July 2009
MormonTimes - Neighborhood board endorses LDS Laie housing plan (7-31-9)
The Ko'olauloa Neighborhood Board tonight voted 7-4 to endorse a plan by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to develop a 1,200-home community in Malaekahana.
MormonTimes - Church defends bid to expand BYU-H campus, build homes (7-30)
The property manager for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says its proposed development on the North Shore is necessary to sustain the financial viability of its Brigham Young University-Hawaii campus in Laie.
No charges in Main Street Plaza trespassing case (7-29)
The trespassing case against a gay couple who kissed on the LDS Church-owned Main Street Plaza has been dropped.
Hundreds of FLDS gather outside courthouse (7-29)
From a distance it almost looked like a pioneer day picnic.
MormonTimes - Mormon Media Observer: 10 Mormon things (7-29)
A new analysis of a national study has been getting some media hits, but most reporting is only giving some quick and quirky snapshots.
MormonTimes - Church history created by doers (7-29)
Consider a scene from "church history" in a previous dispensation: The time was halfway through the three-year ministry of Jesus.
MormonTimes - The Mormons in India: Does Joseph Smith translate to Hindi? (7-29)
Their voices rang out, echoing in the nearby passageway.
MormonTimes - Hollywood, Studio City wards offer aspiring stars refuge (7-28)
When Jay Godfrey and his wife went to Hollywood trying to break into the entertainment industry, they had high hopes -- and a few big fears.
MormonTimes - Daughters of Utah Pioneers help preserve history (7-28)
With Pioneer Day just recently past, families dusted off the old pioneer bonnets and brought out family histories to celebrate. The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers is an organization that offers ways to help these artifacts stay dust-free the whole year round.
BYU is soberest in nation--again (7-28)
Make it an even dozen.
MormonTimes - More Mormons in chaplain training program (7-28)
Several trends are playing out in the class of a chaplain-training program that will graduate 20 students on Thursday.
MormonTimes - Hundreds celebrate Pioneer Day in California (7-27)
Hundreds of Mormons gathered in Camarillo, Calif., Saturday to celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of Brigham Young and Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.
Mormon Coffee - Changes to Gospel Principles (7-27)
I had another post planned for today, but this is just too hot. Big, big changes have been made to the 2009 edition of Gospel Principles, especially in the last chapter ("Exaltation"). I am slowly compiling the changes here:
LDS, Islamic leaders share relief efforts (7-27)
From assistance provided in the wake of the devastating December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to the emergency relief responses following the May 2006 Indonesian earthquake, the LDS Church and Islamic Relief have proved to be provident partners.
MormonTimes - Nauvoo Pageant a 'family mission' experience (7-27)
It's late Saturday night in Nauvoo in the thick of pageant season.
MormonTimes - Challenging issues and keeping the faith: Part 12 (7-27)
Before we get into the issue of trusting and following fallible prophets or knowing when they are speaking as prophets, I feel the need to talk about what constitutes "official" Mormon doctrine.
MormonTimes - A portrait of Mormons in the U.S. (7-27)
In Utah, July 24 is Pioneer Day, a state holiday commemorating the day in 1847 when the first Mormon settlers, led by Brigham Young, entered the Salt Lake Valley.
Seminary student's account of sex abuse is cautionary tale (7-26)
It started out with talking.
MormonTimes - 18-year-old shares her beliefs in college graduation speech (7-26)
Sarah Pace knows what it's like to stand out in a crowd. She's one of 15 biological children in her family.
Gay-rights petition gets 1,360 signees (7-25)
A petition that asks the LDS Church to reconsider its policies and political activism related to gay rights has gathered more than 1,360 signatures since it began circulating in June.
MormonTimes - Meeting of the faiths fosters understanding (7-25)
Joining the throngs of visitors to Temple Square were leaders of Muslim and Catholic faiths from Southern California on July 15-17. They were escorted by Steve and Judy Gilliland of the Church's Los Angeles Public Affairs Council and hosted by church public affairs in Salt Lake City.
MormonTimes - Pioneers inspire converts (7-25)
I have always admired the stories of early members of the church. Those men and women were strong in their faith and testimonies of the gospel. I often wonder if I would have shown the same strength and dedication if I had lived under their conditions.
This Is the Place monument isn't quite at actual 'Place' (7-23)
Where is the actual site where Brigham Young declared what is now Salt Lake Valley as "the place" in 1847?
MormonTimes - Book says church was 'born in blood' (7-23)
"We tend not to realize the grim circumstances in which the (LDS) Church grew up. The stories of persecution, the stories of torturing and deaths, are not exaggerated," the late Arthur Henry King wrote in the book "Arm the Children," published by BYU Studies in 1998.
MormonTimes - Bridge builders paved the way for others (7-22)
Many Latter-day Saints crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley, but a few were asked to pave the way.
Group plans 'kiss-in' at San Diego LDS temple (7-21)
A gay rights group plans to stage a mass kissing demonstration outside the San Diego LDS temple as a show of support for a gay couple cited for trespassing in Utah after sharing a kiss on church property.
President Monson meets with Obama (7-20)
Five large, leather-bound volumes of family history and a table-long pedigree chart were the gifts LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson and Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the church's Quorum of the Twelve presented to President Barack Obama as they met Monday in the Oval Office.
MormonTimes - Challenging issues and keeping the faith: Part 11 (7-20)
In the last series we talked about the fact that prophets are not infallible (or incapable of error). For some members and non-members, this seems to be a "hard saying" (John 6:60). Why would God allow prophets to make mistakes? If prophets can make mistakes, how can we trust them? Should we always follow the prophet and how do we know when they are speaking as prophets? Let's tackle one question at a time.
2nd 'kiss-in' draws bigger crowd, foes (7-19)
A reprise of last weeks "kiss-in" on Main Street Plaza drew a bigger crowd Sunday and resulted in some verbal jousting between the pro- and anti-gay rights groups.
Ex-seminary leader faces 21 felonies in sex case (7-18)
Prosecutors filed 21 felony charges Friday against a former LDS seminary principal who they allege developed a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student.
LDS Church defends actions in plaza 'kissing' incident (7-18)
In the wake of one "kiss-in" protest carried out last Sunday and ahead of another one planned for this Sunday, the LDS Church issued a statement Friday defending its Main Street Plaza property rights and its actions involving a pair of men cited there last week for their public displays of affection.
MormonTimes - A summer reading list for the thoughtful Mormon reader (7-18)
I've always remembered a well-intentioned Sunday school teacher telling us about the day she triumphed over intellectualism on her mission.
MormonTimes - LDS scholar to offer keynote on the life of Prophet Mohammad (7-18)
Brigham Young University professor Daniel C. Peterson will be the keynote speaker Sunday, July 19, at the Islamic Center of Orlando's Seminar on the Life of Prophet Mohammad.
MormonTimes - Panelists discuss link between dance, religious principles (7-17)
Travis Anderson, an associate professor of philosophy at Brigham Young University, is excited to explore the possible and probable connections between the discipline of dance and religious understanding.
MormonTimes - Hill Cumorah crew: A voluntary labor force (7-17)
When the Latter-day Saints come to town, much work gets done -- beyond Hill Cumorah.
MormonTimes - Temple volunteers feel blessed (7-17)
They only had four weeks.
MormonTimes - Monte S. Nyman's latest commentaries: 2 volumes on the D&C (7-17)
"Doctrine & Covenants Commentary, Volume 1: More Precious than Gold," and Volume 2, "It Came From God," by Monte S. Nyman.
Utahn wants to be "Design Star" on HGTV (7-16)
It probably wasn't what her professors at BYU thought they were training her for, but NataLee Callahan's degree in broadcast journalism helped land her on HGTV.
MormonTimes - Expansive scripture collection represents testimony, history (7-16)
Barnard Silver's scriptures are aged and modern, worn and pristine.
MormonTimes - Madsen inspired further study of theology (7-16)
It was with great regret that I heard of the passing of Truman Madsen.
MormonTimes - 6 Deseret Book stores to offer Distribution materials, clothing (7-16)
Six Deseret Book stores will begin distributing curriculum products and temple-clothing products for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The locations are in downtown Salt Lake City; Ogden; St. George; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Las Vegas; and the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, Ore.
MormonTimes - First drafts of pioneer history: a look back (7-15)
It is said that journalism is the first draft of history. As we approach July 24, the date the Mormon pioneers first entered the Salt Lake Valley, the Mormon Media Observer takes a look back at some snapshots of pioneer history from the digitized Deseret News archives.
MormonTimes - Gathering places and sacred keys (7-15)
Before the early Mormons ever began speaking of "the far west" as a place in the Rocky Mountains, the term referred in a general way to wherever they might be headed next in their frequent migrations.
MormonTimes - Cemetery rededicated to remember pioneers (7-15)
When the first Mormon pioneers arrived in the Spanish Fork area in the fall of 1850, they lived in wagons, tents and holes dug into the ground for shelter.
MormonTimes - Does the Book of Mormon teach of Christ? (7-15)
What does the Book of Mormon teach about Jesus Christ? The Prophet Joseph Smith, the founder of the church and translator of the Book of Mormon, said that a man will get nearer to God by abiding its principles than any other book.
Ex-LDS seminary principal hands over evidence (7-13)
Officers came to court Monday morning prepared to re-arrest a former LDS seminary principal accused of sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old student.
Kissers protest near Temple Square (7-12)
A "kiss-in" drew about 60 people sporting pink paper hearts to the sidewalks just off of LDS Church property near Main Street and South Temple Sunday morning to protest actions taken by church security earlier this week.
MormonTimes - LDS Church News: It's about love (7-11)
The site, itsaboutlove.org, replaces the previous LDS Family Services Web site, a "significant enhancement" from the first site launched in 2002, said Steven A. Sunday, manager of adoption services. The new site allows people to communicate 24/7, and is more exposed to adoptive parent and expectant parents than before, he said.
MormonTimes - Teens relive Mormon trail trek (7-11)
Women were dressed in bonnets, long dresses and aprons, and the men wore straw hats, suspenders and flannel cotton shirts. Numerous wooden handcarts were filled to the brim with family belongings crowded together in a neat little circle.<br><br>The scene looked like something from the 1800s during American pioneers' migration west. But this was no cross-country voyage.
MormonTimes - Pageants inspire thousands in celebration of faith and history (7-11)
Every summer in locations across the United States, thousands of volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perform in pageants open to the public. These large outdoor productions highlight stories from the history of the church and from the scriptures through music, theatrical dance and dramatic spoken word. All actors are volunteers, and the admission is always free.
MormonTimes - BYU professor will serve as editor for new edition of Hebrew Bible (7-11)
BYU professor of Hebrew Donald W. Parry has been appointed as an editor for a new edition of Biblia Hebraica Quinta, the Hebrew Old Testament.
Las Vegas Sun - Mexico to arm Mormon community anti-crime force (7-10)
Authorities in northern Mexico will give arms and training to members of an anti-crime group in a Mormon community after two local residents were killed by hitmen with ties to organized crime, residents said Friday.
Bishop on a mission: Wester aims to maintain community cooperation (7-10)
Honored earlier this year by the Sutherland Institute for helping build bridges among Utah's faith communities, the Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of the Salt Lake Catholic Diocese, says his initial effort has merely been to maintain existing foundations and reciprocate to those who have been reaching out to him.
MormonTimes - Gearing up for the Hill Cumorah Pageant (7-10)
Crews early this week were just about finished building the stage for one of the world's largest outdoor stage performances -- the Hill Cumorah Pageant.
Honoring heritage: Days of '47 kicks off (7-10)
As the July sun beat down on a record number of people during the Family Fun Day kickoff event for the Days of '47, Laura Padilla stood apart from the throng, close by her daughter, pointing out a name on a weathered pioneer monument. Padilla has a personal connection to the pioneers of 1847.
LDS seminary principal is arrested in sexual abuse (7-10)
Police arrested an LDS seminary principal Thursday after they say he spent several months grooming a 16-year-old student for a sexual relationship.
MormonTimes - 'The R.C. Willey Story' (7-10)
Mormon student Bill Child first started working part time for R.C. Willey when he was attending the University of Utah. Then, there were two other employees: R.C. and Lamar Sessions, who did installations and repairs -- and one tiny store in Syracuse.
MormonTimes - The Three Pillars of Zion (7-10)
In his groundbreaking new five-book series, "The Three Pillars of Zion," Larry Barkdull walks us through years of study and personal searching, resulting in one of the most definitive and useful books ever written on the subject.
MormonTimes - Building hope and families in Ukraine (7-10)
The meeting did not go as expected.
MormonTimes - Family food: prepping for tough times (7-10)
A recent story in the Washington Post tells of one woman's experience of using one of the home storage centers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) to prepare a reserve of dry-packed food for her family. For decades leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have encouraged Mormons to have a reasonable supply of food on hand for unforeseen times of need and emergencies.
MormonTimes - Mormon myths mostly harmless but unnecessary (7-9)
When I was on my mission, my companion received a letter one night from his mom with news that should have rocked the Mormon world. If it hadn't been a total myth.
MormonTimes - New Zealand school leaves legacy of leadership (7-8)
When the Church College of New Zealand closes its doors later this year, when the youthful bustle falls away, the high school's enduring legacy of leadership will continue in the lives of its alumni.
MormonTimes - Summer Seminars explore Mormon thought and history (7-8)
In 1997 Richard L. Bushman organized a small group of advanced undergraduate and graduate students to look at "Joseph Smith and His Times." This first "Summer Seminar" helped Bushman, the Howard W. Hunter Visiting Professor in Mormon Studies from Claremont Graduate University (California), as he wrote "Rough Stone Rolling," his biography of Joseph Smith. Similar seminars continued through the years.
MormonTimes - The body is not a prison (7-6)
The body is depraved. It is the center of sin. It is a prison. At least that is how the body was viewed by some philosophers and Protestants, according to Benjamin Park, a graduate student at the University of Edinburgh, who spoke at the Mormon Scholars Foundation Summer Seminar on July 2 at BYU.
MormonTimes - Mormon production 'This is Kirtland' (7-6)
Mormons the world over know about the important role that Kirtland played in the early years of their church. It was where church founder Joseph Smith arrived in 1834 and established the Kirtland stake -- the church's first diocese.
MormonTimes - Historians lobby to save Community of Christ archivist's job (7-6)
Some scholars of early Mormon history have begun a letter-writing campaign in hopes of preserving the job of an archivist who works for the Community of Christ, based in Independence, Mo.
MormonTimes - Build mission spirit, Pres. Monson urges (7-4)
The 2009 New Mission Presidents Seminar offered scores of new mission presidents and their wives a priceless opportunity to come together and receive four days of training prior to embarking on their three-year assignments.
MormonTimes - Confronting early Mormonism's critics (7-4)
The biggest target of 19th century anti-Mormons was not the Book of Mormon. "The real issue was that Mormonism was a religion that professed to be constantly engaged with the supernatural world," said Christopher James Blythe, a graduate student in the history department at Utah State University.
MormonTimes - Mormon Media Observer: Beyond the HBO moment (7-4)
If Mormons’ “HBO moment” was not bad enough, it seems that Hollywood, Broadway and the publishing world aren't likely to give up on portrayals of Latter-day Saints on screen, on stage and in books any time soon.
MormonTimes - Meet the missionaries (7-3)
The Gwinnett (Ga.) Citizen newspaper asked, "Who are the young men you see around town wearing white shirts, nametags, ties and carrying a blue book?"
MormonTimes - Parley P. Pratt and America's patriotic betrayal (7-3)
American Mormons love flags, fireworks and the Fourth of July. But it wasn't always that way, said Ryan Tobler, a recent graduate in English and history at BYU.
MormonTimes - Challenging issues and keeping the faith: Part 9 (7-2)
Why are some intelligent and rational members negatively affected by critical claims, while others are not? Some testimonies, quite frankly, are built on sandy foundations such as folklore, tradition, the admiration of a church leader, the enjoyment of the LDS social organizations, or memberships based on family pressure. When there is no true conversion of the spirit, it's often more difficult to accept those things that must be known by faith alone.
MormonTimes - Prophet shared stories carefully (7-2)
After the angel Moroni appeared three times in one night to Joseph Smith Jr., the 17-year-old woke up the rest of his family and breathlessly told them of his marvelous visions. But that is not what happened.
MormonTimes - USNS Comfort, Mormon volunteers, on humanitarian mission (7-1)
Nurse Jan Tanner fanned herself in the humid heat as she tried to take in the scene before her: Hundreds of people waiting in long lines, waiting to be seen in the medical clinic prepared on the steamy Haitian shore.
MormonTimes - Mormons singing, writing and speaking out (7-1)
There’s been plenty of news recently where Latter-day Saints have let their voices be heard. Of course, the loudest voices have come from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on its tour through America’s heartland.
MormonTimes - Mormons don't get depressed? (7-1)
Mormons don't get depressed. Or so we like to think. Of course, not every member got the memo.
MormonTimes - Curious find ancestors and answers in Mesa, Ariz. (7-1)
On a given day, about 75 people, including many Gilbert residents who have banded into genealogy clubs, come to the Mesa Regional Family History Center with a common query: "Who am I, and who are my ancestors?"