Comments about ‘LDS should promote positive image, Elder Perry says’

One of the bigger factors that Distorts the image of the Church is the deliberate distortions that come from the Anti-LDS/Mormon crowd especially other "Christian" groups. Much, but not all, comes from the so called "religious right". Look what they did to Mitt Romney last year during the Presidental campaign.

As long as people are willing to go to "secondary sources" to get their information, this will be a problem. Many also Don't Want to Hear the whole true picture, then they'd have to Maybe change their lifestyles.

It's easier to "blow off" the message of the Church if it comes All Distorted. Some people don't want to give up things/habits (like the Word of Wisdom expectations and/or moral expectations). Political things like Prop 8 also give some TO WANT a distorted picture also.

Again: It fits their lifestyles and politics better to beileve the Church is weird and ridiculous, so they can Avoid Any Change with better conscience.

Compared to the "distortions" of 100 years ago or so, especially before the 1900's, the LDS are much better understood Now, than back Then.

One of the bigger factors the Distorts the image of the Church is the deliberate distortions that come from the Anti-LDS/Mormon crowd especially other "Christian" groups. Much, but not all, comes from the so called "religious right". Look what they did to Mitt Romney last year during the Presidental campaign.

As long as people are willing to go to "secondary sources" to get their information, this will be a problem. Many also Don't Want to Hear the whole true
picture, because then they'd have to maybe change their lifestyles.

It's easier to "blow off" the message of the Church if it comes All Distorted. Some people don't want to give up things/habits (like the Word of Wisdom expectations and/or moral expectations). Political things like Prop 8 give some TO WANT a distorted picture also.

Again: It fits their lifestyles and politics better to believe that the Church is weird and ridiculous, so they Can Avoid Any Change with easier conscience.

Compared to the "distortions" of 100 years ago or so, especially before the 1900's, the LDS are much better understood Now, than back Then.

Where are all the comments at? Shouldn't there be more than just one?

Brethren at the top. Doesn't the Holy Spirit know more about PR than the guys you higher? And at no cost, other than you have to keep the commandments and be humble. Aren't you fellows doing that?

The Lord expects us to live by faith. Yes he could make all of the necessary changes Himself if he wanted, provide all of the proof that the Church is true - or he could always tell the Brethren at the top exactly what to do. Rather he wants us all - even at times the Brethren at the top - to work hard, think, study and determine for ourselves the best approaches to the issues faced. Every member has a role to play.
The Lord allows situations that really are difficult to exist - so that we, the members, individually can work hard to resolve the concerns and thereby strengthen and clarify our own faith.
Elder Perry is inviting faithful members everywhere to join in - it is an inclusive Church.
Sadly some give up when the first challenge appears. It is hard to share spiritiual experiences as proof with those who refuse to recognise that these exist. We must ensure that we are recognised 'by our good works.' Good works that flow from a solid, unshakeable faith in Christ.

The Holy Spirit can surely work wonders, if the people are tuned in to its promptings, which most are not.

Changing pre-misconceptions that people have is pretty tough all the way around. The Church has done a lot of good in the world that people don't know about because they didn't take credit for it.

One would think a campaign could be devised that could stress key characteristics of the Church that anybody would consider positive. That said, like Elder Perry counseled, if the members that people deal with on a daily basis are not providing the needed example any PR campaign would be a waste.

We need to deal with misconceptions on a one-on-one basis with our friends and family who are not members or who are inactive. PR is a lot more effective if someone outside the Church is passing along the correct message about us from personal experience.

One of the things the organisation could be doing to promote the church;s image would be to make older adult single members feel more useful and less of a burden especially female ones. It is with sadness rather than anger or resentment that i say this, as it has been my experience to feel both less valuable and contributing less as a result of being single, in my 40's and working for my support. All of the lesson's and publicity focus;s on the family and marriage but you know there are other ways of building the kingdom and being of service to your fellow beings. I enjoy my life but appear not to have much in common with other members who continually talk about their children, homes ect, this is fine but can be unintentionaly cruel to those of us who as a result of past events have little or no family and are single. JESUS I KNOW LOVES All OF US EQUALY. This is a request for a more thoughtful approach to those around you and the message given.

David Larsen is right. Where are the rest of the comments? I was sent an email with a good comment (which wasn't vulgar, derogatory, etc). The sender said they had tried to post it a few times, but DesNews won't do so.

Apparently, the DesNews is censoring comments, which begs the question: Why bother to allow comments at all if you are going to block those that fall within commenting rules?

The biggest perception people have of the Mormons is that they are holier-than-thou ARROGANT!

But that is not a misperception. As anyone can see by the comments here, it is a dead-on, accurate perception of Mormons!

In my opinion, the key to dispelling misconceptions is rooted in living the gospel and serving our fellowman. We serve in our congregations--we should extend that to our community and more fully be our brother's keepers. To be the salt of the earth, we must get out of the shaker!

As a Sister in Zion I have been tempted to think others are arrrogant but then find it not to be true. We do need to read our Book of Mormon and attend the temple. It is now especially to reach out and to love all children as we have no idea what our children will be facing in the days to come. They will all need strength of the Spirit and teachings of the Holy Gospel to cope. These days of childhood may be their only days of comfort unless taught about the guidance of The Holy Ghost. We also need to be aware give solace and comfort in these days of financial troubles too as we may not know the challenges others are facing. I too hope I can more fully obey our prophet and follow our Savior- The Savior of the world.

I have met Elder Perry several times. I'm of a different faith but I have found him to be an enjoyable and uplifting person to talk to.

My suggestion for improving the Church's image is simple. When people insist that you are not Christian - simply take a moment to tell what Christ means to you personally. That will do much more good than all the complaining I usually hear about how persecuted Mormons are. You don't need to denounce anyone, you just need to tell how you personally feel about Christ. That will do more to change perceptions than all the bitter complaining about how unfair those perceptions are.

I admire that the men at the top are looking at what to do to get the correct perception of Mormon beliefs to the world, that is part of what they are called to do. If God fixed everything for us we wouldn't need doctors or surgeons. A heart surgeon wouldn't need to give someone a pacemaker, just ask God to fix it. Part of this life is the journey and the searching and doing teaches us many things.

It's too bad that Anonymous (8:12 am) thinks we are holier-than-thou arrogant. We are overall good people trying to do our best, live what we believe and be safe from the craziness of this world. We choose to believe and do what we believe, not what you believe. Not all Mormons live the way they should and that is too bad. People are imperfect but the teachings are powerful and full of goodness and truth.

i was there. we, as members need to live and portray what our doctrine is and be able to explain the basics of our beliefs in simple terms. Why do we not have more dialog with those around us, listening to them and then having the opportunity to speak ourselves? We must know our own doctrine so as not to spread the wrong perceptions ourselves and speak up when we hear someone saying something false about us.

I say be a little bolder with your testiomony and share the gospel. I am asked about the church daily. When you are on planes or waiting anywhere read church maganizes or books. This will open people up so that you can talk about the church, Not pushy at all.
The Church is true the gospel is great. Christ lives. That is the facts.

Reali,

You aren't a religion, you are a salesforce! You are no different than a MLM scam!

That's very true, when you're traveling, and the person beside you asks where you're from, if you say "Utah", they always ask if you're LDS. I've only ever had somebody not do that one time, and I travel out of state and country frequently.

I find that as I take opportunities to teach a fellow worker or a friend about a gospel principle and how to apply it in their lives, I reveal to them that I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. I am a Christian and the Gospel principle I just taught them is part of my core beliefs. I found myself today teaching about our bodies being temples and how we as Christians hold them sacred. I watched my co-worker grow quiet and listened to spirit as it bore witness to her of the truthfulness of my words.

I'm sorry anybody feels like we have a "holier than thou" attitude. Knowing more about the gospel (not by our own virtue but through the grace of modern revelation) motivates and enables our efforts to be better people--not in the sense of "better than you" but better than our own "natural man," the constant foe within. The I'm-not-dead-yet natural man may seek to congratulate and vaunt his better self for a supposed increase in holiness, giving off an unfortunate impression of the truths he is inwardly fighting as sainthood is assimilating. Nevertheless those who make of our failures an excuse not to try are not wholly guiltless either. Forsaking holiness is as bad as pretending to it.

Henry Drummond (11:48 5/4)--that is a very valuable and useful suggestion. Thank you.

Elder Perry said 3 of 5 public impressions are wrong. "Polygamy" and "cult" are probably 2 of them. What's his third? Probably not "family" or "dedicated." That leaves "different." If the Church is not "different," then why bother seeking to convert everyone else? If the main message of the Church is, as Elder Perry stated, ". . . we . . . are the re-established original Christian church . . . " well, that certainly is different. And that claim to be the only truly [or true] Christian church drives lots of other unfavorable impressions about the Church, including some suggested in comments above.