The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Addresses the Misuse of the Term 'Mormon' in Recent News Stories

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Addresses the Misuse of the Term 'Mormon' in Recent News Stories

LONDON, June 12/PRNewswire/ --

The terms Mormon fundamentalist, and Mormon splinter group are regularly,
albeit inaccurately, used by some news media outlets to describe individuals
or organizations who embrace the practice of polygamy. Such use of these
terms is misleading, since they imply that the individual or organization
described is affiliated in some way with "the Mormons" or "the Mormon
church."

The term Mormon is a nickname applied exclusively to members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not accurately applied to
any other person or organization.

Polygamists and polygamist organizations that occasionally make the news
are not dissident wings of the Church. They have no affiliation whatsoever
with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since those who
practice polygamy today are not affiliated with "the Mormon church," and
since they are not "Mormons," a more accurate and less misleading description
of them in the media would be polygamist, or polygamous sect or polygamous
church or polygamous group or polygamous movement, etc.

Church Response to "Big Love" now being shown on Channel 5

Church Public Affairs has received numerous calls from newspaper,
magazine and TV entertainment writers about a new television series called
"Big Love." In the series, set in a modern suburb of Salt Lake City, the main
character keeps up a deceptive life in a fringe world of polygamy with his
three wives and households. Journalists want to know what the Church thinks
of the program, the subject matter and HBO's decision to produce it.

In responding, Church spokesmen have made three major points:

1. Concern for abuse victims

The Church has long been concerned about the illegal practice of polygamy
in some communities, and in particular about persistent reports of emotional
and physical child and wife abuse emanating from them. It will be regrettable
if this program, by making polygamy the subject of entertainment, minimizes
the seriousness of that problem and adds to the suffering of abuse victims.

2. Confusion over the continued practice of polygamy

The central characters of "Big Love" are not "Mormons," or, more properly
termed, Latter-day Saints. The producers of the program maintain the script
makes it clear that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints don't practice polygamy. Still, placing the series in Salt Lake City,
the international headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints is enough to blur the line between the modern Church and the program's
subject matter and to reinforce old and long-outdated stereotypes.

Polygamy was officially discontinued by The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints in 1890. Any Church member adopting the practice today is
excommunicated. Groups that continue the practice in Utah and elsewhere have
no association whatsoever with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. Most of their practitioners have never been among its members.

3. Concern over the moral standards of television entertainment

Despite its popularity with some, much of today's television
entertainment shows an unhealthy preoccupation with sex, coarse humor and
foul language. Big Love, like so much other television programming, is
essentially lazy and indulgent entertainment that does nothing for our
society and will never nourish great minds. Parents who are casual about
their viewing habits ought not to be surprised if teaching moral choices and
civic values to their children becomes harder as a result.

For that reason and others, Church leaders have consistently cautioned
against such entertainment, joining with other religious, education and
government leaders in inviting individuals and families to follow a higher
road of decency, self-discipline and integrity.

Source: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

David Fewster of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, +44-7801-685258

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