BELIEFS AND STORIES FROM MEMBERS OF
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Personal Response by Karen R. Merkley

Mormons, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have nothing to do with the Texas polygamy sect, recently covered in the national and international press. We wish to convey compellingly that those who practice polygamy today are not Mormons. They are fundamentalists or members of other religious groups who defy the teachings of the Savior in our day, and who are in no way affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ (Mormon Church). This is true of the Texas polygamy sect and of all other splinter groups that have formed in the West and in various parts of the world.

As Mike Otterson of LDS Public Affairs has stated, we have made this distinction clear in the past and we reiterate to the press and to all those who are desirous to know the facts, and the reality of the doctrines and practices of all identifiable Mormons worldwide.

We ask the press and public, therefore, to dissociate the terms “Mormon” and “polygamist” and “Mormon” and “fundamentalist” when referring to anyone who practices polygamy in our day. It is a violation of both our creed and our civil law.

The teachings of the Savior for our day include monogamous marriage between a man and a woman. We also oppose same sex marriages while we extend a hand of fellowship to those wishing to overcome same gender attraction.

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