SeN Expresses Concern Over The Church's Public Image

[Everybody Wang Chung]

Over at Sic et Non, DCP is worried that the Church's negative image could be hurting missionary work:

"Latter-day Saints have a great deal of work to do in order to improve our image. I wouldn’t care about our “image” too much, of course, if it didn’t interfere with the ability of many in America and beyond even to accurately hear us, let alone to fully understand our message. But how many doors do our missionaries fail to get into because people imagine that they already know enough about us, and because what they “know” is so negative."

"The major elements of the public image of the Latter-day Saints, I think, continue to be that we’re white, oppressive, secretive, patriarchal, cultish (in the popular sense of that ill-defined term), and reactionary."

Well, I wonder if it has ever occurred to DCP that the Church has had almost 200 years to establish a positive public image. The Church seems to have failed miserably and after 200 years, Mormonism is one of the most disliked religions. The Church continues to be secretive, patriarchal, cultish and still struggles with racism and homophobia. Lately, it seems like it has been one PR disaster after another (Prop 8, secretly stockpiling a 150 billion dollar fund, silencing sexual abuse victims, class action lawsuits, cover-ups and most of all BYU losing to Liberty University in football).

Instead of rehabilitating its image by being more Christian, charitable, open and honest, the Church has decided to spend millions on a name change campaign. This behavior does not bode well if one is hoping the Church's public image will soon change.

DCP, if after 200 years your religion is still one of the most disliked, maybe your religion is to blame?

[jfro18]

Unless SeN has a way to keep people from hopping on Google and searching for information on the Mormon church, there's no way to really fix this.

I know the church has been softening it's image for years and spends a ton of money on ads/SEO/etc, but I can't tell you how many 'never-Mormon' people contact me after seeing a video or the website... the damage being done through even TikTok is bigger than I used to think.

[Gadianton]

It's interesting that the holy spirit is so helpless against the rumors and opinions of men.

[Fence Sitter]

Seems like the public image Dan is describing is quite accurate.

[dastardly stem]

God wants it this way. He set it up so everyone will see Mormons as “ white, oppressive, secretive, patriarchal, cultish (in the popular sense of that ill-defined term), and reactionary” through no fault of his saints. God suffers it to be so to prove his people all the more to see if they will do all things he commands them all n these tough times. That’s just how much he loves them while using the majority of others to benefit the few eternally. Also this process will separate fares from the wheat. God bless. He knows what he’s doing. Keep the faith DCP and co.

[Marcus]

Over at Sic et Non, DCP is worried that the Church's negative image could be hurting missionary work:

"Latter-day Saints have a great deal of work to do in order to improve our image. I wouldn’t care about our “image” too much, of course, if it didn’t interfere with the ability of many in America and beyond even to accurately hear us, let alone to fully understand our message. But how many doors do our missionaries fail to get into because people imagine that they already know enough about us, and because what they “know” is so negative."

"The major elements of the public image of the Latter-day Saints, I think, continue to be that we’re white, oppressive, secretive, patriarchal, cultish (in the popular sense of that ill-defined term), and reactionary."

hmmm. Let’s add in “family only means something if family members follow our religion,” and “we cover up abuse of all kinds to protect the image of men.”

[Doctor Scratch]

Lol. And what, pray tell, has his own role been in affecting “the Church’s image”? And what is his “message,” beyond: “I travel a lot” and “give money to Interpreter”? I’m serious: what more is he offering beyond that? The people on the board are supposedly “obsessed” with him and allegedly scrutinize everything he does, and if we can’t find anything of substance in what he does, then how does he explain that?

[drumdude]

I agree with Dan that more people should be educated about Mormonism.

But I doubt it will have the positive effect for missionary efforts he is imagining…

[Canadiandude2]

"Latter-day Saints have a great deal of work to do in order to improve our image. I wouldn’t care about our “image” too much, of course, if it didn’t interfere with the ability of many in America and beyond even to accurately hear us, let alone to fully understand our message. But how many doors do our missionaries fail to get into because people imagine that they already know enough about us, and because what they “know” is so negative."

"The major elements of the public image of the Latter-day Saints, I think, continue to be that we’re white, oppressive, secretive, patriarchal, cultish (in the popular sense of that ill-defined term), and reactionary."

I dare DCP to come up to Canada and play that smallest fiddle at our public universities.

[IHAQ]

"The major elements of the public image of the Latter-day Saints, I think, continue to be that we’re white, oppressive, secretive, patriarchal, cultish (in the popular sense of that ill-defined term), and reactionary."

The First Presidency and Q12 are white, oppressive, secretive, cultish and reactionary. What else is the public to conclude from that?

But how many doors do our missionaries fail to get into because people imagine that they already know enough about us, and because what they “know” is so negative."

He’s publicly criticising the effectiveness of the First Presidency and Q12.