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Farmington, UT

Oh my goodness, JoCo Ute, read the story again. Bishop Hayashi isn't against Mormon humor, particularly that which is produced among Mormons them selves. He is saying that people need to be careful about making fun of others beliefs, particularly when the dialogue is that it wouldn't be tolerated about other groups, such as Jews or Muslims, but is in vogue for whatever reason about Mormons. Do you think a play like "The Book of Mormon" would have been allowed had it been about the Jewish people? The funny things you refer to on You Tube most probably say, such as "Things Mormon Girls Say", ar3e by Mormon folks, not non-members.

The whole idea is to show respect for others and not belittle them if they are of a different faith. That's a simple and straight-forward message. And I think it is timely. Certainly if it left both he and his wife feeling cold and uncomfortable, it was inappropriate. Green Jello jokes don't fit that category, in my view, as they are about a food not a person or a belief.

Your over reaction to his wise counsel is what is really scary.

City, Ut

To Bishop Hayashi and your wife:

Thank you.

I know some non-LDS who live in Utah, who moved here from other states for the mountains and skiing and some others who moved here for the killing they could (and do) make on over-priced, sub-standard rental properties to LDS students in Utah County. And all of them love to mock Mormons-overtly and covertly-AND who all fail to realize the lovely standard of living they enjoy and all the infrastructure benefits they enjoy etc etc comes on the backs of many generations of mostly Mormons----yet they love to mock them. Sad.

So thanks for the good you and your wife are trying to do and for your willingness to speak up.

us, CA

As a non-member, I solemnly pledge that I will never laugh at Mormons and Mobsters, the opening credits of Granite Flats with the iconic jiggling jello, or Studio C ever again. No, I take that back, the End of Times weaher report on Studio C is waaaay to funny to not laugh. :)

Cambridge, MA

To "NeilT" I would worry more about the liberals who claim membership in the church first. There are many talks and official statements denouncing liberalism and socialism, which the self proclaimed liberal believes in.

Counter Intelligence
Salt Lake City, UT

@LDS liberal: "Singles Ward" is fine - its "Saturday's Voyeur" that is hateful

But I suspect you already knew that

A Scientist
Provo, UT

Wise man say: Is better to have anti-Mormon humor than anti-humor Mormon.

Salt Lake City, UT

Seabeck, WA
The water flows in both directions. Having raised our children in a non-Utah liberal city, we received only one inquiry about our faith during our time there. We knew of several anti-Mormon programs sponsored by "Christian" churches. Thankfully, I suspect that most people don't care what church you attend or don't attend and judge you on actions and character, not religious affiliation.

Mister J
Salt Lake City, UT

re: LDS Liberal

"So, does this mean no more "Single's Ward" movies either?"

But, those are like will Ferrel movies. Wait. That was your point neither are funny.

re: NeilT

"...the danger of sarcasm"

First, Bro Glenn is not sarcastic. J. Stewart & S. Colbert are better examples of sarcasm. Lets not forget, there is at least an ounce of truth in every pound of sarcasm.

Mister J
Salt Lake City, UT

to A Scientist

"Wise man say: Is better to have anti-Mormon humor than anti-humor Mormon."


Nice, CA

I once told a joke that I thought was ok, but my Bishop said it was inappropriate. It was "You have a church leader setting at his desk when his secretary comes in and said he has good new and bad news and the church leader says what's the good news and he tills him that Jesus has returned and so the leader ask what's the bad and the secretary tills him that Jesus is calling from Salt Lake. This could be applied with any faith but my Bishop said it was not right and that church teachings is that we should be respectful of others faiths. That was the last time I ever told The joke.

Layton, UT

it's a pretty common thing for people to disparage utah mormons. heck, even LDS outside of Utah have no shortage of negative things to say about them. In a way, I think they sell them short in order toto fit into their nonUtah environments. We don't even notice we're doing it.

Having lived outside of Utah, I had many nonLDS friends who would come up to me and tell me about an acquaintance that would start badmouthing or misrepresenting LDS beliefs in an attempt to discredit my family or my faith, and my friends would tell me, "I told them, I don't know who told you that, but you're wrong. That's not how mormons are."

There's a lot of disinformation out there, it's nice to read about informed religious people outside of the LDS faith that see the lies for what they are.

St. George, U

This is our territory what what

Charlottesville, VA

The Scientist,

Not to be overly sensitive, just assuming from past remarks you might include my baptismal covenants in your snarky "Much better than the covenants made at baptism in some Churches" comment. Here is best summary of that covenant I made at baptism:


Sound vaguely familiar?

Best regards,

American Fork, UT

Maybe they just need a bit thicker skin; they're by no means the first or only group to have humour created about them. Besides, what makes it 'anti' mormon humour? Every person or group that gets up and touts itself as having exclusive authority or divine truth is going to have it's foibles mocked in our society. Roll with it.

Kirk R Graves
West Jordan, UT

I think you failed to recognize that the article wasn't about a Mormon complaining about anti-Mormon jokes, but about a Bishop from another faith expressing his opposition to such jokes.

Other than the British, you would be hard pressed to find another group that is more willing to laugh at itself than the Mormons. (We even take it from others pretty well).

casual observer
Salt Lake City, UT

One can always joke about their siblings, but wait until someone outside the family does so and then theres trouble. Jokes that are hilarious from a rabbi or African American would be considered off limits for someone out of the fold. It's best to leave humor about a certain group to those of that group. Most outsiders don't know when they cross the no-no line.

Olympia, WA

I am glad to have found this article and greatly appreciate the kind bishops views. I hope that those that are LDS, especially in Utah take to heart this advise in reverse. I have spoken with many who lived in Utah a while and never felt accepted by their LDS neighbors (their kids friends weren't allowed to go to their house for example). The church occupies a huge amount of time of it's members and lots of friendships of members is based around ward and other connections. It can make those around them feel left out. Reach out to your neighbors and love them as much as you do the ones sitting three rows over on Sunday.

Those that are of other beliefs (I hate the term non-mormon- sounds so exclusionary) realize that those LDS folks around you really aren't that bad. If everyone was a little more accepting of each other (you don't have to accept others beliefs to accept them) Utah could be everything it has to potential to be. It shouldn't matter what "team" you are on.

This comes from an active LDS member that thinks we can all improve.

Moab, UT

It bothers me that so many are willing to move 'humor' over into the politically correct column where it will be silenced in the name of diversity over doctrine and Scripture.

Cedar City, UT

I will stand up to anyone that disses Protestant churches, Catholics or any religion. After being raised in Methodist and Presbyterian congregations, I converted to the Restored Gospel in 1976. I can see that other religions and churches do not carry the Truth far enough. They have some truths, however, and are infinitely better than atheism.

I have been offended in the Church a few times over the years by those that characterize other churches as under Satan's influence. I know they do good and uplift their members spirits and prepare them well for the Restored Gospel.

Now that we are beyond the Dark Ages before Joseph Smith and beyond the Middle Ages of the early Restored Gospel, we must shine as lights on a hill, increasing the illumination that others have of our Savior. We must not try to extinguish the light that they have.

JoCo Ute
Grants Pass, OR

Re @ InspectorC Reread the article? Huh. I guess when Bishop Hayashi said "“And if an LDS person wants to tell jokes about being LDS, that’s fine with me. But for anyone else, it’s off base" He must not have meant it.

Please explain how this means anything other than Only Mormons can tell jokes about Mormons.

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