Turn the PR machine around.

[1smartdodog]

After the Brad Wilcox fiasco I was thinking what can the church do to turn the PR machine around and get some good press. Here is my list of things that would get them all sorts of positive press.

1. Apologize for past racist behavior. Don't have to come out and say Brigham was a racist, but go further than the essay and actually say it was a wrong doctrine and apologize, say we are going to do better and move on.

2. Integrate Gays into the church somehow. Not sure how that would be done, but Mormonism Live had an episode some time back where Radio Free Mormon gave some good ways to do it.

3. Lose the one true church mantra. That may take years to get the mainstream mormons to adopt, but it starts at the top by leaders acknowledging the good in other belief systems and condemning the belittling present in meetings around the world about other religions.

4. Give women the priesthood. This in my option is the big one and yet the easiest to do with out significant fallout from members. I don't think it is even changing doctrine. One little midnight revelation to Press Nelson and bam women have the priesthood. I also think it would have the biggest impact. Nelson wold go from idiot to the super inspired leader in a heartbeat.

Of course none of this is going to happen I realize, at least in the near future, but if the church is so hungry for good press they are going to have to do some big things. How the mainstream Mormons wold react to such things I am not sure, but at the rate they are going they are losing both conservative and liberal Mormons. Tough spot to be in but it is the corner they painted themselves into.

[moksha]

... and condemning the belittling present in meetings around the world about other religions.

Especially when it is painfully obvious in priesthood meetings that members are very misinformed about what others believe. Wish members could be encouraged to visit the services of a couple of other churches (Catholic) that they are always bad-mouthing. Get the facts, Jack!

[Palerider]

...... at the rate they are going they are losing both conservative and liberal Mormons. Tough spot to be in but it is the corner they painted themselves into.

I'd be happy if they just keep screwing it up. Keep losing members until the whole thing collapses. Then do the Community of Christ thing and rebuild on a truer, cleaner foundation.

"Just keep being stupid guys."