Church Seeks to Address Public Confusion Over Texas Polygamy Group

"The effort to more clearly distinguish Mormons from the Texas polygamist group follows a survey commissioned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that found a high level of public awareness of stories about the polygamous compound near San Angelo, Texas. Allegations of child abuse led to a raid by the state's Child Protective Services earlier this year. Some 91 percent of respondents had heard or read stories surrounding the religious compound.

However, the survey also found that:

More than a third of those surveyed (36 percent) erroneously thought that the Texas compound was part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or "Mormon Church" based in Salt Lake City
6 percent said the two groups were partly related.
29 percent correctly said the two groups were not connected at all
29 percent were not sure.
In addition, when asked specifically which religious organization members of the polygamous group belonged to:

30 percent said "Mormon," "LDS" or "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"
14 percent said "FLDS"
6 percent said "Mormon fundamentalists"
Nearly half (44 percent) were unsure
Elder Quentin L. Cook, a Church apostle, said the national survey results confirm what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has found in the experience of its members and missionaries in Texas and elsewhere. "



Courtesy of LDS.org