Lucia

de Vernai

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May 26, 2008

Texas Authorities, Media Ensure It’s Not Easy Being Mormon

It’s not easy being Mormon. No cursing, no premarital sex, no Mountain Dew. Perpetual good neighbors, their religion – so inherent to their existence – is a mystery even to those of us who have grown up in predominantly Latter Day Saint communities. In fact, most people know Mormons as the demographic that keeps FamilyFlix in business, Chevy Suburbans on the road and children from divorced families feeling cheated.

Thus, it’s a shame that the one opportunity the country may have to get to know the faith is when political spin taints the message. The high hopes that the Mitt Romney campaign would serve as a vehicle to spread the awareness of the religion have been replaced by the effort to separate the Salt Lake City-based church from the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints that have been making the news in Texas. The FLDS broke off from the central authority over 100 years ago.

The constitutional issues at hand, especially the unwarranted seizing of almost 500 children from the Yearning for Zion compound by Texas authorities, seem almost impossible to separate from the unfamiliar (and often rumored) practices of the religion. Consequently, the decision of the courts to seize the children was “legally and factually insufficient".

Like in a case of tampering with evidence or entering without a warrant, the frustration of the public with the system’s inability to punish the despicable offenses brought forth is well warranted. Even if the tip that came from a possible hoax/anonymous source did point the Texas officials in the right direction, issues in due process of law will make it difficult for child welfare workers who have appealed to the state’s Supreme Court to legitimate their claims.

In the meantime, Mormons around the country have to continually explain the difference between LDS and FLDS practices. In far too many areas of the country, they will never get a chance to do so. The images of women in garb that covers as much as a burqua and the astonishing numbers the investigation has uncovered (168 mothers and 69 fathers is a telling figure) speak much louder than any religious history lesson.

The Texas authorities acted without certainty. The news media gave us balanced, informative insights into the situation by offering such gems as exclusive tours of polygamous family homes. They have made being a Mormon difficult for more than just the accused.

While Mormonism is a thriving and rapidly expanding faith, the public doesn’t know enough about it to be able to separate the fringe groups from the mainstream institution. Much like in the case of Islam, there is a risk that the combination of behaviors by the few will have a negative and lasting impact on the image and treatment of the larger population.

In a front-of-the-courthouse television interview, a member of the polygamous group said that, according to Church founder Brigham Young, the Mormon Creed is to “mind your own business.”

Thanks to the polygamists, living up to this standard of faith just got a lot harder for Mormons across the country.

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