10 October 2012

Public Invited to Tour Boise Idaho Temple

October 10, 2012

mormonnewsroom.org

The public is invited to tour the newly renovated Boise Idaho Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The First Presidency has announced a public open house beginning Saturday, 13 October and continuing through 10 November 2012, excluding Sundays. Tickets for the free tour are available by visiting www.boisemormontemple.org or by calling 1-855-537-2000.

The temple is located at 1121 South Cole Road in Boise, just north of the I-84 Cole Road exit. Tours, consisting of a 12-minute video presentation followed by a 30-minute walking tour through the temple, will begin at the meetinghouse adjacent to the temple.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/public-invited-to-tour-boise-idaho-temple

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Mormon FAIR-Cast 110: John Sorenson Takes Questions

October 10, 2012

FAIR Blog

Dr. John Sorenson takes questions in this live radio interview that took place on July 30, 2012 on Drive Time Live with Mills Crenshaw on KTKK Radio. Dr. Sorenson first explains how he became in involved in MesoAmerican studies. He then responds to a variety of questions, including: Is there archeological evidence for the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon? What of the Native American settlements and Hebrew DNA among Native Americans in North America? What are we to make of the mention of elephants, horses, cows, oxen, etc. in the Book of Mormon? And, is there any evidence of a form of “Reformed Egyptian” writing in MesoAmerica?

John L. Sorenson is professor emeritus of anthropology at Brigham Young University. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in archaeology from BYU, a master’s degree in meteorology from the California Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California at Los Angeles.

http://www.fairblog.org/2012/10/10/mormon-fair-cast-110-john-sorenson-takes-questions/

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A Welfare System That Works

Fall 2012

Philanthropy Roundtable

In addition to tithing, Latter-day Saints regularly donate a “fast offering.” The Church designates one Sunday every month as a day of fasting, to be observed by healthy members by forgoing food and drink for two consecutive meals, and dedicating what would have been spent on those meals to help care for those in need. Many Mormons–the Mellors included–choose to give more than the equivalent of two meals. “As our business grew,” says Mellor, “we tried to come up with a bigger and bigger number. We feel as if the Lord has opened windows of Heaven to us. Our offering to him has to be a sacrifice.”

But that’s not all. In addition to their tithes, which go toward the operation of the church, and the fast offering, which goes to support the church’s extensive welfare system, the Mellors also contribute to other major projects through LDS Philanthropies. Among other things, they have funded the building of wells in Africa, the construction of homes in Mexico, and the creation of a scholarship at Brigham Young University. In this, too, their practice is illustrative of widespread practices among Mormons, who routinely make charitable contributions above and beyond their tithes and fast offerings.

http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/topic/excellence_in_philanthropy/a_welfare_system_that_works

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Ruben Navarrette: Romney’s historic moment

October 10, 2012

San Jose Mercury News (California)

Ann Romney makes a fair point. In 2012, from the looks of it, the prejudices that many have against Mormons are still pretty ingrained. Representing an estimated 2 percent of the U.S. population, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is still a mystery to many Americans. Some look upon it with skepticism, others suspicion. I would imagine that most Americans don’t harbor any personal animosity toward Mormons. But many of us have questions and we don’t have that many Mormon friends who can answer them.

There was a time when one would have thought that having a Mormon seek a presidential nomination — in two successive election cycles — would be a teaching moment for the country. It hasn’t worked out that way.

And I don’t know about you, but I haven’t heard this point made in the mainstream media — that electing Mitt Romney the first Mormon president would serve the country’s ideals, as much as electing the first African-American did four years ago.

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_21740823/ruben-navarrette-romneys-historic-moment

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CHAPMAN: Mitt’s Mormonism doesn’t matter

October 10, 2012

Odessa American (Texas)

Mormonism is a minority sect once persecuted by mainstream American Christians for its unconventional doctrines and practice of polygamy. It is still viewed by many as an odd cult. But a Mormon is the Republican nominee for president, and he can take consolation that if he loses, it will not be because of his religion.
That may be the biggest surprise of this election year. Freedom of religion is a constitutional principle, but it has long coexisted with widespread hostility toward certain faiths. When he ran four years ago, Mitt Romney’s affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was a novelty that looked to be a liability.

http://www.oaoa.com/editorial/columns/article_10bf6c6e-1322-11e2-9d88-0019bb30f31a.html

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Mormonism, voter enthusiasm concern evangelical leaders

Octobker 10, 2012

Jackson Sun (Tennessee)

Evangelical leaders worried that Mitt Romney’s Mormonism could suppress conservative turnout on Election Day are intensifying appeals for Christians to vote.

In poll after poll, evangelicals have overwhelmingly said they would back the Republican presidential nominee despite theological differences with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But what had been thought of as a hypothetical question for American evangelicals for years, Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler said recently, is now a reality with this election and is being tested in a contest that will likely be decided by slim margins.

http://www.jacksonsun.com/viewart/20121010/NEWS01/310100012/Mormonism-voter-enthusiasm-concern-evangelical-leaders

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Mormon General Conference

October 10, 2012

Examiner

Attending the Mormon Church’s General Conference which wrapped up Sunday provided a unique look into this world religion. In many respects it’s different from most other faiths. That should come as no surprise as it was established as the restoration of Jesus’ Biblical church. Its neither Protestant, Catholic nor Orthodox, yet is Christian.

General Conferences are gatherings where senior church leader meet and council about issues that impact the faith. It’s also a time for church members worldwide to hear directly from those church leaders.

http://www.examiner.com/article/mormon-general-conference

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‘The Daily Show’ Spotlights the Dilemma of Black Mormons

October 10, 2012

Wall Street Journal

African Americans who happen to be Mormons happen to face a particularly intriguing choice at the ballot box this presidential election. Should they vote to reelect Barack Obama, the first African American U.S. president, or should they choose Mitt Romney, the man who would be the first Mormon president? “The Daily Show’s” Jessica Williams brought together a group of black Mormons to talk it over. Here’s her video report.

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/10/10/the-daily-show-spotlights-the-dilemma-of-black-mormons/

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More from BYU coach on mission age change

October 10, 2012

Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)

Hope you were able to catch the Tribune’s package today on how the LDS Church’s changing the minimum missionary age to 18 (from 19) will effect local college sports recruiting and mission-bound athletes in the future. The package includes my story on the effects, and a column from Gordon Monson.

The article included thoughts from Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Larry Krystkowiak, Utah State’s Gary Andersen and BYU’s Bronco Mendenhall.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsbyusports/55060408-65/byu-sltrib-mission-utah.html.csp

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LDS Church lowers missionary age

October 9, 2012

USU Statesman (Utah)

An announcement made by top leaders of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may impact college campuses across the state.

At LDS General Conference Saturday morning, Church President Thomas Monson announced missionary ages would be lowered from 19 to 18 for males. Monson emphasized the change was not a requirement, but a choice.

http://www.usustatesman.com/lds-church-lowers-missionary-age-1.2775652

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OUR VIEW: Missionary changes have mixed impact

October 9, 2012

USU Statesman

During the first session of the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday morning, LDS President Thomas S. Monson revealed over the pulpit that the age requirements to serve an LDS mission would decrease from 19 for men to 18, and from 21 for women to 19.

Following this announcement, Facebook feeds around the world blew up with excitement from 17- and 18-year-olds proclaiming their newfound desire to leave on a mission at an earlier age.

http://www.usustatesman.com/our-view-missionary-changes-have-mixed-impact-1.2775683#.UHY0iC7A8rU

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The Romney Sode

October 10, 2012

Voice of Russia

America’s great mission is to bring the light of truth and democracy to “the rest of the world”. Such a statement is nothing new for “the rest of the world” lost in darkness and dictatorship, since it accompanies every presidential race in the US.
However, this time around, it is somewhat worrisome since one of the candidates, Mitt Romney, is a high priest of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Some experts do not exclude the possibility that in case Romney becomes President, Mormons will rule the country. Are these fears justified?

Mormons in the US have traditionally supported the Republican Party, but this is the first time that a Mormon is running for President. It is not surprising because until recently Americans’ and the world’s attitude towards Mormons was rather ambiguous.

Christians consider Mormons a totalitarian sect, and this includes Catholic, Orthodox and the majority of Protestant Christians, the first vice-chairman of Russian Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith bishop Konstantin Bendas says.

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_10_10/The-Romney-sode/

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Blacks and Mormons: The priesthood ban, Brigham and Bruce

October 10, 2012

Jewish Journal of Greater L.A. (California)

I was contacted recently by a foreign journalist who wanted to know why all of Mitt Romney’s senior advisors and staff members were white. Was it part of a general Mormon insensitivity to blacks and other minorities, she wondered? Or evidence of personal prejudices he secretly harbors? While I admitted that all of the people I know who are working on Mitt’s campaign are white, I expressed considerable doubt that this was a reflection of racial bigotry or prejudice. I then referred her to Mitt’s campaign for further comment, since I am not affiliated in any way with Romney’s White House run. Upon further reflection, I realized that her questions reflected popular perceptions of the LDS Church and blacks in this country that may not be accurate. It is with a little trepidation that I now address the issue of blacks and the LDS priesthood, one which has had a profound effect on my own life.

The first Mormon prophet in modern times, Joseph Smith, made no racial distinctions among members. Several black men were ordained to the priesthood during his lifetime, and towards the end of his life he held abolitionist views. In fact, his platform in the U.S. presidential election of 1844 called for the freeing of slaves by 1850 through the sale of public lands.

http://www.jewishjournal.com/jews_and_mormons/item/blacks_and_mormons_the_priesthood_ban_brigham_and_bruce

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Mormon Church completes renovation of 28-year-old Boise temple

October 10, 2012

Idaho Statesman

The renovation of Boise’s Mormon Temple was originally going to be a job to replace heating, plumbing, electrical systems and the like. But when church officials looked at the building, they decided a more extensive remodeling was necessary.

By the time the 16-month project was completed this month, 90 percent of the building was redone. The result: a multimillion dollar project — church officials won’t disclose the cost — whose improvements include crystal chandeliers, elegant hardwood, sparkling marble floors and a new granite skin on the outside.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/10/10/2305492/mormon-church-completes-renovation.html

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Mitt Romney, Black Mormons and Ben Affleck

October 10, 2012

Celebrity Cafe

In the second segment, Jessica Williams discusses the presidential election with black Mormons. She refers to this group as the “unicorn of politics.” They discuss the struggle between picking a black or Mormon president and they do a decent job of showing this group as just as complex and divided as the rest of the country. She asks them questions to determine whether or not these individuals are more black or Mormon.

http://thecelebritycafe.com/reviews/2012/10/daily-show-recap-10912

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Calling all Christians: Mormonism, voter enthusiasm concern evangelical leaders

October 9, 2012

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (Texas)

Evangelical leaders worried that Mitt Romney’s Mormonism could suppress conservative turnout on Election Day are intensifying appeals for Christians to vote.

In poll after poll, evangelicals have overwhelmingly said they would back the Republican presidential nominee despite theological differences with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But what had been thought of as a hypothetical question for American evangelicals for years, Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler said recently, is now a reality with this election and is being tested in a contest that will likely be decided by slim margins.

http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2012-10-09/calling-all-christians-mormonism-voter-enthusiasm-concern-evangelical

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STAGE TUBE: Promo for CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY at Theater LaB Houston

October 10, 2012

Broadway World

Following his February 2012, sold-out seven performances – Steven Fales returns with his 90-minute solo play CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY, recounting how he went from being the perfect Mormon boy in Utah to a high-priced call boy in New York City and how he found a middle ground. Watch a promo for the show below!

This provocative true story takes the audience from his Mormon mission to Portugal and temple marriage, through reparative therapy, excommunication, divorce, prostitution and crystal meth addiction as he struggles to reclaim his self, his two children and his ‘Donny Osmon

http://houston.broadwayworld.com/article/STAGE-TUBE-Promo-for-CONFESSIONS-OF-A-MORMON-BOY-at-Theater-LaB-Houston-20121010

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Religious bigotry vs. partisanship

October 10, 2012

Christian Century

Michigan pastor Kent Clark loves him some Paul Ryan but doesn’t think Mitt Romney is a Christian.

Not a problem for anyone involved. As we learned last month from Pew (pdf), being a Mormon doesn’t really hurt a person’s chances among evangelical voters, even though many of them agree with Clark. Tobin Grant seems to take this as good news about evangelicals:

Despite a history of Republican voting, some political pontificators predicted that evangelicals would be apprehensive about an LDS candidate. The picture of evangelicals as religious partisans has itself proven to be little more than caricature and stereotype.

http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2012-10/religious-bigotry-vs-partisanship

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Casey Jex Smith: Fiend in the Void

October 10, 2012

Art Info

A solo exhibition of works on paper and sculpture by Casey Jex Smith where Smith will pursue religion and politics. Smith, a practicing Mormon, employs sci-fi/fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons, and Mormon imagery as a means for exploration of his relationship with his church. The opening night of the exhibition includes a live action performance where two volunteers will play the roles of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney and audience members will decide the fate of the election using Dungeons and Dragons dice, rules, and attacks. Smith will act as Dungeon Master of the game, and the ultimate prize is his vote: the battle winner the night of the opening will be the real life ballot Smith casts in his swing-state home of Ohio.

http://www.artinfo.com/galleryguide/12345/314296/event/831621

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Utah Is The Promised Land

October 10, 2012

Salt Lake City Weekly (Utah)

Among the many who have asked the unanswered riddle of where and how life beagn is Duane Erickson. Raised by a Mormon family, Erickson grew up reading the accounts of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, and the Nephites. And, after extensively studying such biblical texts, Erickson became determined to prove that such tales are, in fact, true and occurred in Utah. Erickson will back up his theories at a seminar, where artifacts will be available for study, in Evanston, Wyo., on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 2 p.m. at the Machine Shop Meeting Hall (1416 Main).

http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-16564-utah-is-the-promised.html

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U.Va. Creates Richard Lyman Bushman Chair of Mormon Studies

October 10, 2012

Newswise

The University of Virginia today announced the establishment of the Richard Lyman Bushman Chair of Mormon Studies in the Department of Religious Studies, part of the College of Arts & Sciences. The new chair will honor Bushman, Gouverneur Morris Professor of History Emeritus at Columbia University, who led one of the first Mormon studies programs in the country.

“We are deeply grateful to our donors for their generosity in establishing this important chair in Mormon studies, which will add a new dimension to our strong research and teaching in religious studies,” said Meredith Jung-En Woo, Buckner W. Clay Dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. “As a permanent source of support for faculty excellence, endowed professorships play a critical role in our effort to recruit and retain outstanding scholars and teachers.”

http://www.newswise.com/articles/u-va-creates-richard-lyman-bushman-chair-of-mormon-studies

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MORNING BREW: NOTRE DAME STAR PLAYING THROUGH EMOTIONAL PAIN

October 10, 2012

University Daily Kansan

Along with being one of the best players in the country, Notre Dame senior linebacker Manti Te’o is one inspiring person. Te’o grew up a Mormon in Hawaii but decided to go play football at the nation’s most prestigious university, Notre Dame.

http://kansan.com/sports/2012/10/10/morning-brew-notre-dame-star-playing-through-emotional-pain/

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Manti Te’o a Notre Dame tackling machine

October 10, 2012

San Francisco Chronicle (California)

It’s Te’o who runs the emotional leadership. A Mormon from Hawaii, the high-profile prep prospect chose a Catholic school over a host of other schools, including Stanford.

“I enjoyed my trip to Stanford,” he said. “I enjoyed coach (Jim) Harbaugh and (then-linebackers coach) Andy Buh. I have a lot of family on the West Coast.”

http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/Manti-Te-o-a-Notre-Dame-tackling-machine-3937508.php

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Obama, Romney, and the bigotry gap

October 10, 2012

Salon

Here’s the truth: When it comes to Romney’s religion, you’d be hard-pressed to come up with many — if any — examples of widespread official or even unofficial efforts to stoke anti-Mormon sentiment in order to help President Obama. Indeed, the best, and most hilarious, attempt I’ve seen was by right-wingers trying to claim Obama’s affinity for beer is actually an offensive method of criticizing Romney’s teetotaling faith. Such claims are more than rich coming from a conservative political movement that regularly decries the so-called p.c. police for taking offense at behavior when offense is supposedly not warranted. In this sense, the right is doubling down on such fake outrage; after all, if conservatives now believe gulping down a lager is the new vanguard of intolerance in America, then they must believe NFL game days, New Year’s Eve and college frat parties are secret nationwide exercises in religious bigotry.

http://www.salon.com/2012/10/10/obama_romney_and_the_bigotry_gap/

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Jabari Parker List of 5 Doesn’t Include Hometown DePaul University

October 7, 2012

Rant Sports

I’ve been highly intrigued by Jabari Parker ever since I first read about him in the Sports Illustrated feature that called him the best high school basketball player since LeBron James. That article also highlighted the fact that Parker is a practicing Latter Day Saint or Mormon. I was also raised Mormon so this intrigued me greatly as well, and I had the chance to interview Parker last July at the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year Awards.

http://www.rantsports.com/prep-sports/2012/10/07/jabari-parker-list-of-5-doesnt-include-hometown-depaul-university/

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None of the above option

October 10, 2012

Norman Transcript (Oklahoma)

The pre-election about candidates and their religious leanings has begun. It reminds many of the whispers around the campaign of John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic candidate.

Now comes the Republican party, which has had Protestants on the ticket for a century with a Mormon at the top of the ticket and a Catholic running mate. A new study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life suggests fewer Americans claim religious identity.

In 1960, two in three Americans called themselves Protestants. That’s down now to less than half.

http://normantranscript.com/opinion/x1475178374/None-of-the-above-option

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Feel like a minority yet?

October 10, 2012

Baptists Today

Protestants in America made big news this week — by oficially becoming a minority. A major study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life in 2007 showed that American Protestants, at 51.3 percent of the population, were “on the verge of becoming a minority Protestant country.”

A smaller, 2012 study by the Pew Forum shows that we’ve clearly crossed the line: just 48 percent of Americans now identify themselves as Protestant, down from 62 percent in 1972. Other denominational preferences include 22 percent reporting as Catholic, two percent are Mormon, one percent are Orthodox, and six percent who belong to another faith.

http://www.baptiststoday.org/cartledge-blog/2012/10/10/feel-like-a-minority-yet.html

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Thanks to their no-thanks, Rosa Linda’s business is booming

October 11, 2012

Westword (Colorado)

You can see why Rosa Linda’s would be such a great backdrop for a campaign stop — whether or not Romney was along for the ride. Virgil and Rosa Linda are both converts to Mormonism; four of their five kids are practicing Mormons. The youngest grandchild is often in the restaurant — perfect for a politician who wants to kiss a baby. (Hickenlooper did on Monday, when he dropped in for grub on a voter-registration drive.) And in an election where the Latino vote could be crucial, unlike Chipotle, Rosa Linda’s is actually a Mexican Mexican restaurant. So it wasn’t surprising that a Romney supporter would approach Rosa Linda’s about getting involved, maybe as a campaign stop.

http://www.westword.com/2012-10-11/news/rosa-lindas-romney-reaction/

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