Mopologists Erupt Over "Nightline" Piece

[_Bond James Bond]

My favorite comment came from Droopy: (emphasis mine)

For the present moment (as the chattering classes obsess over Prop dirol.gif, we have perhaps become the Jews of North America. I never thought I'd see the Church upstage the Protestant fundamentalists as the objects of the mainstream media's jaundiced crossed eyes.

I've observed Mormons connecting any perceived persecution to the Jews my whole life. It validates their testimony somehow.

Didn't the Mountain Meadows Massacre end the lives of more innocent women and children than any persecution the LDS church has endured?
You never see journalists point this out when they cover 19th century persecution, nor do they explain the context of why members were driven to Utah.

I've seen this little slice of hyperbole a number of times and it really gets tiresome to read such ignorance. The Mormons aren't the Jews of North America. Heck they aren't even on the radar. They shouldn't even be mentioned in the same post with the Jews [or the Native Americans or African Americans when it comes to treatment in America for that matter]. For all of Cogs' talk of being a history buff and academic honesty he should know better than to even make that claim. It comes off looking foolish to anyone who has actually studied the persecution[s] of the Jews.

[_Scottie]

Yeah, this persecution angle is really strange to me.

Someone asked what was said in the piece that was untrue. The response: Well, nothing was "untrue", but the reporter had a condescending tone and they mentioned chlorine in the baptismal font!! OH LORD, THE PERSECUTION!!! The Jews never had it so bad!!

[_Henry Jacobs]

they mentioned chlorine in the baptismal font!! OH LORD, THE PERSECUTION!!!

If the public knew what that font was about to experience on a constant basis, they'd TOTALLY understand the chlorination!

[_John Larsen]

The only comment that seemed a little harmful to the church came from Elder Ballard when he said "we know how to get things done" and something like "when the leaders give us direction, we follow it."

I think that's the issue that scares people about Mormons and will keep them in the spotlight over Prop 8.

And will keep a Mormon out of the White House.

Right, it is the creepiness with the IBM/Men in Black Mormons running around that raises eyebrows. Not so much the weird past as how the suits react to the weird past.

[_John Larsen]

they mentioned chlorine in the baptismal font!! OH LORD, THE PERSECUTION!!!

If the public knew what that font was about to experience on a constant basis, they'd TOTALLY understand the chlorination!

I think the chlorine was a perfect object lesson (metaphor) for trying to deal with the modern world while preserving archaic religious practice. Kudos to the author. The subtlety was lost on most.

[_cinepro]

Finally watched the piece last night. I was surprised that President Monson didn't get a single mention or appearance.

Overall, I don't think the piece did much for the Church's PR efforts. It definitely had the detached journalistic vibe that makes the Church look weird from the outside.

[_solomarineris]

that water would stink in less than couple days.
Can you imagine what'd be like after couple hundred baptisms?
Even if that water were recycled it would stink.

[_Seven]

John Larsen:
I think the chlorine was a perfect object lesson (metaphor) for trying to deal with the modern world while preserving archaic religious practice. Kudos to the author. The subtlety was lost on most.

That's how I saw the quote as well. It's funny how some internet Mormons reacted over it.

[_solomarineris]

I really don't understand the complaints and whining coming from MAD.
The piece was pretty mild and overall I thought it focused on many positive aspects of the church. The mainstream media never digs deep enough into any church issue to cause real harm.
If they actually did a little research and questioned the apostles on current sealing policy, the church misleading members on Joseph Smith's life & church history, Book of Abraham, Masonry, Patriarchy, polygamy in the afterlife, following the Prophet, racist pre existence teachings, section 132, etc. then I can see why apologists would be upset. The church gets off lucky that the media do not care enough to dig deeper.

The only comment that seemed a little harmful to the church came from Elder Ballard when he said "we know how to get things done" and something like "when the leaders give us direction, we follow it."

I think that's the issue that scares people about Mormons and will keep them in the spotlight over Prop 8.

Ya? Really?
I think the piece was masterfully revealing the deceit of Temple work, those two white apostle stooges dug themselves in deeper trench as the gig went along.
What was exactly anything traditional christian displayed in that piece? We saw two white anglosaxon man trying to play chicken against monumental truth behind the masonic ritual of temple work.
If I was in charge of the church I'd hate 90% of that piece.
these guys are either idiots or clueless opening up can of worms about the temple business.
I know for fact if this was my gig, I'd keep quiet & out of sight as much as possible.
There's absolutely no good in sharing the veracity of "Secret hand Shakes", "Baptism for Dead".

[_Sethbag]

They are so concerned over what they perceive to be the world portraying them inaccurately.

If only.

They really need to be concerned with what will happen when the world does portray them accurately.