Attitudes Toward Other Faiths

ME: Considering what you just said, I assume you would want members of the church to apply these same principles of mercy and respect not only to those that have strayed, but also to those of other faiths. How do you think Latter-Day Saints should treat those outside the faith?

GBH: We can respect other religions, and must do so. We must recognize the great good they accomplish. We must teach our children to be tolerant and friendly toward those not of our faith…We recognize the good in all churches. We recognize the value of religion generally. We say to everyone: live the teachings which you have received from your church. We invite you to come and learn from us, to see if we can add to those teachings and enhance your life and your understanding of things sacred and divine.⁷⁴

ME: Elder Ballard, what do you think of Christians, most of which vehemently disagree with the doctrines of the LDS Church? 

MRB: For the most part, our neighbors not of our faith are good, honorable people—every bit as good and honorable as we strive to be. They care about their families, just like we do. They want to make the world a better place, just like we do. They are kind and loving and generous and faithful, just like we seek to be.^[75] 

ME: So you are in agreement with President Hinckley in his call for religious tolerance? 

MRB: I have never heard the members of this Church urged to be anything but loving, kind, tolerant, and benevolent to our friends and neighbors of other faiths...^[76] 

ME: President Young, I ask you the same question: What do you think of those of other faiths, particularly Christians? 

BY: Question them, and they cannot answer the simplest question concerning the character of the Deity, heaven, or hell, this or that, or the other; a sucking child would comparatively confuse and confound them upon these subjects… I would say, great is their foolery; they are profound in their ignorance.^[77] 

ME: President Taylor, how do you see other churches? 

JT: Myself and hundreds of the Elders around me have seen (their) pomp, parade, and glory; and what is it?  It is a sounding brass and a tinkling symbol; it is as corrupt as hell; and the Devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century.^[78] 

ME: Strong words… Are you suggesting that Christians are completely in the dark concerning the plan of salvation? This differs dramatically from what President Hinckley said. 

JT: What! Are Christians ignorant? Yes, as ignorant of the things of God as the brute be(a)st ^[79]… What does the Christian world know about God? Nothing...Why so far as the things of God are concerned, they are the veriest fools; they know neither God nor the things of God.^[80] 

ME: Elder Pratt, have you anything to add here? Are you also of the opinion that the devil is the author of contemporary Christianity? 

OP: (The) Roman Catholic church never had authority, it was founded by the Devil. Protestant reformers did not restore the church, their authority came from the Catholics who only had authority from the Devil ^[81]… Both Catholics and Protestants are nothing less than the 'whore of Babylon.'^[82]

ME: So nothing good can come of their worship, then? 

OP: ...all other churches are entirely destitute of all authority from God; and any person who receives baptism or the Lord's supper from their hands will highly offend God, for he looks upon them as the most corrupt people.^[83] 

ME: President Young, President Taylor has reportedly said that the religions of the day were “hatched in hell.” Do you agree with this? 

BY: The eggs were laid in hell, hatched on its borders, and then kicked on to the earth.^[84] 

ME: Clever… Elder McConkie, if you had a message to send to the Christian world, what would it be? 

BRM: Believers in the doctrines of modern Christendom will reap damnation to their souls.^[85] 

ME: Again, I’m amazed by the gaping disparity in view points. President Hinckley, I wonder if you wouldn’t bring us full circle here. I’m going to give you the last word before we move on… 

GBH: As I have said before… We must not be self-righteous. We must be magnanimous and open and friendly. We can keep our faith. We can practice our religion. We can cherish our method of worship without being offensive to others. I… plead for a spirit of tolerance and neighborliness, of friendship and love toward those of other faiths.^[86]

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[74] Gordon B. Hinckley, interview with Lawrence Spicer, London News Service, 28 Aug. 1995.