LDS Church Officially Opposes Gay Marriage Bill In New Zealand

On October 26th, 2012, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement opposing New Zealand's march towards gay marriage and calling upon the public to defend and protect the traditional definition of marriage between one man and one woman.

The effort to redefine marriage began on August 29th, 2012 when New Zealand's Parliament passed a bill officially entitled the "Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill" by an 80-40 margin which would ultimately legalize gay marriage. However, this vote was merely the first of three affirmative votes which must take place before it can become law; after a grace period allowing written input from the public until October 26th, a second reading in Parliament is expected to take place in March 2013. If the second vote is also affirmative, the third and final reading could take place as early as April. Passage of the law would also allow gay couples to adopt children. Although polls at the time indicate that two-thirds of New Zealanders support gay marriage, opponents to the bill, organized by the conservative lobby group Family First, promptly presented a 50,000 signature petition to the parliament.

Immediately after the first vote, 70 different religious leaders issued a joint statement opposing the bill. On October 5th, as the deadline for written submissions in oppostion to the bill approached, the New Zealand Christian Network asked its members to write to the government in opposition to the redefinition of marriage, and urged pastors to speak out against it in their Sabbath sermons. As a result, on October 26th, Elder Michael Roberts, who is the Area Seventy for the Pacific Area, issued the following official statement:

The protection of marriage as the union of one man and one woman is a matter of the common good and serves the wellbeing of the couple, of children, of civil society and humankind. We join with others to affirm that marriage in its true definition must be protected for its own sake and for society’s good.

We also assert the existing rights of religious groups to solemnize marriage exclusively between one man and one woman according to religious tradition and individual conscience. The meaning and value of marriage precedes and transcends any particular society, government or religious community. It is a universal good and the foundational institution of all societies. It is bound up with the nature of the human person as male and female and with the essential task of bearing and nurturing children.

We also recognize the serious consequences of altering this time-honoured definition. One of these consequences – interference with the religious freedom of those who continue to affirm the true definition of “marriage” – warrants special attention within our faith communities and throughout society as a whole. We believe that changing the definition of marriage would have far-reaching negative implications for the nation, both legal and social.

Therefore, we encourage all people of goodwill to protect marriage as the union between one man and one woman, and to consider carefully the far-ranging impact for religious freedom if marriage is redefined. We especially urge those entrusted with the public good to support laws that uphold the time-honored definition of marriage.

Because our society includes many groups with differing views, we reiterate our desire for protection of marriage to be pursued in a respectful way, acknowledging society’s diversity.

LDS Church Officially Reacts To NBC's "Mormon In America", Characterizes It As "A Sincere Attempt To Know The Faith"

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has finally posted official reaction to the NBC News special entitled "Mormon In America", which aired on August 24th, 2012. On the Mormon Newsroom blog, in a post entitled "Mormonism in the News: Getting It Right August 29", they characterized the program as "a sincere attempt to know the faith" and lauded it as "a good example of what we mean when we say we want to be a part of the global discussion of Mormonism".

The Church did cite three parts of the report which could have been improved:

-- Temple Garments: This segment was considered mildly insensitive because it showed a picture of individuals wearing the garments. The LDS Church prefers that media outlets report on temple garments the same way as they would religious vestments of other faiths.

-- Insufficient Distinction Between Temples And Chapels: During one segment, Brian Williams was protrayed as sitting outside a temple and wishing he could enter it just like a Catholic cathedral. While it is correct that only devout LDS members vetted by their bishops can enter LDS temples after they are formally dedicated, it is also true that the public is always welcome to attend any of the Church’s 28,000 weekly Sunday worship services around the globe.

-- Word Of Wisdom Does Not Specifically Mention Caffeine: The NBC special erroneously stated that caffeine was forbidden. More precisely, it is hot drinks, further defined as coffee and tea, that are forbidden.

For those who may have missed it or want to watch it again, the full 42 minutes of the show is posted on YouTube. Audio is a bit low.

Unofficial reaction by individual LDS members was posted to a host of Utah media websites, where secular coverage was more detailed. In comments posted to the August 24th KSL Channel 5 news story, many found the picture of the garments to be offensive, but a considerable number were also unhappy with the point of view espoused by Abby Huntsman, one of the daughters of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. Abby has evolved into what can be best described as a "New Order Mormon", and thinks the Church should be less secretive. A few people were also unhappy with the points of view espoused by Joanna Brooks, a faithful member of the Church who flirts with feminism and has promoted gay rights. Brooks was perceived to have been obsessed with "patriarchy" within the LDS Church and promoting the idea that women should have the Priesthood conferred upon them. Nevertheless, the general consensus was that NBC strived to be fair and balanced.

LDS Public Affairs Director Michael Otterson Speaks Out On How To Respond To Anti-Mormon Material

Michael Otterson, Managing Director of the Public Affairs Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recently gave an interview on how to accurately and sensitively react to inquires about the Church. One of the most important segments, uploaded to YouTube, addresses reacting and responding to erroneous information about the Church. Otterson is actually a convert to the Church, having grown up in Liverpool (and retains a healthy trace of the BBC-standard accent):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSUvFTQu5nY



One correction needs to be noted. The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR) website referenced in the video is actually available at FAIRLDS.org.

Three points brought out by Michael Otterson:

(1). Be properly anchored in the Gospel; seek for that spiritual conversion that will assure the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.

(2). Be well-grounded in the resources the Church has already made available, particularly on Mormon.org, where FAQs to various subjects can be found.

(3). Read the New Testament for parallels. Many of the accusations levied today are no different than those levied against Peter, James, Paul, etc. when the first church was founded. The history of the LDS Church shows that Joseph Smith and the early LDS leadership encountered the same accusations.

The entire interview is divided into 12 segments, and the remaining segments can be found in audio format at the Mormon Channel Conversations page (episode 42).

And finally, don't assume the person presenting you with anti-Mormon material is the enemy. That person could well have been misled. Presume ignorance first BEFORE malevolence.

St. Petersburg Times Details How The LDS Church Uses YouTube To Rebut Erroneous Stereotypes About Mormons On Mormon.org

On February 6th, 2011, the St. Petersburg Times published a well-crafted article exploring how members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are using YouTube to create videos which serve to address and debunk erroneous stereotypes about Mormons. A group of filmmakers came from Utah with cameras and settled inside a modest church across from the University of South Florida to make individual videos to be posted on Mormon.org, and this attracted local media interest. Read the full article HERE.

One of the video subjects is retired professional golfer Bruce Summerhays, who came to Tampa to lead the Florida Mission, where he oversees an average of 160 missionaries at any given time. The 64-year-old Summerhays converted to Mormonism at 16. He spent more than 30 years as a club professional, then went pro at age 50. He earned the nickname "Iron Man" among players like Arnold Palmer. He and his wife, Carolyn, have eight children, all grown. Summerhays' own video, which will show him on the course, walking with his wife and working at the mission, is in postproduction and will be posted on Mormon.org. Summerhays said "I'll take any opportunity to spread the message of the Gospel. There's a lot of confusion about what the church is and what it represents."

In 2010, the LDS Church revamped its website, Mormon.org, into a more contemporary and hip meetup for believers and curious types. Producers then began the quest for "cool" Mormons to appear in a series of slick video profiles for YouTube. "We thought we'd start with a dozen or so and see where it went," said Ron Wilson, senior manager of Mormon.org. "We put feelers out to friends and neighbors. Who do you know who's not what some people think is the typical Mormon?" And they found an incredible variety of people representing the ethnic and occupational diversity which exists within the LDS Church -- but a diversity which is NOT a stand-alone device, but a precursor for unity in Jesus Christ. So they decided to start putting their stories on video. The videos went viral on YouTube, rapidly exploding from 10,000 hits to as many as 800,000. They're warm, digestible and habit-forming, and pop up when you're searching for things like skin cream reviews and funny clips.

Unfortunately, there's another YouTube video by a Mormon that also went viral -- and it won't end up on Mormon.org. That, of course, is the video of Jessica Beagley disciplining a rather fractious adoptive child; the video has attracted a tsunami of second-guessing and faux horror by armchair experts who most likely haven't been exposed to that type of frustration. More background on the case available HERE. But Jessica Beagley's video is also useful in the sense that it reminds us that when we join the LDS Church, we don't magically shed our weaknesses and imperfections; we merely embrace a new strategy to deal with them. And progress isn't always endlessly forward; one occasionally stumbles and takes a step or two backwards.

But the member videos on Mormon.org show our better side, while simultaneously reminding the public that we are still just as human as everyone else. You can read profiles of other everyday Mormons HERE

LDS Public Affairs Chief Michael Otterson Discusses Mormon Voices In The Public Square In His Latest Washington Post Column

Michael Otterson, the head of the Public Affairs Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a regular contributor to the Washington Post's On Faith blog. And in his latest post, entitled "Mormon voices in the public square and what to make of them", Otterson exploits the opportunity created by Glenn Beck's leadership role in the August 28th Restoring Honor Rally in Washington, D.C. to further explain the impact of Mormons getting involved in public discourse and advocacy. The Restoring Honor Rally turned out to be less about politics and more about a return to God. Otterson's column is a good companion to a Washington Post story entitled "Mormons have mixed views of Beck's rise", also published September 3rd.

Otterson reminds readers about the LDS Church's policy of strict neutrality on partisan political issues and candidates. Part of the neutrality policy also includes encouragement to Church members to be active and responsible citizens in the political process. The Church encourages its members to study issues and use their vote for whichever party or candidate most closely aligns with their ideas of good government. No LDS political candidate is ever entitled to presume that he or she speaks for the entire LDS Church.

So in regard to Glenn Beck's involvement in the rally, Otterson writes:

...Glenn Beck was doing what every Church member is encouraged by the Church to do - make their voice heard. The fact that Beck has a huge megaphone doesn't change the principle. Mormons obviously are free to express whatever views of good government that they care to espouse, and many of them do. Their views may of course be influenced by their faith and values, but they speak as individuals, not as Church spokesmen. They may also disagree with each other. Since the same church embraces Senator Harry Reid, Governor Mitt Romney and Glenn Beck - all active members - that shouldn't even need saying.

This, of course, flies in the face of critics who allege that Mormons are a monolithic group who don't so much as take a dump in the morning without clearing it with their bishop first. There is a spiritual unity within the LDS community -- a unity based upon common Gospel principles. But spiritual unity does not prohibit or preclude political diversity. In this previous post, I explained why I believe a preponderance of American Mormons vote Republican, but it has more to do with values than politics. Those who criticize Mormons for being monolithic are themselves generally incapable of making simple political decisions without the aid of gurus like Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow, so they project their personal limitations upon everyone else.

Those who want to know more about what Michael Otterson does as the LDS Public Affairs chief may find this June 9th, 2009 interview with By Common Consent of interest.

An Antidote To Gay-Straight Clubs: Christie Richmond Forms A "Mormon Club" At La Jolla High School In California

America's high schools have become inundated with so-called "Gay-Straight Clubs", around 3,500 nationwide at last count, which allegedly promote nothing more than "tolerance and understanding" between the straight community and the gay community (often referred to by the tongue-twisting acronym of "GLBTQ", which sounds more like a specialty sandwich from Burger King). Efforts to stymie the proliferation of these clubs have been hindered by the provisions of the Federal Equal Access Act, which requires schools to allow student clubs to be organized as long as attendance is voluntary, the group is student-initiated, the group is not officially sponsored by the school, the group is not disruptive, and they don't allow outsiders to acquire a controlling interest or engage in regular attendance. The only lawful alternative is if a school bans all student clubs.

However, if you can't beat them, you can instead compete against them, according to La Jolla (CA) High School student Christie Richmond. While she's taken no public position on gay-straight clubs, she decided to form a Mormon club on campus to address the growing public misperceptions about Mormonism. The full story of her accomplishments is published by the La Jolla Light (La Jolla is a suburb of San Diego for the geographically-challenged).

Richmond followed all the instructions. First, she circulated a petition; 100 signatures were required. After she got 260 signatures, the club was approved, and 60 people showed up at its first weekly meeting. Any La Jolla student is welcome to join the club.

Typically, the club leadership presents topics like the First Vision or topics out of the pamphlet "For the Strength of Youth" (a pamphlet of standards to guide Mormon youths, leaders and parents; HTML copy HERE, 47-page PDF copy HERE). On one occasion, a couple of full-time missionaries attended to explain their role. But they also plan social activities for club members where LDS standards of behavior are observed to show that people can have a good time while upholding LDS church standards. And it's not all funeral potatoes and green jello, either; pizza is frequently on the menu.

The Mormon Club is relatively new, since it is not yet listed on the school's list of student clubs, although a gay-straight club exists, as well as a branch of the controversial M.E.Ch.A., known colloquially as the "Mechistas", considered by some to be a Latino supremacist group (a student does not have to be Latino to join it, though).

Some anti-Mormons, particularly ex-Mormons who won't let go of the Church, will undoubtedly take issue with this club, claiming it's a mechanism for proselytization. Well, so what if it is; proselytization is free speech, and all religions are entitled to compete for adherents. Free speech applies to ALL, not just to those with whom we agree. But the primary purpose of this club is information, although some conversions may eventually result. Ex-Mormons need to understand that just because Mormonism didn't work for them doesn't mean it doesn't work period; millions continue to find spiritual satisfaction within the ranks of the Church, and ex-Mormons need to show more respect for those who choose to remain within the Church (in return, we can be less judgmental of those who leave).

Nevertheless, the creation of a Mormon Club, as well as any other religious clubs on high school campuses, will serve as a valuable and welcome counterweight to the proliferation of gay-straight clubs nationwide. If you can't beat them, compete against them.

Anchorage Church Blogger Chris Thompson Issues Top Ten New Year's Wishes For Local Churches; How Does The LDS Church Measure Up?

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are always under observation and evaluation from a multitude of sources. Some people come to us through the interecession of another member or the missionaries. Others casually drop in of their own accord.

And still others actually visit for the purpose of documenting their observations publicly.

One example of the latter is Chris Thompson, a resident of Anchorage, Alaska. He is an amateur Biblical scholar and student of religions, and is a member of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Society for Biblical Literature (SBL). He is employed by Workforce Consulting as a management consultant. He edits the Church Visits blog, operated under the auspices of the Anchorage Daily News. Because he is searching for a permanent church home, he visits at least one local church per week, and documents the results on his blog. He has not yet visited an LDS Church service.

Here's the criteria he uses in evaluating his church visits:
• Did the church project friendliness and warmth?
• Did he truly feel welcomed?
• Did he relate to the main teaching and was it delivered effectively?
• Did music merely entertain or did it deepen the worship experience?

In his latest post, Thompson publishes a top ten-type list of New Year's wishes for local churches. But although tailored for the Anchorage, Alaska readership, it is applicable elsewhere. And I decided it was a good opportunity to analyze how we as Latter-day Saints measure up. You can read his entire post HERE; below I present the categories and how I believe we measure up.

1. Be Friendlier and More Welcoming: Thompson is almost morbidly obsessed with the "greeting" and the "welcome". He states, "Anchorage church visitors are not warmly greeted as a rule. The official "Meet n' Greet" is a poor excuse for extending true Christian hospitality. True hospitality means extending oneself. Many churches ask visitors to identify themselves, but in only one in 2008 was I introduced by a member who extended themself". During opening remarks, LDS bishops frequently extend a welcome to visitors, although it is not customary to ask visitors to stand up and identify themselves publicly. The "welcome" shouldn't overwhelm the service itself.

2. Clean Up Your Church Website: We can give ourselves a letter grade of "A" in this category. The LDS Church is constantly optimizing their two websites, LDS.org and Mormon.org. We make it easy to find the nearest LDS chapel; click HERE then enter your address or zipcode to find the nearest LDS chapel and the times of the services. If there is more than one, you can pick any one you desire (it is only after you join the Church that you will be assigned to a specific ward).

3. Pick and Train Greeters Carefully: LDS churches do not have or need official greeters, although assigned missionaries will frequently stand in the lobbies to identify and assist unfamiliar people who enter. Since most visitors are accompanied by an LDS member, this problem frequently solves itself in advance.

4. Involve Parishioners More in Services: Letter grade "A++++"!!! Any LDS member showing any interest at all is usually called to a position shortly after joining the Church and becoming part of a particular congregation or ward. The opportunities for service are available and endless. During the first Sunday of each month, those who desire can stand up and bear their testimony, relating faith-promoting stories designed to motivate other congregants. Many members are invited to give talks in order to cultivate presentation skills.

5. Balance Church Suppers with Community Food Help: The LDS Church strives to achieve this balance. Missionaries are not merely called for proselytization, but also for service. LDS Church members provided assistance for victims of Hurricane Ike. Nevertheless, this remains wise counsel; we can always improve in this area.

6. Pastors, Emphasize Christmas & Easter All Year: The LDS Church measures up implicitly in this area; during every weekly service, we constantly emphasize what Jesus did for us. This is why we don't have unique Christmas or Easter services.

7. Offer Explanations for Visitors: We can do better in this area. In particular, we should better explain Sacramental protocol. We define partaking of the Sacramental emblems as "renewing our covenants with the Lord"; one must have made the covenants in the first place in order to "renew" them. Consequently, we recommend that only worthy members of the Church partake of the Sacrament. However, we should not be heavy-handed about it; we should invite the visitor to make his or her decision based upon good conscience, in accordance with the counsel of the apostle Paul, who said, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself” (1 Cor. 11:28–29). Our Church should become less of a "can't-don't" church and become more of a "can-do" church.

8. Don't Make Your Church a Coffeehouse: Because of our Word of Wisdom, we don't have a specific problem in this area. However, Chris Thompson's underlying message here is "reverence"; he counsels us to avoid unnecessary disruptions to the service in order to maintain a reverential atmosphere. Good counsel.

9. Rely less on PowerPoints: I don't see where we have a problem here; we do emphasize the scriptures and use songbooks.

10. Use Music as Spiritual Glue, not Entertainment: We pass this test as well. Music is primarily provided by congregational singing, accompanied by either organ or piano. There are no "snappy bands" or "rocky" music.

Analysis: Chris Thompson seems almost morbidly obsessed with the "welcome". Perhaps my disdain for this issue is driven by personality bias; I'm not the classical "hail-fellow-well-met" type, and I'm turned off by anyone who comes up and slobbers all over me like a Great Dane before they even get to know me. But I still think Thompson's a bit obsessed with this issue; when you read through his blog, you'll see that he criticizes many Anchorage churches for an insufficient "welcome". Perhaps the problem lies partially in his inflated expectations.

Nevertheless, the rest of his counsel is quite valuable and can serve as a serious of benchmarks designed to keep us relevant and attractive to the general public. We should always accept worthy counsel, regardless of the source.