Comments on: We’ve Got a Lot of Work to Do!

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:51:17 +0000

Of the 31% who say they don’t believe we’re Christian, should Pew be asking how many have read The Book of Mormon, Articles of Faith, actually asked a member if we believe in Christ, or is it just that they heard this from someone else?

By: John Pack Lambert

John Pack Lambert — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:20:40 +0000

I do agree that if all people know about the church comes from “Homefront” spots than they have a very superficial idea of the church. The spots are good, but I hope the church focuses more on substantive efforts.
This said, I am as guilty of any of not having been vocal and open enough about the faith. Individual members need to take the initiative. I have tried to respond to local and even national media that identify the church with Polygamy.
However what we need is more pieces on Family History Work that explain why the church is so big on it. We need the church getting in the news for positive reasons.
On the other hand, I think that the debate over same-sex marriage reflects well on the church. If it causes more people to see us as defending family values and the morals of the Bible, it may alienate secularist radicals, but these people are not going to join the church without a change of heart. I will open up communication with people of like moral goals that may bring in more converts and at least will lessen the attack on the church from those who hold the same moral values.

By: Rob Watson

Rob Watson — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:18:44 +0000

About the time that Elder Ballard was inviting us to start using social media more to get our testimonies out there, I had already been toying with an idea to spread the message of the Book of Mormon.

The result was http://americantestament.blogspot.com

Since December 2007 we have had visits from all over the world. Not as many as we’d like, yet, but I’m hoping that our efforts to get linked from other blogs out there will be helpful.

If you have your own blog, no matter what it’s about, please help by linking to http://americantestament.blogspot.com .

By: Ted

Ted — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:53:52 +0000

One item I wish was in the top 5 that would not at all distinguish us from others is “Christian” or “Disciples”! I think if this was in the top of the list, some of the others would naturally fall off. It’s not about being distinct so much as being recognized for what we are — true disciples of Christ. Once people see that, it will change the way they see everything else about us. (It’s hard to listen to the story of the restoration for example, if you have the mindset that we are a cult, are polygamists, etc.)

By: LDS Media Talk: we have a lot of work to do : Following Jesus Christ

LDS Media Talk: we have a lot of work to do : Following Jesus Christ — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:59:15 +0000

[...] I have found interesting statistics from an a blog at LDS Media Talk: [...]

By: Giuseppe

Giuseppe — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:46:12 +0000

I really think that there is a lot to do and I strongly believe the Internet will be key in letting millions of people know about the LDS or Mormon Church. The more I talk with my friends about it and the more I am getting the vision that this is one of the most important avenues to spread the gospel around the world. Missionaries waste too much time trying to find people.

Moreover, we are not doing it to “change some people’s minds”, we are doing it to find those who will listen to the voice of the Lord, those who
“are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (D&C 123:12). They will change their own minds…

By: misty westenskow

misty westenskow — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:09:52 +0000

I have these friends that have alot of potential including myself. The only thing that helps me is Knowing the devil has no power.
I cant help but notice he uses us to get power. I have alot to work on but I really feel like I need to reach out to others to convince them of there good and second chances. Fear is not a way to run a country do you have any enlighting information on the subject and comfort for us to lean on my friends are good and need a path to follow in this crazy world. to the Proffit and the Twelve Apostels .

By: Jake Munson

Jake Munson — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:27:41 +0000

I’d be curious to hear how the church could go about changing these opinions. With all the different religions out there, it seems to me that we may never change some people’s minds, because frankly, they don’t like us, and will believe any negative ideas they hear.

That said, I know the prophecy about the stone filling the earth, referring to the Lord’s church, so I know these opinions will eventually change…but the question is, will it be before or after our Lord’s Second Coming?

By: John U

John U — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:44:53 +0000

With a church as relatively small as the LDS church is as compared to others, it is nonetheless surprising to me how broadly we are recognized, if only for having good families. I don’t know if the PEW study identifies the source of the knowledge of those surveyed about the Church, but I would think it is largely the result of simple word-of-mouth communication fed, perhaps, by the Homefront commercials to a small degree.

Not completely off-topic, this article from the New York Times Magazine (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/05/magazine/05BUZZ.html?pagewanted=1) was interesting to me. It explores the increasingly common strategy corporations are using to employ ‘buzz marketing’ techniques to promote their products through a distributed channel of on-the-street word-of-mouthers. It would be interesting to compare how this strategy aligns with our own missionary labors and whether it has any application to the recent admonishment from Elder Ballard to members to ‘join the conversation’.