ABC News focuses cameras on LDS Church

In  two high-profile segments,

one on ABC's World News Tonight and the

other on ABC's Nightline Friday, 

reporter Dan Harris spent nine

minutes telling about the LDS Church, 

including reports on the new

Draper Temple and interviews with Elder M.

Russell Ballard and Elder

Quentin L. Cook.

In a 30-second piece on ABC

World News Tonight Harris

focused briefly on temples, baptism for  the dead, families and

Proposition 8. The eight minute and 30 second \"Faith Matters\" piece on

Nightline (video here) and (a

longer text version here) begins

with this:

 \"Ever since the first Mormon temple was built more than 150

years ago, they have been the subject of speculation and suspicion.

The temples are imposing structures where private and sacred rituals

are performed, and where outsiders are almost never welcomed.\"

Harris

asks Elder Ballard why the media was invited to Salt Lake City and an open

house for the new Draper Temple:

\"We want to be understood, not misunderstood,\" Elder Ballard,

\"and people are defining us in the wrong way. They're defining us

without having the facts.\"

Harris' narrative overviewed  recent

high-profiles stories about the church including  Mitt Romney's presidential

bid, support of Proposition 8, and confusion with polygamists. Then, Harris

talks about the temple, including the Celestial Room and baptistry.