Global awareness of LDS Church growing

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.

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.

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