By Danielle Ellis
This past month, HBO shocked the collective Mormon consciousness by announcing they would air an episode of a show with scenes recreated from temple ceremonies. As members heard of the show, some began to write letters to the network or plan other means of protest.

And then the lesson began.

Church Public Affairs put out a piece titled, “The Publicity Dilemma,” which put the situation in perfect perspective. It stated in part:

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an institution does not call for boycotts. Such a step would simply generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end would increase audiences for the series. As Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Robert D. Hales of the Council of the Twelve Apostles have both said recently, when expressing themselves in the public arena, Latter-day Saints should conduct themselves with dignity and thoughtfulness.

“Not only is this the model that Jesus Christ taught and demonstrated in his own life, but it also reflects the reality of the strength and maturity of Church members today. As someone recently said, “This isn’t 1830, and there aren’t just six of us anymore.” In other words, with a global membership of thirteen and a half million there is no need to feel defensive when the Church is moving forward so rapidly. The Church’s strength is in its faithful members in 170-plus countries, and there is no evidence that extreme misrepresentations in the media that appeal only to a narrow audience have any long-term negative effect on the Church.”

After giving several examples of unfavorable media coverage over the past few years which failed to harm the Church, but were either forgotten by the public, ended in financial loss for the investors, or actually won the Church respect from new corners, the article concludes:

“If the Church allowed critics and opponents to choose the ground on which its battles are fought, it would risk being distracted from the focus and mission it has pursued successfully for nearly 180 years.
Instead, the Church itself will determine its own course as it continues to preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.”

Joseph’s Advice

Joseph Smith weighed in on the matter too. Through the Melchizedek
Priesthood and Relief Society manual, Joseph Smith gave counsel on
“Living with Others in Peace and Harmony” that couldn’t have been any more current if it was written this week. Said he, speaking from years of experience with prejudice:

“If I esteem mankind to be in error, shall I bear them down? No. I will lift them up, and in their own way too, if I cannot persuade them my way is better; and I will not seek to compel any man to believe as I do, only by the force of reasoning, for truth will cut its own way” (emphasis added).

“We ought always to be aware of those prejudices which sometimes so strangely present themselves…. Our religion is between us and our God.
Their religion is between them and their God” (emphasis added).

“All persons are entitled to their agency, for God has so ordained it. He has constituted mankind moral agents, and given them power to choose good or evil; to seek after that which is good, by pursuing the pathway of holiness…; or to pursue an evil course, going on in sin and rebellion against God, thereby bringing condemnation to their souls in this world, and an eternal loss in the world to come. Since the God of heaven has left these things optional with every individual, we do not wish to deprive them of it. We only wish to act the part of a faithful watchman…, and leave it for others to do as seemeth them good” (emphasis added) (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, Lesson 29)

Let Your Light Shine

But do we let this opportunity pass us by? Of course not! The Church wisely placed the full text of the letter quoted above on its home page, lds.org, right above its new “Mormon Messages.” These are YouTube videos explaining ‘Why Do Mormons Build Temples’ and ‘The Blessings of the Temple.’ They are filled with footage of the interior and exterior of temples all around the world, with testimonies of the temple by leaders, members and friends of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These videos can be sent to email lists, added to social networking pages or shared with friends.

Do we live in a lone and dreary world? Sure we do. Does that limit our opportunities to share the gospel? Not at all. Indeed as the world seems to darken by the day, our light will appear brighter to those honestly seeking the truth.

Let us stay the course, preaching the glorious restored gospel to all the earth without being distracted by the taunts of the adversary.