Further Light And Knowledge

Entendre · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:56 pm Post subject: "A Look Inside the Mormon Church"

Tonight on Nightline.

I, for one, will NOT be staying up for it - the brief glimpse on the nightly news was enough to turn my stomach.

Referring the the Prop 8 support, Ballard (Nelson? Some "Russell") says "When things need to be done, we know how to do it."

Chino Blanco · Election Made Sure Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 546

It's available online now over at:

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/

It was pretty much an extended yawn. At least we'll be able to have a little fun in comments.

Russell "Rainmaker" Ballard suggesting that he's got the power to command the weather seemed out-of-place for this kind of interview.

Actually, the most interesting part (to me) was who Ballard and Cook invited to that chicken dinner: Politico, ABC News, The Associated Press and NPR.

Anyway, I uploaded the YouTube of the interview here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxuBOgKaOMM

But that's not a recommendation to watch it. I thought the Nightline piece from 2006 "The Life of Gay Mormons" was way more interesting, and that's available here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV8ouMvQh5k

Equality · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:58 am Post subject:

WTF? Ballard said he could control the weather? I think there are some folks in New Orleans and Indonesia who would like a word with Mr. Ballard. What a tool.
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Mafalda · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:20 am Post subject:

ruoutthere · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:37 am Post subject:

I just watched it. I had several eye rolling moments, but none as strong as the rain maker moment.

They are in a tough position of trying to excuse behavior that to many people is in-excusable. I think it is going to take alot more to persuade the public that the church isn't full of kooks. If they truly want to change their image, I don't think this is going to make a lick of difference. If I were unaware of any mormon practices, this interview would have really turned me off.
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Oh, and 1999!!!!

slvjm1 · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:40 am Post subject:

Wow! He really has not thought about the implications that claim has with it. He is directly responsible to all of the deaths and devastations associated with the weather. He probably does not realise it, but he has just taken responsibility for all of the droughts, floods, and rainy weekends that plauge and kill millions every year.
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The truth will set you free, but first it will tick you off.

Mayhem · Election Made Sure Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 52

Ballard: "We want to be understood and not misunderstood. People are defining us without having all the facts".

This interview did nothing but make the church look like the silly, crazy and discriminatory organization that it is. Ballard can spin history and doctrine any way he wants but the facts are clear on the church and what it believes and practices.

belaja · Election Made Sure Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 5455

Autumn · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:43 am Post subject:

I thought it was pretty funny when he said that they prayed for rain and it happened before they even left the temple.

The thing that made me want to puke though, is when he said that the LDS church has no connection whatsoever to the polygamists in Texas. No connection at all? Really? He didn't mention that it all started out with JS and fanny alger and just continued on up to the 1920s when the fundies decided to split over polygamy. They are called fundamentalists because they are the ones who actually live mormonism, not the neutered, watered down Salt Lake church.

Lying lie faces.

truly confused · Election Made Sure Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 690

Chino Blanco · Election Made Sure Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 546

Thanks for the heads up, TC.

ABC sucks.

truly confused · Election Made Sure Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 690

belaja · Election Made Sure Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 5455

I wonder if this piece was put together by a mormon reporter? I notice that the comments by "ABC News Commentator" read like your usual mopologetics.
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truly confused · Election Made Sure Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 690

Chino Blanco · Election Made Sure Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 546

I don't know if folks here follow AmericaBlog. Long story short, it's got massive readership, and it's now running a front page mention of the Nightline segment:

http://www.americablog.com/2009/01/abc-news-runs-mormon-puff-piece.html

In addition to dropping comments at ...

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/

... pls consider dropping a comment at AmericaBlog as well.