Comments about ‘MormonTimes.com: Mormon Media Observer: Attracting media attention’

The next time a Presbyterian is involved in any type of scandal I want to know about it. I think believing only in the bible or predestination needs to be mocked as much as Nephites. I also am tired of people saying Mormons exagerate their numbers and do not remove names and yet continue to say there are one billion Catholics. There are not one billion Catholics. Catholics do not remove people from membership lists. If Mormons counted every baby that was blessed and never removed numbers our numbers would also be higher. Nobody knows how many members a group has. My brother is an Atheist and claims to be Mormon becaus he was born in the church. Is he counted? I bet if you only counted people who went every week to church and gave money there would be more Mormons in this country than Catholics. I do not hate Presbyterians or Catholics or any other group. I think the problem with the media is they have no reporters. They live in the past. Reporters need to actually attend churches and do a head count.

It is probably rather good reporting that Mormons are mentioned more than members of other faiths, since good reporting basically means including the things that readers are most likely to be interested in. If you could report that a vision of the Virgin Mary helped a Catholic Football player to score a winning touchdown, that would also be good reporting, I think. I just hope that prejudice against Mormons doesn't become politically incorrect--I like to know who my enemies are.

Historically the world views "Mormons" by the impression left at the turn of the 19th century.
It's a stigma that has and never will go away.

Mormons attract media attention because Mormons SEEK media attention!

The desire to preach the gospel to every creature stimulates a sort of self-righteous exhibitionism in Mormons. They try to turn every person they meet into an "investigator"! They publicize widely their claim to being "the one true church" and to be "a peculiar people" (meaning: better than other people) because they are God's "chosen people".

When you have an arrogant church making such claims, it only stands to reason any UN-requested media attention is simply a matter of showing how hypocritical these arrogant Mormons are! There is human drama in that! That is news! How the great have fallen! People love to read about how arrogant pride and hubris toppled someone. That is why they love to read about the sins and errors of Mormons!

Why is that so hard to understand?

Re:Fern RL I'm LDS and I dont have enemies.But I would like to know all my friends in the world who disagree with me.

Re:DennyG Your comment is the first intellegent thing I've read here in quite awhile.

Re:Anonymous
Some of your comments are well taken. I must agree with you.

You do say arrogant church and that I have to disagree with. Mormons are proactive in speaking out concerning what they believe to be true but it is backed by a deep sence of humility.Latterday Saints are not out to convert the world as others see it but they are out to share with the world what they know to be true.And this I know to be true.

Kenny,

You are fooling yourself.

Arrogance, pride and hubris says, "This I KNOW to be true."

Humility says, "I am open to learning."

A wise man once said, "We need the humility to know that truth can be ephemeral, that this can be but one version of the truth."

You know why Mormons are criticized? It is not because they do have faults. They do. Their church is not perfect and has many problems. That is not why they are criticized. The real reason is because as bad as the Mormon church is all the other churchers are worse. Nobody does more for their members than the Mormons. The other churches can not compete with the Mormons. Suggestion to other churches. Improve your own church so Mormons will not be a threat. Critisizing Mormons will only make others curious and make more converts to Mormonism

John,

"as bad as the Mormon church is all the other churchers are worse."

Maybe that should tell us something about Churches!

DennyG and kenny,

The real issue is: Can a Church that claims to be true, change over the years without becoming "untrue" (or falling into "apostasy")?

In order for the stigma of the 19th century Mormon church to dissipate, we must accept that a Church CAN change (its stripes) over time and still be "true".

But once we grant that, then we have to allow that the Catholic Church could and DID change over time and still be "true"! And if the Catholic (and other Christian Churches) did not fall into apostasy and are still true, then there was no need for the "restoration" of the LDS Church in the first place! If there was no need for the restoration of the LDS Church, then the LDS Church is not what it claims to be. And that makes it NOT TRUE.

Here it is in simple terms: If the LDS Church is still true despite changes, then the LDS Church cannot be true. But if the LDS Church is not true because of changes, then the LDS Church is not true.

Which way do you want your Church? Raw or uncooked?

I gotta agree, in part, with Anonymous. We do seek media attention.

We have public relations coordinators in every stake. We pat every Mormon kid on the back who completes an Eagle Scout project.

Cool!

Why run away from it? We can stand the heat. Let calumny defame -- who cares? The end result will be more people will know about us. That's typically a good thing.

Wow. Anybody ever been out of Utah? The mormon church is irrelevent outside of intermountain region.

Seth @ 7:35 AM, to compare your numbers and or growth with the catholic church well is just laughable. Have you ever been outside of Utah?

We seek media attention, but seek attention as well in our own wards, and from ward members, we actually thrive on it---- We love to be praised!

We know LDS comonly equals joyful and all enduring,so lets out a few; Julia Roberts,who did not show HER skin in Pretty Woman,Donnie and Marie of course,and how they got started by sweetlly loving and wanting the fullest for their brother.
Maybe society is so quick to considerder Mormonisum TABOO yet well known (public) that in a fog of emotion,maybe jelous anger that leads them to shout; CULT,LIARS,EVIL in plain site!!!
Until we as a nation become truely liberated and make our own choices w/out care of (most) others opinions,I feel we WILL scrutinize all who have joy,JESUS,and a positive association.
Sterotypes ARE misconceptions that lead to fear,anger,jeolousy,and even HATE.
I feel this is where the Media Obsession falls perfectlly into play,sad but I beleve true.
I mean no harm,slander,disrespect,nor confusion through sharing my opinion/comment,and I sincelly thank you for the opportunity.

Who doesn't enjoy praise? I think even "gentile" psychologists say that reinforcing good behavior in children by sincerely praising whatever they do right is the best way to have positive results.

By the way, I am LDS and I am open to learning. But I don't call uncritically accepting indictments coming from the anti-mormons "learning", although listening to them is certainly an education in human foibles.

Joseph Smith was promised by the angel Moroni on September 21, 1823 that his name would be had for good and evil among all people. In other words, some would admire him while others would hate him. Latter-day Saints usually polarize public opinion. By any objective standard, being Mormon means a person is more likely (statistically) to be honest, law abiding, hard working, healthier, more educated, live in an intact family, serve his neighbors, etc. Many people are envious or even afraid of that fact, so they look for opportunities to tear down Mormons. Thus, the criticism of Mitt Romney was "He is too perfect."

Tabloid newspapers love to print pictures of movie stars looking fat, because many readers want the satisfaction of dragging someone down to their own level. That is why Larry O'Donnell cries "Mormons are racist" even though Mormons are more multi-racial and multi-cultural than O'Donnell's associates in TV land. The general animosity against Mormons from flawed people (including some commenters here) rises as Mormons become more significant, not because Mormons are generally bad but because they are so good--much less involved in adultery, abortion, alcoholism, crime, and other pathologies. Criticism of Mormons is a backhanded compliment.

An Us vs. Them mentality is part of LDS church culture. Not all mormons fall into it, but a lot do, and hence many LDS (as with members of other churches) think they know all the answers without even critically thinking about it. Being RIGHT is more important than being a good neighbor. We happen to publicize our ignorance more (MTC), hence we get eyes rolled at us more.

I mean, Raymond Swenson, are "flawed people" merely those who criticize LDS culture and doctrine?

The Us vs. Them thing is no win, yet we unknowingly can pride ourselves on it. .

Swenson,

Do you actually read what you write before you hit the "Add your comment" button?

Geesh!