December 2006
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is expected to declare his presidential intentions soon after his gubernatorial term ends Jan. 4--this coming Thursday--and those plans include an expected major speech on his beliefs as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mothers' influence felt in decision of LDS executives (12-31)
Former Harvard Business School Dean Kim Clark's mother had three sayings she used to repeat to him every day as a child.
'Rexburg Bubble' not problem for students (12-31)
There's not a bar to be found for miles. It's even hard to find a cup of coffee, but the 13,523 Brigham Young University-Idaho students who take over this tiny town 80 miles from Yellowstone National Park praise what they call the "Rexburg Bubble."
Sober? BYU is full of drollery (12-30)
Brigham Young University's sober reputation is cemented in the national consciousness--more on that in a moment--but 2006 proved that humor, if not alcohol, flows freely in the shadow of Y Mountain.
Most churches skipping Eve parties (12-30)
New Year's Eve periodically lands on a Sunday, and that's the case this year--but should this Sabbath Day occurrence affect how Christians celebrate the arrival of a brand new year?
Deseret Book buys 2 top competitors (12-29)
Deseret Book has acquired former competitors Covenant Communications and its sister company, Seagull Book & Tape.
Deseret Book has made other large acquisitions (12-29)
Deseret Book has made large acquisitions without disclosing financial details in the past.
Keep your life in balance--even in crisis (12-24)
When (Dell CEO Kevin) Rollins is at work, his focus is intense, uncompromised and entirely on Dell. And with Dell extending its global reach into foreign markets, Rollins maintains a very heavy travel schedule that sometimes requires him to fly on Sundays and keeps him away from home and church obligations for extended periods of time.
Mormon folklore gives a look into a unique culture (12-24)
Mormons are usually conversant in stories about the Three Nephites, J. Golden Kimball and Mormon missionaries in general--all are part of the Mormon folklore tradition.
Bricks turning into memories (12-24)
It didn't look like much. Just a wooden crate, stacked full of dirty, red-brown bricks.
Images of Jesus are set to music, posted on Net (12-23)
Brigham Young University's College of Fine Arts and Communications is posting to the Internet three free sacred music videos from a DVD it included in a Christmas card this month.
Would conservative Christians support Romney? (12-22)
As a clean-living, church-going father and grandfather, Gov. Mitt Romney has a natural appeal among conservative Christians.
Tabernacle Choir concert to air on military TV (12-22)
A week after the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's annual Christmas concert, Utah military personnel serving abroad will get a chance to see a bit of what they missed in Salt Lake City.
'Women of Commitment' at BYU (12-21)
The stories of 32 women who have worked at, attended or contributed to the rich history of BYU fill out the pages of "Women of Commitment, Elect Ladies of Brigham Young University" compiled by Marian W. Jensen but often written by the subject's children or colleagues.
Local book explores Holy Grail (12-21)
Vern G. Swanson, director of the Springville Museum of Art, had already been researching the premise that Christ was married when Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" came out in 2003.
'Birthday' composer Mildred McNees dies (12-20)
The composer of one of the most popular LDS Church children's songs--a uniquely Mormon alternative to "Happy Birthday"--has died.
'Kegnog' in Provo bucks the trend (12-19)
Three Brigham Young University students held an off-campus "kegnog" party Sunday night at their townhouse in east Provo, but this wasn't the average college kegger.
Little room at the Inn (12-19)
Demolition of the Inn at Temple Square hit a visible new milestone Monday as the exterior walls started to come down--walls that you could own a piece of.
Wiesenthal's name is off LDS database (12-19)
The name of Simon Wiesenthal--the Holocaust survivor who dedicated the rest of his life to hunting down Nazi perpetrators--is on the Mormon database of posthumous ordinances, says the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles.
The American Spectator: Mormonism in the Spotlight (12-18)
The Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is growing increasingly concerned about the public-perception hit the presidential candidacy of Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney may have on the Mormon Church.
PBS show documents Salt Lake-bound handcarts (12-18)
A locally produced documentary will air nationally tonight on PBS. KBYU Television (Channel 11) will show "Sweetwater Rescue: The Willie and Martin Handcart Story," which it produced for PBS in conjunction with WETA.
Romney's Mormon faith an issue on its own as '08 campaign starts (12-17)
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who hasn't officially said he will be a presidential candidate in 2008, could be strong in South Carolina.
Marie Osmond, yesterday and today (12-17)
Marie Osmond--country and pop singer, movie and Broadway actress, dollmaker, author, businesswoman, TV and radio talk-show host, mom--has just settled into her room at the Comfort Suites in Aurora, Ill.
Ground broken for LDS temple (12-17)
Top LDS leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for what will be known as the Oquirrh Mountain Temple in South Jordan's new Daybreak housing and commercial development.
Responsibility for work failures inspires honesty (12-17)
Opportunities to be dishonest in business present themselves every day, and none of these executives claim immunity from the pressures. "There is so much pressure to perform," said Dave Checketts. "Shareholders demand a certain kind of performance."
Soprano praises 'best choir' (12-16)
There were times during the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert dress rehearsal when guest soprano Sissel got a little misty.
Book offers some chuckles for Mormon folks (12-16)
STORIES & JOKES OF MORMON FOLKS, by Bruce E. Dana; Spring Creek Book Co., 160 pages; $12.95.
LDS Church leaders visit the Huntsmans (12-15)
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spent about an hour Thursday afternoon at the Governor's Mansion for what was described as an annual holiday meeting with state officials.
LDS Church not offering opinion on flat-tax issue (12-14)
While Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and other state tax reform advocates may be giddy at the hope that a $100 million tax cut can "finish" income tax reform in Utah, one large player has yet to be heard from--the LDS Church.
Howard Hughes' hanger-on still fighting for money (12-13)
It was right about this same time in 2004 that Leonardo DiCaprio earned critical praise and an Oscar nomination for playing Howard Hughes on the big screen. I not only enjoyed DiCaprio in "The Aviator," I also remembering watching the 1980 film directed by Jonathan Demme titled "Melvin and Howard" starring actors Paul Le Mat as Melvin Earl Dummar and Jason Robards Jr. as eccentric billionaire Hughes. Dummar, who was born, raised and lived most of his life just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, was working as a gas station attendant.
Holiday stars--The Mormon Tabernacle Choir earns access to the world's best performers (12-10)
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg were sitting in Renee Fleming's New York apartment. It had taken some time to get an appointment with her, because, as music director Jessop says, "She's the reigning opera soprano on the planet. But we really wanted her to do our Christmas concert."
New editor named for the News (12-9)
Joe Cannon, who will be taking over as the new editor of the Deseret Morning News, readily admits it's his relatives who have the newspaper experience, not him.
LDS cherish carols of many faiths (12-9)
There are a lot of things to like about Christmas. But what I like most, I think, is the amazing variety of songs. We have carols that were written 300 years ago and carols written three months ago. Some carols have a history that is almost as touching as their message. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, for instance, conceived his poem "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" on Dec. 25 while consoling his son, who had been wounded in the Civil War.
Romney's '94 olive branch to gays may haunt him (12-8)
Comments Gov. Mitt Romney made during his 1994 Senate bid, in which he said the gay and lesbian community "needs more support from the Republican Party," resurfaced Thursday, posing a potential hurdle as he appeals to conservatives for a probable presidential campaign.
First Security building is saved (12-8)
Overwhelming public outcry has persuaded LDS Church officials to allow the historic First Security building to remain standing while much around it will come tumbling down to make way for the City Creek Center development.
Church's role in City Creek criticized (12-8)
A candidate for Salt Lake City mayor is questioning whether The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints belongs in the downtown renovation business.
1835 hymnal sold at auction for $273,600 (12-6)
A rare 1835 collection of hymns by Emma Smith for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fetched $273,600 at auction Tuesday--possibly the third-highest price ever for an LDS book.
Christ offers hope, Pres. Hinckley says (12-4)
Despite death, war and calamity that haunt some even during the Christmas season, Jesus Christ offers the hope of salvation to all.
Nauvoo--Tiny town is a tourist magnet (12-3)
Chandler Whipple recently logged his third 1,000-mile drive from Salt Lake City to this tiny, out-of-the-way town overlooking the Mississippi River, where history and faith have forged one of Illinois' hottest tourism draws.
Church work: enhanced job performance (12-3)
Conventional wisdom suggests that (Jim) Quigley's performance at Deloitte and (Kevin) Rollins' performance at Dell would decline while they served as bishops for the Mormon Church.
'Bloodline' book too hot to handle? (12-2)
A controversial new book that claims Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and that Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is their direct descendant is finding limited space on the shelves of LDS booksellers.
Mormons gaining D.C. clout (12-2)
When Harry Reid becomes Senate majority leader next year, he will be the most powerful Mormon in Washington. But that reign could be short-lived if Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney makes a bid for the presidency in 2008 and wins.
Once a getaway, inn is now just a shell (12-2)
The Inn at Temple Square no longer looks like the cozy Victorian-style getaway that once drew celebrities and honeymooners from around the world.
We're not quite so self-reliant (12-2)
By now, most Deseret Morning News readers have read about "the list." The Atlantic Monthly, in an attempt to educate, enlighten and sell more magazines, asked 10 historians to create a list of the 100 Most Influential Americans of all time.
Jail visitation logs for Jeffs show visits by his followers, legal team (12-1)
Some of Warren Jeffs' most loyal followers and his legal team have been visiting the Fundamentalist LDS Church leader frequently in jail.
S. Jordan planners OK temple (12-1)
Plans and drawings for an LDS temple in the Daybreak community have received a stamp of approval from the Planning Commission and glowing reviews from city staff.