0
0
Submitted by Tom Jones
LDS Loveland Stake Media Representative
BERTHOUD — There is a national conversation taking place about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members, and starting the first week of October, Mormons in Berthoud will be taking part in that conversation.
That’s when the Church will launch a national media campaign in a dozen major cities called “I’m a Mormon.” The campaign includes television spots, billboards, ads on buses and Internet promotions. The ads give a glimpse into the lives of Latter-day Saints from all over the world and refer people to the mormon.org website, where they can read the profiles of tens of thousands of Mormons, chat live with representatives who will answer questions about the faith and watch dozens of videos about members of the Church.
“Our missionaries are known for knocking on doors to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said David F. Evans, Executive Director of the Church’s Missionary Department. “Mormon.org gives people the opportunity to knock on our door through the Internet and ask members questions about our faith.”
This latest campaign is a continuation of an undertaking that was launched in nine cities last year in an effort to help people understand the faith through both the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of member’s lives. The campaign is the direct result of research conducted by the Church over the past few years related to how Americans perceive the Church and its members.
“Many people are not familiar with our faith and that can sometimes lead to misconceptions,” Elder Evans said. “The best way to understand Mormons is to meet them and get to know them personally. These ads are an invitation to do that.”
In The Loveland LDS Stake there are there are currently 3,500 members spread from Southern Fort Collins to Berthoud. A temple has been announced to be constructed in Fort Collins. The common thread that ties the members together is their desire to follow Jesus Christ.
Originally launched in 2001, mormon.org has provided an inviting destination for people seeking online information about the Church. Nearly half a million people visit the site each month. While the Church continues to share its message through over 52,000 full-time missionaries, many individuals prefer to first seek information about the Church on the Internet before they speak with a missionary in person. Mormon.org plays a critical role in providing that content.
Mormon.org provides the opportunity for visitors to get to know individual members of the Church. Visitors can search for people based on age, gender, ethnicity and location. The goal is to start a conversation that will lead to greater understanding.
Media Campaign Invites You to Get to Know a Mormon page 2
For example, when asked what it’s like to be a member of the Church, Shannyn Marie wrote in her profile at mormon.org: “It’s like being a part of a large family who cares for one another. There are so many people from different backgrounds and situations with diverse talents, but we are all unified in our morals and beliefs.”
Members also share personal stories and answer dozens of other, more specific questions, such as “Are Mormons Christian?” “What part does prayer play in your life?” “Why don’t Mormons drink coffee, tea, or alcohol?” and “What do Mormons believe about the Bible?”
Space is provided on the profiles for individuals to link to their personal Facebook and Twitter pages and their blogs. That feature will make it possible for individuals seeking to better understand the Church to connect directly with individual Mormons.
The “I’m a Mormon” campaign in Northern Colorado will continue until February 2012.
Elder Evans is right, one of the best ways to understand what members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe is to talk to active, faithful members of the church.
Those who have been fed wild misconceptions may be surprised to discover that Mormons are quite normal. The hope is that they are living honest, service-oriented lives consistent with the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Obviously, some people will know Mormons who don't live their religion, and the church gets blamed for it. That's the case with every organization. But the faithful members of the church can provide a good window into the faith. I'm glad the church is encouraging people to talk to their Mormon friends and recognize that they aren't part of a cult or extremist group. Members of the church are usually willing to open up and share honestly what their experience with the church is like.