A Novel Approach to Outreach: Mormon Church Members Use Humor to Engage with the Public

In a move that is being seen as a departure from traditional outreach methods, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), also known as the Mormon Church, have resorted to humor to connect with the public. On social media platforms, particularly Twitter, members have started a tongue-in-cheek campaign using the hashtag MormonsSayHiLol, which aims to humanize the church and showcase its lighter side.

The campaign, which has gained significant traction online, features Twitter users posing and sharing funny photos and witty one-liners under the hashtag. While some of the posts seem to focus more on humor than on explicitly conveying a message related to the faith, they all appear to share a common thread of poking fun at the church’s serious image and inviting the public to engage in a more playful and humanizing dialogue.

Church leaders emphasize that this campaign is not intended to be a departure from the church’s traditional values, but rather a deliberate attempt to connect with the broader community and showcase the church’s more lighthearted side. A statement from church officials noted, “We understand that people are busy and that it can be challenging to find a genuine connection with our faith. This campaign aims to bring a smile to people’s faces, spark conversation, and show that we, too, have a sense of humor.”

One of the most popular posts on the MormonsSayHiLol thread features a member posing with a silly sign that reads, ‘I’m Mormon, and I’m okay.’ Another post depicts a group of members sharing an oversized ‘LOL’ cake, which quickly garnered over 2,000 likes and 500 retweets.

The campaign has not only sparked conversation among members of the faith but also has garnered attention from outside the church. Some have praised the church for its willingness to poke fun at itself and humanize its image, while others have criticized the campaign as superficial and lacking substance.

Regardless of the differing opinions, it is clear that the MormonsSayHiLol campaign has tapped into the public’s desire for authentic and lighthearted communication from faith leaders. As the social media campaign continues to gain momentum, it remains to be seen whether this novel approach to outreach will ultimately lead to deeper connections with the public or fade into obscurity.