Comments about ‘LDS advertising campaign elicits 'significant increase' in website visitors’

The LDS Church is a fantastic organization. Even though I disagree with some (well, many)attitudes and beliefs, I must say that I have never met a Mormon I didn't like.

The LDS church has a lot to offer and for many people around the world is a source of strength and faith.

LDS leaders are smart, pragmatics, and know how to work the market an technology. I think, it is always good to try to dispel misunderstandings.

Using this marketing at the same time of the success of "The Book of Mormon" in Broadway....genius!

I think I'd rather call attention to ourselves by doing Christlike service than putting up enormous billboards. I'm always a little put off by billboards from other churches. This campaign just seems a little over the top of "look at us" rather than "Come unto the Savior". Think what all the money used for the billboards could do to help the needy, finance kids college from third world countries, support more missionaries, etc. I think there are much less haughty ways of setting your light on a hill. I'm actually embarrased by this.

To my friends "truthsandwich" and "KM", you prove my point about being thin-skinned.

The reaction to the play "The Book of Mormon" shows it is still an issue.

I know the history, and it is my heritage. Want the Church to become a world religion? Take the criticism and not let it get to you. It doesn't change who you are, does it? Don't let the history and terrible experiences of the early Saints govern your life today.

One of the primary missions of the Church is missionary work and increasing membership. Marketing campaigns and mainstreaming efforts are a smart way of doing this.

But I think there is a danger that the more mainstream we try to appear the more stark the differences may appear when people learn of some of our beliefs and practices that quite frankly are not in the least mainstream. On one hand this is smart marketing and will grab people's attention. And on the other some will feel a bit of a bait and switch when learning are doctrines and beliefs are not as mainstream as ads like this may lead some to believe.
When they see the ads and go to Mormom.org they hear testimonials that do not talk about the more unique beliefs. People learn that later and it can feel to some like they hadn't been given the whole story.

I think there is a bit of a modern day struggle going on in the Church. We want to be seen as normal and just like everyone else. But we really aren't. At least our beliefs are still very unique and out of the mainstream.

Idaho Coug

We are pretty normal in the everyday world (aside from Word of Wisdom, modesty and chastity- but we're not the only religions that actually practices these ideals. It's only in our relgious beliefs that we are different...somewhat. Actually we're not all that different from other religions. We believe in God and Jesus Christ and life after death. We have solemn services in the temple. Some other relgions have their temple-type worship, too. We are different in our wedding venues but and our parties are a whole lot less wild. But aside from that, we're really pretty mainstream.

If the church is doing it (advertising) then God is OK with it. It comes down to these 2 questions....Is the church true? Is it run by Christ? If you answered yes to these two questions then we know Jesus Christ is OK with this campaign. End of Story.

O'really said "I think I'd rather call attention to ourselves by doing Christlike service than putting up enormous billboards."

I totally agree with O'really on this. Think of the good we could do (and the people we could convert) if we took the millions of dollars we spend on billboards in Times Square, etc. We could videotape/document the results, invite shows like "60 Minutes" and "Anderson Cooper 360" to cover them, etc. I think we might do better by attracting people who are interested in helping the poor and needy rather than passersby in Times Square.

Meaningful conversations (ads)about the Church through any appropriate medium of communication is fine with me. Generally, as long as the message clarifies the truth, (and uplifts the individual), our time, money, and efforts are well spend.

dlw7 - "I find it hard to believe that when the Savior comes again He will be on TV or on the billboard in Times Square."

So do you think that when Christ comes again that we will have reverted back to the stone age? Will cameras no longer work? You don't think the return of the Savior will be front page news? Will people no longer be able to perform their jobs just because Christ is back on the earth?

zer28,

When Jesus comes again, he will not be able to be captured on cameras, just as Santa, the Easter Bunny, and Big Foot cannot be captured on camera. All these creatures have the ineffable quality that makes them impervious to such evidence.

The Athiest:

What was the point of that post? Your name: The athiest. Your Comment: (in summary) I'm a athiest. So are you trying to preach to the readers of the desret news that you don't believe in Jesus Christ in the thread about LDS correspondence and marketing...Um...how is that relevant to this story? I don't believe that there is not a God? Still irrelevant.

Gee, if the "I'm a Mormon" campaign is so effective, then why, on YouTube, there's always 4 or 5 times more "dislikes" than "likes" on these videos?

Personally I take offense to such ads that showcase an individual and at the end the payoff is "Oh, I'm a Mormon." Why am I offended? Should I really care whether or not you are or not? No. No other group tries so hard to advertise who or what they are. Frankly, I don't want to know. It's rather condescending. It's as if after all I've done or hey, look at me, I've done this and I've done that and oh did I mention that I'm a Mormon? I don't care. Just be genuine in your dealings and caring for your fellowman. A Mormon need not make a public declaration of what church they belong to. Hey everybody! Did you know I'm Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic? Treat me with kindness even if we can't agree on religion. But hey, I'm just like you. I do a lot of the things you do. Love me. Embrace me. And yet, within the Mormon culture there is a sense of falsehood caring for our fellow beings, ie home teaching. No one in their right mind honestly cares about this. I don't favor this type of campaign.

I think one of the best things about this campaign, is to help many of us who live in places where LDS are a tiny minority, to be more courageous to say we are Mormon. I like the campaign.

May I briefly respond to O'really and Jmort?

In doing so, I understand I risk violating the sacred injunction that, when doing alms, one should not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing. We work quietly, often through other charitable and religious organizations. We share the credit, even though we are usually the sole source of the funds

Here in Asia, we have many humanitarian service missionaries, supervising the use of humanitarian donations in countries where, believe me, much is needed. Countries where our proselyting missionaries are not allowed are learning about us through this quiet service to their people.

The Perpetual Education Fund is up and running in every possible country, and the benefits I see bring tears to my eyes.

For those of you who have contributed, thank you!! Please understand that your gifts may not be as widely publicized as our mission to bring the gospel to all the world. They are, however, deeply appreciated here.

A couple of million dollars for billboards could be spent on more humanitarian efforts, of course. But really, if by now after all the help the Church has been recognized for in worldwide disaster relief hasn't been noticed, will a couple more weed cleanups or soup kitchens suddenly tip the scales and have the public go "Those Mormons are something else!" The Church gives multiple millions of dollars to charities, service and relief, all without the thought of it being "advertising". To allocate a tiny percentage of available funds, really, to reach more people by a very effective means is not only good business savvy but, um, inspired, I think.
Note in the story it said a huge number of hits were from mobile devices (read 18-35 age group). Me thinks the same people that can be turned off to the Church in seconds (i.e the internet) will with the same quick attention span be spurred to seek the truth through this medium.

Kudos, top brass. Bro. Hinckley would be proud, I bet.