By Jessica Price
Twenty-Three Evangelical ministers spoke out in a press conference Tuesday, Oct. 21 at Temple Square to show their disapproval of protestors who desecrated temple garments during the October General Conference.
“We stand against the acts that have been done to our friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” said Pastor Willie Dunne of the Worldwide Gospel Church.
The press conference was organized by the group Standing Together, an Evangelical ministry group that unites religious groups in Utah.
A total of 36 pastors and ministers signed a paper showing their support for Standing Together in denouncing the protestors” actions.
“That [denouncing the protestors” actions] was something they didn”t have to do,” said Dick Sandberg, Salt Lake City resident. “That was very nice of them to do because it wasn”t their fault.”
The pastors in attendance represented churches from Ogden to Provo, many of them differing in doctrine, but uniting for a cause.
“With those differences we have to engage in civil, loving dialogue,” said Mike Imperiale, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church.”
In the statement made by the group of ministers, they called upon the offending protestors to repent publicly for their actions.
“There have been various pastors who have spoken to the street preachers, but they refused to hear us,” said Greg Johnson, director and president of Standing Together.
Protestor Lonnie Pursifull stood on the sidewalk on Main Street Tuesday in an orange crossing guard vest, with a Bible and a large sign that had scriptures printed on both sides. He has been protesting for nine years on Temple Square.
He came to Temple Square Tuesday to protest the ministers calling the protestors to repentance.
“They”re a bunch of sugar-coated preachers trying to tickle peoples” ears,” Pursifull said.
He also said if people thought the desecrating of the garments was bad, to just wait until next year.
“We”re here to warn the wicked,” Pursifull said. “My Bible tells me to earnestly contend for the faith.”
Free speech is often quoted as a reason for being allowed to protest.
“We believe all speech should be tempered by the love of Christ,” said Jeff Nellermo of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
