Okay, they're different. Most people in Salt Lake don't dress for the Little House on the Prairie 2 casting call every day.
We're not so different that we'd ever prosecute them, like in texas. But there is a difference. Trust us.

It might help if the leaders of the LDS church told their history accurately and stopped hiding the things that make them look bad. Secrecy and distorted facts leave the door open for criticism. When people are told the whole TRUTH they are much more likely to perpetuate the TRUTH.

It is clear that the world at large needs to be educated in the differences (and similarities) of the different factions that have sprung from the original church, so maybe the church should stop the PR and start sharing some real honest to goodness FACTS both inside AND outside the church.

Many members of the LDS church seem to have forgotten their history as a pariah religion, driven from the eastern states to settle in the territories: harassed by the federal government and inveigled to give up hegemony over their settlements. There was no law against polygamy until one was passed for the express purpose of pressuring the LDS Church’s authority. The fourteen thousand polygamists in the church were left high and dry, driven into hiding, jailed, fined, and stripped of their civil rights. Now that an offshoot sect of those original Mormons is being subjected to the same harassment, pressure, and loss of rights, the LDS church only wants to distance itself and ignore this blatant assault on religious freedom.

In 1993 when the government incinerated over 80 men, women, and children at Waco, the first thing I thought of was the federal government's assault against the early LDS Church. But today's Mormons are apparently more worried about being identified with people who have unstylish clothes and hair. It's trendy to help build synagogues for the Jews and temples for Asian sects, but they are applauding the destruction of a religion that shares their origins.

But the people are Mormons no matter what the LDS(Brighamite) church says, as the FLDS believe in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. If this were 120 years ago they would be embraced as Brothers and Sisters by the Utah based church. Instead of emphasizing the differences, how about looking at the similarities? There are a lot more similarities than differences and the further back you go into history one sees the differences fade into oblivion.

It seems easy, at this point in history, to see the divine and inspired wisdom that caused the LDS church to leave the practice of polygamy behind in 1890. It appears to provide nothing but difficulty, for those who cling to it.

Greetings:

Personally, I'm glad folks are getting things mixed up!

It's a great missionary opportunity for members of the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints.

You know the old Hollywood adage.

It doesn't matter what the newspapers say about you, just as long as the name is spelled correctly.

After all, whether it's good or bad, it's still publicity, and ANY publicity is always good.

So, let's take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to answer questions about our Church!

That's why God gave us the Internet.

Thank you.

John Robert Mallernee
Bard of Clan Henderson
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Washington, D.C. 20011-8400

Both groups recognize Doctrine & Covenants 132 as canonized scripture. LDS members no longer practice the plural marriage portions of the revelation, while FLDS members continue to practice it.

Anonymous. Is this the way Mormonism used to be when polygamy was accepted by the church, or has Jeff's and his followers taken their child bride theology to an extreme? Just wondering.

If the LDS Church has to keep pointing out that they don't have ANYTHING to do with the this Texas group, why all the top story status, plus several additional stories about it EVERY DAY in the LDS- owned Des News? In our state, not far from Texas, the news station I watch correctly refers to this group as a "polygamist sect". What is different about the coverage here is that it is given a 2 sentence mention, at about the end of the news cast, right before the news of missing dogs that are found, and people finding cornflakes shaped like Illinois. Since it in no way has anything to do with LDS, why all the inordinate coverage by Des News?

I so appreciate Elder Cook's words.
I am a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who lives in Texas. I find the words by Elder Cook very comforting! I am glad he is speaking out in forceful and clear terms! I hope his words will be broadcast throughout the world, and reach our Church membership, to comfort them. I find it very distressing to witness the use of the sacred name of our Church, changed by one word -Fundamentalist-, to represent the opposite of what the Church stands for. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints stands for truth and righteousness. It invites people to "Come unto Christ," to delight in Him, to partake of His goodness and mercy, through His Redemptive Atoning Sacrifice and Resurrection. I worship the Lord Jesus Christ. I worship God the Father, my Heavenly Father. I know He cares about everyone. I know He wants our happiness. I know that He has provided a plan for us to return to His presence, through the Atoning sacrifice and resurrection of His Beloved Son Jesus Christ.
Yes, I do have a college degree, a Master of Science in Engineering.

Shame on us, Peoples Rights are being Violated and we are worried the world may get us confused, I think ill find a more Crist like Religion, im sure there is one out there some where.

I thought the LDS folks no longer wanted to be called "Mormons". Why do they care if the FLDS folks are called Mormon. Very confusing.

So the church posts a video on YouTube; the funny thing is, YouTube is blocked at BYU so students won't be able to see it.

So you're not different enough to recognize the moral issues involved? But you wouldn't dress so tacky...
Honorable.

I wish this artical would be addressed on Glen Beck or Fox News- Mormons are not a cult or poligamous sect.
Prophesy prevails that many Hornets nests will be exposed before the next coming-I only hope that this group will be exposed for what it is and eradicated. I truly feel empathy for these FLDS women and children and their future.
Praise to Elder Cook for his commnts and stewardship to the church and keeping our integrity.

Anonymous 1 am provides a great example of the intolerance that many LDS experience on a daily basis

I think the LDS church could get a much better impression into the minds of the public if they would ask what they could do to help the victims of the FLDS scandal, rather than being so defensive. Actions speak a whole lot louder than words! Where is the fruit of the spirit here? I see lots of other churches helping out by providing meals, opening their homes to the attorneys visiting San Angelo, making quilts for the children, etc. But what is the LDS church doing to help?

Amazing. The media never confuse Baptists and Catholics! Why is this so difficult for them? It makes you wonder if anything they report is reliable.

Any Media Outlet that confuses the FLDS Church with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or uses the word "Mormon" to refer to FLDS or uses the Pictures of the Salt Lake Temple to misrepresent our Church needs to have his or her license revoked and no longer be allowed to be in the News Business, and yes, that includes Reuters News Service.

the best way to be a criminal is to get a badge and get the government to fund you.

As a member of the LDS church, I don't like it either when these polygamous sects get confused with our church. But I think it is a bit disingenuous to insist that they are not "Mormon". Like it or not, that term is going to apply to more splinter groups as time goes on.

I think "Mormon" applies to anyone who believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. These splinter groups seem to believe those two things in spite of all the other differences they may have with our church.

We take great exception to other churches trying to deny us the distinction as "Christians" yet we seem to be trying to do the same with other "Mormons". I don't think we can have it both ways.

We need to stress that we are not associated with those groups and that not all "Mormons" are the same just as not all "Christians" are the same.

Fortunately my friends in Texas do know the difference between my church and the one on the news even though I get teased in a good-natured way.
However, it is a concern when many people in the public do not have past experience with the "real" LDS church. One news cast actually tried. I heard, "This group is in no way connected to the Mormon Church with headquarters in Salt Lake City." This much effort unfortunately is few and far between. I even heard on a Texas channel, "The sect does not want people to view their temple because the Mormon temples are closed to the public."
The effort needs to continue to make the differences clear.
Perhaps it might help if everyone raided all the compounds and got those kids out like Texas has the courage to do. Texas may be making mistakes but at least they are trying. I'm sure we will weather this storm also.

Most of these fundamental lds groups started after two apostles resigned from the quorum of the 12 in 1906. The names of the apostles who disagreed on the polygamy manifesto were John W. Taylor and Matthias F. Cowley.
Currently the only polygamy the church authorizes is the sealing of a man to another wife after the death of the first wife. The church headquartered in Utah never annuls the sealing to the first wife after death. This marriage remains in force and they allow the man to marry a second or third wife for eternities. Most other Christian churches annul the first marriage by death whereas Mormons do not. There are only three current apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS who have entered into these forms of marriage sealings. Elder Perry married a second wife for eternity in April 1976 when he was sealed to Barbara T. Dayton in the SLC temple. Elder Dallin H. Oaks entered his first polygamous marriage for eternities when he married a second wife Kristen M. McMain On 25 August 2000. Elder Nelson married his first polygamous wife for eternities in April of 2006 when he married Wendy L. Watson.

If, as you claim, the LDS are entirely different from the FLDS, Why are you promoting this story into the ground? Maybe, if you lay off the incessant updates and filler, this story will die down a bit and you can get back to reporting the REAL news - you know - the economy that's in the tank, the neverending war, the election campaign. Stories that affect EVERYONE and not just the select few. Enough already. LDS, FLDS, RFLDS - does anyone see a similarity in all those letters?

Fox New Channel begins each of their reports about the FLDS situation by stressing that they are not in any way connected to the LDS Church.

LDS women "don't dress in old-fashioned clothing or wear unusual hairstyles,like FLDS members do"?

What ward does this person go to? Has this person ever traveled much outside of Utah to see how the rest of the world dresses?

Both the FLDS and the LDS Church are followers of the teachings of Joseph Smith are they not? Was it not Joseph Smith that started the practice of polygamy? Which church follows the teachings of Joseph Smith the closest?

Once there was one population of Mormons. Then, there was a split creating the LDS Church and the Reorganized church. The LDS Church had another split over Woodruff's Manifesto. The LDS Church practiced polygamy after the manifesto in Mexico and Canada. The LDS Church assured the US Government that polygamy wasn't going on in the church.

Today, no LDS Mormon are polygamous until they reach heaven. Mormon men can be sealed to many women. Women can only be sealed to one man.

Have I missed anything here?

ok, so they dont dress the same. ???????

What kind of bonehead doesn't know the difference between the LDS and the FLDS? Come on people! And quit criticizing the LDS church. We have nothing to do with the FLDS and never did. They are not Mormons. Get over it.

The church seems to be more concerned about their image than the well being of these children. Why isn't Utah cracking down on these sex offenders? I believe it has to do with protecting the LDS church's image.

Umm, actually quite a few people in Utah do look like they dress and wear their hair straight out of Little House on the Praire. They talk like them too.

The current practices of the FLDS polygamist are not even close to the way God instructed polygamy to be practiced when the principle was restored to the earth. To say that the LDS and FLDS are similar in that fashion, is just incorrect. Do you think over a hundred years of rebellion to the commandment to discontinue polygamy, these members of the FLDS are practicing the way it was before? No, the Lord wouldnt stand for righteous people to abuse sex and hunger for control over their wives and children. Think about it, think, think about it.

RE: WHY?? I agree with you. Why is such a hot, overly covered story? How about it Deseret News? Any reply as to why you are so focused on this story?

I live in east Texas, far from San Angelo, and it gets ALOT of play here on the TV news. Also, have you watched nationwide CNN lately? They will mention it at least every half hour. Larry King, Nancy Grace, and Anderson Cooper seem obsessed by the whole thing. Maybe your locale "near" Texas is the unusual (and, perhaps, desirable) place to be.

Based on the number of comments to the FLDS raid articles, the Des News appears to be operating like, um, a newspaper that must sustain its own existence. The FLDS stories invite alot of readership, apparently - even you, and this keeps adversizers and subscribers - the lifeblood of newspapers' existence.

East Texan

To John Robert Mallernee:
This is the first time I have heard that the Internet is God-given.
I've come across some things there that I don't think could have come from God!

So, if
FLDS = LDS (shared scripture and 50 years history), then,

Branch Davidian = Seventh Day Adventist (shared scripture and history), and

Jonestown = Evangelical/Pentecostal (shared scripture and history), and

Eastern Orthodox = Roman Catholic (shared scripture and 1,000+ years' history), and

All Protestantism = Roman Catholicism (shared scripture and 1,500 years' history), and

Shiite = Sunni (shared scripture and history).

Agreed? And if not, why not?

Or, let's just let each group maintain its own identify and recognize it as such.

"So the church posts a video on YouTube; the funny thing is, YouTube is blocked at BYU so students won't be able to see it."
-----------

why is it blocked?

To Amazed | 2:21 a.m.,

You are mistaken. Laws outlawing polygamy were NOT passed simply to get at Mormons. Polygamy was already illegal in the state of Illinois during the Nauvoo era when Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball first began to take plural wives. (see Greiner & Sherman, Revised Laws of Illinois, 1833, pg. 198-199). There were a number of "Zionist" communities of different faiths that were experimenting with a variety of sexual practices, not just the Mormons.

Additionally, the 1835 (first) edition of the Doctrine and Covenants forbade and condemned polygamy in the LDS Church, despite the possibility that Joseph may have been involved with Fanny Alger as early as 1833.

No matter how you slice it, polygamy among the Mormons had a murky, questionable, "tawdry" beginning (Oliver Cowdery's word). Based on records and journals of many plural wives of these early leaders, their lifestyles were rarely any better than the lifestyles being lived by the FLDS in Texas. Most of them were much worse off in almost every respect.

Don't (and shouldn't) include the things we are talking about with the FLDS! The line is being drawn now because due to the secretive nature of this religion many people didn't realize. They have been hiding under "religious freedoms". Young girls and women do not have to be in this and they didn't know. They thought their "eternal salvation" was at risk! It's high time this was recognized and we will never let it happen again.

........Too be honest, I don't find his words "Comforting". All I can see when issues like this arrive is fear. All any one of us LDS can do is mention the sentance to the world "OH, it's ok world, we stopped doing that in 1890." and after words,mention how we're so "Edd-you-cated" just to make the world kiss our behind.

I can see why we need to clarify with others that the media is confusing our religion with the smaller sects. But yet, why do wee need to say more for the sole purpose of the world to love us?

Speaking of the media. The way they're confusing our religion with the other sects is a good example of how the media can easily infuence the publics mindset and opinions.

Hey John Robert M,

I have found out all I ever want to know about the FLDS and the LDS church.

You and your church will never convince me that the law of not committing adultery was suspended for Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and all the others who practiced polygamy and polyandry.

Never. Ever. Period.

God bless Texas.

from CNN newsite, via Drudgereport...."Religious scholar John Walsh also addressed a particularly damning piece of evidence: At least one bed found inside a temple that was allegedly used to consummate such marriages immediately after the ceremony.

"Historically, the only use of a bed in a temple is for temple worship itself," said Walsh, who said he has studied the FLDS practices for 18 years. "The worship lasts a couple of hours, so all the temples will have a place where someone can lie down."

But, he said, "To my knowledge, there has never been any sexual activity in a Mormon temple."

Walsh said he also studies the mainstream Mormon church, which renounced polygamy a century ago and has no ties to the FLDS. He said without the polygamy aspect, the FLDS would resemble the Baptist or Catholic religions."
this last paragraph explains why the buses used to transport the FLDS members to the holding pens were labelled as "Baptist" vehicles...just helping another brother out....they may even loan the buses to Westboro BAPTIST Church for their next US Soldier field trip.

I just want to state that my great great grandfather was a polygamist and he gave four of his daughters to his older brother in marriage. There was quite a difference in the ages of the brides and the bridegroom. The bridegroom had a total of 12 wives and 56 children.

"Okay, they're different. Most people in Salt Lake don't dress for the Little House on the Prairie 2 casting call every day."

Here's what I don't get:

Look at female TV hosts and guests or female starlets at important Hollywood events, etc. Many times you will see alotta leg and breast exposure and oddball quaffs. These women are gazed upon with admiration and envy. But look at the FLDS women and you will see modest dress down to the wrists and ankles... with equally strange quaffs. The women are castigated and belittled for their attire. Go figure.

Those of you who are confused by all the news reports, should take this opportunity to talk to your Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saint friends and/or neighbors (I'd be surprised if you don't have at least one LDS member at your place of work or neighborhood weather you know it or not.) If you don't know any active members of the LDS church, look in your phone book and call the missionaries. They can tell you more about it. The similarities between the LDS and FLDS churches pretty much end outside of their common beginning. All christian churches use the Bible. It's pure ignorance to say two different religions are the same because they have the same beginning. If that's the case, all Catholic and Prodestant churches are the same because the have the same beginning too.

Isn't this a bit like the left hand saying it is different from the right hand?

As an active LDS member, I feel that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are totally separate. We have very few similarities. I feel free to go where I choose and do what I choose. I choose to try to follow our teachings. I feel the same compassion for FLDS members that I would for any people who are having similar problems. Those who oppress and try to control those women and children and prevent them from making choices and reaching their potential need to be punished. They have been crippled by the environment they have been forced to live in. That is not the Lord's way. I hope these women and children will not have to return to that environment and that they can somehow learn to find joy in life.

You too need to go back in history so that you can see that you are like so many others of the past and present who build momuments to the dead prophets and stone the living prophets.

Now that is funny.

To me, the only difference between FLDS and the LDS is the "F" word.