“Whenever we say we’re Mormon, a lot of people think we’re polygamists,” said Elder Tyson Bailey, 21, his voice betraying a hint of exasperation.
Their frustration is understandable: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints banned the practice of plural marriage in 1890, about a century before the 21-year-old was born.
Elder Kellen Fowers, 20, listed more misconceptions: They don’t worship the book of Mormon, or church founder Joseph Smith, for example.
“We do not worship anything but Jesus Christ,” he said.
Of course, LDS Church members who volunteer to come here as missionaries do a lot more than refute myths about their church. They work to form friendships, to teach their faith and perform public services.