Reader comments
Global awareness of LDS Church growing

It is interesting to hear outsiders positive comments and frustrating to hear negative or false statements. I am wondering if there is any value in publishing these false and negative responses. Would these kind of comments be better handled by a select group? I assume your readers are primarily LDS members and positive comments, I believe, help build enthusiasm.

A lot of people who are not members of the LDS faith do not realize that more than half of the LDS membership resides outside the US. Not to mention that Elder Uchdorf, a citizen of Germany, currently serves as one of the Twelve Apostles. The LDS Church is growing not only within the US but internationally as well. The social changes (corruption, genocide etc.) that need to occur in a lot of countries will happen as the hearts of the people become unified. The LDS is assisting in making this happen through teaching of upright principles and through humanitarian aid efforts. Although there are those who purposely distort what the LDS Church is and does, the truth will eventually reach everyone. Some of the things that have increased awareness in the past such as the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics and Mitt Romney's presidential campaigning (for example) are just scratching the surface.

In view of the fact that the LDS church is held in such low regard by the people of our country I am amazed that we are crawling in bed with the muslims. Do the LDS leaders think that teaming up with non-Christians will improve their image???

If so, I would hire another public relations expert.

For the LDS Church, image does not define us. Although there may be many organizations out there that are shaped by popularity and power, the LDS Church is not one of them. Also, just because someone is a non-Christian doesn't mean we should not help them. If you are a Christian then you would be familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan... "And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him." (Luke 10: 30-33) The injured man was most likely a Jew. At the time Samaritans and Jews had a hostile relationship with each other. Let's follow the teaching of Christ like true Christians should... not image or popularity.

It's good to see how the Church continues to give and do so much to help the less fortunate in many parts of the world with its 'humanitarian aid' program. Many people are being blessed because as a result.

Props to many people of the media who are unaffiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but still recognize and portray many of the positives.

Through some media it can be difficult to derive a fair reality of any group. But for the most part, I'm pleased with how much attention the LDS faith is receiving, because I think people can discern the laughable inaccuracies of the negatives portrayed, from the pleasantly appealing positives that welcomes all people to experience the same joy of living in truth.

I don't think the Savior was too concerned about good or bad publicity. His gospel is for each individual heart. Pure seekers of truth will not only hear His good news (Even if portrayed as bad), but one by one, they will come unto Him.

Considering your oblique, bigoted comment, I must with all due respect hit the delete button on your comments. The only low regard is between your left ear and your right ear.

Muslims are one of the descendants of Abraham, we are the other. Like it or not they are brothers.

Who are the Mormons? I've never heard of them. Please tell me more because I'm sure they're much better than all the other Christian sects.

If people wrote editorials about GBH, so what? Lots of people are written about when they die. When GBH died, I did not see:

a) TV headlines, reports, etc.
b) Radio (Talk show or news) reports.
c) Non-mormon newspaper reports

I didn't hear it mentioned anywhere else! If GBH was so respected, don't you think I, the average American, may have heard something? If there was any media on it, I would've had to dig to get it. The average joe wouldn't have heard a thing about GBH's untimely death.

I am not trying to disrespect GBH. He was a man, he had ambitions, values, loved ones, hobbies, etc. Anyone should be sad when someone dies.

Point is, GBH isn't as well known as many mormons like to think.

I think it is only a matter of time before those who can't accept the flood of Noah will leave the Mormon Church. Is this really one of the few remaining Religions that still accepts the Bible? Interesting. Next the Mormons will be the only ones who believe in Adam and Eve. You've got to love it.

I do like the Mormons partnering with Catholic and Muslim Charities to bring relief to people all over the world who are in great need. I wouldn't expect anything less.

To Ello,
We all know that everything that is printed on the Internet is true. This is particularly the case when accessing sites that seek to discredit the Mormon Church, whose authors strive for utmost accuracy and objectivity, fully aware that any deviations from truth do nothing to further their cause, which is to cast disrepute on a church that seeks to further the teachings of a man who proclaimed himself to have the authority to speak for God. Yes, Jesus proclaimed himself to be the long-awaited Messiah, the only begotten son of God and the savior of mankind. The Mormons preach that Christ was to be believed when he taught that his father, the Eternal God, sent him to earth to do his father's will and that all should follow his example by being baptized by water and by the spirit, doing only good, avoiding temptation, showing kindness to their neighbors, and preaching the gospel to the world.

...how upset people get around here when there is a positive article written about the LDS church. One commenter decided to quit attending, another is probably not a member at all...that is your right and there aren't many, if any comments on this site that will disparage you b/c or your choice. It's interesting and reveals a lot about your character that you choose to make negative comments each and every time the LDS faith is discussed.
Open your eyes and your hearts and recognize the tremendous amount of good the LDS church does 100% without any motive other than helping and improving the lives of others.
You should search to join a group that is similar.

Gordon B. Hinckley's passing had national coverage by option a, b, and c.

So what, if you didn't see or hear it?

re: Interesting.

We are upset about the LDS Church because it claims to be something that it is not, and it hurts people while doing it. I know that the church works for you, that is fine, I dont want you to stop going. I just want the church to leave us non-members alone.
As soon as the church leaves us and the laws of this state alone, I will leave it alone. Deal?

Re: ello

Explain in a lucid, non-derogatory way how the LDS church is 'hurting' you. Be specific please, b/c I don't think the church is out to get you personally, but I could be wrong.
Also, what socially responsible group would "leave the laws of the state (in which they reside...and country for that matter) alone"? Maybe that's how you think the LDS church is hurting you? You can't get health care from your partner or buy beer on Sunday?
At any rate, the LDS church does leave non-members alone. They don't force anybody in this state to respect the LDS church as an organization and you obviously have exercised your right to hold a negative view towards it (without negative consequences).
You're like a lot of other people who post (especially on the SL Trib) who refuse to give credit to one of the most benevolent organizations in the country, if not world, which provides help to members and non-members alike without qualifying criteria.
Maybe you should take the lessons (or take them again).
Best.

Global awareness on this comment string is lacking.

I am LDS and there is good and bad in every church, including ours.

Many organizations are excellent. If we could all put effort into working in them, we would all be doing a good thing.

Use your best judgment in doing so.

Peace.

Topics that will likely cause problems for the LDS Church are as follows:

1) History. Things that even most LDS do not know about the history of their own Church will come back to haunt future missionary efforts. It is time to come clean about the early history of the Church. There is so much that is positive but there are also some very troubling aspects and as intelligent people inside and outside the Church become aware of these things they will demand real answers in order to believe. You know what I'm talking about (you in authority). Time to come clean, there is, as I said so much that is positive about the LDS Church today, the past will be forgiven if--IF--there is honesty about the past.

2) Knowledge. Read the following very well written book by Richard Bushman--"Rough Stone Rolling". He is a very faithful member and this book is a must for every LDS to read to really know the history. There are other books that I won't mention also written by members that are available. Seek the truth and you will find it. He that has ears to hear let him hear.

I once tried to obtain some seating in the Tabernacle for the Choir Broadcast for some out of town-non member visitors. I attempted to get the middle bench which has leg room. I was informed that the middle bench was reserved for heads of state. I don't think there were any heads of state attending the broadcast that day. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there were about 25 heads of state at the tabernacle broadcast that day. But from this experience, I do think the church hosting department perhaps puts too much emphasis on whom they consider to be dignitaries and not enough emphasis on those who are not members of the faith but have strong ties to members.

I watch Fox News and they are making sure that they stress that the polygamist group in Texas is not associated with the Mormon church. I have noticed that google articles have mostly stated this, all but one and I wrote that person to let them know it was not correct. Well that thorn in our side may be fixed, now if people will believe that we are Christian.

This is the third time I have read comments that refrences an embarising event in the churches history that the church (its members) would do well to learn. Perhaps evan leave the church over. Vague refrence is not the way to prove your point or to raise interest. I don't know who you are or who your sources of information may be but this I know, historians in and out of the the church has revealed much about this church since it's restoration and I seriously doubt there are any hidden incidents that are floating around out there just waiting to be brought to light. Inuendo is the worst form of journalism. Be specific and tell us what this dark unrevealed historical "fact" is.