Reader comments
Mormon Media Observer: Looking for American tolerance

Jon | 7:29 a.m. Jan. 21, 2008

Just to be clear - I'm LDS.

We can't keep complaining about people being intolerant towards us when we're guilty of doing it to others. The LDS Church and its members has been promoting intolerance towards homosexuals in recent years by supporting laws and amendments to the constitution that exist to limit the rights of our homosexual friends and neighbors. It's hypocritical to complain about something when it happens to you, and then do it to others.

Personally, after what the US did to my polygamist ancestors 150 years ago, I can't with good conscience support doing the same thing to another group.

Garry | 8:42 a.m. Jan. 21, 2008

Most thinking people have a sense of fair play and see through the bias of the media and some other religious zealots. There is no such thing as bad publicity. Regardless of whether Romney wins or loses, his campaign is providing the greatest free public relations bonanza the Church has ever seen.

While serving a mission during the early 50's in a far off country there was a series of negative articles and letters to the editor about the Church. We could hardly keep up with the requests for us to meet with interested people. The resulting harvest of strong future leaders is a matter of repeated history worldwide.

What a terrific opportunity to talk with your neighbors and friends! I suggest that you read and ponder D&C 101.

RE: Russell | 9:23 a.m. Jan. 21, 2008

I don't believe tolerance demands that we agree on every point of doctrine. In fact, tolerance is a method for dealing with the differences in people. While the people involved may never agree, tolerance implies a non-contentious manner of relating toward one another's differences. I understand those passages can be unsettling and disturbing for some, but we can still be friends!

Comments continue below

Brooks | 9:54 a.m. Jan. 21, 2008

We should have thought of this intolerance that we are now experiencing against us before voting, election after election for a party controlled by the very people who hate us the most and to whom Brother Romney is now pandering, hat in hand for their vote. Ironically, Brother Romney, a good man, would have a better chance returning to his positions he claimed when running for the Massachusetts Senate and running as a democrat. We have made this political bed of thorns in which we now sleep by joining with the church described in 1Nephi, Chapter 14. We need to read it and start taking it seriosly.

Adam12 | 10:32 a.m. Jan. 21, 2008

Professor Campbell, to some extent, labels dissent as "intolerance." Since no dissent is allowed in the Church, healthy dissent anywhere else is usually misunderstood by Church members. When Mitt finally addresses his religion in full and when the Church decides to completely open its history to journalists and stops with the unreal "positive only" stories, only then will the "intolerance" stop. As long as we have something to hide and everyone knows it, we will be subject to "intolerance."

Jerash | 12:40 p.m. Jan. 21, 2008

Wow! What a great article. I will tell others about it...

Raymond Takashi Swenson | 1:27 p.m. Jan. 21, 2008

Thanks for the good overview of the discussion in the public media about the LDS Church.

It is a sad fact that many of the people with whom we share many common political concerns are also intent on excluding Mormons from full participation in politics. They think that it is appropriate to use political action to burden people in religions they disagree with. Their commitment to free exercise of religion is limited to their list of approved religions.

However, there is just as much vitriol and intolerance toward Mormons on the Left. Militant atheists hate Mormons because we epitomize faith in the reality of spiritual things and immovable moral precepts.

It's good that Mitt Romney is smoking out both brands of religious bigotry. The part of America that was accepting this prejudice as normal is being forced to confront its ugliness, and the hypocrisy among both brands of anti-Mormons.

It's encouraging that Catholics and Protestants in some states are clearly not bothered by Romney's Mormonism.

payback | 5:32 p.m. Jan. 21, 2008

I will use anti-Mormon rhetoric to help defeat Mitt Romney. This because of his flip=flop on gay rights in Mass.: Mitt ran as pro-gay, and won a majority of gay votes in this state. Then he turned around and started bashing gay people.

I will do anything to stop Mitt Romney, including fanning anti-Mormon feelings in the bible belt and whatever other legal means are necessary to beat Mitt.

Reason | 6:12 p.m. Jan. 21, 2008

Standing up against attempts to redefine marriage is not intolerent - in fact just the opposite. Gays have no right to redefine marriage. They can and do get married to people of the opposite gender all the time. Mitt still believes in equal rights for all. What he does not believe in is allowing a few judges and radicals to redefine an ancient social institution. I believe in gay rights. I don't believe in redefining marriage.

Jon | 7:07 p.m. Jan. 21, 2008

That's fine if you don't believe in redefining marriage. My ancestors had an unpopular definition of marriage and were subjected unfairly to the might of the federal government. I'm not going to support doing that to another group.

I'm assuming that you're not Mormon. If you are, you're a hypocrite. You can't complain about intolerance and support it at the same time.

David | 7:35 p.m. Jan. 21, 2008

Main Stream Media bias? I searched Google News for the winner of each primary or caucus. I specifically used the following terms. The first number in parentheses is "about" how many results were found. For comparison, the second figure is the number of delegates won by the candidate (according to CNN).

"huckabee won" iowa (2,365; 17)
"romney won" wyoming (270; 8)
"mccain won" "new hampshire" (5,145; 7)
"romney won" michigan (1,239; 24)
"romney won" nevada (1,173; 18)
"mccain won" "south carolina" (3,806; 19)

Of the three states Romney won, he had the most news stories in Michigan, 1,239, where he earned 24 delegates. In contrast, McCain earned only 7 delegates in New Hampshire but enjoyed the publicity from 5,145 news stories.

To look at this another way, the most stories about Romney's three wins was 1,239 for Michigan while the fewest news stories about any of his opponents wins was 2,365 for Iowa.

If Romney were to receive the same coverage for his primary/caucus wins, it's reasonable to believe he would enjoy the frontrunner status that many in the press are giving to McCain.

Vinny | 7:50 p.m. Jan. 21, 2008

Hey Jon,

My ancestors had an unpopular defintion of marriage as well.
And that practice being polygamy wasn't good in any which way! It had a relatively , permanently, and damaging affect on most womans brains and minds. Thank goodness it was outlawed. Same goes for gay rights

Everton | 9:17 p.m. Jan. 21, 2008

I think that we as LDS members should strive to make clear the things that we know to be true. Also, we respect and appreciate all other faiths, the same respect and tolerance we expect from members of other denominations. We live in a country with freedom of religion and we shouldn't be criticized by the things that we practice or believe. Mitt Romney is a LDS member, yes, he's! But Pres. Hinckley and other LDS top-leaders will not interfere with the decisions that Romney may make during his term is elected the US president. Let's be rational beings and show love, respect, and consideration to all faiths that is

John | 9:58 p.m. Jan. 21, 2008

Adam12, I don't know what you're smoking. Others are intolerant because we're hiding information??? I don't know what information you think the LDS church is hiding which generates the hate, but even if they had some deep dark secret, would that justify the bigotry?

The Gray Grizzly | 11:55 a.m. Jan. 22, 2008

David | 7:35 p.m. Jan. 21, 2008
Adam12 | 10:32 a.m. Jan. 21, 2008

One never knows what,if any,hidden agendas posters have when it comes to these kind of public comments. However you both seem to raise some interesting thoughts.

They are as follows:

For those who want to fight " Main Stream Media bias" it seems that the faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are left with few pieces of "balancing information" when it comes to not only fighting media bias but in responding to the sick and uniformed comments about The Church and Church leadership. We are, of course, able to so some research, but it is time consuming.

Regarding the thought "have something to hide and everyone knows it"...I remained baffled as to what secrets the Church may be hinding. It seems EVERY ORGANIZATION tends to put their their best foot foward. Please name us one that doesn't!

kns@xmission.com "a life long member of the MORMON faith...an emerging new world-wide RELIGION!!!

Mar | 10:00 a.m. Jan. 24, 2008

Thanks for the interesting article and all the other articles referenced. We, Americans and we, LDS, need to exercise tolerance for those who disagree with us.

Anonymous | 7:57 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008

Mormonism is a cult.

Tom | 8:19 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008

Questions for Christians who are thinking of voting for
Mitt Romney for President of the United States

1. Does Mitt Romney swear secret oaths in the Mormon Temple (oaths which could affect his ability to perform his Presidential Oath?
Answer
2. Why do you think Mormonism isï¿½in so many people's eyesï¿½considered outside of genuine Christianity?
ï¿½Do only fanatics with bad attitudes consider Mormonism to be a problem? The truth is that Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, and Presbyterian conventions all see Mormonism as outside orthodox Christianity:
documentation

3. All active Latter-day Saint adults can quote the so-called Lorenzo Snow couplet: "As man now is, God once was; as God now is man may become." What does that mean?
ï¿½It does not mean that men can become "like" God" that is, perfect and sinless.
ï¿½The quote clearly means that God used to be a man and that men can become Gods. And every Mormon knows it means that!
documentation

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