Deseret News | Time to move on from big ol' Mormon joke

Reader comments
Chris Hicks: Time to move on from big ol' Mormon joke

Sharon in Tennessee | 5:51 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

It would be helpful to know, or be informed, or suggestions where to go and what to do about.....
our objections to productions like this Mormon musical, and ALL OTHER jokes....put downs...and screwed up versions of peoples sacred beliefs and practices.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT IT?
WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF PROTESTING..THE RIGHT WAY OF COURSE?
I feel helpless in the downsliding melee of society taking advantage of our "nice" and layed back not objecting and putting a strong
"NO, WE WON'T TAKE THIS ANY MORE !!"
Is there ANYONE out there that is willing to take a stand....on OUR side of keeping our faith and everything attached to it...respected and off limits to bad taste and lies?

David, from Brazil | 7:10 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

The article is right on the spot. Parker and Stone are pretty fascinated with the church, and, as nasty as they sound, they end up being harmless. I know people who knew the church through the show, and they get the jokes. When they know me, they respect the church even more. Really, South Park (and all the rest) is no big deal.
I remember when The Simpsons made fun of Brazil. It was almost an internacional incident. IT'S A TV SHOW! They make fun of everyone, specially the US, so why should we be treated differently?
Come on, guys, getting mad about them is as dumb as they want us to be. Let them do their thing, and sometimes you can even get to take some good laughs.

Kyle | 7:12 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

The best way to protest is to ignore it. Don't send angry letters, don't forward useless email petitions, don't blog about it. All these things just give it free advertising. Ignore it and it will go away. Or if it doesn't, at least you will be happier about it. If anyone brings up the subject, shrug or laugh it off. "Take a stand" and you've just given them the attention they crave. You are powerless to stop them. The only power you have is to let the movie flop, let the comments die down, and DON'T let it get to you. Just like the bully on the playground, the one who gives the biggest reaction is the one who gets picked on over and over. If Jesus or even Joseph Smith had gone around trying to track down everyone who said something bad about them, they would have accomplished nothing in their lives. Please, please, please, just let it go.

Comments continue below

nottyou | 8:03 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

Bad press is better than no press at all.

Don | 9:33 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

As the author says (in so many words), these things are hardly the worst of the worst that is out there. South Park pokes fun but there are vile, hate-filled opponents to the Church out there. But as members of the Church our attitude has to be simply to educate with patience and love. For example, the homosexual movement has made a big deal about their claim that they just want equal rights...they don't want to persecute any religion. Then prop 8 passes and what do they do? They name call, threaten, boycott, vandalize, investigate and send white powder to Mormons. I'm not saying that we just have to lie down and take it, but we do need to expect persecution and respond with a Christlike attitude.

True believers will always be mocked, scorned and misunderstood. When he was reviled, Paul had the attitude of gratitude for the blessing to suffer persecution for the name of Christ. This too should be our position.

William in Texas | 9:50 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

You know, there is an old saying, there's no such thing as negative publicity.

ME | 11:39 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

An avid South Park watching coworker of mine claims that one of the writers actually was a member and was excommunicated. Is that just hear-say?

re: Don @ 9:33 | 11:39 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

Thank you for your comments - sometimes it is hard when thing that mean so very much to you are being tashed the way the church is in the media and with individual people.

Just remember that God knows what is taking place and even if they get away with the slander here - they will have to answer for it before Christ. When I think of how that will feel for these people my anger turns to pity.

Brian | 11:42 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

But oh, negative publicity will damage the church to a point that our reputation cannot be repairs. You are ignorant and have your head in the sand if you think any publicity is good publicity. What is wrong with some of you. The Church is fighting for survuval and acceptnce and this is all you can say. WEAK!

girl came to her senses | 11:54 a.m. Nov. 28, 2008

"Parker and Stone repeatedly skewer The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Parker says that his first girlfriend was a Mormon and ever since he has had a fascination with the church."

Luckily, this said girlfriend wised up and didn't marry the loser

it's funny | 12:42 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

Calling Trey Parker a loser is funny. He and Matt are immensely successful creative people. Anyone in the business would be lucky to have had the success of these two. What's more, they continue to be funny and inventive year after year. They have real talent! The regular networks would give their eyeteeth to have such creative talent working for them! By the way, they skewer many religions--they don't just pick on Mormons but lampoon almost any and every imaginable religion and group.

Kyle is right | 1:17 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

What did the Savior do? He 'opened not his mouth.' Why don't we try living our religion. Actions speak louder than words.

mymy | 1:17 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

ya, Trey is a loser just like Micael J, Britney S and Paris H and the like. They may make small celebrity here but in the ages to come they lose. Where is the fun in that. When they are young what they do seems funny but when old age sets in all they will be is pathetic. .

Then Don't Watch It | 1:47 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

Re: it's funny- I completely agree with you. Not only are these guys talented, but they address many controversial issues that society isn't even ready to address. And for everybody else who doesn't like Trey and Matt: DON'T WATCH THE SHOW. They obviously aren't trying to appeal to you. I, for one, love the show and look forward to seeing the new musical.

LDS are Christians | 2:39 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

To Sharon in TN:

For me, I just let those who inquire, know that such "jokes" are gross mis-representations of the Church, and if they really want to know the facts about us, a visit to the LDS website will be quite revealing.

There IS a reason why we are the only Church to have Christ on our offical home page.

Brother Niv

what misrepresentations? | 3:06 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

All of the "South Park" portrayals of Mormons that I have seen are factual. Matt and Trey also present Mormon doctrines accurately. Watch the shows before you come to some other conclusion. One can find much to make fun of for any religion--including Mormons. Matt and Trey create satire, they don't seem interested in misrepresenting the various groups they satirize but rather let the oddness of these groups speak for itself. Watch the shows and see for yourself instead of relying on second hand hearsay.

Heath in th UC | 3:30 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

Representations of mormons by most in theatre and art our actually spot on. The porblem is that mormons do not see themsleves or the church for who they are. There is no misrepresentation just a misguided self image on the lds church and culture part.

to: LDS are Christians | 3:35 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

"There IS a reason why we are the only Church to have Christ on our offical home page."

Well then, that just proves it doesn't it! A web site that proves there is a god?

There is a reason that Mormons are disliked and the folks on the des news comments are no help for the LDS church cause.

kenny | 3:42 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

As the media is being used to promote the church so is the media being used to degrade the church.The media will always be a negative force behind anything both bad and good.

Re:Brian | 11:42 a.m. Nov. 28, 2 | 3:46 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

Have you been living under a rock for the past 60 days? The Church needs no help with Negative publicity, this whole prop 8 mess that the LDS Church decided to publically support and push their members to push it in California has put the LDS Church back 30 Years. If Mitt Romney ever wanted to run for President again they sure runined that for him with this public support of this marriage ban. I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman myself, Just something the LDS Church should not have got involved in. They are doing more damage to themselves than any of these shows can possibly do.

Maryann Sostich | 4:17 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

The joke is ultimatley on the mormons. Not a church of christ and no kingdom will be had. Sorry but need to break it to you folks. You all still have time for a Christian baptism and to follow the teachings of Christ, please take head and do so. Welcome the Lord, Jesus Christ into your heart.

To Whomever wrote "Re:Brian" | 4:23 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

I have a feeling that the LDS Church isn't worried about their image. They aren't standing for marriage because they want more members or a good press image--they're standing for marriage because they believe in it. Why would they care about what the world thinks? If they believe in it, they have every right--and responsibility--to get involved. If more people got involved in what they believed in, maybe more people would be less interested in their press image and more interested in what's really important. Whether or not the LDS Church is doing damage to their image, they're doing what they believe to be right. What's worse--practicing what they preach or preserving their image?

Jan Socal | 4:52 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

The LDS chruch is all about image. We spend far more in property maintenance and keeping up appearances than helping poor, far fare more. We chastise those wear a dress shirt other than white into a meeting. I could go on. But yes it is all about appearances and if you don't think that look around at your ward. It saddens me to a point of topic I do not wish to discuss. But yes we do care about the image as wrong as it may be. Not much substance in the church but a lot of image concern. I have left and become inactive over this 'image' issue so you do not know what you are talking about that image is not important. I was a lesbian who kept that image for 23 years because it is what we do. No image problem.

the truth | 5:58 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

The truth is they are not facinated enough to get ther facts correct about the mormons.

While they MAY be right in very general beliefs and practices of the mormons, they are often way off in the actual details.

ShellyGirl | 8:48 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

The Church is going to be just fine. It has been criticized and scorned since it's beginning. It has not stopped the Lord's work.

There will always be those who laugh, point and heckle. There will even be wailing and gnashing of teeth towards the church. The Lord is at the helm, we have no need to worry.

These southpark clowns have written 1 song, and have not found a distributor or promoter for this musical. Their own lawyer advised them it was a bad business decision. Most people don't care enough about Mormons to go to it.

Mike | 11:58 p.m. Nov. 28, 2008

South Park is great. Parker and Stone are very talented. I'm sure their musical will be produced. ShellyGirl, please explain how one "distributes" a broadway musical? As far as the Mormon church goes, it's healthy to find humor in all things, including one's beliefs. With "the Lord at the helm" I would imagine he would crack a joke or two himself. I'm would also bet he would agree with the concept of the separation of church and state.

Angel de la Noche | 10:16 a.m. Nov. 29, 2008

You forgot the reference to "mormon extremests" in the 1997 movie "Starship Troopers".

Imagine Coconuts | 10:43 a.m. Nov. 29, 2008

Mike, thanks for the inside word on what the Big Man thinks. Has He given you any insight on which BCS bowl will invite the Utes? Will the Brad and Jolie marriage make it? Is this bail-out thing good or bad business? Do tell.

Maryann, most of the South Park characters are male, how did you sneak in? Very clever satire.

Jan, the perpetual-Rachel haircut, the ankle length skirt, and puffed blouse sleeves were not enough to draw attention away from your mustache? Dang, stupid people.

Ed Clinch | 4:32 p.m. Nov. 29, 2008

I happen to believe that Jesus acts by His true disciples, and those like Paul of old know how to deal with detractors: increased faith in God and His mercy.

Fools mock, but they shall mourn.

That is scripture and I believe it.

I have many friends who mock my faith but I believe many of them understand less than my small children.

We shall see.

Perhaps me and my family is wrong for believing in the authority of God and revering sacred things, but I would not want to try not applying these principles in my lives. I see too much misery going the "worldly" way.

It's all in the four standard works. I try to understand and apply them.

And Jan SoCal: Sorry, but you are wrong. Our Church, the Church of Jesus Christ, spends more on feeding the poor and helping the needy than any other thing. Do you know what we do in Southeast Asia alone?

Sorry about your misconceived notions, I hope you can learn more about the power of charity in our faith over time.

I live in California and a LOT of people are getting food and other help here, not from "image".

Steve watts | 7:54 p.m. Nov. 29, 2008

I'm with "Mike." I've been pretty much all over the world, and lived in Salt Lake for 3 years. I loved the people during my time there, but come on! As I see in this column from time to time, it is by far the most thin-skinned religion in existence. It almost borders on paranoia! Kinda time to get over yourselves and not take so much personally. Orgazmo and Basket-ball are comedies...not documentaries!

Watts Up? | 10:10 p.m. Nov. 29, 2008

Steve, right you are. I got the same side-splitting feeling from "Stalag 17" "Hogan's Heroes" and "Schindler's List."

Sardines in a Can | 11:37 a.m. Nov. 30, 2008

"Mike, thanks for the inside word on what the Big Man thinks."

But it's all good, because the amount of insight he provided into the Big Man's mind is nothing compared to the insight that the leaders of the Church provide. Heck, they go into so much detail that we know which film ratings provided by a completely secular organization he approves of and which he condemns. Now that's really picking his noggin!

PSmama | 4:56 p.m. Dec. 2, 2008

I learned everything I know about the Mormon church by watching a South Park episode. They showed how the angel showed him the buried Golden Plates, how he dug them up and transcribed them with the Seer Stone. I never learned what happened to the Golden Plates and the Seer Stone, but apparently the angel told him not to show them to anybody else. Which would have been helpful to his cause I'm sure. If he showed them around, that is.

Tom in Vegas | 4:14 p.m. Dec. 7, 2008

I am avid South Park watcher, active member of the church and have thoroughly enjoyed the "Mormon" themed episodes. The thing is that South Park skewers everything, everyone and every topic. I don't take these episodes personally, because I actually enjoy the humor. When you compare the treatment Catholics, Scientologists, and Jews, we Mormons have gotten off lightly. I mean, none of them are going to heaven. Right?

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