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Four Westboro protesters show up to protest funeral
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Ed King | 12:21 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
I am LDS and live near the Phelps near Topeka. This behavior is common in our
area. One of the most tasteless displays by them are funerals for our soldiers
back here and elsewhere. No church in town is immune from them. I attended a
Civic Choir concert 2 years ago where the police came because they basically
took over the the church and were starting towards the indoors. We could not
get in or out. They picketed a concert of the Five Blind Boys of Alabama with a
bull horn. There is no logic to these people. I am thankful only four showed
up in SLC. Don't try to figure them out. it isn't suppose to make
sense.
4 Missionaries | 12:31 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
We thank the oh God for our Prophet !! We loved him and they suerly would have
also if they new him. Pretty big commitment on behalf of their ever growing
congergation of maybe 100. I hope when their leader pases away 4 missionaries
and the relief society show up and give them comfort, compassion and respect. I
think DN should have covered the 4 vegitarian protesters that picketed the
removal of pickles at the school cafiteria. Oh well, I took the baite and added
fuel to their madness by adding this to the comment board. They should have
shown more respect for the passing of a great man than to drudge up some kind of
controversy. We still love you.
Chris from Lubbock, TX | 12:44 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
It seems important to remember that, in all likelihood, Pres. Hinckley was
subject to much worse treatment while he was alive, very little of which is
public knowledge. Such is part of the lot of a true prophet. After all, the
Lord promised that the world would not love those who are His true followers, as
Pres. Hinckley surely was. That he withstood such persecution and remained
steadfast only increases my admiration for him and my desire to emulate his
example. May God bless his family and his successor, and may we all pray for
the protesters and persecutors, known and unknow, that they may see the true
light-- as did Saul of Taursus.
Comments continue below
Mike | 12:52 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
Didn't I see the Phelps family in the movie Deliverance?
So Pitiful | 1:25 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
So pitiful ...... I agree with you ..... Gordon | 3:51 a.m. Feb. 3, 2008
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.
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.
outastep | 1:32 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer. Unknown
Jerry | 1:42 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
When looking at the antics of various hate groups, it seems to me that there are
two basic reasons for their actions. With the group from Wichita I can just
hear Gramps saying "the treasury is running low so we had better thinks of
something new". After the demonstration and the news coverage gets the
attention of the anti's the cash starts rolling in and they are back in the
business of spreading hatred. The second reason is purely political. If the
anti's can convince the uninformed that a particular group has a hidden
adjenda and harbor some dark melevolent purposes then they have the battle
mostly won and they can finish off the oposition with the big lie technique of
repeating something over and over again until they convince some people that it
must be true. Then the deceitfulness continues over and over again.
To All Protesters | 2:06 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
In my city, protesting will be confined to a public area near either a park
(sidewalks only) or to an area adjacent to a public waste disposal repository.
What gives a protesting group any right to be heard by lawabiding
citizens....they have no right to be heard or to annoy citizens of any or no
religious persuasion. These 4 people did not have any right whatsoever to come
to Salt Lake City to make a spectacle of themselves and annoy people. Get a
clue!!
We need a city ordinance codifying what I am suggesting. Allowing protestors to block sidewalks at the Conference Center is completely out of bounds as a site to protest. Come on City!!!!
They wouldn't get close to protesting the Pope or any other dignitary of President Hinckley's stature.
And I would not give them the time of day of any publicity in any media. Radio and TV should just ignore this nonsense.
We need a city ordinance codifying what I am suggesting. Allowing protestors to block sidewalks at the Conference Center is completely out of bounds as a site to protest. Come on City!!!!
They wouldn't get close to protesting the Pope or any other dignitary of President Hinckley's stature.
And I would not give them the time of day of any publicity in any media. Radio and TV should just ignore this nonsense.
Melcahoon | 3:17 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
I am a faithful member of the LDS church, when I read about this group I wrote
them a nice email. To which I was ripped apart in return. The individual
referred to the LDS church as a promoter of homosexuality etc. She called me
every name she could think of and claimed that she was loving her neighbor. She
ripped the entire country as a doomed civilization. She made claims that we
worship President Hinckley. She even said her own parents are in hell as they
didnt do anything to rebuke sinners they came in contact with. I wish there
was room to post the email exchange but it was lengthy. They make their claims
out of ignorance which is obvious. They don't do anything to find out what
we are about. They protest at funerals of soldiers, what did they do to
derserve that? I can picture another Waco Texas in the future as their belief
system is really out there. With that being said, thank you to the media who
didnt give them the time of day on Saturday. Wonderful service for a great man.
Melvan R. | 3:33 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
It eeally doesn't matter what those protesters believed or not.
As a Latter-Day-Saint I have my beliefs. Gordon Hinckley was and is a Prophet of God. Does it matter to me here in Michigan that this group from a baptist church believe what I believe?
Absolutely not.
Do I reaally care that they embrace the LDS faith?
Absolutely not.
Did it matter to Gordon Hinckley?
Maybe, but probably not.
Though it is sad that on a day when we as Latter-Day Saints laid to rest a beloved leader, these so-called concerned Christians stood on a street corner to voice their opinions regarding the life and times of Gordon Hinckley and the fact that we held him to be a prophet of God.
Go home you poor, ignorant people and allow us our grief.
Pres. Hinckley would have allowed you yours. But then you all believe, like most of the christian world in dead prophets.
Whether we are right or you are right, will be decided when the Savior returns, which I suspect is not in a too far distant time. As for me, it is okay for me that you don't believe.
God and His Son and I, stilllove you.
As a Latter-Day-Saint I have my beliefs. Gordon Hinckley was and is a Prophet of God. Does it matter to me here in Michigan that this group from a baptist church believe what I believe?
Absolutely not.
Do I reaally care that they embrace the LDS faith?
Absolutely not.
Did it matter to Gordon Hinckley?
Maybe, but probably not.
Though it is sad that on a day when we as Latter-Day Saints laid to rest a beloved leader, these so-called concerned Christians stood on a street corner to voice their opinions regarding the life and times of Gordon Hinckley and the fact that we held him to be a prophet of God.
Go home you poor, ignorant people and allow us our grief.
Pres. Hinckley would have allowed you yours. But then you all believe, like most of the christian world in dead prophets.
Whether we are right or you are right, will be decided when the Savior returns, which I suspect is not in a too far distant time. As for me, it is okay for me that you don't believe.
God and His Son and I, stilllove you.
4 people | 3:45 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
The article would have been better served to state: 22,000 plus fill the
conference center and hundreds of thousands watched the live broadcast to pay
their respect to a beloved father, grandfather and friend to the world, while 4
others stood outside in the cold. I am sure that those poor 4 will receive the
same kind of warm wishes from the most prominent leaders of the world. And the
streets will be lined with loving children waiving hankies in respect.
Isn't it wonderful we have the freedom to choose. I am sure those 4 are
well loved and respected by their fellow followers. Most likley they are looked
at as heros for defending their beliefs.
Lana | 4:15 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
HOW TACKY!!! There is no excuse for protesting at anybody's funeral, much
less, a church leader of ANY faith.
JMR | 4:38 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
Hmmm, can't really say I agree with the Westboro's tactics. I was a
missionary in Poland when Pope John Paul II died. The Area President (L. Tom
Perry) asked us not to proselyte for a week following his passing, out of
respect to the Pope and the people, who were in a serious state of mourning. We
were encouraged to go to his funeral mass (in street clothes, without our tags),
where we knelt and rose with everyone else. I can't imagine having done
anything else. People certainly have the right to protest, but protesting at the
funeral of a religious leader is just bad taste, no matter where you are.
re:Aqualad | 6:04 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
My congragation mission statement is "To Know Christ and to Make Him
Known".
If you are serious, send me your address, and I'll see you get a Book Of Mormon.
If your intent is to slam the LDS faith, my suggestion is to follow this path: "My first encounter with Mormonism was in a religion 101 class in college not from SBC. SBC is not your enemy; we learn more from people who left the Mormon Church. The last book I red was "Leaving the Saints" by Martha Beck" just like you have.
Good luck either way.
If you are serious, send me your address, and I'll see you get a Book Of Mormon.
If your intent is to slam the LDS faith, my suggestion is to follow this path: "My first encounter with Mormonism was in a religion 101 class in college not from SBC. SBC is not your enemy; we learn more from people who left the Mormon Church. The last book I red was "Leaving the Saints" by Martha Beck" just like you have.
Good luck either way.
Baffled, say what? | 6:46 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
If the Deseret News hadn't run a story, there would be many accusing the
paper of hiding or ignoring the issue to protect the Church.
I believe I saw people from this church protesting at Kansas University commencement exercises a few years ago. I have to say it was one of the saddest things I've ever witnessed, particularly the children involved in holding up signs of hatred.
I believe I saw people from this church protesting at Kansas University commencement exercises a few years ago. I have to say it was one of the saddest things I've ever witnessed, particularly the children involved in holding up signs of hatred.
Ginger | 7:09 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
We must have missed something while attending President Hinckleys funeral. I was
wondering where the protesters were? I didn't see them... Thank Heaven!
They must have been worming around and about in a different area than where we
were. Good thing too.... Very naughty thing for them to do.
Guam bomb | 7:21 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
I thinks it's good for Utah Mormons to experience the kind of opposition
that latter day saints in the rest of the world experience on a regular basis.
We've always been taught that there will be opposition. I just wonder why
members of the church allow people like this to get under their skin. Does
others questioning your faith make you question your faith? If it does then you
have some work to do.
NOVA | 7:37 p.m. Feb. 4, 2008
FOUR protestors get this kind of press?! C'mon, you so-called journalists.
Get out there and find us some REAL NEWS!
Oren | 1:57 p.m. Feb. 6, 2008
20 protesters of this group wanted to show up in Corpus Chrisit Texas and
roughly 2,700 Texans showed up and let them know what they thought of them. 20
stupid anti-war protesters showed up and got the "go home stupid"
treatment too. Thanks to all the bikers that showed up and gave them the
'up your exhaust' replies.
Anonymous | 7:45 p.m. Aug. 18, 2008
Today at isaac hayes memorial. WBC was there. I.. along with 11 other friends
stood on the corner right next to WBC's corner. while they were holding up
"god hates america" signs.. we were holding up big white sheets
saying.. "one love" "Erase the hate" it took the hate
attention that WBC feeds off of away from them, and love attention was turned
toward us. we Got them to leave an hour before they planned. The God that they
serve is NOT the God that I serve.. thats forsure.
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Sara Phelps, of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, holds a sign on the corner of North Temple and State St. before the funeral of President Gordon B. Hinckley on Saturday.
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