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The Church holds its biannual General Conference twice a year in Salt Lake City. Many Mormons travel from distant lands to Salt Lake on a sort of spiritual pilgrimage, excited to listen to sermons by Church leaders. This pilgrimage is often interrupted by the screams of "street preachers" informing Mormon participants that they are going to go to hell. This video, compiled from other sources, illustrates the extent of the bigotry these pilgrims face.
How would a Muslim feel if this kind of bigotry manifest itself at Mecca? How would the Jew feel if a "street preacher" like this decided to visit the Wailing Wall?
(Don't use YouTube to watch this video.)
23 Comments » Leave a comment
- Glad to Be LDS
I find the best way to deal with "protests" at general conference is to laugh and keep walking. It drives them crazy. - Larry
I really do not think most anti-Mormons understand the LDS Church. Our history, theology and culture can be very complex. They pick out the worst or the supposed worst of everything we have ever said or done and represent that as our belief. The problem with that is you have to read more than just the worst or most controversial to really understand any faith. If I just looked at some parts of the Bible, I would think people who believed in the Bible killed witches and that they believed in a three headed god that sends everybody to a burning furnace. Start by reading the Book of Mormon and then read the other literature. Without reading the Book of Mormon first it is very hard to understand. - Anonymous
I walked past one of these protesters during a non-conference day as he picketed the temple grounds. As I walked through the crowd my arm brushed his arm and he jumped about 20 feet back, accusing me of attacking him and saying that he would take me to court for touching him. He sneared at me like a venomous snake and hissed at me with total and complete hatred. He hissed that I was going to hell and that he was going to heaven. The interesting thing is that I had never said anything to give him any indication that I was a Mormon. It was as if my touch were poison to him. I felt sad for him; his mind had obviously been seriously brainwashed in such a negative way and with so much hate that he acted as if my touch burned his flesh. It deeply saddens me that men would take such a young man's mind (he could have only been about 19) and fill him with so much hate, that his very acts were snake-like. It was very strange and disconcerting. Those who have brainwashed such individuals will be held accountable before the Lord someday for the destruction of these impressionable young minds, and for filling them with so much hate. Such hate and disdain for others that they do not even know is completely unnatural and wrong. - Anonymous
6-23-2007, 01:05:45 PM
It is painful to see this kind of behavior among people that believe they have the right. I am a convert to LDS, and I am heartbroken to see those who have such anger towards neighbors. People are far from living like Jesus Christ when they have so much hate and fear; hate and fear do not come from God. - Alexandria Thomas
7-12-2007, 03:16:05 PM
No matter what you believe about the Church, people should never act so inhumane towards one another. I am a member of the church. Not the strongest or brightest. I may not follow all of the teachings, but I do understand that people will believe what they want to believe. Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is making people rude. - Mormon and Proud of It
8-16-2007, 10:19:04 AM
I've never been faced with serious protesters like that, but it really saddens me to know that people actually think that what they're doing is right. It's kinda funny that our religion is criticized more than almost any other. BRING IT ON!!!
Webmaster: If you'd like some experience with "crazy protesters," try becoming the webmaster of a pro-Mormon website. You'd get a good laugh at some of the regular "protests" delivered to my email inbox. :) - Charlotte
10-15-2007, 12:09:04 AM
I am a convert to the church going on five years now. I went to General Conference last October for the first time. I was nervous and excited to be there to have a wonderful spiritual experience. I could not believe the protesters around temple square. No one ever told me about them. I was astonished. I didn't realize we were so hated still in this country. What happened to freedom of religion? Anyway, I couldn't believe there were so many protesters. I traveled from St. Louis to attend and I know that members from across the world came. I never saw one member of our church lash out or argue or have any altercations with any of the protesters. We love everyone and know it's only their ignorance about what we believe that fuels their protesting. We pray for these people and know that God loves them for they are his sons and daughters as we are. It saddened my heart to observe such hatred, but President Hinckley spoke and told the congregation to love everyone, even those who were speaking against us. I may have felt only an inkling of what the pioneers who moved on from Nauvoo, Illinois felt. It was a learning experience that I'm thankful I had. - Jill
11-19-2007, 11:53:56 AM
I was LDS for 8 years, though I have not been for 3 1/2 years now. Although I do not agree with the LDS beliefs, it still makes me sick to think of how these "street preachers" try to destroy something that is important to so many people. How can they call themselves Christians? Is that something Jesus would do? I think not. - Thaddeus
1-20-2008, 11:56:07 PM
I appreciate the effort you're making with this site. I recently started a blog to help curious non-Mormons see what we believe: whatdomormonsbelieve.blogspot.com - aya
1-27-2008, 12:00:23 AM
I am an LDS and I felt really sad reading some articles in this site, especially about those street preachers. I know that there are lots of people who criticize with regards to our religion and I'm so sorry for them, for they know not the TRUTH. I won't judge those people because they are also children of God, and He commanded us to love our enemies, and be forgiving. We know that in obeying what God has commanded us to do will give us eternal happiness and will be saved at the last day and live in His presence again. For those people who still censure our religion and beliefs, well, if that's what you want then just go ahead. We are really sorry for you and we are still praying for you to be able to find light in your minds and ponder on the wicked things you've done and repent. - Anonymous
5-14-2008, 02:54:28 PM
I have seen hatred against mormons going around a lot. I am appalled that people in this country are labeled as hatemongers when they criticize other religions, but when they criticize, or even physically hurt, Mormons, it is widely accepted. It is a disgusting trend our country has fallen into, and I am sure our founding fathers would disapprove heavily of what has been going on, since they fought for freedom of religion. - Anonymous
8-24-2008, 08:14:38 PM
I can tell you right now that videos make me very mad towards brothers like this trying to block our mind set but I hold no grudges and there just lost.
We do all we can to bring the gospel and share the doctrine of the church with all. - Anonymous
9-16-2008, 07:22:24 AM
I do not believe what the Mormon church teaches on most every issue, but this is ridiculous. - (Butters)
10-2-2008, 09:40:47 PM
I have friends of multiple religions of many types, and I have the upmost respect for them. Mormon, Muslim, Cathlic, Prodestant, all the nine yards. I have my opionions and you have yours. But when people start putting religion before peoples feelings and what they belive in that crosses the line. I love my friends for who they are and what ever they believe in. Love yourself and most of all love other people for what they hold on most, even if you disagree with them. :) - Jeffrey Hixson
5-27-2009, 11:43:23 AM
A wise man studieth to answer-Proverbs - Anonymous
10-10-2009, 01:23:10 AM
In about 4 weeks I will be baptized and become a member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am so excited. Watching this protest just makes me want to join even more. It saddens me that alot of people just dont know. They dont feel the "Spirit".
Webmaster: Congratulations on your upcoming baptism! I hope you find the same peace and joy I've found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. - Anonymous
11-14-2009, 01:01:26 PM
To this day I am amazed at how people can care so much about what others do. I thought one of our rights as citizens of the United States of America is to worship were and how we please. What I don't understand is how are the people that oppose the mormon religion affected? Do the missionaries or members ask for money from them? Do the members/missionaries stand infront of their houses of worship and scream and shout? No. Over the history of the church, members have always had people who didn't like them-- why would people care so much? Could the real reason be because it is the true church and satan, in his many forms and thinkings, have sought to try and destroy the church because it is true and he wants the people of this earth to be ruled by hate, envy, jealousy, and murder? I don't know. But I think it so strange and disrespectful not only to the persecuted church but to our own country that religion, a freedom we all share, should be treated as it is. The Book of Mormon is important to the LDS church as is the Bible, both equally important and valued. They are Christians and have a love of God. Why does it matter then? It is the choice of a person whether to join one faith or the other and it is that person who will be judged in the end for his/her own choices in this life. I say, let's think at perfecting ourselves and no one else because in the end, our choices are all that matter. - James Kruithof
1-5-2010, 06:27:15 AM
Love is drawn to love, peace is attracted to peace and hate is attracted to hate. The only ones that would agree with these so called street preachers are the ones of the same spirit or very weak minded. Yes it is sad. - Emmanuella
7-6-2010, 11:00:12 AM
May God bless them, cause they dont know what they're doing and talking about. - Anonymous
7-19-2010, 01:26:24 PM
Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. This makes me cry. Honestly, do they not have anything better to do than spew these hateful words at people who are just practicing freedom of religion? While watching this, I wanted to pick up that Book of Mormon, and kneel in front of this man and pray to my Father in Heaven to forgive him of his hatred! That book is so precious to me, it hurts me to see it so carelessly thrown around! - Tyler F
8-5-2010, 03:12:05 PM
Who would waste their time doing this? I understand politic protesters, but religion? I'm sorry for you all, and I'll pray for you. - Colorado Mormon Girl
8-9-2010, 09:58:49 AM
Wow. So, that's what haters do in their free time. It's sad that people think that. God, forgive them. I hope that someday this will be no more. I never had to deal with that kind of hate. The way most people responed to me being a Mormon is "What's a Mormon?" I answer them the best I can. I think people forget that this country was based on rights. Maybe we can remind them of that again. - Anonymous
8-12-2010, 08:38:35 AM
There are several posts on here suggesting we laugh at these "street preachers". I can't see anything to laugh about. I am filled with sadness by the preachers actions and expressions of hatred. What a dark and gloomy existence they must live. I invite them to move into the light love, and exquisite joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ by sincerely studying the Book of Mormon and then praying for a simple confirmation from the Holy Ghost that it is true. That's what I did in 1967. It's the best thing I ever did - I was baptised and my life has been filled with spiritual experiences ever since. These personal spiritual experiences nobody can challenge or take away and have maintained my spiritual strength for the past 43 years.