Story heightens perceptions of fanaticism in Utah

Once again, Utah has been thrown into the national spotlight by a religious fanatic, this one an ex-Mormon-turned-itinerant-street-preacher who now stands accused of kidnapping teenager Elizabeth Smart.

And although the Elizabeth Smart case ended happily, Brian David Mitchell's name will now join an infamous list of extremists that includes Ervil LeBaron, Dan and Ron Lafferty, John Singer, Addam Swapp, Mark Hofmann and Immanuel David.

"I can't help but think this just enhances the notion out there that this is kind of a weird place," said Doug Goldsmith, a child therapist and director of The Children's Center. "I can't help but think this will ultimately be 10 steps back in how the rest of the country looks at us."

Every few years, it seems, the state and its leaders have to answer the same questions. What is it about Utah that breeds religious fanaticism? And how can the state fight the stereotypes that image engenders?

From Gov. Mike Leavitt on down, Utah leaders were praised for putting on a great 2002 Winter Olympics a year ago. It was a showcase for the state's culture, its people and the LDS faith.

"The Olympics helped a great deal in our worldwide image," said Dale Zabriskie, a longtime Utahn, political activist and public relations expert who has clients across the nation.

"And I think that more and more people have contact with missionaries with (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), and that is becoming more and more the perception of Utah and of the church," he said.

But long-held stereotypes are not easily dispelled, nor can the goodwill of positive events like the Olympics completely erase a history of what many would consider religious zealotry that goes back to the earliest days of the Utah pioneers.

Leavitt, reached at a staff retreat out of state, said: "Religious extremism often produces unhappy and unfathomable results. Utah doesn't have a corner on it, but we have our share."

Leavitt said state and county economic development officials, elected officials, church and community leaders will just continue emphasizing the positive things about the state. "We'll do things like the Olympics, the Sundance Film Festival, international trade missions.

"We do our best to tell the story of Utah as a growing work force that is education minded and tech-savvy, it's affordable and livable and safe. All of which are true."