Deseret News | Mormon Media Watch: For journalists, interaction will tear down intolerance

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Mormon Media Watch: For journalists, interaction will tear down intolerance

Illinois Cougar | 4:03 a.m. Dec. 21, 2007

Mr. Campbell makes a good point when referring to Lazy Internet Research. The internet has a real insulating affect on bloggers. I really think most folks would think twice if they had to "face" the people they were communicating with. I think the internet has led to a significant decrease in civility. Additionally, Wikipeadia(spp) is really harmful in the context of disseminating information. I have seen some wild innaccuracies.

And, while I defend the right of people to communicate through the internet, There are a lot of hateful websites posing as christian ministries. I have found several who's sole purpose is to bash Mormons. I can't see how that improves the spirituality of their membership.

At the end of the day however, I think reporters must be held personally responsible for the content of their reporting. I am not talking about censorship, but accuracy of the facts they communicate. Some of the "stuff" I have heard lately comes directly from some of the most hateful websites.

Steve | 8:41 a.m. Dec. 21, 2007

Unfortunately, while your comment represents the hearts of all members, at present, it seems like a grain of sand on the beach. Unfortunately, it's unfortunate that all the negative hype may cause some abnormal loose-cannon member(s) to pop their cork in some measure of violence. It's happened in the past over a porno theater in San Diego, a secret manuscript that didn't exist in SLC, Mountain Meadow Massacre, & who kmows what else. Let's just hope members will keep the lid on, but it certainly does arouse ire. Fortunately, most members don't follow internet blogs as some. There's an enormous amount of evangelical hate/resistance boiling right now, fueled by the media, but no way of knowing if it accurately represents their critical mass.

Grant | 11:23 a.m. Dec. 21, 2007

I find it interesting living in Washington State, at best a split state with secular progressive atomosphere in western part of the state and a conservative one in the east. Actually the live and let live atmosphere here in Olympia has actually been an advantage to being a " hard core " Mormon, because alot of my associates accept any life style. It's only the clergy ( except for the local priest ) that tear down the church because they are worried about conversions, which my the way is the highest in all english speaking missions. It would be hard for the residents of Lewis Co, Washington to deny the Christianity of the LDS members in this area after the thousands of hours of Christ like service that was rendered and the one LDS employee who paid lost wages and bonues. Charity will win out eventually.

Comments continue below

Debi | 11:25 a.m. Dec. 21, 2007

I agree with the article. As an LDS member living in Iowa I've heard incorrect information time and time again since Mr. Romney threw his hat into the political ring. I am often asked questions about my faith and am willing to answer. However the media asks the question and doesn't want to hear or believe the answer. They want to believe the worst and if they can't find it they often make it up.
I recently went to 1/2 Price books and the only "Mormon" books were anti-mormon literature. Much of the internet is the same way. A lot of the bad, very little truth.
I've always been happy when people believed enough to go to church. I've never cared that it wasn't mine and that they didn't believe exactly the way I do. It's sad that others don't do the same.

Running Fish | 12:08 p.m. Dec. 21, 2007

I like the idea of a reverse exodus. After finishing a graduate program at Utah State University in 1997 we moved to Virginia. After a couple of years there my family and I moved to Minnesota. When we moved to Virginia some staunch Baptist neighbors had a few concerns. However, by the time we left we had become good friends with our Baptist neighbors. I even went to church with them once. The husband died a year or so after we left. Before he died he told his wife how much he missed our family. Now in Minnesota we are surrounded by Lutherans and Catholics. I must not be a very good missionary because no one is joining the Church because of my example (that I know of). Yet, these people are good to us, and they respect our faith. We don't have to compromise our beliefs one bit. I like living among them, and maybe we've helped to remove some barriers.

Seriously, why don't more you of you long-time LDS Utahns consider moving east for awhile? We need medical professionals in the northland especially. You could make a real difference here.

Thank you, Running Fish | 1:35 p.m. Dec. 21, 2007

I'm one of those MN.Lutherans who have good Mormon friends. Because they have sent M.M.s to my door, I have taken the time to understand Mormonism based on reading Mormon sources.
Just to help get pass some misunderstanding about 'not finding the right Mormons, or Mormon journalists' in order to get 'thorough reporting, good sourcing and fair play.' I would like to suggest, something.
I believe it would help for the 'right Mormons' to provide facts and references to those facts. For myself, it was most helpful. I found that you will get different responses from Mormons 'across the board.'
Facts are what journalist need, and should have....not opinions or unsubstantiated reports.
People need to understand that there is always someone in the crowd who knows when a Mormon of any standing respond with half-truths, double-talk or misleading statements, or when they start with statements that critize the person who questions...such as, 'these kinds of questions are usually asked by people who mean to cause us harm'... not so, I've asked those same kinds of questions,...out of ignorance.
A response like that, causes people to find their own answers....good, or bad.

Keven | 4:43 p.m. Dec. 21, 2007

My father retired early as a sports editor for a local paper in Texas. He loved his job but retired becuase of a larger buy of a smaller outlet. He lamented about their policies, and how pressure to be more creative than factual to sell stories. This became a burden to his integrity, therefore he resigned. The main power in media resides in Washington, New York, and Boston. History has shown they create and mainpulate information to make the story seem factual in order to sell! Examples are Randolph Hearst using "Yellow Journalism" to sell papers: Fox News and CNN hyping Iraq and now Iran. My father taught me one lesson in life that I've never forgotten. "Everything you read or hear from the news media: or other sources of information, do so with a grain of salt. They are in the occupation of serving money and will sell their souls to make more." He was not LDS but a Presbyterian. He never judged anyone and gave respect. People always loved his stories as THEY WERE HONEST AND FACTUAL TO EVERYONE'S POINT OF VIEW, AND ALWAYS POSITVE ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL". Amen to that!

Steve | 5:32 p.m. Dec. 21, 2007

Where did this blog come from? Such fresh air! I'll share 1. Our 20 year-old daughter was killed a year ago in a terrible wreck, hit from behind by a Peterbilt. We were showered by love from our ward. However, most impressive was a S. Baptist pastor of 1 of the largest congregations in our town reached out to give me so much comfort. It was a great blessing for me in such a time of desperate need. He gave me a new perspective. I keep trying to remember the experience as I wade through all the dirt being pushed our way during this campaign.

MoJules | 11:29 p.m. Dec. 21, 2007

I have been watching a little more of Fox news and one of the shows I happened to catch some of was Hannity and Colms I probably killed both spellings. I thought about in the early days of the Church when there were so many going after the Mormons, but there were a few who were not LDS but helped out the Mormon's, they were friends to the church and I would consider Sean Hannity a friend to the church, he is very disturbed by the attacks to the religion and even called it religious persecution. I have to be honest, I kind of don't want Romney to make it as President, cause now people who hate what Bush has done, hate the Republicans, but if people were to hate what Romney does, they would hate the party and the Mormon's. Pretty sad isn't it?

Steve | 8:02 a.m. Dec. 22, 2007

Romney has worked so diligently but, if he wins, what will be the result for his family & him? Anti-Mormons following him everywhere. I recall seeing photos of former U.S. presidents visiting with President Hinckley, but I doubt a President Romney would dare.

Patti | 8:36 a.m. Dec. 22, 2007

Peace on Earth Good Will towards All Men!

Ross | 8:05 p.m. Dec. 22, 2007

Glen Johnson is a rabid anti-Romney bigot. He is a "wordmaster", as well as a liar and twister of facts, but all the little trolls that take him at his word cannot be dissuaded.

Dale Davis | 12:30 a.m. Dec. 23, 2007

Comments by public figures such as Lawrence ODonnel and Maureen Dowd, etc., should not go unheeded with impugnity. There are organizations to assist Latter-Day Saints. The Anti-Defamation League would be an excellent organization to join. They not only defend fellow Jews, but other minority religions who frequently become slandered. Take adventage of this my fellow people!

Peg | 6:51 a.m. Dec. 23, 2007

My father died when I was eighteen and I went up to Utah to ski after his funeral to "get away." I did not know any Mormons, but the love and respect I felt from them all on that trip was amazing. They were accepting of my faith (Presbyterian) and very caring of my situation. I later joined the Mormon church and have been a member for over thirty years. There is not a day go by that I regret being a member of this church which is one filled with tolerance, charity and love for all God's children. This church allows individuals to be themselves, encourages them to learn of the Savior and live His gospel every day while taking responsibility for those around us in charitable and encouraging works. No Mormon I know has ever demeaned another's religion in front of me. Mitt Romney is a staunch man with a leadership ability and personal integrity that we would all be most lucky in having as the President of the United States. He, of all the candidates in both parties, would truly represent all Americans because of the character he possesses. Oh, that America would act so wisely.

Anonymous | 9:16 a.m. Dec. 23, 2007

As a member of the LDS church, I have been taught to verify anything regarding it by my own reading, study, and prayer to receive a witness of the Holy Ghost regarding its truthfulness, which I have done. Because of that, I have an unshakeable knowledge that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness, and that the Book of Mormon is the Stick of Joseph, a spiritual history of his descendents on this continent. A quote by Van Dyke has also been my guide: "Never believe anything bad about anyone unless you positively know that it is true; never tell even that unless you feel that it is absolutely necessary, and that God is listening while you do it." If only everyone would do that.

coltakashi | 10:55 a.m. Dec. 24, 2007

The common factor in the anti-Mormon diatribes we keep getting from these widely published columnists is that they haven't done the most elementary research. They fixate one one sentence and then deduce all sorts of erroneous conclusions by applying their own prejudices.

For example, once they read that blacks were formerly denied the priesthood, they imagine a parade of horribles, including segregation and all the usual racial discrimination. But none of that is true.

Even before 1978, there were black Mormons (including in my ward in SLC in the 1950s) and were integrated in "white" congregations. They had callings that do not require priesthood, including teaching Sunday School.

Most important, there was no general discrimination in society in Utah, no segregated schools, etc., like so many other "Northern" cities have gone through. The first Mormons were Northerners, not slave owners. The next wave of converts was from anti-slavery Britain, and then Scandinavia! These were not people who had ever discriminated against blacks in their lives.

Additionally, Mormons have always baptized and ordained Indians, Latinos, Asians, and Polynesians.

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