Comments about ‘Mormon Defense League launched’

Good timing and goof for them. This will help with all the ignorance out there.

More resources for accurate representation of LDS beliefs is a great thing!

"respond to false information put forward in the media."
examples?

"The LDS Church has a long history of dealing with misrepresentations,"

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The LDS Church also has a long history of creating misrepresentations and writing their own history, which has been quite exaggerated.

When I read this article, one thing that came to mind is the scripture: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

When the LDS Church fights to deny civil rights, do they want others to deny their own?

When the LDS Church mischaracterizes GLBT people, do they want others to mischaracterize Mormons? From this article it would appear they don't. As such, perhaps if they would follow the scripture, they would find others more willing to accept the Mormon version?

In the end, the word "apologetics" implies that you're apologizing for something. In this case are they apologizing for Mormonism?

Reminds me of that very bad movie "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." How about instead forming a league to raise the reading level of immigrants among us who struggle to speak English? How about a league to fill the shelves of the food banks that are so drained and in need? How about a league that volunteers time and gathers resources for less than wealthy neighborhood schools and districts? How about a league that seeks to understand why being gay forces you to leave the faith for some other alternative where you can be loved for what you are? How about a league to seek common ground and understanding with those that do not understand us?

Just a few examples... There is so much that could be done to ease, to lift, and to care for others rather than worry what others think or say, or write about us, I have to ask why this league?

To nick humphrey - if you've ever read an article about the LDS Church in a non-Utah based newspaper/magazine, you know what this article is referring to.

Anyway, I think this is a great idea. I love the FAIR website and what it stands for. I hope this new group will be able to have the same kind of impact.

Nick Humphrey:

There are many. I don't keep articles however but perhaps someone else would like to search for you. :)

@nick humphrey Numerous falsehoods and half-truths swirl about in the world today about the LDS Church. For example, "The Church of latter-day Saints" instead of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Another one, rather laughable actually: "Mormons aren't Christian." They are. References to the "Mormon Bible" is another one which refers to The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ." Mormons believe in BOTH books as scripture and the BoM is not the Mormon version of the Bible.

I commend the goals of the MDL to help correct misinformation about the LDS Church.

Why are members of "The Only True Church" so worried about what others think and say about them?
Sticks and stones?
If your doctrine and philosophy are the truth, shouldn't you have that calm, special feeling that you always talk about?
What could be causing all of your worries if you are numero uno?

@WPLyon, nothing wrong with any of the leagues you've proposed, just as there's nothing wrong with having a Mormon Defense League. Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you.

'In addition to having articles on the MDL.org website that address common misconceptions like "magic underwear," "Jesus is the brother of Satan," and "Mormons practice polygamy," - Article

Preventing mis-information is a good thing.

Example?

The Prop 8 defense.

One of the only two witnesses called was:
*Hak-Shing William Tam

'(Hak) runs a website that claims homosexuals are x12 more likely to molest children & to cause states to 'fall into satans hands.'

When asked about his SOURCE, that homosexuals are x12 more likely to molest children, his response?

'The Internet'

Direct quote.

I think this group is a good idea. Presenting the facts about what a religion does is a good way to prevent mis information.

One of my concerns is that those who support this group...

will also fault the NAACP.

*"respond to false information put forward in the media."
examples?*

Just one example: Warren Cole Smith's article that appeared on the Patheos Web site about a possible Mitt Romney presidency. There was hardly a statement in that article that was not false, grotesquely distorted, or misleading about Mormonism. The biggest howler in that one was the claim that the Nephites and Lamanites were from the "lost tribes".

False information about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not difficult to find. Cataloguing all instances of it is probably an impossible task because of the sheer volume.

FAIR is a great resource for both Mormons and non-Mormons who seek to be well-informed about LDS apologetics.

WPLyon;
In the Mid-West, where I lived for several years, there were pastors who actually preached sermons against Mormons. I had friends in their congregations and they would tell me some of the most bizarre things that the pastors were teaching about Mormon beliefs. Some were; We still practice polygamy. We did not believe in Jesus Christ / we're not Christians, We don't eat chocolate, We don't listen to music or dance. We marry girls who are under 16, We don't go to public schools. The list went on and on.
Some people's exposure to LDS is limited to what their pastor tells them. When my friend told his pastor he has spoken to me and that these things were false, the pastor was very upset and preached against Mormons again.
Because there are those who are ignorant(choose to be or do not know better)of LDS beliefs, and those who spread mis-information maliciously, there needs to be a strong effort to get the truth out. That is why this league is a good thing.

Do we not believe that Satan and Jesus are brothers? Do we still not practice polygamy (see D & C 132)? We know that men can still be sealed to more than one wife in the temple can't they?

Lane Williams, Communications Director at BYU Idaoho said in this article is that "the key is to let churches tell their own stories." I would prefer the truth to story telling.

I suspect that the Mormon Defense League has more to do with "media-spin" and less to do with increasing people's understanding.

One of the "problems" of the Mormon Church is that it's had such a dramatic history. And drama begets drama from the other side (critics of Mormonism). It's so easy to take potshots at a colorful target, instead of trying to engage in a dialogue.

I don't consider Quakerism traditionally Christian either. But when was the last time outsiders took jabs at it? Even Hollywood showed the difference: "Brigham Young" (action-packed) vs. "Friendly Persuasion" (primarily quiet and gentle).

I think the Mormon Church is exactly right in treating this in its usual way: reasoned and firm, but without ever raising its voice. Its response to "The Book of Mormon: the Musical"--an event which would have had many other religions screaming--was praiseworthy. Here's wishing the Mormon approach continued success.

WPlyon

The church already does an incredible job at helping those in need. I'm sure that the 'Lyons' share of efforts by the LDS people will continue to be charitable work. good, better, best, and all that stuff.

re:WPLyon

How about instead forming a league to raise the reading level of immigrants among us who struggle to speak English?

Are you referring to the churchs ongoing efforts via the Perpetual Education Fund?

How about a league to fill the shelves of the food banks that are so drained and in need?

Are you referring to the churchs ongoing efforts via the Welfare System?

How about a league that volunteers time and gathers resources for less than wealthy neighborhood schools and districts?

Are you referring to the churchs ongoing inter-city service missionaries and support of schools in disadvantaged areas around the world?

How about a league that seeks to understand why being gay forces you to leave the faith for some other alternative where you can be loved for what you are?

Are you referring to the churchs ongoing teachings to love and respect all and the churchs extensive counseling services?

How about a league to seek common ground and understanding with those that do not understand us?

Are you referring to the organization that this article is about?

Why this league?

To seek common ground and understanding.

If the church didn't try to cover up its real history and doctrines of the past there would be no need to have an organization to defend it. Plus, if you are going to make claims of being the only true church then you have to expect those who doubt to make their doubts known.

It seems to me that the majority of "misunderstandings" about the Mormon faith are not misunderstandings at all. This is what is so curious about Mormonism; most of the critique that it garners as a faith comes from within its own sources of information, The Journals of Discourse being a prime example. It is very difficult for people to reconcile statements on race, gender, scriptural interpretation, etc. when they come from the organization's own leadership (clergy). But the amount of anti-religion (not just Mormonism) is everywhere and it is tiresome to read about and to hear. Just because I may not agree with one religion's world view does not give me the right to attack and attack. Live and let live people.

This is fantastic, it is so frustrating that people still think that the LDS church practices polygamy. In 2002, the church met with the media before the Olympics to answer questions and clarify this topic more then anything. The network that was covering the Olympics warned their news people to not say that they practiced polygamy. There are people that confuse us for religions like the Amish, so this will help to clarify who we are. Anything wrong with that?