While the article itself is neither favorable nor unfavorable towards the Church of Jesus Christ, it generally portrays the Church and its teachings accurately. The article uses the full name of the Church near the beginning, and consulted the Church’s official spokesperson for comments. Official church positions on issues such as abortion and stem-cell research are stated accurately, and the article notes that the Church differs from some other denominations in that it does not “preach politics from the pulpit.” The article also puts the Church’s membership in perspective — with over half of its 13 million members living outside the U.S., the Church avoids involvement with domestic politics.

Laurie Goodstein, the articles’ author, should be commended for writing an interesting and well-researched piece. While the article did not fully comply with the guidelines the Church has established for style and use, it avoided misrepresentations and cited good sources. It is especially gratifying to see a top-rate publication such as the New York Times improve its coverage of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hopefully, other publications will also rise to that standard.

The article is here, and Laurie Goodstein may be reached by email here.

The article opens, “Using the dictionary definition…one can only surmise that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is delusional.” It goes on to belittle Mitt Romney for his religious views, calling his candidacy less legitimate because of his extraordinary beliefs. He must have missed that all religions have a bit of the extraordinary.

The award goes to the readers, whose comments you can read by clicking “Read all … comments” (currently 41). Here are some of the good ones:

You sound like one of the many in 1960 who cried about the horrors that would happen in our country if a Catholic were elected as president. I’m sure you remember that Catholic’s name..John F. Kennedy.

I suppose you would never see a letter in the paper calling those who believe in, oh, let’s say Islam, to be “delusional”. It’s easy to snark when you’re sure the target won’t fight back.

Considering that most of the country believes in virgin birth, resurrection, that the earth was literally created in six days, and that Moses parted the Red Sea and walked through the middle, I don’t think that Romney’s religion is any more out there than any other religion’s beliefs.

While we don’t want to burn bridges to well-intentioned journalists who may report our beliefs incorrectly, there are many opportunities to offer a gentle corrective voice. Newspapers want to please and keep their readers. Our kind corrections will also help other readers distinguish truth from fiction.

Ms. Gibbs’ article was generally accurate with respect to the beliefs of the LDS Church. One small comment that was misleading, however, was the claim that members of the Mormon church refer to members of other faiths as “gentiles.” While this term may have been used in decades past, it is certainly not what “non-Mormons are called.” The word “gentile” is a Biblical term referring to groups of people other than the Jews. This definition of the word would place all Christians in the “gentile” category, regardless of their membership in a particular denomination. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Chirst of Latter-day Saints have counseled members of the church to avoid even terms like “nonmember” or “non-Mormon” because they could be seen as demeaning or offensive.

In the article, Ms. Gibbs dredges up Slate editor Jacob Weisberg’s claims that Mormonism is “a modern hoax,” and that he could not vote for anyone who believed it. Under Mr. Weiberg’s criteria, citizens of the United States are free to believe what they want to, as long as they don’t intend to run for public office. This notion is plainly contrary to the constitutional principles upon which the United States was founded. LDS doctrine reaffirms the right of all people to believe as they wish, not just those who share its beliefs. The Eleventh Article of Faith states:

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

Mr. Weisberg’s suspicion of religion does not render personally religious people unqualified for public office, regardless of their beliefs. Indeed, rather than disqualifying a candidate from office, one’s personal convictions could lead to many desireable attributes such as compassion, honesty, and integrity.

The TIME Magazine article can be read here.

Now convicted-criminal-turned-minister Bill Keller spews bigotry about Mitt Romney and the LDS Church:

Those who follow the false teachings of this cult, believe in the false jesus of the Mormon cult and reject faith in the one true Jesus of the Bible, will die and spend eternity in hell,” he charges. “Romney getting elected president will ultimately lead millions of souls to the eternal flames of hell!

And:

Romney is an unashamed and proud member of the Mormon cult founded by a murdering polygamist pedophile named Joseph Smith nearly 200 years ago. The teachings of the Mormon cult are doctrinally and theologically in complete opposition to the Absolute Truth of God’s Word. There is no common ground. If Mormonism is true, then the Christian faith is a complete lie. There has never been any question from the moment Smith’s cult began that it was a work of Satan and those who follow their false teachings will die and spend eternity in hell.

Such unbridled extremism will look foolish to all but the most naive or ignorant people. I almost hesitate to give this air time, but I think the larger issue is that the mainstream media tends not to consider bigotry against Mormons as condemnable as bigotry against other minorities.

The Church had no comment. Romney’s campaign commented, “I guess what I can tell you is it shows that bigotry can still rear its ugly head in society.”

(By the way, Bill Keller was convicted of inside trading in 1989 and served two years in prison, then became a minister.)

Of course, this is further fulfillment of Moroni’s prophecy that Joseph Smith’s name would be “had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.” Even while critics defame, millions revere Joseph Smith as a prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Article: ‘Vote for Romney is vote for Satan’

. . . Mormons speak of God, but they refer to a being who was once a man of “flesh and bone,” like us. They speak of salvation, but to them that means admittance to a “celestial kingdom” where a worthy couple can eventually become “gods” themselves. The Heavenly Father of whom they speak is married to a Heavenly Mother. And when they emphasize the importance of the family, they may be referring to their belief that marriage in a Mormon temple binds families together for all eternity.

This was generally a well-researched piece of good journalism. The only improvements that we would wish to see would be more precise use of the Church’s name. Woodward first referred to the Church as the “Mormon Church,” using the full name of the Church in a later paragraph. Additionally, towards the end of the piece, he used the title “Church of Latter-day Saints.” The style guide of the Church gives this guidance as to how to use its name:

• In the first reference, the full name of the Church is preferred: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
• Please avoid the use of “Mormon Church,” “LDS Church” or “the Church of the Latter-day Saints.”
• When a shortened reference is needed, the terms “the Church” or “the Church of Jesus Christ” are encouraged.

In the op-ed piece, the author also mentioned that some people “still confuse the Latter-day Saints with fundamentalist Mormon sects that continue to practice polygamy and child marriage . . ..” While we appreciate that Woodward articulated the difference between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other sects, the use of the term “fundamentalist Mormon” or “Mormon fundamentalists” can contribute to that confusion. The Church’s style guide provides additional guidance in this respect:

When referring to people or organizations that practice polygamy, the terms “Mormons,” “Mormon fundamentalist,” “Mormon dissidents,” etc. are incorrect. The Associated Press Stylebook notes: “The term Mormon is not properly applied to the other … churches that resulted from the split after [Joseph] Smith’s death.”

The op-ed piece can be read here.

“I have been watching the first two hours of a forthcoming WGBH-produced, four-hour special ‘The Mormons,’ slated to air nationwide on PBS April 30 and May 1. (The second half is still being edited.) It’s vintage public broadcasting, plodding at times — if I see another covered wagon heading for Zion, I’ll get motion sickness…”

and…

“On camera, Yale archaeologist Michael Coe calls Smith a ’shaman,’ which is probably accurate but not a great quote for Mormons.”

and…

“‘The Mormons’ even tackles the ultimate red herring, “celestial marriage,” Joseph Smith’s term for polygamy. The church has gone to great pains to promulgate prophet Wilford Woodruff’s 1890 declaration condemning polygamy, deemed to have superseded Smith’s earlier, contrary revelation. HBO, which continues to broadcast “Big Love,” a series about a polygamist who lives outside Salt Lake City, apparently didn’t get the memo.

Nor did PBS. ‘The Mormons’ estimates that 30,000 to 60,000 fundamentalist believers practice polygamy. Whitney has footage of 11 happy children passing plates around the dinner table, with three mothers and a father in attendance. Heather has three Mommies! Sorry, I couldn’t resist.”

Finally….

“What does it all mean? PBS claims it has 75 million viewers a week. Let’s say one-tenth — no, one-twentieth — of that audience watches ‘The Mormons.’ That’s almost 4 million men and women who will know more about the Mormon faith than Romney might wish them to know. It’s bad math for the Mittster.”

Please don’t hesitate to tell columnist Alex Beam (that’s beam “at” globe dotcom) what you think of this ridiculous piece of “journalism”.

1. The Mormon church’s Articles of Faith profess a belief in “obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”
2. The Church regularly affirms its political neutrality. Chapels and member lists cannot be used for political purposes.
3. The Church has “acquiesced to the will of the people on a number of occasions,” including stopping polygamy in 1890.
4. Romney’s past and current positions on gay rights, abortion, and universal health care would not likely agree with the mainstream of Mormon church members.
5. Many Church members have been politicians and it hasn’t seemed to be an issue.

While evangelical Christians contend that so-called doctrinal eccentricities of Mormonism — such as multiple books of scripture and modern-day prophets — will shape Romney’s political actions, there is little evidence to support such a theory. After all, Mormons have held high political offices from governor to U.S. senator with little religious controversy. Ezra Taft Benson, a Mormon apostle, was secretary of agriculture under Eisenhower. Mitt Romney’s father, George was governor of Michigan as well as a contender for the Republican nomination for president. Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, and Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican, demonstrate that Mormon political voices can be diverse. In short, Romney will not be given a script on how Mormon politicians should act.

Article: Romney not likely to wear religion on his sleeve

Thanks to Brian Stucki for sending in this article.

George’s demonstrated response and investigative journalism is shoddy to say the least. Watch the video for yourself to see.

Romney stated the following in a previous interview:

Our belief is just like it says in the Bible, that the Messiah will come to Jerusalem, stand on the Mount of Olives, and the Mount of Olives will be a place where there’s a great gathering, and so forth. It’s the same as the other Christian tradition.

To which George commented:

Actually, we checked in with a Mormon spokesman who said that’s not exactly true. They believe the New Jerusalem is here in the United States, in Missouri, and that’s where Jesus is going to come.”

“Actually,” George, do you really expect Mitt to give you a missionary discussion type response in the amount of time they provide for media interviews? A student of LDS theology will note that Mitt’s response is in full harmony with revealed doctrine, even though George’s journalistic diamond mine he uncovered is true as well.

Perhaps George could have read up a little more before unilaterally dictating what is and is not correct Mormon doctrine.

Besides, George, you didn’t even answer Kate’s question! Oh well, it’s not like it has anything to do with his political platform, anyways.

Romney is top in academics, top in business, top in non-profit work, and top in politics. Not bad.

Oh, and by the way— he’s a Mormon.

What’s the big deal about Romney’s religion?

What some media outlets call a cult is the same Christian religion to which many business leaders and politicians belong.

Funny how these same media types have no trouble with Harry Reid, the Democratic Senate minority leader being Mormon, or have a problem with the CEO’s of Marriott Hotels, Fischer-Price, Albertsons and Oakley Sunglasses belonging to the same “cult.”

On the contrary, Romney is the candidate whose beliefs most coincide with the Christian right.

Contrasted against the agnostic McCain and the pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage Giuliani, Romney will emerge as the sensible choice for evangelicals uniting the Republicans, not dividing them. Once again, the media have got it wrong.

Source: The Pepperdine Graphic