The Street Preachers and Me
On June 8 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commemorated the 1978 revelation extending the priesthood to all worthy males regardless of race. My wife and I had procured tickets and showed up early to get good seats. Approaching the north gate of Temple Square I noticed 2 or 3 protesters. 
From a block away I recognized the first; I had first met him at the Manti pageant, as pictured here. It was Aaron Shafovaloff,1 a young, trim man with a missionary haircut, a large camera hanging around his neck over a dark blue t-shirt; he held a small placard over his head. Other than at Manti, I'd seen him wandering around outside Temple Square and I'd read his stories of preaching against Mormonism by approaching couples leaving a quiet Temple session on Friday nights. Aaron moved his family to Midvale, Utah because he believes he has a mission to the Mormons, to save them from a "counterfeit Christianity." He believes his preaching and sign holding is much like the conversation Jesus had with the woman at the well in John 4, firm but loving. When I saw Aaron in Manti his firm loving involved much more shouting than I picture the Savior using at the well. My wife and I watched as he shouted about false gods for about 15 minutes before taking a break and being replaced on his box by another preacher who continued where he left off. In one online conversation Aaron expressed his admiration of the Savior's method of ministry, then went on to defend his self-titled "sin-challenging stranger-evangelism" using words like "bloviating," "ilk," and "hot air," his version of "scribes! Pharisees! Hypocrites!" I presume. His voice on Sunday was much more quiet, but one thing is certain: Aaron has very strong convictions.
By the time I reached him he was speaking with Church security agents and a lawyer. The lawyer was showing Aaron the permit acquired by the Church designating a 25-foot stretch of sidewalk as a protest zone reserved by the Church. He explained Aaron had to move, but Aaron was arguing his case confidently. He seemed to believe he had the rules down, insisting "I can walk through here."
"No, I'm afraid you can't."
"Yes, as long as I keep moving," he said, pantomiming a little back-and-forth march. His demeanor was calm but persistent; much different from the haranguing yell I remembered from Manti. I butted in, "Shaf, let's just move along." He was caught a little off guard and I stepped toward him to talk. "Why not just go across the street?" I flatly suggested. Apparently my tone was unfriendly, and Church security had other plans for dealing with Aaron; they asked me to step back. After doing so I explained what I knew about Aaron from prior encounters and then watched them until Aaron crossed the street stopping in front of the crosswalk leading from the Conference Center to the north gate where he stood, occasionally pacing with a dead smile on his face. He looked only slightly uncomfortable. I could see him making comments to passersby, and when no one was walking past he would wave at passing cars. It reminded me of the people I see with the statue of liberty hats and robes holding placards advertising the services of Liberty Tax, or the Little Caesar's Pizza "Hot N' Ready" walking human advertisements. Over on the lawn three other protesters from Aaron's group stood in the shade holding a placard advertising the same website for the Mormon Research Ministry. All told, they looked rather outnumbered. Most of the people who passed them didn't stop to talk, but would suppress nervous giggles as they continued walking. Some rolled their eyes. The biggest reaction usually came from apparent tourists (the short shorts and sleeveless shirts are dead giveaways) who would look on with amusement or disgust, or sometimes with a questioning glance. They usually stared the longest.
Soon Lonnie Pursifull, the preacher I'd spoken with at the Manti pageant and General Conference, arrived and parked in the very spot Aaron had been asked to vacate directly in front of the north gates. Lonnie travels a lot, protesting at Manti, Mesa, Arizona, Palmyra, New York, Nauvoo, Illinois, and Salt Lake City, among other places. He's even been known to protest other protesters.2He was wearing the same getup I'd seen so many times: camouflaged pants, a red T-shirt saying "JESUS SAVES FROM HELL," a fluorescent orange vest with various scripture references listed in black letters, an oversize leather tool belt filled with Chick Tract comic books and a huge sign saying something like "The Official Anti-Mormon Literature: The Holy Bible." I noted the LDS garments hanging from his belt, dragging along the ground. I laughed a little, remembering a conversation Lonnie, my wife and I had in Manti (Lonnie is the one on the right):
"Some of the protesters can be pretty mean in Salt Lake. The paper reported that some of them were yelling at women and children, calling them whores. That would be hard to believe, had I not seen it myself."
"Really? Yeah, some of these guys get a little out of control. I'm not with them. I'm my own preacher out here, just trying to deliver the Word."
"You know, some of those protesters at General Conference have been known to wave around LDS garments" (I wasn't sure if it had been him or not, so I thought I'd ask).
"Really?"
"Yep. What would you say about something like that?
He denounced such disrespect, assuring me that his method was preaching the word of God and that he didn't need such offensive tactics. But yet here he was, with underwear hanging from his belt. Why he felt the need to lie about his behavior- or whether he even recognized the lie- I'll never know. Pacing before the gate he started in, shouting and preaching. Two choirs had gathered on either side of the gates doing their best to coordinate singing hymns. They had two directors, one on each side, and almost invariably one side would lag behind the other creating an interesting stereo sound. And Lonnie started in; his loud, hoarse voice crying repentance against the wicked Mormons.
"Your Church is false, it has no revelations! Your revelations were man-made because your leaders didn't want to lose their tax-exempt status!"
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning, the latter day glory begins to come forth...
"Brigham Young and Joseph Smith can't save you! They aren't your savior! They are burning in hell! Brigham Young, he likes 'em young!"
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven, Hosanna! Hosanna to God and the Lamb!
The choir moved on to "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel," I had no doubt Lonnie might want to sing right along with them as he pushed along, doing his duty with energy and determination; he wasn't shirking, that's certain. Several news cameras crouched in front of him capturing the moment. I watched, hoping to see the camera pan out and show his lone figure contrasted with sparse pedestrian traffic, a few dozen singers, and one other sign carrying protester in the distance. From what I could tell, however, they remained zoomed in on the man and his sign.
I wondered if he would recognize me so after the cameras were gone I stepped forward as he shouted and I said his name, which stopped his preaching for a moment, the thought of being interrupted on his face. His garments had come loose and fell to the ground and as he reached to pick them up and loop them around his tool belt it was my chance. I introduced myself and told him we had spoken before. His demeanor was much different than I remember in Manti; the general affability and almost jolly forthrightness was replaced with a certain wariness and skepticism; he adopted a tough guy persona. As in Manti, I knew the best way to cease the shouting was by engaging in conversation. (Aaron Shafovaloff and his ministry was already wise to this. In Manti they would work in teams, something of a Bible-buddy system: one person to answer questions so the other could continue yelling. Lonnie was alone.)
Any question would do, really. I asked him about the upcoming election. Lonnie is a self-styled independent Baptist, so I asked "How about that Huckabee?" (a great candidate, a shame he was defeated). I asked about the Constitution (it's all in the Bible, book of Isaiah, of course). I asked about Alan Keyes (a wonderful, brave soul. He tells it like it is and this nation will suffer for rejecting the word of God). After about fifteen minutes of this back-and-forth our conversation was interrupted by the attorney who had spoken with Aaron earlier. He showed Lonnie the choirs held the permits to demonstrate on the sidewalk in front of the gates; he'd have to move along. Unlike Aaron, who put up a token fight and capitulated, Lonnie refused, and was told the police would be contacted. He said "Good!" backed away a foot or two and resumed shouting. I attempted to resume our conversation, but he wasn't going to stop to talk this time. I fell back into the choirs.
For God remembers still his promise made of old...
"I don't need any permit...to preach the word of GOD!"
that He on Zion's hill truth's standard would unfold!
"I don't need any permit...to preach the word of GOD!"
When two police cars showed up the officers didn't approach the preacher, unless they did so after 6pm when I had gone into the Tabernacle as the commemoration began.
Her light should there attract the gaze of all the world in latter days...
Footnotes:
[1]
I hesitate to mention Aaron Shafovaloff by name. Perhaps doing so may encourage his efforts. Truth be told, I believe his efforts actually serve more to strengthen the faith and determination of members of the LDS Church much more so than damage the faith. He feels he has been called "by the Holy Spirit" to preach his Protestant theology to members of the LDS Church along the Wasatch Front, which consists largely of the typical anti-Mormon rhetoric. He has made efforts to specifically target youth, as well. My first encounter with an anti-Mormon came at age 16 at a bookstore in Nauvoo, Illinois. An older woman sitting behind a table welcomed me into her "Mormon" bookstore, but it quickly became apparent that this store didn't carry typical LDS fare one might find at Deseret Book. I believe it was at that time I became much more interested in learning more about the Church ans my faith, thus I credit her efforts with strengthening my faith in God and His restored Church.
[2]
James White, a vocal critic of the LDS Church, has been mocked by Lonnie, who made signs against White, using them at General Conference. Lonnie disagrees with White using a different translation of the Bible, among other things. This could only have caused confusion among passersby. White posted a youtube video and blog entry on the incident. Jason Wallace of Christ Presbyterian Church interviewed Lonnie on his program The Ancient Paths in April 2008. He confronted Lonnie's abusive tactics. See the video as posted on The Ancient Paths blog. At the 27 minute Mark Lonnie is strong to oppose the accusation that he blew his nose with a pair of LDS garments. He's waved them around, threw them on the ground, and referred to them in crass terms, but says he hasn't blown his nose on them.
34 comments:
This is great. I really love the juxtaposition of the preachers and the choir. I know this is based on real events, but this sounds like it could be a great short story. If not that, then it would be even better if you did a more focused long article on who these people are, where they come from, and what they believe politically and religiously.
Thanks for the comment. I think looking further into what fuels these guys would be a really interesting study. We may tend to see these protesters as much of the same thing, but there are interesting differences between them in temperament, approach, doctrine, and reason for preaching, among other things. In typing up this entry I also felt it could justify more time and research, and plan on looking further into it in the future.
If the best you can do is sport a goofy photo of me and caricature public preaching and the interaction that follows as "shouting", then you're obviously not interested in honesty. You're interested in character assassination and slander. Such is the modus operandi of FAIR and its groupies.
You failed to mention that you undiscerningly shouted at me, "just obey the law" when I asked the LDS rent-a-cops and lawyer for some documentation that showed I couldn't use the public area as a throughfare. You should have stuck around longer. The cops told me that the LDS Church security was absolutely wrong to tell people they couldn't use the public area as a throughfare. The lawyer had overstepped his bounds, and as I captured on my MP3 recorded, he lied twice to me.
If you ever want a recorded, live interview, the offer is still open. Until then, it seems like you're less interested in meaningful religious engagement and dialog and more interested in ad hominem.
Thanks for the post. I liked it.
Aaron the irony in your post is pronounced.
Watch this video and ask yourself, is Blair really seeking to make an honest portrayal of me, or is he trying to do the very thing that his FAIR buddies accuse Ed Decker of by exploiting sensationalism?
Aaron: Let alone shouting, I didn't even raise my voice. This false depiction of my actions makes your righteous indignation regarding my depiction of your protesting ring rather hollow. Additionally, you said I characterized your methods as "shouting." I did no such thing. In fact, I said nothing of your tone, other than you made comments to passersby. You were not shouting as you did in Manti. A re-read will show I didn't say anything about you shouting.
As far as the "thoroughfare" issue, I'm not 100% clear on the laws regarding protesting and permits, but it seems you want to act as though your protesting is actually just you passing through, thus making your presence happenstance rather than deliberate preaching.
All of that aside, Aaron, this post is a personal recollection of events. This is the situation as I perceived it. I realize you see things differently and I appreciate your lending another perspective.
Aaron: a couple more points.
First, this blog has quite literally nothing to do with FAIR.
Second, I checked the video on Fox. For starters, the depiction of the protesters was pretty poor reporting. Why not point out how scant they were? Or that they represented one lone Baptist and one anti-Mormon organization? The protesting had very little to do with the Priesthood or the commemoration, but had much to do with criticizing the Church in general. Also, my depiction of you is vindicated. I wasn't aware of the Fox report until now, but let's see how it lines up.
Young, skinny man? Check. Blue shirt? Check. Holding placard above head? Check. Waving? Check. Making comments to passersby? Check.
A note to other LDS bloggers: beware of posting about street protesters. You'll quickly be accused of posting in bad faith.
> "I didn't even raise my voice."
That's certainly how I perceived it. And you looked angry at me. In fact, it was your very anger at me that made me think it was you, LifeOnAPlate, as you have demonstrated yourself on the discussion boards.
"Additionally, you said I characterized your methods as 'shouting.' I did no such thing."
Blair, when you, dripping with sarcasm, said, "His firm loving involves much more shouting than I picture the Savior using at the well in John 4", you were characterizing and even caricaturing. You didn't specifically describe my interaction at the Sunday event as "shouting", but that's not what I accused you of. I am accusing you of caricaturing the "public preaching and the interaction that follows" which I do in general---including at Manti---as shouting. Shouting conjures up the kind of interaction two extremely spouses do when angry. That's a world away from passionate public preaching. You're trying to conflate and blend different ideas together in a way that abuses rhetoric, much like the term "anti-Mormon" is used to borrow violent and even genocidal connotations.
Regarding the use of public thoroughfares, I have the American right to use these places, especially while moving, as a way of exercising my free speech. This isn't Nauvoo, and this is not the Expositor's printing press. If the cops tell me I can't do something, I'll take it more seriously, but LDS rent-a-cops and lawyers have lied to me far too many times for me to take all their words at face value.
You should join me as a silent observer sometime in one of my endeavors, that way you aren't so easily quick to judge and use misleading rhetoric and exploitative snapshots.
At the very least, let me take you out to lunch sometime so we can actually have an opportunity to meet and talk.
Take care,
Aaron
"extremely spouses do when angry"
oops, obviously jumbling of words
Well I certainly didn't feel angry. Nor did my wife believe I was angry. Apologies if you got that impression.
I've adjusted the John 4/shouting to reflect the difference between your Manti style and your preaching on Sunday.
By the way, my interest in dialogging with you greatly decreased when you informed me you weren't interested in learning the perspective of Latter-day Saints or answering their questions. After you completely ignored about ten to fifteen of my questions on the Mormon Apologetics discussion board my interest in having lunch with you greatly waned.
Blair, I have always been interested in "learning the perspective of Latter-day Saints", but that will never be the only motive I have in the larger endeavor of dialog.
Also, I have repeatedly told you I will answer your questions over a recorded audio interview. The offer still stands.
For any interested in the change, the original statement toward the beginning of the post was as follows:
He believes his preaching and sign holding is much like the conversation Jesus had at the well with the woman at the well, firm but loving. (His firm loving involves much more shouting than I picture the Savior using at the well in John 4. In one conversation with some Latter-day Saints online Aaron expressed his admiration of the Savior's method of ministry, then went on to defend his self-titled "sin-challenging stranger-evangelism" using words like "bloviating," "ilk," and "hot air," his version of "scribes! Pharisees! Hypocrites!" I presume.)
Aaron: I'd prefer having the questions answered in the venue where they were asked. There were about ten or fifteen of them and they weren't all my questions. Thus, I would prefer you to address myself and those others who asked them on the forum. Thanks for stopping by the blog.
Blair, I want a chance to represent myself without having my words twisted---it helps to have both of us immediately accessible in a live conversation. If you want to refuse a more personal way of interacting, that's your choice.
Hey Life:
A point of correction. Martin Tanner is not from Christ Presbyterian Church. He is a Latter-day Saint who, as you may recall, debated Jason Wallace from said Church back in January, I think.
You may wish to correct that in your post as to not confuse the reader.
Thanks, and I enjoyed the post and subsequent debate with Aaron.
Thanks for the blog peer review SteSmo. Fixed.
LOAP:
I think looking further into what fuels these guys would be a really interesting study.
Look no further than Eric Hoffer's The True Believer. He summed it up 57 years ago.
Actually I read Hoffer's book last month. An interesting read, to be sure.
BH, I intensely dislike Aaron's methods as anyone does. But parts of the description...
"I watched them until Aaron crossed the street stopping in front of the crosswalk leading from the Conference Center to the north gate where he stood, occasionally pacing with a dead smile on his face. I could see him making comments to passersby, and when no one was walking past he would wave at passing cars. It reminded me of the people I see with the statue of liberty hats and robes holding placards advertising the services of Liberty Tax, or the Little Caesar's Pizza "Hot N' Ready" walking human advertisements."
That's really not entirely fair is it? I mean... I've seen Mormon missionaries handing out pamphlets who looked pretty similar.
This kind of work is both physically and emotionally tiring. And people don't always catch you at your best. A dead smile was all I could manage some days on my mission. It's tough dealing with a hostile or uninterested audience. Missionaries know this better than most.
You can relate to that, can't you?
My description reflects my actual thoughts. This particular post isn't intended to speak with an air of "objectivity," but to relate my personal thoughts at the time.
As far as not being fair, you bring up missionary work. I assure you there were days I must have had a dead smile, and looked less than enthusiastic. I can definitely relate to dealing with a disinterested or hostile environment. In my description here I simply explain my point of view as a personal reminiscence. My words aren't just some kind of flourish, I really did think of the guys holding pizza signs. In retrospect maybe a "plastic smile" would be more accurate than a "dead" one. Still, that was my observation. It would have been dishonest of me not to record my own biased observations in an account like this. I do appreciate, however, tempering the post by seeing your comment here mentioning missionary work in general; good form. Thanks for stopping by.
Geeze....
I don't see any advantage of a "live" interview.
I well-reasoned written discussion with time
to consult sources and edit is much more
satisfying.
Anyway, a great description of the event, LOAP.
I would like to write one about my encounter
with Timothy Oliver of Watchman Ministry when
I attended the Manti Pageant a while back.
It was interesting just standing to the side and
watching the protesters at work. On that day,
the tactic was to isolate and surround single or
small groups of young people with you wearing
the same yellow t-shirts and start haranguing them with questions. An adult protester would be nearby
to help out if needed. Older "ministry" folks would
address LDS adults, so I made myself available and was approached by a very strange lady who asked me if my faith would be shaken if I knew there had been thousands of changes made in the text of the Book of Mormon. I told her I was quite familiar with the changes and then I asked if her faith would be shaken to know of the many more thousands of changes that have been made in the Bible. That's when Mr. Oliver stepped in and took over for the
strange lady. She gave me a tract that described her seeing Jesus in a vision in the desert outside of Taos, New Mexico. Ah, the magnificence of it all!
Bernard Gui
Also, I must have missed this:
...much like the term "anti-Mormon" is used to borrow violent and even genocidal connotations.
I find that assertion to be ridiculous. The term as I reserve it refers specifically to those who dedicate their time to criticizing, demonizing, misrepresenting, or otherwise preaching specifically against Mormonism. You are not preaching Christ and Him crucified, you are preaching "crucify Mormonism." The amount of time you spend, your writings, all your efforts lead me to see you as a true anti-Mormon.
Aaron states: “This isn't Nauvoo”
Come now… To accuse others of “ad hominem” attacks and caricatures and then to turn around with this standard drivel of yours does nothing but take the wind from your sails.
Would you think it fair if I were to throw one of my standard cheap shots out there as a response? Such as:
”Indeed Aaron, and thank goodness that times have changed. I like you much better with a placard than the musket, bucket of tar, and satchel of feathers you would be utilizing to express your ‘free speech’ in a different time and place.”
If you are claiming to be walking the higher road, it’s best not to depict yourself at a lower elevation.
I just love being the black mormon chick that smiles, shakes their hand and says... "so happy to see you! I love that we have our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Common. God bless you AND me as well! Have a great day now, hear?"
And then I just walk happily along my way with a wave. I don't discuss it, or debate it. Just let them know that I believe in Jesus Christ and the Lord God and we have that in common.
They don't like having stuff in common. It's GREAT :)
Throws them off. I love it!
Shabang. Thanks for the comment, it made me smile.
Seth R.P: I like you.
BHodges: I like you too.
Thanks to you both for posting your thoughts and ideas where I can see them.
I've also noticed a certain desire to avoid establishing common ground. Thanks for stopping by, shabang.
trevor, do you blog?
Blair I love reading your blog, but I have to say that I agree with shabang on this one. The best way to deal with protestors is to "kill them with kindness" or just ignore them. They are obviosly not interested with our actual beliefs so why eg them on in an endless debate. They are angry about something they do not understand and don't really want to understand for that matter.
Corey and I miss hanging out with you. Hopefully we will be able to make a trip out to Utah before Corey deploys. Have you checked out our blog lately, the kids are getting so big! Later.
Yeah I have been checking your blog;
I need to leave comments more often.
Blair, good morning. Looking back on this post, I regret the way I whipped back so defensively. I think you did a pretty unfair treatment of street ministry, colored with a lot of misleading depictions, but instead of attacking you in return, it would have been more mature and gracious of me to trust God and not let it bother me.
Grace and peace,
Aaron
No mormon is saved. Joe Smith was a lying polygamist who did not die a martyr and he ended up in hell. Wake up LDS!
James the Preacher
Thanks, James.
And a less sarcastic, more sincere but belated thanks to Aaron, too.
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