Mormon Church's PR Strategy From Creating Newspapers, Bribing Politicians To Global Ad Campaigns

The public image of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints didn’t evolve by accident. In this video, we explore how the LDS Church used public relations professionals, branding strategies, and media campaigns over the last 70 years to reshape how America viewed Mormonism. From the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and wholesome family commercials to the “I’m a Mormon” campaign and the recent shift away from the word Mormon itself, this video uncovers the history behind one of America’s most carefully managed religious brands. We’ll examine how church leaders worked with outside consultants during key cultural moments after World War II, through the culture wars of the 1970s and 1990s, and into the modern Nelson era. Along the way, we’ll connect these historical developments to today’s debates surrounding branding, image protection, and the LDS Church’s lawsuit involving Mormon Stories and the Open Stories Foundation. If you’re interested in Mormon history, religion and media, public relations strategy, or how institutions shape public perception, this deep dive provides essential historical context. Newsletter link for giveaway: https://benjaminpark.kit.com/e8e78e2331 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... Instagram:   / benjaminparkhistorian   TikTok:   / benjaminparkhistorian   Books: American Zion: https://amzn.to/4j8Ms16 Kingdom of Nauvoo: https://amzn.to/4cmigxw Video Chapters: 00:00 Lawsuit Context 01:02 Branding Debate 02:07 Early PR 03:06 Nauvoo Image 04:03 Utah Strategy 05:08 Temple Square 07:42 Postwar America 08:52 McKay Era 10:07 Choir Success 11:04 Culture Wars 12:11 Family Messaging 13:06 Homefront Ads 14:07 Mormon Branding 15:07 Hinckley Shift 16:08 Media Outreach 17:06 Mormon Moment 18:05 Nelson Era 19:05 Future Questions #mormonhistory #ldschurch #publicrelations #mormonstories About This Channel: Welcome to the channel! I’m Dr. Benjamin Park—historian, author, professor, and unapologetic history geek. If you're tired of hearing that everything is unprecedented or nothing like this has ever happened before, you're in the right place. This channel dives into the complex (and fascinating) intersections of American religion, politics, and culture. I bring history out of the ivory tower and into real-world conversations—making it relevant, accessible, and even a little fun. Expect weekly deep dives, quick takes on current events, book recommendations, and sharp insights from the past to help us understand our present. From Mormon history to the abolitionist movement and beyond, let’s unpack how we got here—and where we might be going. Subscribe and geek out with me on the power of the past. This channel participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com Views expressed on this channel are those of the presenter and not his employer.