In the world, and of the world.

Via: ABC4.com

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an image problem. Call it a case of mistaken identity. And it all comes down to one letter – the letter “F”.

Since the arrest and trial of FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, and especially since the raid by Texas authorities on the FLDS compound outside of Eldorado, people outside of Utah have been confused about who is a Mormon and who is not.

The LDS Church confirmed the confusion with a survey. The national poll conducted among 1,000 adults finds that roughly ¾ of Americans are not aware of the difference between LDS and FLDS. Other results show 36% of respondents actually think the Texas compound belongs to the LDS or “mainstream” church, 6% think the LDS and FLDS are at least partly related, and 29% just didn’t know.

Such numbers are alarming to LDS leadership. Through its public relations people, the LDS Church is again appealing to major news organizations to explain the differences. They have also added to the official LDS Church website videos features Texas Mormons. Some have been chosen because they’re “just normal folk”. Others have been chosen because they are famous.

Included in the videos is a news anchor from Beaumont, Texas. Also included: Gifford Nielsen. Nielsen is a former All-America quarterback at BYU who went on to play for the Houston Oilers of the NFL. He is now a popular sportscaster in Houston.

“It’s about clarifying who we are,” said Michael Otterson, Director of Public Relations for the LDS Church. “We’re not denigrating any other group. We’re not criticizing any other faith. We are simply saying this is who we are.”

Controversial Stuff

• Yisrayl Hawkins speaks with Nancy Grace
  Idiotic CNN host Nancy Grace displays some rather biased "reporting" in this here video.  The tactic is interesting, although not exactly novel: I...
• Reasons for plural marriage
  I have been actively involved in the christian plural marriage "movement" for a number of years now...since around 1998. I have heard the same argume...
• Willie Jessop Hand Delivers Letter, asks Bush to help FLDS kids
  Somehow I doubt very much if George Bush would touch this issue with a 10 meter cattle prod. Anyway, I particularly like this part of the letter:Reco...
• About Christian or Biblical Polygamy
  “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy nam...
• Judge extends State abuse of children
  And this also, via CNN.comA Texas judge on Friday refused to sign an order returning more than 300 children seized from a polygamist community, saying...