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Van Gorden said that he and Utah Gospel Mission workers quietly go about their business. "We don't yell at people," he said. "We don't rebut their criticisms." Van Gorden said about 150 short-term missionaries from churches throughout the western United States also participate each year.

Van Gorden's methods are neither helpful nor effective, said Greg C. V. Johnson, president of Standing Together, a two-year-old ministry based in Lehi, Utah. "For someone to drive all night to be the first one to pass out tracts is an affront to the Mormons," said Johnson, who was raised as a Mormon.

Johnson said short-term outreach may boost the morale of visiting Christian families and students, but it doesn't build bridges for Utah evangelicals. Johnson, 36, a former Evangelical Free Church pastor, said Christians need to use a fresh approach: "In talking with Mormons, honesty and civility lead to relationships of integrity."

Van Gorden doesn't understand why a religious body with 60,000 missionaries is so threatened by his presence. "I'm not handing out anti-Mormon literature," he said. "My arrest was a Christian civil rights issue."

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Media coverage and commentary of the debate includes:

Is 'flexibility' the answer to peace on plaza?—The Salt Lake City Tribune (Dec. 5, 2002)

No sanctuary is safe—The Salt Lake City Tribune (Dec. 4, 2002)

Baptist preacher defies Mormons on their turf—Los Angeles Times (Dec. 1, 2002)

Free Speech Won—The Salt Lake City Tribune (Nov. 30, 2002)

Plaza dispute in Salt Lake roils citizens over religion—The New York Times (Nov. 16, 2002)

Baptists take opposing sides in Utah free-speech case—Baptist Standard (Nov. 11, 2002)

Court rejects LDS plaza rules—The Salt Lake City Tribune (Oct. 10, 2002)

Harassment near temple square alleged—The Salt Lake City Tribune (Sept. 18, 2002)

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January 2003, Vol. 47, No. 1