January 2009
MormonTimes--Church looking for new Honduras temple site (1-31-9)
Public fears that a "gigantic temple" would block the view of one of Honduras' most famous Catholic basilicas has led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to look for a new location for the Tegucigalpa Honduras Temple.
SI.com--Manti Te'o, other Mormon prospects face recruiting challenges (1-30)
Manti Te'o refrained from mincing words each time he met a college coach. Te'o, one of the nation's highest ranked linebacker prospects, told every coach who recruited him that, after his freshman season, he might leave the country for two years.
D.H. Smith, business leader, dies (1-30)
Douglas Hill Smith, 87, noted Utah businessman and a former member of the Quorums of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at home on Jan. 29, 2009, of causes incident to age.
MormonTimes--'Hammer Hands' plunking out success on the keys (1-30)
The singers in the Santa Monica (Calif.) 3rd Ward singles choir won't know what hit them when Shaun Barrowes starts accompanying them.
LDS Church News--Jamaica broadcast covers Caribbean (1-30)
For the first time in the Church's Caribbean Area, a stake conference satellite broadcast to members there originated in the same region, as President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, presided at conference sessions Jan. 24-25 in Kingston, Jamaica.
MormonTimes--Winter at Winter Quarters (1-30)
Elder and Sister Brewster, the current directors of The Historic Mormon Trail Center, and the sister missionaries who serve here, will tell you that it's not the busy season, but winter at Winter Quarters in present-day Omaha, Neb., and the sites just across the river in Kanesville, have enough history and stories to warm any mid-winter heart.
President Monson makes time for 'promptings' (1-30)
As President Thomas S. Monson approaches the one-year anniversary of his appointment as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he knows the meaning of the adage, "It's lonely at the top."
MormonTimes--Museum offers D&C tours (1-30)
The Church History Museum, located in downtown Salt Lake City, will provide a series of theme tours relating to the Doctrine and Covenants beginning in February. The museum tours are designed to help adults study the Doctrine and Covenants in Sunday School and enrich their learning experience.
MormonTimes--Guides now separate from conference magazines (1-30)
The Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women resource guides for teachers, previously found in the general conference editions of the Liahona and Ensign, will now be published separately and shipped directly to wards and branches.
NYTimes.com--For Taitusi Lutui, a Journey From Tonga to the Super Bowl (1-29)
Taitusi Lutui, a guard with massive girth and a matching sense of humor, plays a decidedly Tongan brand of football for the Cardinals.
The Fallbrook Village News--‘New Beginnings’ celebrated at Fallbrook 2nd Congregation (1-29)
As the young women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prepare to make the step into their teenage years, they leave the world of the youngsters behind.
ShreveportTimes--New church brings services closer to home (1-29)
Members of a Shreveport congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are finding their commute to church much shorter these days.
MormonTimes--Finding faith in Stalag 371 (1-29)
In a Nazi prison camp in Poland, a small group of Dutch officers held secret meetings to learn more about Jesus Christ. Their teacher was Pieter Vlam, a 48-year-old officer in the Royal Dutch Navy and the only Mormon in Stalag 371. Vlam had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his mother and brothers when he was 16. He signed up with the Royal Dutch Navy a year later and married another member of the church, Hanna, in 1929.
MormonTimes--Ex-mobster shares conversion story (1-29)
Ex-mobster Mario Facione was brought to tears multiple times in the documentary about his life, but his emotions had little to do with his rap sheet or the life of crime he led in the '60s and '70s.
Utah is a source of delight for actor (1-29)
This past Christmas was unique for me. My wife, Star, is LDS and I have been aware of the extraordinary musical life at the heart of her church for many years. I never thought, however, that I would be asked to participate in that life.
MormonTimes--Inside the lost McLellin notebook (1-28)
Memorabilia collector Brent Ashworth announced last week the rediscovery of a notebook of William E. McLellin, a Mormon apostle who was excommunicated for apostasy in 1838.
MormonTimes--Joseph Smith's legal involvement (1-28)
In addition to his many roles as the Lord's anointed, Joseph Smith showed remarkable competence in legal and business matters as well, according to two men who are making an exhaustive study and compilation of his legal and business papers.
MormonTimes--Investigation, secrecy, documents, Oh My! (1-28)
The American News Project is promoting a news video of the LDS Church's support of Proposition 8. While this film could be called an advocacy documentary or simply propaganda, please don't call it quality journalism or even "news."
MormonTimes--Overheard: Elder Nelson's book a pearl (1-28)
I like hanging out with LDS booksellers. They're full of more juicy tidbits and trivia than Ken Jennings.
MormonTimes--Community's bicentennial bash includes Mormon pioneers (1-28)
The city of San Bernardino is getting ready for a big anniversary bash -- and everyone is invited. Just in case you haven't heard, the city will be celebrating its bicentennial in 2010.
MormonTimes--Remembering President Hinckley (1-27)
President Gordon B. Hinckley died quietly in his home one year ago today. Texting fingers flew to send the news to friends. People grabbed their cellphones to call loved ones. Mere acquaintances instant messaged each other. E-mails were forwarded and posts sprang up as bloggers mourned their beloved and now departed leader.
Daily Herald--Prisms of inspiration (1-26)
It's like a big puzzle, a 30,000-piece puzzle. That's how many individual pieces of stained glass are held together by soldered iron to make up the 700 windows installed in the new Draper Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One man and his studio were responsible for putting that puzzle together.
MormonTimes--2009 LDS Film Festival winners (1-26)
Spanky Ward submitted entries for all three of the categories and walked away with two honorable mentions and a cash prize. He went into the awards ceremony hoping to earn some recognition, however small, for his 24-hour film festival entry "Dusk," which was a spoof on Stephenie Meyer's "Twlilight" book series. He received an honorable mention and an audience choice award for the comedy.
MormonTimes--Draper Utah Temple doors opening to visitors (1-26)
Now in its second full week, the public open house for the new Draper Utah Temple is going "very nicely," said Elder William R. Walker of the Seventy, executive director of the Temple Department.
Houston Chronicle--Glenn Beck airing out his frustrations (1-25)
Glenn Beck, the former Houston radio disc jockey whose weekday TV and radio talk shows are moving to new outlets over the next two weeks, hasn't lived in the state for almost two decades. He cringes anytime anyone brings up his stint on Houston drive-time radio in the late 1980s.
PE.com--Muslim, Mormon women sew friendship during quilting project (1-24)
They sat shoulder to shoulder, Muslim women next to Mormon women, hunched over bright fabric as they learned to quilt.
Eastvalleytribune.com--Clash of styles splits Mesa politicians (1-24)
There is a sameness to Mesa's most powerful politicians. White. Male, Mormon. Republicans steeped in traditional family values and tightfisted with taxpayers’ money. But below the surface there are deep divisions, driven more by style and personality than by differences on policy.
MormonTimes--Reporters need thick skin to cover LDS Church (1-24)
Readers are unforgiving of even the smallest mistakes in religion news reports and often attempt to draw religion writers into debates, according to two reporters who regularly cover the LDS Church.
MormonTimes--Film confronts pornography addiction (1-24)
"What was I thinking?"
MormonTimes--Documentary brings alive story of WWII POWs (1-24)
"The Inheritance of War" is a compelling documentary that played Friday in Orem at the 8th annual LDS Film Festival. The movie vividly depicts the struggles of a certain class of World War II prisoners of war -- those who fought for the United States on the Philippine Islands.
MormonTimes--Beyond virginity pledges (1-24)
Rachel Searle is a senior studying electrical engineering at the University of Utah. She is 22 years old and engages herself in active hobbies, such as snowboarding, wakeboarding and long boarding.
FoxNews.com--Tom Hanks Apologizes for Calling Mormon Supporters of Proposition 8 'Un-American' (1-23)
Tom Hanks has apologized for calling Mormon supporters of Proposition 8 "un-American."
MormonTimes--Picturing Joseph takes some reframing (1-23)
"Picturing Joseph" is actually a compelling piece despite the fact that it takes a while to get to the point: Joseph Smith does not look like the iconic pictures members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have come to know.
MormonTimes--'History of Joseph Smith by His Mother' (part 2 of 2) (1-23)
For years the original manuscript of "The History of Joseph Smith, Jr. by His Mother, Lucy Mack Smith" was lost, but once it was recovered, authors Scot and Maurine Proctor combed through the manuscript to restore missing portions of Lucy's fascinating original narrative.
MormonTimes--Mormon Tabernacle Choir VIDEO: 'Praise to the Man' (1-23)
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square has released a new CD celebrating the hymns of the Restoration and honoring its founder.
MormonTimes--Film features Young Ambassadors founder (1-23)
Singer and musician Janie Thompson is the perfect leading lady in the film 'Janie Thompson: Performance of Faith,' which was shown in a special screening Thursday at the 8th annual LDS Film Festival.
MormonTimes--LDS Film Festival kicks off (1-22)
It started out slow. A couple of people chatting here and there. And then a few more people started filing in. And finally, the rooms in the Scera Center for the Arts started buzzing.
McLellin journal finally is located (1-22)
Brent Ashworth found a long-lost notebook of one of the earliest and most controversial general authorities of the LDS Church. The rediscovery of what Ashworth believes is a notebook of William E. McLellin, an excommunicated Mormon apostle, also brings closure to a central part of the forgery schemes of convicted murderer Mark Hofmann.
STLtoday.com--The Mormon Index is a rising sign of troubled economy (1-22)
It's an obscure gauge of the economy's direction, tied to food assistance and stockpiling by members the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's been called the Mormon Index, and it's rising.
LDS Church officials, GOP leaders discuss upcoming legislative session (1-22)
LDS Church officials expressed interest in electronic ID verification at the state's private clubs Wednesday during a luncheon meeting with GOP legislative leaders, Senate President Michael Waddoups said.
MormonTimes--For many in Vegas, temple has been fulfillment of dream (1-22)
Ashley Hall is still receiving feedback from a tour he arranged in December 1989. It was an exciting -- and busy -- time for Hall, a southern Nevada native who was not only working as the city manager but serving as media chairman and supervisor of ushers for the open house of the newly completed LDS temple.
LDS leaders inspired by inaugural (1-21)
Two top leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who attended the inauguration of Barack Obama on Tuesday said they found it inspiring and impressive.
MormonTimes--Respond with civility to Hanks, Huckabee and Dobson (1-21)
Don't go throw out your "Apollo 13" or "Cast Away" DVDs or boycott Focus on The Family just yet. Mormons ought to rise above the tactics of detractors and instead respond to criticism and perceived insults with courage and civility.
MormonTimes--BYU grad enjoys success in creating commercials (1-21)
Looking out his hotel window, Jason Bagley can see the Statue of Liberty on a cold January morning in New York.
MormonTimes--Celebrating LDS film (1-20)
In honor of the LDS Film Festival going on in Orem this week, I thought it would be fun to sit back and enjoy some great LDS-themed video on the Back Bench today. So grab some popcorn as the lights dim and the films rollïng...
MormonTimes--George the Giant takes big risks (1-20)
George the Giant hasn't always been big.
MormonTimes--WNBA Mormon shooting for the Sky (1-19)
Erin Thorn knows her life isn't for everyone.
MormonTimes--Latter-day Saints to commemorate 'Mormon Exodus' (1-19)
The public is invited to a commemoration of the famous river crossing known as the "Mormon Exodus." On Feb. 4, 1846, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began crossing the icy waters of the Mississippi, eventually to complete their well-known trek to the Rocky Mountains.
MormonTimes--Tours of Draper Utah Temple: Access and answers (1-19)
As is customary with other Mormon temples throughout the world, a series of special media and VIP tours was conducted of the Draper Utah Temple before its two-months-long public open house.
MormonTimes--Pres. Monson to receive honorary degree at SUU (1-18)
Southern Utah University has announced that Thomas S. Monson, 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be the commencement speaker for students graduating in May.
MormonTimes--Studying the Doctrine and Covenants (1-18)
This year in LDS Sunday School classes across the globe we begin a study of the Doctrine and Covenants. A friend, who is not a Mormon, was impressed when I explained that, with some variation, lessons are standardized and taught on a unified schedule throughout the church.
MormonTimes--International affairs director on politics and faith (1-18)
In an address to students at Southern Virginia University on Friday, M. Kenneth Bowler, director of public and international affairs in Washington for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said 2008 was a significant year for church members as politics and faith collided in an unprecedented way.
LDS Church leaders to attend Obama inauguration (1-17)
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, will represent the LDS Church at inaugural events for President-elect Barack Obama.
Jamaica Gleaner News--Mormon witness quietly grows in Ja (1-17)
Since it established itself here in Jamaica during the 1980s, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has seen its witness expand across the island.
Ledger-Enquirer.com--Faith Alive: Elder Jason Manley, LDS Church (1-17)
Are you excited about Utah winning the Sugar Bowl?
FOXNews.com--Tom Hanks Says Mormon Supporters of Proposition 8 'Un-American' (1-16)
'I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper' said the actor
MormonTimes--LDS film fest starts Wednesday (1-16)
The 8th Annual LDS Film Festival begins next Wednesday, and director Christian Vuissa anticipates it will be the largest festival to date.
MormonTimes--Temple opening takes volunteer 'army' (1-16)
Imagine having to arrange to serve a million cookies and a million bottles of water to guests who'll arrive in steady but somewhat random waves for the next 2 1/2 months. Then add in unpredictable winter weather and 32,000 volunteers to manage, and you have Cynthia Terry and Ron Ebert's jobs at the Draper Utah Temple open house.
MormonTimes--Project shares LDS soliders' experiences (1-16)
The explosion rocked Captain Jarred Guthrie's vehicle after he breathed a silent prayer.
MormonTimes--'History of Joseph Smith by His Mother' (1-16)
For years the original manuscript of "The History of Joseph Smith, Jr. by His Mother, Lucy Mack Smith" was lost, but once it was recovered, authors Scot and Maurine Proctor combed through the manuscript to restore missing portions of Lucy's fascinating original narrative.
University of Utah to offer fellowship in Mormon studies (1-15)
Reflecting somewhat of a softening in the University of Utah's decades-long reputation for eschewing academic study associated with Mormonism, the U.
is offering a new fellowship in Mormon studies.
MormonTimes--NPR takes listeners on temple tour (1-14)
Along with the coverage by ABC News Nightline, a reporters' tour of the Draper Temple has resulted in at least another lengthy news feature -- this one on National Public Radio.
MormonTimes--Mormons have role in inauguration planning (1-14)
President Ezra Taft Benson and his second counselor, President Thomas S. Monson, were VIPs at the 1989 presidential inauguration of George H.W. Bush. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed patriotic and religious music before the inaugural ceremony.
Pres. Monson has 'Great Expectations' (1-11)
When he taught a college course years ago, President Thomas S. Monson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints noticed some students who worked hard to achieve their goals.
MormonTimes--Australian Mormon 'Best New Talent' (1-11)
Matthew Deane is beating the odds so far.
MormonTimes--LDS Genesis Group a great stepping-stone (1-10)
Every now and again I get involved in a discussion among other black members about the LDS Genesis Group. The discussion revolves around whether such a group is really needed.
MormonTimes--3 Mormons win in rodeo world championship (1-10)
Matt Sherwood of the Pima Arizona Stake of the LDS Church clinched a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world championship Dec. 13 in Las Vegas. It was his second world title in the past three years for Team Roping.
LDS Church News--A family affair takes center stage: Two LDS families run Texas community theater (1-10)
In Cleburne, a small suburb 30 miles south of Fort Worth, the Barrus and Siler clans combine their collective four adults and eight youths to operate every aspect of the Plaza Theatre Company.
MormonTimes--ABC News focuses cameras on LDS Church (1-10)
In two high-profile segments, one on ABC's World News Tonight and the other on ABC's Nightline Friday, reporter Dan Harris spent nine minutes telling about the LDS Church, including reports on the new Draper Temple and interviews with Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Quentin L. Cook.
LDS Church News - Viewpoint (1-10)
Early in this gospel dispensation, Jesus Christ declared through His servant Joseph Smith: "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same" (Doctrine and Covenants 1:38).
DentonRC.com--Mormon milestones (1-9)
Krum author plots points in history of Denton-area Latter-day Saints group
People.com--High School Musical's KayCee Stroh Says 'I Do' - Weddings, Kaycee Stroh (1-9)
Stroh and Higginson, both 24, were united in a private Mormon ceremony at the Salt Lake Temple. Afterward, the pair exchanged wedding bands at a ring ceremony attended by family and friends, including Stroh's costars Monique Coleman, Ryne Sanborn and Bart Johnson, according to Stroh's rep, Scott Appel.
Huckabee says he has not said anything unkind about Mormons (1-9)
Former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee says he loves Mormons and believes they make the most effective public servants in America.
MormonTimes--Playing the part of a prophet (1-9)
Director T.C. Christensen had most of the elements to make a film honoring the late LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley. He had an idea for a screenplay. He had nearly 30 years of experience in the LDS film industry. He had a location.
MormonTimes--You say you want a revolution? (1-9)
I grew up in Massachusetts. Now, think of every stereotype and preconceived notion you have of a liberal Harvard student. You're probably picturing a Birkenstock-clad, latte-swigging twentysomething with lots of facial hair and a penchant for obscure, pretentious poetry. And you're absolutely right.
MormonTimes--LDS temples boost property values (1-8)
Homeowners near the proposed site of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Gilbert could see their property values increase, even in this depressed real-estate market.
Demos find LDS silent on issues (1-8)
Democratic state legislative leaders came out of their annual luncheon with LDS Church leaders this week with "really great feelings" personally, but little further enlightenment on church leaders' stands on specific issues to be dealt with in the 2009 Legislature, which starts in two weeks.
Court appearance set for polygamy leaders (1-8)
The leaders of a polygamous community in Canada with ties to Utah have been released from custody pending a Jan. 21 court appearance.
MormonTimes--Good LDS offerings in music (1-8)
We didn't know Kay and Melvin Ward, and yet I received a package from them at Christmastime. When I opened it, though, it turned out to be a response to my essay on Christmas music. The letter was from Melvin, and he spoke of his wife's return to serious composing a few years before. They had recorded several CDs of Kay's music, but had been disappointed by the lack of response from the wider Mormon public.
MormonTimes--Top 10 stories: 2008 (1-8)
Prophets and politics lead the list of noteworthy LDS-related news events of 2008.
BYU NewsNet--BYU econ majors re-spond to “Mormon work ethic” article (1-7)
Utah’s economy is doing consistently better than most states despite the recent national economic slowdown.
LDS Church News--Parleys Creek (Swahili) Branch created (1-7)
The Parleys Creek (Swahili) Branch was created Jan. 4, as a unit of the Salt Lake Sugar House Stake. The branch primarily will serve members and investigators who speak Swahili and several other African dialects.
Polygamous leaders arrested in Canada (1-7)
Two leaders of polygamous groups with ties to Utah have been arrested in Canada, charged with practicing polygamy.
MormonTimes--Site and insights: The hungry pioneer (1-7)
If a particular place gave birth to Joseph's Smith First Vision, it may not have been the majestic grove. Perhaps it was within the rough-hewn walls of a log home.
BYU-Idaho expands enrollment (1-7)
An innovative schedule will allow thousands more students to attend Brigham Young University-Idaho beginning next year.
MormonTimes--Signs of the Book of Mormon (1-7)
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe the Book of Mormon to be the "keystone" of their religion. As such, it is no wonder that a number of Utah cities -- Nephi, Lehi, Bountiful, Manti and others -- derive their titles from this sacred book. Some church members over the years have also used Book of Mormon names for their children.
MormonTimes--Mormons prominent in western art world (1-6)
In the Doctrine & Covenants the Lord says that all things are spiritual.
MormonTimes--Arizona philanthopist T. Dennis Barney dies (1-6)
A developer who quietly orchestrated reformation of a drug-infested neighborhood into a gateway for the LDS Mesa Arizona Temple died Monday at his Gilbert home.
delawareonline.com--Mormons to give Minner genealogical history (1-5)
Local leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) will give Gov. Ruth Ann Minner four volumes of family history during a luncheon at Woodburn on Wednesday.
MormonTimes--Peru celebrates temple announcement (1-4)
Local members preparing to fulfill responsibility
LDS Church News--Sabbath observance (1-3)
LDS youth face difficult decision to work — or not to work — on Sundays
LDS Church News--A say-all title (1-3)
Of all the titles of the Church's Standard Works, no name suffers such a frequent slight as does the Doctrine and Covenants.
LDS Church News--Read on a personal level: Applying the Doctrine and Covenants (1-3)
Members of the Sunday School general presidency called the Doctrine and Covenants the "handbook" and the "chronicle" of the Restoration during a
recent conversation with the Church News.
MormonTimes--Couple walking battalion's trail (1-2)
A husband and wife are hiking their way into Yuma County this weekend, following some historic footsteps that began in Iowa more than 160 years ago.
LDS Church News--Sugar Bowl trip includes time for worship (1-1)
The Utes were in town to play Alabama in the Sugar Bowl the following Friday, but many on the team, of which about half are Church members, took time out for the early-morning sacrament meeting.