2008 Woodie Awards
'Fighting Insanity'
Setting the record on Mormons straight
Kyle Hansen
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Opinion
We do not worship Joseph Smith, Mormon, Moroni, Gordon B. Hinckley or any other man. We worship Jesus Christ and God the Father.
Some other misconceptions about the church come from our unique history.
Latter-day Saints did, at one time, practice polygamy, as did Abraham and Jacob in the Bible, but having more than one wife has not been allowed in the church for more than 100 years.
In fact, polygamy is illegal in the United States, and anyone practicing it is excommunicated from the Church.
Some other groups have tried to label my church as a cult, but that label does not really make sense. By the basic definition of the word, all churches could be considered cults, as they are all groups of people following a leader.
Latter-day Saints believe that just as Jesus Christ called 12 apostles to lead his church in ancient times, God calls prophets and apostles to lead his church today. One of these prophets serves as the president of the church and guides the church under the direction of Jesus Christ.
My wife grew up in Utah, and almost every time she tells people where she is from, they say, "So are you … ?"
"Am I what?" she asks, even though she knows what is coming next.
"Are you, well, you know, a Mormon?"
Yes, she is, but not everyone from Utah is automatically LDS.
While the church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, less than half of the people in that city are LDS, and Latter-day Saints can be found all over the world. There are more members of the church outside of the United States than there are inside. The church's semiannual General Conference, where church leaders speak to the members about principles and doctrines, is translated into 92 languages and is broadcast by satellite to 85 countries.
I will admit, Latter-day Saints are a little bit different, but that is OK. In fact, it is a good thing, and I am grateful to live in a country that allows me to practice my religion in accordance with my beliefs.
Some other misconceptions about the church come from our unique history.
Latter-day Saints did, at one time, practice polygamy, as did Abraham and Jacob in the Bible, but having more than one wife has not been allowed in the church for more than 100 years.
In fact, polygamy is illegal in the United States, and anyone practicing it is excommunicated from the Church.
Some other groups have tried to label my church as a cult, but that label does not really make sense. By the basic definition of the word, all churches could be considered cults, as they are all groups of people following a leader.
Latter-day Saints believe that just as Jesus Christ called 12 apostles to lead his church in ancient times, God calls prophets and apostles to lead his church today. One of these prophets serves as the president of the church and guides the church under the direction of Jesus Christ.
My wife grew up in Utah, and almost every time she tells people where she is from, they say, "So are you … ?"
"Am I what?" she asks, even though she knows what is coming next.
"Are you, well, you know, a Mormon?"
Yes, she is, but not everyone from Utah is automatically LDS.
While the church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, less than half of the people in that city are LDS, and Latter-day Saints can be found all over the world. There are more members of the church outside of the United States than there are inside. The church's semiannual General Conference, where church leaders speak to the members about principles and doctrines, is translated into 92 languages and is broadcast by satellite to 85 countries.
I will admit, Latter-day Saints are a little bit different, but that is OK. In fact, it is a good thing, and I am grateful to live in a country that allows me to practice my religion in accordance with my beliefs.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 51
Rick Leland
posted 4/07/08 @ 9:18 AM PST
Setting the Record Straight. Part 2
1. God bless Kyle Hanson. He has the right to say and believe as he wishes. God gives all a free will. And a free won't. (Continued…)
frank
posted 4/07/08 @ 9:33 AM PST
Say, can I be a 'Mormon' if I have heard the names Kathy Sheets and Steve Christensen, or have heard of a 'Jupiter Talisman', or have a passing knowledge of the events of Sept. (Continued…)
JLFuller
posted 4/07/08 @ 10:26 AM PST
Great article. If I can, I would like to add a couple of things about us that are misunderstood too. First, LDS missionaries do not convert anyone. In fact, no human being does that job. (Continued…)
Sharon
posted 4/07/08 @ 10:56 AM PST
Kyle, you wrote, "After Joseph Smith established the church in 1830, there was a huge amount of persecution. Members of the church were driven from New York to Ohio and then to Missouri. (Continued…)
Snoop Dog
posted 4/07/08 @ 11:55 AM PST
What are you talking about Frank? Mormons are the shizzle.
Mike
posted 4/07/08 @ 6:19 PM PST
I know that Jesus Christ lives, and strive every day to follow his example through loving and serving others. Through Jesus Christ, and only Jesus Christ, can I gain salvation. (Continued…)
Bill
posted 4/07/08 @ 7:10 PM PST
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that it's not those who cry "Lord, Lord" who will get into Heaven but those who do God's will. If you read the entire Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says nothing about the trinity - a doctrine invented centuries later. (Continued…)
Kimberly
posted 4/07/08 @ 8:17 PM PST
Mormons have horns! The only people I have ever heard say that are mormons who say that non-mormons believe this. Reconcile yourselves with the Bible and you will understand why Christians view you as strange. (Continued…)
JD
posted 4/08/08 @ 2:27 AM PST
Great article! The idea that Mormons do not believe in the Trinity is technically not accurate, although many Mormons (and even some Mormon leaders) claim that they are not Trinitarian. (Continued…)
Don
posted 4/08/08 @ 7:47 AM PST
Since the days of Joseph Smith, so-called "Christians" have belittled, lied about, distorted and twisted nearly everything LDS believe. The LDS have responded, defended, stood up for and tried to educate their accusers. (Continued…)
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