Mormons in the Eyes of the New York Times

Mormon Times ^ | Oct. 7, 2009 | Joel Campbell

[Colofornian]

In an occasional column, The Mormon Media Observer will look at the times when Mormons and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have made news in the New York Times.

Here's a sample of front page headlines and stories since the 1970s:

SNIP

Mormon church strikes down ban against blacks in priesthood, June 10, 1978 (one of the few stories that have led the Times' front page)

"The 148-year-old policy of excluding black men from the Mormon priesthood was struck down by the church's leaders yesterday.

"Spencer W. Kimball, president of the 4.2 million members of the worldwide Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made the declaration from church headquarters in Salt Lake City. It was a result, he said in a letter to all church leaders, of a revelation given to the top leaders of the church.

SNIP

Mormon admits 2 bomb murders, Jan. 24, 1987

SNIP

An infighter with a jab, Harry Mason Reid, Nov. 10, 2006

Romney,EyeOnEvangelicals,DefendsHisFaith, Dec. 7, 2007

For Romney, a Course Set Long Ago, Dec. 18, 2007

[Colofornian]

Excerpt from the Dec. 7, 2007 New York Times article Mr. Campbell linked to: Romney said it was inappropriate for a presidential candidate to be asked to explain the details of his religion...

His lone allusion to concerns about Mormonism as a departure from Christian orthodoxy came when he talked about his belief that “Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind.” In a notable difference from the way he has talked about this on the stump, he added a caveat: “My church’s beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths.”

The couching appeared to be a reaction to how some evangelicals have recoiled from Mr. Romney’s past efforts to signal kinship with them. They say their understanding of Jesus Christ is markedly different from that of Mormons.

(Source page: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/us/politics/07romney.html?pagewanted=2&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1254924250-I6W 5FGRVWMcNKpU4zhdrw)

Excerpt from the Dec. 18, 2007 New York Times article Mr. Campbell linked to--an article about George and Mitt Romney: Some challenges are different. Attention to George Romney’s membership in the Mormon Church concentrated on its policy at the time of excluding blacks from full participation. Today, the conservative Christian movement is focusing scrutiny on Mormon theology itself.

(Source page: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/us/politics/18romney.html?pagewanted=3)

[CPT Clay]

The Udall cousins in the senate are Mormans along with Harry Ried. Wont here a word from the press.

[Frantzie]

yeah they bash the Mormon masses but never talk about Harry Reid or the Udalls. We heard endlessly how Mitt is a Mormon.

[Tennessee Nana]

It was a result, he said in a letter to all church leaders, of a revelation given to the top leaders of the church.
_________________________________________

Revelation went: Yo mormons, you are violating the Civil Rights Act...

If you dont change your racist policy real quick like, you are going to be in deep stuff...