By ALLYSE ROBERTSON

The recent raids at the FLDS compound in Eldorado, Texas, have created confusion between LDS and FLDS churches, causing concern among BYU students who do not wish to be associated with FLDS beliefs.

Members of the FLDS faith believe exaltation to heaven is reached through plural marriage. The FLDS church's president, also described as a prophet, arranges these plural marriages. Sometimes these marriages partner teenage girls with older men, the Associated Press reported.

The FLDS and LDS churches are two separate faiths, and polygamy is a major separation point between these two religions, said Jessey Steele, a senior at BYU. FLDS church members often practice plural marriage; however, many individuals believe LDS members also practice polygamy, and that's not true, he said.

Another point of confusion lies in the similar names used by both churches, with the only difference being the word "fundamentalist" in the FLDS faith, said Craig Swenson, a recent graduate from BYU.

"It's not uncommon to have other orthodox versions of a single religion," Swenson said. "The problem is that other people look at LDS and FLDS as the same religion, Mormon, and I don't know how you overcome that."

"The term 'Mormon' is often confusing and it doesn't need to be," said Joel Campbell, a BYU professor.

The media should be more careful when using the term 'Mormon' and ensure it's a clarifying title rather than a confusing one, Campbell said.

Several LDS BYU students dislike being confused with members of the FLDS faith.

"I think what the FLDS believe is wrong, and I think some people often confuse our religion for theirs," said student Jessica Hauser. "It's important that people realize that we're two separate religions."

One way to correct misconceptions about the two religions is through missionary work, some students suggested.

"As members, we need to be more adamant in sharing the gospel, in sharing our beliefs with others so they don't get confused," student Caitlin Hauser said. "If we were more willing to do that, then being confused as FLDS rather than LDS would be less of a problem."