A fundamental debate
Speaking of mail, I have been receiving a number of emails from readers unhappy that the Tribune refers to those who believe in the tenet of plural marriage as ''fundamentalist Mormons.''
Alrighty then, let's talk about it.
Way back in 1935 or so, Mark E. Peterson, an apostle in the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, used the term ''fundamentalists'' to refer to the renegade church members who were continuing to live in polygamous relationships.
Those groups and individuals adopted the term and made it their own generic label. Now, within the fold there are different sects -- the Kingstons, the Apostolic United Brethren, the TLC and, yes, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There are a handful of smaller groups and lots of individuals who are independents and belong to no group at all.
Years ago, one man who'd left the FLDS when Warren Jeffs came to power, told me he'd always been taught that the family believed in ''Mormonism'' and that he was a Mormon.
The big church disagrees vehemently. LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley emphatically distanced the church from the splinter groups on Larry King Live some years back.
Hey, this is guy who knew how to work the PR machine and was admired for his media savvy.
Hinckley told King that there is no such thing as a fundamentalist Mormon.
That's the point this reader made:
You guys have one article about the LDS church trying to keep people from confusing the FLDS story with their church, and then you have another article calling the polygamists fundamentalist Mormons.
This is grossly inaccurate. Come on guys. You're the Salt Lake Tribune. You of all people should be the experts on this issue. Members of the FLDS church are different than fundamentalist Mormons.
The term ''Mormons'' in any form refers only to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ''Fundamentalist'' Mormons still refers to members of that church - just as you can have fundamentalist Catholics or fundamentalist Lutherans.
Here's the problem. Academics use the term fundamentalist Mormons. The people themselves use the term. We've decided to do likewise.
If we called them fundamentalist polygamists, would Christian polygamists protest? (Yes, there are some right here in the U.S.A.) Identifying these people only as fundamentalists would beg the question: What kind?
But go ahead. Let's argue this out. What do you think?
Alrighty then, let's talk about it.
Way back in 1935 or so, Mark E. Peterson, an apostle in the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, used the term ''fundamentalists'' to refer to the renegade church members who were continuing to live in polygamous relationships.
Those groups and individuals adopted the term and made it their own generic label. Now, within the fold there are different sects -- the Kingstons, the Apostolic United Brethren, the TLC and, yes, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There are a handful of smaller groups and lots of individuals who are independents and belong to no group at all.
Years ago, one man who'd left the FLDS when Warren Jeffs came to power, told me he'd always been taught that the family believed in ''Mormonism'' and that he was a Mormon.
The big church disagrees vehemently. LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley emphatically distanced the church from the splinter groups on Larry King Live some years back.
Hey, this is guy who knew how to work the PR machine and was admired for his media savvy.
Hinckley told King that there is no such thing as a fundamentalist Mormon.
That's the point this reader made:
You guys have one article about the LDS church trying to keep people from confusing the FLDS story with their church, and then you have another article calling the polygamists fundamentalist Mormons.
This is grossly inaccurate. Come on guys. You're the Salt Lake Tribune. You of all people should be the experts on this issue. Members of the FLDS church are different than fundamentalist Mormons.
The term ''Mormons'' in any form refers only to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. ''Fundamentalist'' Mormons still refers to members of that church - just as you can have fundamentalist Catholics or fundamentalist Lutherans.
Here's the problem. Academics use the term fundamentalist Mormons. The people themselves use the term. We've decided to do likewise.
If we called them fundamentalist polygamists, would Christian polygamists protest? (Yes, there are some right here in the U.S.A.) Identifying these people only as fundamentalists would beg the question: What kind?
But go ahead. Let's argue this out. What do you think?
9 Comments:
When Mark E. Peterson used the term it was intended to be derisive. After the term came into usage the LDS leadership realized that if we are fundamentalist then they must have departed from the fundamentals at some point. This happened to be the exact point being made by those Mr. Peterson was calling fundamentalists. In their attempt to cover up the polygamous past of the LDS church the leadership must distance themselves from us. Thanks for your explanation here Brooke. The original term came from the LDS and now they want to undo it. They can't have it both ways. I have been told by good LDS people that I believe more in Mormonism than they do, and this was in discussions that were intended to 'convert' me. I have many LDS friends and neighbors and we have tremendous mutual respect for each other. I am a Mormon and a Fundamentalist.
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Thanks Brooke
Being one that has learned more about both groups in question here the last few days than I ever knew before, I simply presumed the word meant what it is defined to mean.
fun·da·men·tal·ism
1. A usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism.
This makes it look like the word is dissected into a second or new meaning.
Maybe the definition depends on the day of the week and who is using the word.!
Kudos to rericson's post which nails it neatly. This silly controversy is pretty petty indeed.
Why do readers and viewers of stories related to FLDS have to suffer the "they-are-not-us" disclaimer issued with nearly every one of them?
Mainstream Mormons go into defensive mode over this (dare I say stupid) issue time and time again ad infinitum, ad nauseam. It's an embarrassingly weak position... and it's boring. Are they that insecure?
There is no problem in using the term Mormon to refer to the FLDS or other groups that claim their origins in the restoration led by Joseph Smith.
This stupid thing of denying the use of "Mormon" to groups other than the LDS church reminds me of Christian groups that say Mormons aren't Christians.
As a member of the LDS church it is astonishing to me that many members in my church are more concerned about distinguising themselves from polygamists than about the abuse the FLDS community is suffering from the authorities in Texas.
15 years ago the LDS Church started frowning upon being called Mormons and wanted a new image, hence the term Latter Day Saints was used extensively in the mission field and national advertising. Millions were spent. I remember the TV ads that had messages about various aspects of family life with a little jingle at the end..."from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...the Mormons" Fundamentalists have never been ashamed of being called Mormons for they feel that fundamentalism is Mormonism. Thank you Mark E. Peterson!!
There are Mormons, and
There are Morons, and
There are More Offs,
See? If you're just More for the Mon, that is only one aspect of Mormonism. But the more thoroughly ON the mark and the Word from the Lord you are, ancient and modern, the more ridicule (as Moron), precisely as Christ says, through the Prophet:
"All that will live godly in Christ Jesus SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION (2 Tim.3:12).
From this, we KNOW, that any church NOT suffering great and widespread riducule and persecution, such as the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ, IS NOT THE ONE LIVING GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS.
"FEW there be that find it" (Matt.7:14), and "Satan deceiveth the WHOLE WORLD" (Rev.12:9). This is why the FLDS have come "OUT OF THE WORLD, to be not partakers of her sins", according to the law (Rev.18:4).
Fundamentalism is, in the most strict terms, an attempt to return to basics; the fundamentals. However, that is not the popular usage of the term today. Now, it refers to any group that takes any set of religious beliefs to the extreme, often claiming their way is the only way; "the narrow way." I have no doubt many of these people are sincere followers, they want to be found faithful in the sight of God and their churches. However, so many of their beliefs and actions are driven by one thing: fear. If you're looking for a good book to read that addresses this very issue, you should check out "Fundamentally Misguided" by Grace Lyerly. This book tells it all.
what abuse is that group going through? if you are engaging in illegal activity then you should be arrested. if you are doing things that are harmful to your children (and you can't use religion to defend those practices, it just makes you look silly) then they should be taken away from you. these people aren't being persecuted because of their "faith", they're being held accountable for the terrible things they've FORCED their children into. if these people loved their kids so much, why would they give them away to let someone marry them off to someone years older than them? it makes me sick to hear people actually defending them.
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