Because everyone just must know that the service is provided by the LDS church after all one of the five goals is to enhance the reputation of the church.
Well, I don’t really see a problem with people knowing that the service being provided is done by the LDS Church, anymore than there’s a problem with people knowing that the service being provided is done by the Red Cross, Catholic Charities, etc.
This is an idiotic claim, the shirts will in no way instill confidence in any aspect of the service provided, but the idea that people are going to respond with “ooh LDS, things will be fine now” does build up members testimony, another objective of the program.
I don’t think it is “idiotic” at all. It’s very psychological. When people see “Mormon Helping Hands”, or any other service effort, being advertised, they naturally will assume that these are people that are able to help and do something for them (whether they are actually able to is a different matter), and naturally it will be assumed to be “organized” since they are part of an organized effort, and you see multiple people identifying with the same organization. I’m aware of this because I personally have experienced it, not just in my MHM experience, but in various health-related service opportunities I’ve been a part of. This point is based on psychology, as well as assumptions that people make.
Nothing here but meeting the non-charitable goals of the church.
Right, however it isn’t any different than how others feel when they wear a shirt identifying themselves with their alma mater, work place, city, etc. You feel proud to identify with that organization/area.
In my opinion, this isn’t an either/or situation. The Church isn’t doing Mormon Helping Hands to benefit itself only. It does it because it is genuinely interested in helping others, to “provide community service and disaster relief to those in need”,
and “helps establish the name and reputation of the Church” (which makes sense, at least to me, since the purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ is to preach the Gospel (which doesn’t even have to include words, as we all know) and bring everyone to Christ and the fulness of His Gospel, at least in the LDS understanding of what that means). “It is a proven means of helping dispel stereotypes often held about the Church, showing that Latter-day Saints are Christians who contribute to the good of their communities.” (I can understand this as well, since many believe that Mormons only care for each other, don’t care about non-Mormons, are in insular communities, are Amish (how many times have I been asked if it’s the same thing), etc.
Just my thoughts.
My own analysis of this, ironically, is the LDS Church is trying to get over the public view, held by a lot of people, that it is a cult.
I don’t buy that logic if [any] religion is a called a cult then “Catholics and protestants” are in a cult as well, where “cult” means the same in both instances. If Rev Jim Jones is called a “cult leader” then all Reverends are cult leaders are as well? No. There were reasons why People’s Temple is a “cult” that don’t apply to all denominations.
It is a swarm of the yellow-jacket cult, God have mercy on us!
