would. I never hear “Remember Haun’s Mill!” as a rallying cry, nor do we have anything like the ADL or CAIRO to protest attacks on Mormons. We pay a price for that approach, but it seems to be who we are.
Lowell
macfan1950 on 20 May 2009 at 6:48 pm #
Lowell refers to the LDS Church’s newsroom above, but I thought I’d post a specific link to the Church’s statement that came out just before a controversial episode of the HBO series “Big Love.” The statement addresses directly the issue of how we as Church members should approach situations when our beliefs are ridiculed or belittled:
http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma