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In two high-profile segments, one on ABC's World News Tonight and the
other on ABC's Nightline Friday, reporter Dan Harris spent nine
minutes telling about the LDS Church, including reports on the new
Draper Temple and interviews with Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder
Quentin L. Cook.
In a 30-second piece on ABC World News Tonight Harris focused briefly on temples, baptism for the dead, families and Proposition 8. The eight minute and 30 second "Faith Matters" piece on Nightline begins with this:
"Ever since the first Mormon temple was built more than 150 years ago, they have been the subject of speculation and suspicion. The temples are imposing structures where private and sacred rituals are performed, and where outsiders are almost never welcomed."
Harris asks Elder Ballard why the media was invited to Salt Lake City and an open house for the new Draper Temple:
"We want to be understood, not misunderstood," Elder Ballard, "and people are defining us in the wrong way. They're defining us without having the facts."
Harris' narrative overviewed recent high-profiles stories about the church including Mitt Romney's presidential bid, support of Proposition 8, and confusion with polygamists. Then, Harris talks about the temple, including the Celestial Room and baptistry. Harris then points out the church's conflict with Jews over posthumous baptism of Holocaust victims.
When talking about the church history of persecution, Harris confronted Elders Ballard and Cook about why the church appears to be discriminating against gays and lesbians.
"We were for marriage between a man and a woman because that is the issue that will protect the future of this country and this civilization," Elder Cook told Harris. "It's for the protection of the 5,000-year history of marriage being between a man and a woman."
For the most part, the story was balanced and fair and able to demystify some aspects of temple worship. Viewers were able to better understand the role of apostles, temples and families. There was also unprecedented video of a sacrament meeting service. The length of coverage represents an eternity in broadcast news where most stories run 30 seconds.
Ironically, while ABC reported about the church attempting to clear up misunderstanding, the report still muddied facts for viewers and may perpetuate stereotypes.
For example, the story continued to frame Mormons with words like "secrecy," "suspicion," "mystery," and a headline "Mormon temple revealed." Journalists just can't seem to let this image go even in the face of openness and access. The report highlighted the fact that the church wouldn't allow ABC cameras into the temple. ABC also reported that this was unprecedented and "rare" access to a temple open house, when the fact is it has been long tradition to hold open temple houses which have included access to the media and public. The access to two apostles, however, is rare.
The story still muddied the waters on the polygamists vs. LDS confusion. While Harris did a pretty good job of delineating the difference between polygamists groups and the LDS Church, the introduction to the Nightline segment, Martin Bashir spoke about the raid at the FLDS compound inTexas as if that group was part of the LDS Church.
And Harris said that "fundamentalist Mormons" are part of a breakaway sect of the "mainstream church." The church continues to contend there is no such thing as fundamentalist Mormons, while fundamentalists continue to assert their right to use the moniker. If polygamist are excommunicated from the "mainstream church" how can
they still be associated with it?
According to ABC, other high-profile journalists were invited to Salt Lake City and temple open house. A search of the Internet don't show other stories from those journalists, but stayed tuned.
The Associated Press reported the following story beginning with the following:
"The towering granite temples of the Mormon church are something of a religious mystery for those who can't go in: Are the majestic buildings topped by golden angels sacred or secret?
'We would say they are sacred, not secret," Quentin L. Cook of the church governing body the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said during a small tour for media of a new suburban Salt Lake City temple on Thursday.
As Cook explains, the sacred nature of temples is tied to what happens inside: Draped in white, worthy Mormons receive religious teachings and perform ceremonies designed to help them secure an eternal place for themselves and for others by proxy in heaven."
MormonTimes.com is produced by the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Copyright © 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company
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@NaDopros There are also a startling number of parallels between the Apocrypha and the first couple of books in the BOM. When Smith wrote the BOM, the Bible he owned was a KJV that contained the Apocrypha.
Coincidence?
moparmonster1965 1 week ago
@NaDopros Thanks. And think about this: in D&C, the Mormon god tells Joseph Smith to retranslate the Bible and do so until he was finished, and in HOTC (History of the Church), he claimed twice to have done so. This is now known as the Joseph Smith Translation.
moparmonster1965 1 week ago
The question remains that if the Mormon god wanted the Bible to be corrected, why didn't he allow the church that he supposedly leads to have it? After all, it's the Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS) who owns it and the mainstream LDS that still uses the inaccurate KJV.
moparmonster1965 1 week ago
you dont serve the lord you serve joseph smith a treasure stealing racist piece of shit, God is not a racist that also goes for redneck southern Christians also jackasses
Broncos30td 1 week ago
Poor poor editing....as usual, from mass media
And it's not the "mormon church " .... its The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints ...get it right, also Elder Ballard and Elder Cook are Apostles of Our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST not "mormon apostles "
lds dot org for truth...critics and enemies of the Lords Church will only give you false info...go to the source for the REAL TRUTH
TrickTrolan 2 weeks ago
these are 2 of the most evil people in america, because as Mormon "apostles" they know that they are deceiving people, yet they continue the scam of Mormonism.
mattbrandt69 3 weeks ago
@RCSVirginia The Law of Obedience is what God's Plan of Happiness is based upon and if they can't follow/obey then they are what they are on their own. Today these fundamentalists are not baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints thru out their entire lives. Their real agenda is to hide behind the truth & twist it to match with theirs...just sad, very sad indeed
leSavaii 1 month ago
@leSavaii
As in any religious schism, both sides feel that they possess the right. The Fundamentalists feel the the church leaders could not just set aside the doctrines of Joseph Smith. The central church theocracy feel that all Mormons were obligated to do just as you have written and were to obey them. I respectfully disagree with your assertion that Fundamentalists are doing it for publicity and politics. Methinks that they do it because they believe they are the true Mormons.
RCSVirginia 1 month ago
@RCSVirginia TRUE but they also raised their hands sustaining Church leaders as Seers & Revelators...meaning they would listen & follow their leadership...THEY DID NOT & their names were taken out of the membership of the Mormon Church worldwide, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. God gives & God takes away His own doctrines that are no longer needed among His people. Fundamentalists are trying to hang on to the "Mormon name" for publicity & political purposes
leSavaii 1 month ago
BAPTISM ON BEHALF FOR THE DEAD?...Protestants believe that...you are SAVED if you believe in Jesus & IF NOT...you're burned in HELL. Really Protestants? If I were a Jew, I would've taken another hard look at what the LDS Church is doing. Appostle Paul said that "Christ both died & rose...that he might be Lord of both of the dead & living" Jesus officially open the preaching of His Church BEFORE His Resurrection, fulfilling the prophesies in Isaiah, Luke, John & Peter etc..
leSavaii 1 month ago