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Four Westboro protesters show up to protest funeral

Sorry but he is no different, anyone that protests at a funeral are doing the same thing. Whether they are yelling, or holding signs, there is just no good reason to protest at a funeral, and unless the signs say positive things, they are really protesting. Preaching is sharing beliefs and can be done respectfully at another time. A funeral, no matter who's it is isn't the time!

Confronting the Phelps protesters only gives them MORE publicity, and attempting to "convert" is like wrestling with a pig.

If the Phelps crowd didn't get publicity, they'd have to stop. But in Utah, I'm sure they believe they're "preaching to the choice".

Am I the only one who finds it ironically sad that the LDS Church-owned media outlets are the only ones splashing headlines about the Westboro Baptist Church? From my reading this past week, the only paper with a headline using the word "Westboro" or "protesters" is this one.

The Salt Lake Tribune has been embedding any references to the protests farther down in its more positive stories about the funeral. The Deseret News, however, has been explicitly writing stories directly about this protest.

On KSL Radio, you had Doug Wright on Thursday saying, "These hateful, bitter people only want one thing: attention." Then he turned around and invited his listeners to visit Westboro's Web site, godhatesfags.org.

I suppose part of the true irony is that the LDS Church is turning around and making money off a Baptist group hating President Hinckley by splashing these headlines and comments out there.

I, however, like the approach of the other media outlets to dealing with a group that while newsworthy, deserves so little of the heightened attention the Deseret News is giving them.

I agree with much of what "Baffled" wrote but have concluded that it's a case of darned if you do and darned if you don't. If KSL and the DesMornNews didn't give them coverage there'd be a hundred commenters criticizing them for trying to "hide" them.

I think it is sad that people come to protest at the funeral of a man who has opened his arms to all people of other faiths! Those who are protesting say that they are christians and that they follow the bible and it's teachings, but do they follow the admonition of the savior when he said, "love your nieghbor as yourself."? Pres. Hinkley preached to all members to love everyone around you and to reach out to them. Love and not protest is the way to make a statement. As memebers We thank God for our prophet, and I hope that all people around trhe world can focus on what Pres. Gordon B. Hinkley did for the world, and how he loved everyone!!

The Deseret News and KSL may be the only group locally making a fuss about the un-Christlike group coming, but they are not the only groups talking about it..
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The funeral service was wonderful. President Hinkley is a Prophet. When the LDS church is involved it is no news to me to find out some one or some group was protesting our beliefs. I can trace Mormon protesters all the way back to 1820( So What) it is all part of our heritage.

I am a member of the Church who lives in the South and like to let people know that members of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) do not belong to any of the organized Bapist churches. They might have the word "Baptist" in their name, but most of the Baptists I know, and living in the South I know a few, have told me repeatedly that the Baptist churches they go to have nothing but contempt for the WBC, so please don't lump your local Baptists in with these people.

Did Pope John Paul have protestors at his funeral, I don't think so. It might take 2000 years before an LDS prophet, who has lived a life of humble service to EVERYONE, can expect to make his final trip without the intrusion of either the Evangelicals of the insane with their "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" signs.
One needs to realize that Westboro Baptist is made up Phelps family members solely. Thankfully their message of hate doesn't attract others.
I have read 100's of articles on this "church," not one, even those written but the spokesperson, Fred's lawyer daughter, has ever mentioned any service the group performs. No one is fed, clothed, inspired, loved, by these people. What a contrast to the man remembered this day.

We love our country for free speech. We have the right, but this was just simply misguided. But consider the source. They protest at military funerals so they are used to adding to the grief of families who have lost loved ones. Pray for them. They are our brothers and sisters too.

I remarked that President Hinkley did not have an enemy in the World when I head of his passing. I guess I was wrong. Satan was able to round up 4.

Only Kindness matters...if you believe , trully , you take the stonings ..with no animosity..and go about your father's business. Just as Hinckley would have.."charity..if you have not charity ..everything else is like a tinckling of a bell..somewhat revised but wise not the less." How many times have I had LDS people try to trample my beliefs as misquided and they were in groups of two or more. Your president would not have condoned these actions which at one pt. threatened my family..but we persevered and still do today. A good bishop appologised when these so called members didn't show the remorse to do so. Let others believe how they want to and go on because hate and disrespect isn't part of the journey illustrated by your great leader.

why do you give them attention.

Good post SJ Bobkins. It is interesting to find that only the Deseret is the only paper in SLC to publish news on these folks. I think in a way it is admirable on both sides. SLTrib was respectful and Deseret didn't hide anything. I think it's fine. I like the man you listened to them and said he didn't get it after he'd heard them. I don't get it either. In a world of strange these are some of the strangest.

I find it interesting that the Southern Convention Baptists are trying to say that they have no connection with this Westboro Baptist group and I believe them.They probably have to defend this every time the Westboro group protests.
Its like the LDS church trying to shake the perception that they are not a part of the group in Colorado City. Now matter what happens it will always be brought up when they hit the news and the defense starts all over again.

Freedom of Speech is fine, but funerals are the wrong place and time for anyone to be making a protest or some sort of statement. Leave mourners alone to grieve and remember the deceased. It's ironic how many "Christian" people are so determined to be right and get their views across that they forget the compassion and human empathy that Christ taught and so highly valued in the first place.

More cops than protesters? That about sums it up.

Let them protest, let the reporters do their thing but as for us let us worship! Letting our emotions get the best of us, make us no different from them. Learn from the man himself, President Hinckley - there is no better way to let his legacy live than to follow his life and his teachings - Farewell my fellow saints, and farewell to my prophet.

Isn't it great that we belong to an organisation that we don't debate who is going to be the next president? That is a testament that we belong to something that came from the Master himself.

Anonymous from the South,

I am also an LDS member living in the South, and while the Southern Baptists here have contempt for the Westboro spawn, they also have contempt for us. I hear it every day at work, I see it in the news papers, I hear it on the radio, and I see it in the signs over Baptists, "Find out what the Mormons REALLY believe, Friday night, 8 pm, $20".

I think it is deplorable that a group that claims to be "religious" would hold a protest at a funeral. President Hinckley shared a message of hope to the whole world. The LDS Church assisted people of all faiths during hard times.
If people think just because you belong to a church that you are a Christian, then they better find out what the word Christian really means.
Thank you Heavenly Father for the life of Gordon B. Hinckley. May he have eternal rest and peace with his wife and a loving Heavenly Father.