Posted on 05/11/2008 6:58:25 AM PDT by MrEdd
In the days following the raid on the Texas polygamous compound, I took a call from a St. Louis radio host requesting one of our reporters to come on his show to "talk about the situation in Utah." Early in this cordial conversation, I informed him that this newspaper is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that I am a member of this church.
After a few minutes, it became clear that he thought I was somehow affiliated with the FLDS group. I felt like an anthropology specimen. The questions were friendly and good natured, but imbedded in them was the notion that there was really no difference between the LDS Church and the FLDS group, they were simply all Mormons to him.
Given the enormous national and international attention focused on the Texas raid, it has been abundantly clear that while many people understand the difference between the LDS Church and this polygamous group, unfortunately there is still substantial confusion between the two.
Much of this confusion comes from misapplying the name Mormon, as in "fundamentalist Mormon" or "Mormon polygamist." The LDS Church has gone to great lengths to protect the name Mormon (note video of Elder Quentin L. Cook on YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUtjsdtDOkQ). However, much misidentification simply results from the confusion between the terms LDS and FLDS.
Not only are many of the FLDS teachings in conflict with, and repugnant to, the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but, in fact, a person who believes in or practices the teachings of the fundamentalists would be excommunicated from the LDS Church.
While not strictly speaking identity theft, the adoption of FLDS by this group at best is confusing and at worst undermines the credibility of the Latter-day Saints and tarnishes the LDS "brand." Sometimes damage to a brand or a trademark has been called attempted identity theft at the corporate level.
I am not making a narrow legal argument about trademark law issues here. Rather, my discussion is more broadly about brand identification and injury to a brand name.
While the terms LDS and Mormon are not brands in the commercial sense, these terms reflect the identity, reputation and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church has the right and expectation that the use of these terms will convey certain impressions to those who become aware of them. This is known in the business world as brand equity and in the words of NetMBA.com it "is an intangible asset that depends on associations made by the consumer."
An illustration from the business world might give us some insight. Suppose several engineers at General Electric invented an electric motor and decided that their product was superior to other similar products produced by the company. This group of engineers decides then to break away from General Electric and form a new company called Fundamental General Electric or FGE for short. How would General Electric react to this? Would it feel that its brand equity was being diminished or stolen? Of course they would. And they would be right.
Similarly, this group which claims to be a break-off of the LDS Church is, as noted, utterly different in its beliefs and practices. In an April 19 story in our paper, Brian Hales, a Layton physician and historian, notes, for example, that "brain-washing is a legitimate description of what occurs within the FLDS Church 'because they don't allow any outside information inside and vice versa.' On the other hand, the Salt Lake-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — which many continue to mistakenly associate with the polygamous sect — sends missionaries around the globe preaching a gospel message centered in Jesus Christ, Hales said. The opposite is true of the FLDS Church, which is insular, secretive and has no desire to share a message of salvation with others ... That's their world, and it's the direct opposite of what Joseph Smith and Brigham Young promoted."
The group that became known as the FLDS Church didn't begin until 1929. More significantly this group did not even adopt the name FLDS until nearly a century after the LDS Church abandoned polygamy.
Whatever their motivation, the consequence of this group's adoption of the name FLDS has damaged the LDS Church's identity, brand name and reputation.
Joe Cannon is editor of the Deseret News.
Not Much difference!! Don't they both wear the same magic drawers.
which is true to a degree. The FLDS are simply practicing an orthodoxy
Not only are many of the FLDS teachings in conflict with, and repugnant to, the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but, in fact, a person who believes in or practices the teachings of the fundamentalists would be excommunicated from the LDS Church.
lets be honest - the only reason it's repugnant is that the LDS doctrine / theology has changed to suit to social mores of the post modern period......
This is what various other Christian groups have to put up with all the time. Take a group like Westboro Baptist and some will choose to say it is reflective of how other Christians feel.
Unfortunately for LDS, FLDS' teachings and practices are almost identical to those practiced by the early LDs founders, Joe Smith and Brigham Young.
Bears repeating!
Incidentally, the Deseret News is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (i.e. the LDS Church).
It’s easy to tell them apart. With one it’s Brigham Young. With the other it’s “bring ‘em young!”
This is not a flame question.
Can somebody please tell me who represents the teaching of Joseph Smith most closely - FLDS or LDS? Smith had, according to some accounts that I’ve read, 33 wives through both real and “spiritual” marriages.
If that’s true, aren’t the FLDS merely following their prophet and isn’t LDS the real breakaway sect?
You answered a question (#9) that I’ve asked downthread. Thanks FRiend.
What became of the Mormon group that didn’t go to Utah ? I believe they were/are called The Reorganized Church of J.C. of Latter Day Saints...?
About the Author? or is this another Joe Cannon?:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Adrian_Cannon
Joseph Angus Cannon (commonly known as Joe Cannon) was Chairman of the Utah Republican Party from 2002 to 2006. Cannon was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1992 (defeated by current Senator Robert F. Bennett) and served as an assistant administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1983 - 1985. He was named editor of the Deseret Morning News on December 8, 2006.
Cannon was born in 1949.[1] Cannon served a mission in Ireland, and also for a time served on the Isle of Man the ancestral homeland of the Cannons.[2] Cannon received a degree in political science, and, in 1977, a law degree, from Brigham Young University.
Cannon played a pivotal role in the purchase of Geneva Steel from U.S. Steel in 1987. Subsequent to that transaction, he became Chairman of Geneva Steel.
Other items to be found on the internet:
Joseph Cannon was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee. You remember the organizing committee. They were accused of bribing Olympic officials with cash and female escorts. But, most were cleared by fellow Utahns on the “Cannonized” Salt Lake Olympic Committee ethics panel. http://www.cnn.com/US/9902/11/olympics.01/?eref=yahoo
....was also embroiled in a controversy over his company, Geneva Steel’s, mysterious moving water shares. Cannon chose to not disclose the $85 million in water shares to the Federal Pension Guarantee Corp, who bailed out the Geneva Pension Fund (which was only 10% funded). Sometimes its nice to have a brother in Congress.
Mr. Cannon is a partner in the Law Firm, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Prior to rejoining the firm, he was the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Geneva Steel from 1987 to 2001. He played the leading role in the purchase of Geneva Steel from USX Corporation and the re-opening of the plant in September of 1987. Mr. Cannon is a former member of the Board of Directors of the American and International Iron and Steel Institutes. He serves in the firm’s Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources practice and is also Co-Leader of its Public Policy & Political Law practice. He formerly served as Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, and Associate Administrator for Policy and Resource Management, at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Cannon has also served numerous organizations in the following capacities: member of the Board of Trustees of the American Enterprise Institute; member ofthe Administrative Conference of the United States; member of the Board of Trustees of the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee; Chairman of the American Bar Association, Natural Resources Law Section, Air Quality Committee; Vice Chairman of the Committee of Interagency Radiation Research and Policy Coordination; United States Representative to the Environment Committee, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; and member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council and capital campaign committee. Mr. Cannon is an active member of the Republican Party, currently serves as Chairman of the Utah State Republican Party Finance Committee, and is a member of the Republican National Committee.
I wonder if he is a Freeper too. I can guarantee he has FRiends here.
And a Mother’s day ping to all.
Wrapping himself in the “Only True Church” magic underwear, Joe Cannon comes forth with his sanctimonious denials of the roots of this “Holier Than Thou” empire having discovered the current marketing buzz word term “branding” as they rise above it all in claiming their ownership of the brand.
The marketing department would have been proud. (twenty years ago)
FIP to my post #12
It has always struck me as ironic that the LDS church claimed the FLDS is a false group claiming they are part of the LDS. It is identical to the complaints from Christian Churches that LDS is falsely claiming to be Christian.
How funny - yet “regular” mormons seem offended that so many evangelicals don’t consider them to be part of maintstream Christianity.
Yeah.
One has an "F" in front of it.
precisely
The part that annoys me is when they lump themselves in with Protestants......thats a real deception - we can follow our tree to the Reformation....LDS have no such line, instead considering themselves a "restored" Church.......theyve even pirated the lingo
They were called the Reorganized Church...however they have changed the name to "Community of Christ"
In the early 1800s, a young boy named Joseph Smith knelt in the woods near his family home in Manchester Township, New York. He felt separated from God; he also wanted to know how he could make his life count for good in a world full of confusion and sin. He wanted to join with God’s people, but he had no idea how to do that. So, in response to the scripture from James, he prayed to God.
How long this first attempt at verbal prayer lasted is not known, but he came to a point of deep despair. At this point, a vision surrounded him with love and mercy. From that light came a voice as clear as his own. As the vision ebbed and the voice faded, Joseph felt that he knew the truth. He felt the healing presence of God within and the forgiving mercy of Christ. He knew that God would be with him.
He struggled through his teen years, trying to balance his experience with God with his desire to be accepted by others in his community. He continued to have significant spiritual experiences, one of which led to the Book of Mormon. He also felt called to establish a church, officially organizing it on April 6, 1830.
More at link.
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