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By Kent Larsen
Newsweek Cover Takes Flawed, Skeptical Look at LDS Church
NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- The cover story in this week's Newsweek takes a
skeptical look at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as
preparations for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City continue. The
article, and a forthcoming article in The New Yorker, led SLOC President and
LDS Church member Mitt Romney to complain that journalists were focusing on
the Church's connection to the Olympics. But the resulting article, flawed
with minor factual errors and logical missteps that drew criticism from the
Church, had little to do with the Olympics, using it only as a reason to
look closely at the Church.
The article, written by Newsweek's religion editor Kenneth L. Woodward,
gives an overview of the LDS Church, its doctrine, history and social
practices. It describes notable doctrinal differences between LDS beliefs
and those of mainline Christian churches, including differences in the
nature of God and of Christ, and the LDS belief in the Book of Mormon. It
also gives a history of the LDS Church, and takes a look at the structure of
the Church, comparing it to a business corporation.
Woodward also looks at changes in the Church's image, apparently drawing on
academic articles about the Church. Citing several changes over the past
thirty years, he claims that the Church has changed its image, in order to
to focus more on Jesus Christ and less on Joseph Smith and the doctrines
that make Mormonism different from traditional Christianity. But Woodward's
skeptical tone seems to say that the Church has changed its image merely to
win converts.
Even before the article was released, it had already drawn criticism from
Romney, who worried in an August 13th message to the Olympic board that the
article and similar articles connecting the Church to the Olympics were
"divisive and demeaning" and complained that he had found no effective way
to end the story. "I presume that this story will ultimately be overshadowed
by the Games, but if you have any suggestions, I'd be happy to hear them,"
he wrote, asking the assistance of the board.
While Romney fretted ahead of the article's publication, LDS Church
spokesman Michael Otterson remained unconcerned, "We have no reason
whatsoever to believe [the article] is focused on the Olympics," he said. He
then added that of the 80 journalists that have visited the Church's public
relations office since January, "very few have gone into the so-called
Mormon Olympics. This has not been an issue for most of the media. You're
always sensitive because you want the Olympics to reflect the entire
community. But no, we're not going to worry unduly about it."
But when the article was released, the Church reacted swiftly, spending
Sunday writing a letter to Newsweek's editor objecting to the tone of the
coverage and for the suggestion that the Church's image change was motivated
by a desire for converts. "Ken Woodward cheapens the real motivation of most
members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- their deep
personal conviction that Christ is the divine Son of God," Otterson wrote in
the letter. He suggested that Woodward was wrong in suggesting that the
Church had 'de-emphasized' Joseph Smith and that the Church was trying to be
more 'mainstream,' "It may be that the world's perception of Mormons is what
is really changing. Increasingly, Americans are getting acquainted with
Mormon associates and neighbors and seeing them as an integral part of the
rich and diverse fabric of American life. If that is what is meant by
'mainstream,' we welcome it," Otterson wrote.
Overall, the article's main points, that the Church's image has changed,
that its doctrine is substantially different from mainstream Christianity,
the description of the Church's history and its current structure, are
generally correct. However, Mormon News' analysis of the article shows a
number of glaring errors and several weak or inaccurate supporting arguments.
Probably the most glaring error is Woodward's claim that "not since the
ancient Olympiads ... have the Games been staged in a locale so thoroughly
saturated by a single religion." In fact, the 1960 Olympics were held in
Rome, which by most definitions is "saturated" by the Catholic Church.
Woodward's article also manages to misstate the title of the Church's recent
film, "The Testaments: One Fold and One Shepherd," err in the name of LDS
Church President Wilford Woodruff and somehow indicate that Mormons call the
rarely-mentioned spouse of Heavenly Father, "the Mother."
More significant are some of the article's weaker arguments. Woodward
suggests that the Church changed the film it shows in the Joseph Smith
Memorial Building from "Legacy" to "The Testaments" as part of the Church's
attempt to change its image, which seems unlikely to LDS Church members
given that many of the changes in image occurred before 1990, when Legacy
was introduced. He also claims that rhetoric in General Conference changed,
but fails to cite any study or give enough detail to make the claim
convincing.
Other dubious arguments include a suggestion that Mormons "help other
Mormons," which while true probably does not account for the rise of
Marriott and Huntsman as Woodward suggests, and isn't as extensive as many
other religions and ethnic groups. Similarly, Woodward's suggestion that the
LDS Church is the 'only' church structured like a corporation (i.e., with a
centralized hierarchy and finances) implies that he has looked at all other
major denominations to make that conclusion.
But in the end, these errors weaken, but don't refute the article's main
point. Mormon readers may find the article's skeptical tone more troubling,
but given the approaching Olympics, more skeptical articles, such as the
coming New Yorker article, are sure to follow.
Sources:
A Mormon Moment
Newsweek 10Sep01 N1
By Kenneth L. Woodward: Newsweek
America's biggest homegrown religion is looking more Christian. But it's still a different world
Salt Lake's Big Jump
Newsweek 10Sep01 N1
By Ana Figueroa: Newsweek
Mormon Country (Chat)
Washington Post 5Sep01 N1
A Mormon Olympics
Newsweek On Air: 2Sep01 N1
Eyes of world are upon us
Deseret News 2Sep01 N1
By Jennifer Toomer-Cook: Deseret News staff writer
Magazine looks at Utah culture and people
LDS Church Takes Issue With Article
Salt Lake Tribune 3Sep01 N1
By Greg Burton: Salt Lake Tribune
Church criticizes article in journal
Deseret News 3Sep01 N1
By Donna Kemp Spangler: Deseret News staff writer
Angry LDS Church officials write letter to Newsweek
(Phoenix) AZ Republic (AP) 3Sep01 N1
Associated Press
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