From Deseret News archives:

Global awareness of LDS Church growing

Group discusses increasing coverage of LDS in media

Published: Tuesday, April 8, 2008 12:50 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
PROVO — Positive public perception of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appears to be progressing as international relations increase, according to speakers at the LDS International Society's 19th annual conference on Brigham Young University campus Monday.

The series of speakers addressed the theme "Meet the Mormons: Public Perception and the Global Church."

The yearly event is traditionally on the Monday following LDS General Conference since many international visitors are already in the Wasatch Front area, said Paul D. Rytting, president of the LDS International Society.

"It's an effort to gather people who have international expertise and ties with the LDS Church, to share ideas and have a community dialogue," Rytting said.

Topics throughout the day included how the world's media is portraying the LDS Church; how the church is keeping a delicate political balance while doing humanitarian relief projects; and the intricacies of the church hosting international dignitaries.

BYU communications assistant professor Joel Campbell has been studying how the international press has been portraying the church during recent LDS-related events such as the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 2005, the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley and church member Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

Story continues below
Campbell pinpointed both positive and negative press — and erroneous statements such as a newspaper in France that said nonmembers aren't allowed to attend LDS services.

Other incorrect news accounts confuse the HBO polygamy series "Big Love" with reality, he said.

Campbell said Mormons in the news can have a good or bad influence. A paper in England contained bold headlines of a Mormon woman who had been accused of child abuse. Stories in New Zealand and Australia news outlets praised LDS rugby stars.

Campbell pointed out many newspapers worldwide took the time to write personal editorials when President Hinckley died in January.

"To me, that shows great respect," he said.

Also in the conference, Sharon Eubank, manager of humanitarian initiatives for the church, addressed how the church can pave the way for proselytizing while moving forward with humanitarian aid. But she said the church also needs to keep a separation.

"It's a very delicate balance," she said.

Eubank said that when donating wheelchairs in Iraq, the church refrained from adding an embroidered statement saying the item is a gift from the LDS Church. The goal is to not tie the church to the U.S. military because it's a global church.

"We have to protect the neutrality of the church," she said.

Hosting international dignitaries makes for incredible foreign outreach, said speakers on a four-person panel speaking on "Building Bridges: Ambassador Hosting Program."

In 2007, the church hosted 560 visitors representing 103 countries, according to Elder Ben B. Banks, who is a co-director with his wife, Susan, of LDS Church Hosting.


E-mail: astewart@desnews.com

Recent comments

what else do you think the church are!

jr | June 6, 2008 at 8:12 p.m.

Hello! I'm from Russia :) I just wanted to say that I know with all...

Lena | May 4, 2008 at 10:23 a.m.

I live on Exmoor, Somerset, England and celebrate 40 years of being a...

Hazel Bedward | April 20, 2008 at 10:50 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Beck, Hannity, and Limbaugh get the audience they deserve and vice versa. ...

I find the rule,very discriminitory. I am not gay, I don't understand what...

Celtics crush Jazz

I understand we were outmanned last night. However, this effort was awful....

Tavernari has matured

My advice to Jonathan is shoot it when they pass it to you as soon as you...

Maybe they should try drafting a shooting guard who can shoot from outside ....

The sad thing about it is that there are actually people out there that are...

12 Utes return to Texas

Thank you TCU and BYU. Your wanting to beat Utah so bad has to drive you...

Celtics crush Jazz

Play fes and koufos. Look to the future. It looks like we will have two...

Letters: Obama 'too busy'

Oh come on. Obama's a horrible president, but I couldn't care less which...

"We had the best soccer of any place in the state. There's no disputing...

Advertisements
Advertisement