News Story

Reporter Asks Church Members to Define Their Own Beliefs

Using the backdrop of the Hill Cumorah Pageant held each July in upstate New York, ABC's Dan Harris reported last night in a story for Nightline on the attention and scrutiny the Church is receiving.

The story is a marked contrast to some recent reports that have allowed people outside the faith to define the doctrines and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

In Harris' report he asked a number of Church members to define their beliefs.

"We know it can be difficult for reporters to capture our beliefs in just a couple of minutes," said Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  "Too often, journalists frame their entire report based on what they have heard outside the faith.  If the question is ‘What do Mormons believe?’ it seems appropriate to ask a Mormon."

Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.