Evangelical Pastor Arrested For Trespassing At Mormon Pageant

In Clarkston, Utah, an evangelical Christian minister who describes himself as a "missionary to Mormons" was arrested for trespassing last Friday when he and eight others handed out religious tracts at the Clarkston Cemetery amphitheater. Today's Salt Lake Daily Herald reports that the incident occurred at the Clarkston Pageant that depicts the life of Martin Harris, an early follower of Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church. Organizers of the pageant said that Daniel "Chip" Thompson, director of Solid Rock Christian Fellowship, who was handing out pamphlets comparing Mormonism with other forms of Christianity, was rude and was shouting offensive remarks-- charges denied by Thompson. Thompson says his rights were violated because the cemetery is public property. However, Clarkston's city clerk says the cemetery is "reserved" each summer by local church leaders for the pageant which is a ticketed event. Cache County Sheriff Chad Jensen says that the property reverts to "quasi-private" status during the event. Earlier this month, another evangelical pastor was arrested at the pageant for disorderly conduct after a dispute about his taping the pageant for use in Christian videos he produces.