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LDS again stress the difference from FLDS

Okay, they're different. Most people in Salt Lake don't dress for the Little House on the Prairie 2 casting call every day.
We're not so different that we'd ever prosecute them, like in texas. But there is a difference. Trust us.

It might help if the leaders of the LDS church told their history accurately and stopped hiding the things that make them look bad. Secrecy and distorted facts leave the door open for criticism. When people are told the whole TRUTH they are much more likely to perpetuate the TRUTH.

It is clear that the world at large needs to be educated in the differences (and similarities) of the different factions that have sprung from the original church, so maybe the church should stop the PR and start sharing some real honest to goodness FACTS both inside AND outside the church.

Many members of the LDS church seem to have forgotten their history as a pariah religion, driven from the eastern states to settle in the territories: harassed by the federal government and inveigled to give up hegemony over their settlements. There was no law against polygamy until one was passed for the express purpose of pressuring the LDS Church�s authority. The fourteen thousand polygamists in the church were left high and dry, driven into hiding, jailed, fined, and stripped of their civil rights. Now that an offshoot sect of those original Mormons is being subjected to the same harassment, pressure, and loss of rights, the LDS church only wants to distance itself and ignore this blatant assault on religious freedom.

In 1993 when the government incinerated over 80 men, women, and children at Waco, the first thing I thought of was the federal government's assault against the early LDS Church. But today's Mormons are apparently more worried about being identified with people who have unstylish clothes and hair. It's trendy to help build synagogues for the Jews and temples for Asian sects, but they are applauding the destruction of a religion that shares their origins.

But the people are Mormons no matter what the LDS(Brighamite) church says, as the FLDS believe in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. If this were 120 years ago they would be embraced as Brothers and Sisters by the Utah based church. Instead of emphasizing the differences, how about looking at the similarities? There are a lot more similarities than differences and the further back you go into history one sees the differences fade into oblivion.

It seems easy, at this point in history, to see the divine and inspired wisdom that caused the LDS church to leave the practice of polygamy behind in 1890. It appears to provide nothing but difficulty, for those who cling to it.

Greetings:

Personally, I'm glad folks are getting things mixed up!

It's a great missionary opportunity for members of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints.

You know the old Hollywood adage.

It doesn't matter what the newspapers say about you, just as long as the name is spelled correctly.

After all, whether it's good or bad, it's still publicity, and ANY publicity is always good.

So, let's take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to answer questions about our Church!

That's why God gave us the Internet.

Thank you.

John Robert Mallernee
Bard of Clan Henderson
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Washington, D.C. 20011-8400

Both groups recognize Doctrine & Covenants 132 as canonized scripture. LDS members no longer practice the plural marriage portions of the revelation, while FLDS members continue to practice it.

Anonymous. Is this the way Mormonism used to be when polygamy was accepted by the church, or has Jeff's and his followers taken their child bride theology to an extreme? Just wondering.

If the LDS Church has to keep pointing out that they don't have ANYTHING to do with the this Texas group, why all the top story status, plus several additional stories about it EVERY DAY in the LDS- owned Des News? In our state, not far from Texas, the news station I watch correctly refers to this group as a "polygamist sect". What is different about the coverage here is that it is given a 2 sentence mention, at about the end of the news cast, right before the news of missing dogs that are found, and people finding cornflakes shaped like Illinois. Since it in no way has anything to do with LDS, why all the inordinate coverage by Des News?

I so appreciate Elder Cook's words.
I am a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who lives in Texas. I find the words by Elder Cook very comforting! I am glad he is speaking out in forceful and clear terms! I hope his words will be broadcast throughout the world, and reach our Church membership, to comfort them. I find it very distressing to witness the use of the sacred name of our Church, changed by one word -Fundamentalist-, to represent the opposite of what the Church stands for. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints stands for truth and righteousness. It invites people to "Come unto Christ," to delight in Him, to partake of His goodness and mercy, through His Redemptive Atoning Sacrifice and Resurrection. I worship the Lord Jesus Christ. I worship God the Father, my Heavenly Father. I know He cares about everyone. I know He wants our happiness. I know that He has provided a plan for us to return to His presence, through the Atoning sacrifice and resurrection of His Beloved Son Jesus Christ.
Yes, I do have a college degree, a Master of Science in Engineering.

Shame on us, Peoples Rights are being Violated and we are worried the world may get us confused, I think ill find a more Crist like Religion, im sure there is one out there some where.

I thought the LDS folks no longer wanted to be called "Mormons". Why do they care if the FLDS folks are called Mormon. Very confusing.

So the church posts a video on YouTube; the funny thing is, YouTube is blocked at BYU so students won't be able to see it.

So you're not different enough to recognize the moral issues involved? But you wouldn't dress so tacky...
Honorable.

I wish this artical would be addressed on Glen Beck or Fox News- Mormons are not a cult or poligamous sect.
Prophesy prevails that many Hornets nests will be exposed before the next coming-I only hope that this group will be exposed for what it is and eradicated. I truly feel empathy for these FLDS women and children and their future.
Praise to Elder Cook for his commnts and stewardship to the church and keeping our integrity.

Anonymous 1 am provides a great example of the intolerance that many LDS experience on a daily basis

I think the LDS church could get a much better impression into the minds of the public if they would ask what they could do to help the victims of the FLDS scandal, rather than being so defensive. Actions speak a whole lot louder than words! Where is the fruit of the spirit here? I see lots of other churches helping out by providing meals, opening their homes to the attorneys visiting San Angelo, making quilts for the children, etc. But what is the LDS church doing to help?

Amazing. The media never confuse Baptists and Catholics! Why is this so difficult for them? It makes you wonder if anything they report is reliable.

Any Media Outlet that confuses the FLDS Church with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or uses the word "Mormon" to refer to FLDS or uses the Pictures of the Salt Lake Temple to misrepresent our Church needs to have his or her license revoked and no longer be allowed to be in the News Business, and yes, that includes Reuters News Service.

As a member of the LDS church, I don't like it either when these polygamous sects get confused with our church. But I think it is a bit disingenuous to insist that they are not "Mormon". Like it or not, that term is going to apply to more splinter groups as time goes on.

I think "Mormon" applies to anyone who believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. These splinter groups seem to believe those two things in spite of all the other differences they may have with our church.

We take great exception to other churches trying to deny us the distinction as "Christians" yet we seem to be trying to do the same with other "Mormons". I don't think we can have it both ways.

We need to stress that we are not associated with those groups and that not all "Mormons" are the same just as not all "Christians" are the same.