|
By Mark Wright
London Newspaper Seeks Truth About LDS Church in Wake of Green Trial
LONDON, ENGLAND -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is
often reported on in the media of today. Sometimes the stories in the
popular media portray the Church and the members of the Church in
terms that are good, fair, and straightforward. Many reporters make
an honest effort to tell the story accurately and with a balanced
perspective. Then, of course, there are those stories that are
misleading, mean-spirited, or just wrong. Almost all members of the
Church have silently cringed or even groaned out loud over some
erroneous or derogatory coverage of the Church and/or its members.
While some misunderstandings and negative representations are
inevitable, everyone associated with the Church hopes that the
contents of the stories are at least factual and that the doctrines
and beliefs of the Church are not deliberately misrepresented.
In a recent story published in the UK Spectator, reporter and
assistant editor Mary Wakefield demonstrates the capability that the
media has to provide valuable information about the Church and its
members, without being biased in any particular direction. One of the
most interesting aspects of the Wakefield article is the way that
Wakefield came to write the article itself. The "hook" for Wakefield
was the bright spotlight focused on Tom Green, recently convicted of
polygamy in Utah. After discussing the polygamy issue with some of
her female friends, Wakefield did a little investigation, trying to
find a polygamous family living in England.
While she was unsuccessful in locating London's answer to Tom Green,
Wakefield ended up attending a Sunday worship service at the Hyde
Park building and wrote an article about her experience. While much
of what Wakefield reports in her article is fairly well known and not
particularly enlightening from a doctrinal perspective, she clearly
spent a great deal of time trying to "get it right." She did her
research, formed her opinions, and then portrayed the situation in a
clear and understandable fashion. She even made an attempt to
distinguish between the polygamous beliefs of Tom Green and the
practices of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Wakefield
should be commended by the Church for her efforts to identify
polygamous splinter groups as separate from the Church of Jesus
Christ. This is something that many mainstream media outlets in the
United States still can't get right.
After reading the article on Wakefield's visit to the Sunday services
of the local London ward, one can't help but feel that Wakefield
gained some unique insights into the culture of the Church and its
people. She clearly found some things very interesting and
praiseworthy while maintaining a healthy sense of impartiality and
uncertainty about what the real motivation and driving force was
behind the people that she met. While not endorsing the doctrine and
people of the Church, articles such as the one written by Wakefield
demonstrate that some reporters really do try to present their
stories with accuracy, honesty, and truth. And, in the final
analysis, that's probably the best that anyone can hope for.
Source:
What makes them Mormons?
London UK Spectator 26May01 N1
By Mary Wakefield
It's not polygamy, says Mary Wakefield. It is stern moral rectitude
and a determination not to touch alcohol, tobacco, tea or coffee
|
