March 2008
Mormon Times--President Thomas S. Monson: In his own words (3-31-8)
Drawing from some of his beloved sermons and recollections, President Monson's own words tell the story of his life.
Mormon Media Observer: Mormons have been framed -- again (3-30)
You've heard it called media bias. You've heard it called an "agenda." In journalism, we call it "framing." How a journalist chooses facts, terms and sources all contribute to how a news story gets "framed."
NWAnews.com--Mormons break ground on first Centerton meetinghouse (3-30)
A musical prayer erupted, sung with a traditional hymn melody. About 50 people in unison praising Jesus Christ. A few sang in harmony - fewer did so intentionally. Not uncommon in what some call the buckle of the Bible Belt.
President Monson cheers on Jazz (3-29)
He drew a big crowd courtside while trying to leave EnergySolutions Arena after the Utah Jazz game on Friday night. He chatted and laughed with some excited basketball fans, waved at others, patted a baby on the head, and smiled a lot as numerous cameras flashed.
A Mormon Mason: New grand master is the first in a century who is LDS (3-29)
It's been nearly a quarter of a century since Freemasons in Utah rescinded a 60-year ban that prohibited Latter-day Saints from joining their fraternity. And while many remember the religious division that had characterized Freemasonry in the Beehive State from pioneer times, Glen Cook believes he is evidence that things are changing among his Masonic brethren.
LDS Church will seek landmark designation for Mountain Meadows (3-28)
The LDS Church will seek a National Historic Landmark designation for the property where 120 men, women and children were massacred in 1857 by local LDS leaders and members in the Cedar City area.
Mack Wilberg is officially named Mormon Tabernacle Choir music director (3-28)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced today that Mack Wilberg will officially replace Craig Jessop as the new music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Mountain Meadows meetings in Arkansas (3-27)
Pursuing a vow they made last fall during the 150th anniversary of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, descendants of 120 murdered wagon train members are scheduled to meet with Elder Marlin K. Jensen this weekend, seeking the LDS Church's cooperation to pursue National Historic Landmark status for church-owned land in southern Utah where the killings occurred.
Mormon Times--Whitney Awards honor LDS fiction writers (3-27)
The winners of the first-ever Whitney Awards for LDS fiction were announced last weekend at the conclusion of the LDStorymakers conference in Sandy, Utah.
Mormon Times--Book of Mormon has some company (3-26)
IF I TOLD YOU about a church that worships Christ, but is not considered Christian by Evangelicals...
MormonTimes.com: Brigham Young enthusiast manages Joseph Smith Papers project (3-26)
Considering his current position, Ronald Esplin has a rather unexpected area of expertise.
Mormon Times--'The natural evolution of journaling' (3-25)
The days of sneaking into your older sister's room to hurriedly read her leather-bound diary may be numbered.
LDS Church encourages attendance at caucus meetings (3-24)
Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints want their members to attend political caucuses on Tuesday.
Mormon Times--Reader's Write: Going door-to-door in a 'perfect storm' (3-23)
In a recent speech, reported by the Deseret Morning News, Professor Richard Bushman called the last 10 years a "perfect storm" of Mormonism, with the events of the 2002 Olympics, the 2005 bicentennial of Joseph Smith's birth and the Romney campaign for the presidency.
ACJ.com--Volunteers descend on Vine City for cleanup (3-22)
An army of yellow-shirted volunteers were waiting on the Rev. Dexter Johnson when he pulled up at the Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Vine City Saturday morning. Volunteers from Mormon churches all around the state have travelled to Atlanta to help repair...
OC Register--Jeopardy' champ Ken Jennings tests O.C.'s knowledge (3-21)
World-record breaking contestant appears in Fullerton, Yorba Linda.
AOL News--American Idol: Are Mormons Better Than Other Christians ... at Singing? (3-21)
On Wednesday night's American Idol results show, something extraordinary happened: The first of the Top Ten finalists announced was tiger beat boy David Archuleta. The second was the group's "Mommy" Brooke White.
The Pueblo Chieftain Online--Bishop urges forgiveness for misbehaved missionaries (3-20)
Against the backdrop of Easter, Bishop Arthur Tafoya is asking regional Catholics to be forgiving toward the three young Mormon missionaries who took part in mocking the All Saints Chapel and the Shrine of the Mexican Martyrs in San Luis.
Fall Arizona trial expected for Jeffs (3-20)
The Mohave County attorney said he estimates a fall trial in the cases remaining against Fundamentalist LDS Church leader Warren Jeffs.
Kingston and church face $1.2M lawsuit (3-20)
The heirs of a member of the Kingston polygamous group have filed a $1.2 million lawsuit against the church and its leader.
Mormon Times--Book came from desire to know Christ (3-20)
Writing is the only thing she ever wanted to do.
Ex-LDS official's case is dropped by court (3-20)
Prosecutors in southern Utah have dismissed criminal charges against an excommunicated general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Press-Telegram--DJ is devoted to house music--and his Mormon faith (3-19)
If there were an 11th Commandment, it might read "Thou Shalt Dance," and Kaskade would proselytize.
MormonTimes.com: For LDS filmmakers, ordinary becomes extraordinary (3-19)
Dean Duncan and Ben Unguren aren't seeking gloss and perfection.
City Creek gets updated finish: 2012 (3-19)
An updated timeline calls for landscapers to be putting the finishing touches on City Creek Center by mid-2012.
LDS Church seeks to calm speculation about photo (3-19)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Wednesday seeking to quell Internet speculation about an old daguerreotype photograph long owned by the Community of Christ.
Ksl.com--Could e-mailed photo be that of LDS Prophet Joseph Smith? (3-17)
There's been quite a stir over the last few days over what may be a unique and historic old photograph. It purports to be the only photo ever discovered of Joseph Smith, who's revered by millions as the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Irish heritage is woven into Utah's history (3-16)
The role of the Irish and their descendants in building the nation gets an annual nod every March 17, but for Utah's Irish, this historically has been the only recognition they get.
Washingtonpost.com--Salt Lake City (3-16)
Sister Gibbons has big blue eyes, apple cheeks and a sweet disposition. I met the 21-year-old Mormon missionary at Temple Square on my first day in Salt Lake City.
Natural talent + fate = Utah 'Idol' Archuleta (3-16)
David Archuleta's singing was an unstoppable force of nature. Somewhere in the family's genetic chemistry, the music seeped right into his bones, and then fate or providence or whatever you want to call it lent a hand.
National Geographic--Indian DNA Links to 6 "Founding Mothers" (3-13)
Study suggests 95 percent of Native Americans can trace some DNA back 20,000 years to just six women.
Leaders warn LDS against money scams (3-13)
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has sent a letter to its congregations, urging members to be wary of fraud.
MormonTimes.com: Worthy of a second look (3-13)
Despite being built with "leftovers," the 126-year-old Assembly Hall is an impressive, though often overlooked, structure on Temple Square.
MormonTimes.com: A place of giving, a place of healing (3-13)
Primary Children's and children's pennies have been a perfect partnership for decades.
MormonTimes.com: Joseph Smith Papers will change landscape, editor says (3-13)
A class on the seven-year development of the Joseph Smith Papers Project was a highlight of the annual Association of Mormon Letters conference, where novelists, playwrights and scholars gathered Saturday at Brigham Young University to celebrate LDS literature.
'Perfect storm' sobering for LDS, historian says (3-13)
There are things that Mormons can do to better the world's view of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Richard Bushman told an audience of close to 400 people gathered at Weber State University.
LDS Newsroom--Richard E. Turley Jr. Named Assistant Church Historian and Recorder (3-12)
Turley follows in the footsteps of former notable assistant historians such as Andrew Jenson and B.H. Roberts.
The Lexington News-Gazette--SVU Making Positive Impact In BV (3-12)
Southern Virginia University has come a long way in the last dozen years.
Hosana [sic]: An Easter oratorio to be performed (3-12)
The Millennium Choral Society invites you to commemorate Easter with the performances of Lex de Azevedo's Hosanna!, The Life of Christ, Part III, Friday and Saturday, March 14th and 15th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City.
Documentary remembers remarkable Kresimir Cosic (3-12)
A new documentary takes viewers from the shores of Zadar to the mountains of Utah and back to Croatia, all in an effort to chronicle a life of extraordinary basketball and religious accomplishment.
Reconciliation needed after desecration at church (3-11)
Father Pat Valdez of the Sangre de Cristo Parish in San Luis, Colo., is a close friend of my Aunt Marguerite. Growing up, she attended the Methodist Church, but she often takes part in celebrations and religious observances of San Luis' Catholic parish. Father Pat makes a point of reaching out to her. She speaks often of what a nice man he is.
LDS cartoonist enjoys life with 'Pickles' (3-11)
About 18 years ago, Brian Crane's family really grew.
Organization celebrates LDS writers (3-11)
LDS literary enthusiasts and writers gathered at Brigham Young University Saturday to celebrate a miscellany of Mormon works during the Association of Mormon Letters (AML) annual conference.
LDS Church issues apology in missionary vandalism case (3-10)
The LDS Church issued a strongly-worded statement Monday apologizing to the Roman Catholic Church for the actions of some of its missionaries in Colorado.
LDS Newsroom--Open House and Dedication Dates Announced for Panama and Brazil Temples (3-10)
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on Saturday the dates for public open houses prior to the dedications of new temples in Curitiba, Brazil, and Panama City, Panama.
MormonTimes.com: Documentary chronicles history of black Mormons (3-10)
Elijah Abel, Jane Manning James and Green Flake hold a unique, but rather obscure place in Mormon history: all three joined the church in its infancy and all three were black.
LDS author weaving a legal web (3-10)
The author whose books about tennis shoes in ancient American civilizations took the LDS fiction world by storm has filed another lawsuit alleging his creative works are being threatened.
Parish angered by 3 LDS missionaries (3-10)
Members of the Sangre de Christo parish of the Roman Catholic Church voted Sunday to pursue criminal charges against three Mormon missionaries who allegedly vandalized a shrine and committed sacrilegious acts in the church.
Daily Herald - Old Norse Bible donated to BYU (3-8)
Thor Leifson looks through the nearly 400 year-old Icelandic Bible that he is donating to the BYU library Friday, March 7, 2008.
ReporterHerald--Loveland family members to appear side-by-side in ‘Savior of the World’ performance (3-8)
GREELEY — A cast of more than 200 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will celebrate the Easter season with the musical production, “Savior of the World: His Birth and Resurrection.”
Two Studies Find Depression Widespread in Utah (3-7)
Study Calling Utah Most Depressed, Renews Debate on Root Causes
AZ Daily Star--Mormon church membership growing among Spanish-speaking Tucsonans (3-7)
Spanish-speakers are fueling growth in the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which recently opened new worship space on Tucson’s predominantly Hispanic South Side.
Rallying against violence (3-7)
A rally and march on Brigham Young University campus Thursday to bring about awareness and understanding of domestic violence and sexual assault was met with myriad responses from onlookers.
MormonTimes.com: Seek understanding, not converts, Bushman urges Mormons (3-6)
Like many Latter-day Saints, Mormon scholar Richard Bushman has been both surprised and bothered by the way media and observers have responded to Mormonism with bigotry in recent years.
North County Times--LDS leader pitches soft-sell approach in missionary work (3-6)
"So, I'd like to ask you," said Larry Slusser, second counselor to the Temecula Stake president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Is there any plan to teach them about Jesus Christ?"
MormonTimes.com: Deseret News launches new Internet site (3-6)
In an effort to provide a valuable online resource to millions of readers around the world, the Deseret Morning News has launched MormonTimes.com, a new Web site specifically for and about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
LDS World: Learning from others outside Mormondom (3-5)
My understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been greatly improved by the teachings of religious men and women over the ages, many of whom were never actually members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Quite a ride for author of 'Rolling' (3-5)
It's been two and a half years since Richard Bushman's "Rough Stone Rolling" rolled off the presses and you'll have to pardon the Harvard-educated professor if he still doesn't quite know how to behave like a rock star.
BusinessWeek ranks BYU business 7th in the nation (3-4)
Brigham Young University’s undergraduate business programs rank seventh overall and first among recruiters according to BusinessWeek magazine’s comprehensive ranking of U.S. undergraduate business programs. The Marriott School of Management was also ranked first in return on tuition for private colleges.
Tabernacle Choir Director Jessop resigns (3-4)
Mormon Tabernacle Choir music director Craig Jessop resigned Tuesday night during a meeting with members of the choir, leaving the group stunned and emotional, according to one source.
Wells gets wealth of volunteer assistance (3-2)
More than 300 volunteers converged on this earthquake-stricken town Saturday to offer a variety of assistance and services--notwithstanding a snowstorm and high winds.
Mormon literature conference is set (3-2)
Mormon writers and those interested in Mormon writing are about to gather for the 2008 annual conference of the Association for Mormon Letters, to be held Saturday, March 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., mostly at the Ernest L. Wilkinson Student Center at Brigham Young University.
McAlester News-Capital--Missionaries dedicate their lives (3-1)
Maybe you've seen them riding bicycles through town and wondered about those two clean cut guys and the books they carry.
EastValleyTribune.com--Momron, Catholic doctrines can collide (3-1)
Religious and cultural traditions collide in odd ways.