SALT LAKE CITY – A nonprofit that defends Mormon beliefs to critics is launching an organization designed to help journalists, political operatives and others better understand the faith, at a time when two church members are seeking the White House.
Scott Gordon says the idea for the Mormon Defense League grew out of misinformation about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that circulated in 2008 when Mormon Mitt Romney sought the GOP presidential nomination.
He says the league aims to dispel myths and explain the history, theology and other aspects of the church.
The Utah-based church has been increasingly in the spotlight in recent years, with both Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman now seeking the GOP presidential nomination. Broadway is home to the "Book of Mormon" musical, and the church played a central role in California's 2008 gay marriage battle.
The league is an extension of the Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research. Neither group is endorsed by the Mormon church.
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Online:
Mormon Defense League, http://mdl.org/
Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research, http://www.fairlds.org/
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