Deseret News | Mormon myths mostly harmless but unnecessary

Reader comments
Mormon myths mostly harmless but unnecessary

Heber C. Pratt | 10:40 a.m. July 10, 2009

You mean, Steve Martin is not Mormon? Oops.

Cats | 11:11 a.m. July 10, 2009

I always heard these myths growing up:

Myth #1: Polygamy was necessary in early Utah because there were more women than men.

Myth #2: The Mormon Church is the fastest growing religion in the world.

Cosmo | 11:14 a.m. July 10, 2009

I always laugh when I hear the myth from my non-LDS co-workers that Mormons cannot drink a cola drink.

I always hear that when I drink my Diet Coke.

Comments continue below

To Heber C. Pratt | 11:16 a.m. July 10, 2009

When I was at BYU, it wasn't Steve Martin, it was Bono of U2 who was "supposedly" a member of the Church. I also heard that the song, "Where the Streets Have No Name" was written about Salt Lake City.

Skeeter | 11:19 a.m. July 10, 2009

Everybody who has grown up in the Church has been inundated with various myths. I tend to agree with Coppins that myths are generally harmless. Here are a couple that I remember learning in seminary.

1. 2 Sister missionaries knocked on a serial killers door. When the serial killer was arrested and asked why he didn't kill the sister missionaries, he told the police that he would have killed them is the 2 men standing behind the sisters with flaming swords weren't there.

2. Bigfoot is actually Cain who has been forced to wander the earth.

H. Drummond | 11:22 a.m. July 10, 2009

The myth that I remember the most was that Brigham Young used a secret and special gold mine in the Uintah Mountains to gold plate the Angel Moroni on the Salt Lake Temple. I think myths are a big part of what makes our religion unique and special.

U of U Student | 11:24 a.m. July 10, 2009

How about this current modern Mormon Myth that every University of Utah student hears all the time:

"BYU is the Lord's University"

Hello, Brigham Young is the founder of the University of Utah. If any school is the Lord's University it would be the U of U.

My Mormon Myth | 11:24 a.m. July 10, 2009

Mormons have horns.

so.cal gal | 11:32 a.m. July 10, 2009

The myth that I wish would stop going around in our Church is that there is "the one special person for you in this life".

I don't know where this started, but Spencer W. Kimball said it was false doctrine and should not be taught in our Church.

There is no "one" person prepared for us.

Myth Busters | 11:34 a.m. July 10, 2009

I once heard that the Sword of Laban and the Liahona where kept in the ball under the Angel Moroni at the Salt Lake temple.

volkmare | 11:51 a.m. July 10, 2009

im not so sure that there wasnt someone ment for me.
the day i met my wife, i knew she was the one and that we were "soul mates".
29 years later, i still feel the same.
if we wernt destened for each other, maybe we knew each other in the pre-esistance.

dhs | 1:28 p.m. July 10, 2009

Great article, McKay!

re: U of U Student | 2:03 p.m. July 10, 2009

you always make a rough draft before composing a masterpiece. haha just kidding with you.

Best Myth Ever | 2:11 p.m. July 10, 2009

Mormonism is the only "true" church

sireofmany | 2:11 p.m. July 10, 2009

How about this one, "Every Mormon will get his/her own planet in the Celestial Kingdom".

CJ3 | 2:13 p.m. July 10, 2009

What about the Book of Mormon?

Reality | 2:36 p.m. July 10, 2009

If the myth that BYU is the Lord's University is true, then the Lord certainly settles for mediocrity in his school selection.

myth | 2:43 p.m. July 10, 2009

Polygamy had nothing to do with sex..

ramper | 2:44 p.m. July 10, 2009

Some myths turn out to be true. Take the myth of the "Jersey Devil" lurking in the pine barons of Jersey. People laughed it off and now there is a whole family of them playing in the National Hockey League.

John Pack Lambert | 2:52 p.m. July 10, 2009

The biggest myth of them all has to be that all native Americans are direct descendants of the Lamanites.

Sarah Nicole | 2:59 p.m. July 10, 2009

I always found the myth that black people were less valiant in the War in Heaven very offensive.

WSU Girl | 3:17 p.m. July 10, 2009

The biggest myth told to me by my parents was that "church is fun"

Zelph | 3:21 p.m. July 10, 2009

I was told as a boy that you can only take the sacrament with your right hand or it doesn't count. Even to this day I take sacrament with my right hand, even though I am left-handed.

Kudos to McKay | 3:45 p.m. July 10, 2009

McKay said, “our members, perhaps feeling vulnerable, seem exceptionally prone to spreading faith-promoting rumors . . .”

That’s Mormonism in a nutshell, beginning with Joseph’s Myth.

McKay continues, “Then there are the stories we love to tell . . . . but many of them are not true.”

McKay, this is disarming truth-telling. Kudos to you. You are a charming young man with a good head on your shoulders. If the LDS leadership were like you, there would be far less defectors.

Ernest T. Bass | 4:01 p.m. July 10, 2009

My very favorite myth of all time is that BYU has a chance to go to a BCS Bowl. I laugh every time I hear that one.

CA Member | 5:18 p.m. July 10, 2009

I've been a member all my life and have never heard half of these. Is this a UTAH cultural phenomenon?

Hmm...here's the phrase I grew up hearing, "The church is truer in California!"

Maybe that's not a myth after all. :)

Dave in Murray | 5:44 p.m. July 10, 2009

Thank you McKay for this much much needed article. I have been a member of this Church for over 34 years and I have never heard a talk or seen an article addressing this problem until now. I have just started to read your articles when you wrote about how we need moderation in dealing with prop 8. You are a MUCH needed voice of reason and moderation in our Church. I really feel if there were more Mormon people in the media like you, there would be more good will toward us from the outside. Thank You

dancer girl | 6:56 p.m. July 10, 2009

Well done Brother Coppins! Your articles are a much needed voice of moderation and sanity. Here's hoping the right wing faction of the D-News doesn't decide to shut you down. You represent a large silent majority in the Church. Keep it up!

tiny "Layton" dancer | 7:28 p.m. July 10, 2009

Good job Brother Coppins. Thanks for being a source of moderation and sanity. There is a large silent majority of LDS youths who feel just like you and want our Church to be more inclusive and less extreme.

Cougar Keith | 7:31 p.m. July 10, 2009

I think all of us grew up hearing these myths. I'm glad Mckay Copins had the courage to expose some of the more ridiculous myths that have been going around and around in our church. Maybe they will now stop and we can all be better off.

Ute Cheer Girl | 7:33 p.m. July 10, 2009

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has no room for these silly myths. This is the first time that I know this has been addressed. The only unfortunate thing is that it took so long for someone to stand up and say "ENOUGH"!! Good article.

AZ Single and Looking Guy | 7:51 p.m. July 10, 2009

I don't think Utah has a monopoly on these crazy myths. I grew up outside of Phoenix and heard many of these myths that have been commented on. It would be great if in the next General Conference someone gave a talk on all of the false myths in the mormon church.

Lion of Zion | 7:54 p.m. July 10, 2009

who is McKay Coppins to say that these "myths" are not true?

My Fiancee Saw "Up" w/o Me | 8:05 p.m. July 10, 2009

McKay wrote: "But I worry about the few among us who base their testimonies on such rumors. When they find out that the stories aren't true, I hope they still know the church is."

I know soo many people who do base their testimonies on outrageous myths that have no basis in reality. For people like these, it's best that they keep their beliefs for fear of losing their testimonies.

Anonymous | 8:07 p.m. July 10, 2009

I heard that Elvis was scheduled for baptism just before he died.

Glenn | 9:23 p.m. July 10, 2009

Mary Coppins has a new slant these days. I am just so glad he has stopped writing about his marriage.

Right back atcha'! (for 11:24) | 9:40 p.m. July 10, 2009

"U of U Student | 11:24 a.m. July 10, 2009
How about this current modern Mormon Myth that every University of Utah student hears all the time:

"BYU is the Lord's University"

Hello, Brigham Young is the founder of the University of Utah. If any school is the Lord's University it would be the U of U."

OK, one good jab deserves another! How about this?:

"Brigham Young University: THE University of Utah".

See? I told you it was good! :-)

Some are false doesn't mean... | 10:01 p.m. July 10, 2009

Whereas many of the "faith-promoting" stories that circulate in Mormon culture turn out to be false there are certainly a great many that are indeed true.

I'd even venture a guess that the most incredible ones are kept largely private and passed among family members from generation to generation because wise people know not to cast their pearls before swine.

And, to any LDS member who claims on here that they wish Church leaders would publicly denounce many of these myths or try to stem them before they spread, what do you think "don't gossip" means?

"Have you heard the one about?...."

Joseph Smith and other latter-day prophets have OFTEN taught that one should NEVER base their faith in God solely on what other people claim to be true or from God. Rather, they have repeatedly taught that true knowledge and faith in God can only come from the source: God Himself.

Uncle Reality | 10:07 p.m. July 10, 2009

BYU and Utah commentators,

Can't we all just get along? Both schools are fairly good academically and both schools play in a mediocre, mid-tier athletic conference. If anyone can make fun of both of your schools its me. The reason is that I graduated from UCLA which is far superior to BYU and Utah in academics and athletics.

Back to the point of the article. Without our rich history of myths, I think the LDS Church would resemble a much more mainstream faith. However, depending on your position, this is not necessarily a bad thing.

Elvis Costello Groupie | 10:09 p.m. July 10, 2009

I too am glad that McKay Coppins has decided to put the whole "marriage thing" behind him and finally start writing about some interesting topics.

USU Grad | 10:23 p.m. July 10, 2009

USU is also far, far superior to BYU or Utah in both academics and athletics. That is NOT A MYTH!

Also, welcome back to the fold Mckay. I was really worried that you had gone over to the dark side permanently with your last two marriage articles.

I Ate at Rodizios Tonight....... | 10:31 p.m. July 10, 2009

Mckay seems to be able to pick some pretty interesting articles to write about (except your "Exercising with a Walkman" article, which was pretty lame). After reading the article, I pondered my own family history and the many myths that I heard growing up. I had a relative about 140 years ago who claimed that he found a valley of gold in the Wasatch Mountains. He immediately told Brigham Young about the valley and Brigham told him that you can search the rest of your life but you will never find that valley again. Brigham then told him that the valley was to be preserved until the second coming of Jesus to use in building temples. I always was a little suspect of the truthfulness of the story. Oh well, it makes my family history a little more colorful.

It's A Start! | 10:56 p.m. July 10, 2009

I just went to the Mormon myth busting site (great name, BTW!) but it needs a lot more stories/myths.

Hey, at least it's a start!

I never would have guessed the one about Elvis Presley.

Herriman Greg | 7:58 a.m. July 11, 2009

I believe that myths hurt the Gospel truth in our church. Myths can cloudy the water and make it more difficult for memberts to separate the myth from the truth. Any myths that we can bust, we should. Truth is light, myths are dark.

Follow the Profit, Rinse, Repeat | 1:11 p.m. July 11, 2009

The myth that paying your tithing will return your blessings ten fold. That's a good one!

Garcia | 1:13 p.m. July 11, 2009

Tommy is a Prophet, Seer and Revelator! Not there is a good myth!

Californian #1@94131 | 2:59 p.m. July 11, 2009

Who says they're harmless???

I had someone start feeling all over my head, pressing, rubbing, poking, pulling my hair, because they were sure that Mormons have horns.

I had to explain that only BIC Mormons have them naturally, and that as a convert, I had to wait for mine to grow. It's been over 11 years & they are still no bigger than a grape, but at least I have some proof that this isn't just a myth. 8^)

jazzfan | 4:38 p.m. July 11, 2009

Myths are what made going to Sunday School fun as a child. Now that I am all grown up and have a couple of young ones myself, I do not want them learning any myths. I only want them to learn about truth and Jesus. Call me old fashioned if you must.

CrabCakes | 6:38 p.m. July 11, 2009

Is it just me or does our religion seem to have a VERY disproportinate amount of myths compared to other religions? I wonder why this is?

23 Year Old Stripling Warrior | 6:46 p.m. July 11, 2009

I remember when I was about 8 years old I heard a story from my parents about a famer that lived up the road from us who was plowing his field and uncovered some bones of a Lamanite child and the child resurrected in front of the famer's eyes. Later that night, the farmer received a revelation that the Lamanite child had a blessing placed on her grave from her father that if the grave was ever disturbed the child would be immediately resurrected.

Since then, I have heard this same story in various settings with different twists to it. It was obviously a myth, but one that my parents believed in whole-heartedly.

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