Respond with civility to Hanks, Huckabee and Dobson
Don't go throw out your "Apollo 13" or
"Cast Away" DVDs or boycott Focus on The Family just yet. Mormons
ought to rise above the tactics of detractors and instead respond to
criticism and perceived insults with courage and civility.
There's been several reasons for Latter-day Saints to take offense from recent news items. At the end of December, the MMO reported Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Focus on the Family ministry pulled a Web article about Glenn Beck's best-selling book, "The Christmas Sweater."
Some of the ministry's supporters complained that Beck's beliefs in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were incompatible with their brand of Christianity. It turns out, some religious leaders are dismayed that Evangelicals would unite with any other groups to fight for such things as Proposition 8. So it's to their advantage to drive wedges between people with common goals. Latter-day Saints shouldn't let them.
I appreciated the response of Colorado Springs Stake President Mark McConkie. "It is in our collective best interest to continue to find ways to work together instead of driving wedges between committed believers," he told the Colorado Springs Gazette.
After more than a year, I am still not sure whether GOP presidential candidate and Baptist minister Mike Huckabee intended to drive a wedge when he said the famous 10 words to a New York Times Magazine reporter: "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?" At the time, Huckabee claimed ignorance. Huckabee recently said he loves Mormons and believes they make the most effective public servants in America. "Utah doesn't need to think there is a problem with me," Huckabee said on the KSL Radio Doug Wright Show. It's probably time we Mormons forgave him.
At the same time, I do think Mormons should remind Huckabee and Focus on the Family's James Dobson about how some evangelicals misrepresent and denigrate Mormons in un-Christlike ways, including taking beliefs out of context (like Huckabee parroted to the Times). It also includes protests at our temple open houses, distributing defamatory videos and literature, "witnessing" at religious pageants and using blow-horn mockery outside our general conferences. Mormons need to ask for these leaders' assistance in increasing the level of respect, civility and tolerance toward Latter-day Saints among evangelicals.
Along with Huckabee and Dobson, there's film star Tom Hanks. He told a horde of reporters at the the season premier of "Big Love" that Mormons are un-American because of their opposition to Proposition 8. I like Tom Hanks and many of the movies he has acted in and produced so I am not ready to toss them. In a free society, Hanks has every right to speak.
I don't agree that movie stars have any better ideas than the rest of us. Their only advantage is they have instant access to the media. At the same time, those of us who believe supporting Proposition 8 was an ultimate American expression of democracy should continue to enter the public square and thoughtfully express our point of view.
I like what First Amendment expert Charles Haynes wrote in his column: "With differences this deep, we are in for a protracted fight. Fortunately, the First Amendment makes it possible to wage the war with words, giving all sides freedom to make their case openly and robustly without government interference. Of course, there will be winners and losers — we live in a democracy. But how we debate — not only what we debate — matters. It isn't mandated by the First Amendment, but treating our opponents with civility and respect might enable us to live with one another when the battle is finally over."
So Latter-day Saints should not respond to perceived offenses with a return of insults, calls for boycotts and pressuring people from their jobs but instead use "Christian courage" Elder Robert D. Hales so eloquently taught in October conference along with Christ-like respect and civility.
There's been several reasons for Latter-day Saints to take offense from recent news items. At the end of December, the MMO reported Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Focus on the Family ministry pulled a Web article about Glenn Beck's best-selling book, "The Christmas Sweater."
Some of the ministry's supporters complained that Beck's beliefs in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were incompatible with their brand of Christianity. It turns out, some religious leaders are dismayed that Evangelicals would unite with any other groups to fight for such things as Proposition 8. So it's to their advantage to drive wedges between people with common goals. Latter-day Saints shouldn't let them.
I appreciated the response of Colorado Springs Stake President Mark McConkie. "It is in our collective best interest to continue to find ways to work together instead of driving wedges between committed believers," he told the Colorado Springs Gazette.
After more than a year, I am still not sure whether GOP presidential candidate and Baptist minister Mike Huckabee intended to drive a wedge when he said the famous 10 words to a New York Times Magazine reporter: "Don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?" At the time, Huckabee claimed ignorance. Huckabee recently said he loves Mormons and believes they make the most effective public servants in America. "Utah doesn't need to think there is a problem with me," Huckabee said on the KSL Radio Doug Wright Show. It's probably time we Mormons forgave him.
At the same time, I do think Mormons should remind Huckabee and Focus on the Family's James Dobson about how some evangelicals misrepresent and denigrate Mormons in un-Christlike ways, including taking beliefs out of context (like Huckabee parroted to the Times). It also includes protests at our temple open houses, distributing defamatory videos and literature, "witnessing" at religious pageants and using blow-horn mockery outside our general conferences. Mormons need to ask for these leaders' assistance in increasing the level of respect, civility and tolerance toward Latter-day Saints among evangelicals.
Along with Huckabee and Dobson, there's film star Tom Hanks. He told a horde of reporters at the the season premier of "Big Love" that Mormons are un-American because of their opposition to Proposition 8. I like Tom Hanks and many of the movies he has acted in and produced so I am not ready to toss them. In a free society, Hanks has every right to speak.
I don't agree that movie stars have any better ideas than the rest of us. Their only advantage is they have instant access to the media. At the same time, those of us who believe supporting Proposition 8 was an ultimate American expression of democracy should continue to enter the public square and thoughtfully express our point of view.
I like what First Amendment expert Charles Haynes wrote in his column: "With differences this deep, we are in for a protracted fight. Fortunately, the First Amendment makes it possible to wage the war with words, giving all sides freedom to make their case openly and robustly without government interference. Of course, there will be winners and losers — we live in a democracy. But how we debate — not only what we debate — matters. It isn't mandated by the First Amendment, but treating our opponents with civility and respect might enable us to live with one another when the battle is finally over."
So Latter-day Saints should not respond to perceived offenses with a return of insults, calls for boycotts and pressuring people from their jobs but instead use "Christian courage" Elder Robert D. Hales so eloquently taught in October conference along with Christ-like respect and civility.
100: Celebrating a Century of Recording Excellence — Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Return: Four Phases of Our Mortal Journey Home — Robert D. Hales
The Eternal Christ — Truman G. Madsen
Driven: An Autobiography — Larry H. Miller and Doug Robinson
Fishing: Observations of a Reel Man — John Bytheway
2010 Summer Playlist — Deseret Book Company
Heavensong: Music of Contemplation and Light — Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Then Sings My Soul — Jenny Oaks Baker
Song of Redeeming Love — Dallyn Vail Bayles
Fablehaven, Vol. 5: Keys to the Demon Prison — Brandon Mull
Book of Mormon Stories (Beginning Reader) — LDS Distribution Center
Knights of Right, Vol. 1: The Falcon Shield — M’Lin Rowley
Fablehaven Boxed Set, Vol. 1-3 — Brandon Mull
My First Book of Mormon Stories — Deanna Draper Buck