THE "I'M A MORMON" AD CAMPAIGN

The I'm a Mormon Campaign has been amped up here in Colorado.  The above billboard is currently up in Loveland, CO - and the one at the left is in Colorado Springs, CO. 

In addition to billboards, for the past couple of weeks, I have seen several "I'm a Mormon" commercials on television.  The fact that these ads are being played on network television (I've seen them on NBC) during Prime-Time is especially troubling to me since the cost must be quite high.  Tithing monies being put to good use, right?  I don't think so.

And last night, the News on Channel 9 (NBC) here in Denver did a news story about the I'm a Mormon Campaign.  Quite appropriately, they asked the question of whether this campaign is "politically motivated" since Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman are both running for President.  I thought it was very funny when a spokesman from the Mormon Church said NO, they are not politically motivated, that in fact the Mormon Church is "politically neutral."  Very funny!!  He said the ads are aimed at "clearing up misconceptions," to help Americans better understand Mormons, and to show that Mormons are normal people just like rest of the Christians out here.  He even went on to say emphatically that Mormonism is not a cult.  Me thinks thou doth protest too much...

According to this news report, there are several states in which these billboards and television commercials are being run.  Lucky Colorado - it's one of them. 

Also, an article in the Denver Post on September 29, 2011 stated as follows:

The "I'm a Mormon" campaign begins next week in Denver; San Antonio and Austin in Texas; Atlanta; Phoenix; Spokane and Seattle-Tacoma in Washington; Omaha and Lincoln-Hastings in Nebraska; and Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and South Bend in Indiana.

The 2011-12 campaign began in New York in June.

Ah, yes... let's not forget about New York and the massive ads that have been running on and near Times Square (see below).

Of course, some of the New York ads are near Broadway where the Book of Mormon musical is currently running.  Presumably, they are trying to "clear up misconceptions" there as well.

The Denver Post article went on to say: 

This is the second year of the "I'm a Mormon" campaign. Last year, it appeared in Colorado Springs; Rochester, N.Y.; Minneapolis; St. Louis; Pittsburgh; Oklahoma City; Baton Rouge, La.; Tucson; and Jacksonville, Fla.

The campaign is a direct result of the church's research in the past few years as to how Americans perceive Mormons, officials said.

Research.  Internet ads.  Billboards.  Television commercials.  So what will be next?

As the Denver Post article points out:

The ads will refer people to the Mormon.org website, where they can find profiles of more than 30,000 Mormons and chat live with representative Mormons.

"Our missionaries are known for knocking on doors to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ," Evans said in a release about the ad campaign.  "Mormon.org gives people the opportunity to knock on our door through the Internet and ask members questions about our faith."

Interesting.  Of course, if you want the truth, don't ask a Mormon since most of them don't really know the real truth about either the history or doctrine of the church and simply spout what they are told to say.

As I stated above, it is obvious that tithing monies are being used to fund the "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign, which has to be costing a tremendous amount of money.  And I have to ask:  Is this a good use of the money?

But then this is the church who is building a mall in downtown Salt Lake City - at a cost of over $6 billion so far.  Enough said.

NOTE:  In direct response to the "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign, Dan Johnson of Alberta, Canada has begun a website called "I Am An Ex-Mormon," and it contains many videos of people who have left the Mormon Church for various reasons.  It is very compelling and definitely worth a "look-see."