A recent study by the Pew Research Center provides insight on the public perception of Mormonism. A few highlights from that study:
51% have “little or no awareness of the precepts and practices of Mormonism.”
Only 53% of the public have a favorable view of Mormons. 31% of those who express favorable opinions cite personal experience as the biggest influence on their opinions, but a fairly large proportion of those with negative opinions of Mormons (23%) also point to their personal experiences as being most influential.
Only 52% of the public believes Mormons are Christians. (Among white evangelicals, only 40% believe we are Christians.)
One-word impressions of the Mormon religion in a survey of 1,461 people:
- 75 mentioned polygamy/bigamy
- 74 mentioned family/family values
- 57 mentioned cult
- 40 mentioned different
- 34 mentioned dedicated
- 32 mentioned devout/devoted
- 31 mentioned good
- 27 mentioned strict
- 25 mentioned faith/faithful
Summary of these impressions:
- 23% positive (family, dedicated, devout)
- 27% negative (polygamy, bigamy, cult)
- 19% neutral (different, strict)
“For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.”
D&C 123:12
Sublte craftiness indeed. One wonders what many of these people would think if it weren’t for poor journalism and lie-spreading ministers and others bent on convincing (or in the words of this verse, deceiving) people that we’re evil, not Christian, a cult, or whatever.
Sublte craftiness indeed. One wonders what many of these people would think if it weren’t for poor journalism and lie-spreading ministers and others bent on convincing (or in the words of this verse, deceiving) people that we’re evil, not Christian, a cult, or whatever.
Connor, tone down the persecution complex just a notch or two. Not everyone is out to get the Mormon Church. People naturally think of polygamy when they hear the word “Mormon” because the practice of plural marriage largely defined the Mormon Church for some 60 years of its history. By others’ definitions of the word, Mormonism is indeed a cult and certainly not Christian.
While there are surely a number of rabid anti-Mormons bent on proving the Satanic nature of Mormonism, I think most of the American public (including journalists and ministers) is well-intentioned in their assessment of the LDS Church.
Considering the horror stories I hear from non-Mormons raising their children in Mormon-majority locations, I think that there’s plenty we members could be doing to spread the good word — starting with not ostracizing the little non-member girl down the street.