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24 October 2012
The Bells on Temple Square to Present “Winter Festival of Sound”
October 24, 2012
Audiences will thrill to the visually fascinating Bells on Temple Square during its annual winter concert on Friday, 16 November, in the Salt Lake Tabernacle at 7:30 p.m. The concert, titled Winter Festival of Sound, will feature wintry holiday hymns and American folk songs.
Conductor LeAnna Willmore says, “Think of all of the happy thoughts associated with the ringing of a bell — the announcement of the arrival of a friend ringing your doorbell, the holy ringing of church bells, the tinkling of sleigh bells. Winter Festival of Sound is a celebration of this most cheerful sound and the feelings associated with it.”
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Mormon Tabernacle Choir Announces 2013 Tour
October 24, 2012
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will visit six cities in America’s heartland next summer — their first visit to the upper Midwest since 2009. The tour will include stops in Columbus, Indianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and Minneapolis from 12 June through 20 June 2013 and will feature the 360-voice world-renowned choir and 65 members of the Orchestra at Temple Square.
“The Choir performs before a live audience every week for its Music and the Spoken Word broadcast,” says Ron Jarrett, president of the Choir. “But there is nothing quite like hearing the Choir live in concert. We love going on the road to connect with our audiences in the Midwest who will experience the pure joy music can bring to the hearts and minds of its listeners.”
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormon-tabernacle-choir-announces-2013-tour
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Mormon FAIR-Cast 112: Dead Sea Scrolls
October 24, 2012
FAIR Blog
How were the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered? How many scrolls have been found? Has there been an attempt to prevent scholars from translating them? Have some of the scolls been withheld from the public? Who were the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls? Were they Christians? Did the Dead Sea Scrolls authors believe in a pre-earth life? What value should Latter-day Saints place in the Dead Sea Scrolls? Kevin Barney discusses these questions in this live interview with Mills Crenshaw that appeared on K-Talk radio on July 12, 2012, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
http://www.fairblog.org/2012/10/24/mormon-fair-cast-112-dead-sea-scrolls/
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Jesus Christ Enters Presidential Campaign
October 24, 2012
Reason Magazine
A few months ago I wrote a piece contrasting the relatively small effect Mitt Romney’s Mormonism has had on this campaign with the past popularity of wild anti-Mormon conspiracy theories. Even Robert Jeffress, the Dallas pastor who embarrassed Rick Perry by declaring that Romney is “not a Christian” and that Mormonism “has always been considered a cult by the mainstream of Christianity,” wound up endorsing the GOP’s nominee, explaining his decision with the line, “Jesus isn’t on the ballot this year, so we have to make choices.”
But Bill Keller won’t be stopped by Christ’s failure to get on the ballot. Keller, the most ferocious of the modern anti-Mormon voices quoted in my article, claims that 1,392,972 people so far have pledged to write in the reputed son of God rather than back either Romney or Obama.
http://reason.com/blog/2012/10/24/jesus-christ-enters-presidential-campaig
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Mormon missionary applications soar by 471 percent
October 24, 2012
Washington Post
Mormon apostle Jeffrey R. Holland predicted that lowering the age limits for young Mormon missionaries would trigger a “dramatic” uptick in their numbers.
Turns out, “dramatic” was an understatement. Try a 471 percent jump in applications — so far.
Just two weeks since Mormon President Thomas S. Monson announced that young men could go on full-time missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 18 (down from 19) and young women could go at 19 (down from 21), the Utah-based church has seen applications skyrocket from an average of 700 a week to 4,000 a week.
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Blogger Facing Sanction Quits Mormon Church
October 24, 2012
New York Times
A Mormon who edits a Web site critical of his church said he was resigning from the church rather than face a hearing that could lead to his excommunication. The editor, David Twede of the Web site MormonThink, was told in September by his bishop that he was being called to a church trial. Mr. Twede had posted articles on several Web sites criticizing Mormon beliefs and Mitt Romney, who is a Mormon.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/us/blogger-facing-sanction-quits-mormon-church.html?_r=0
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Orlando blogger and Mormon critic David Twede resigns from church
October 24, 2012
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)
David Twede, the Orlando-based Mormon blogger who faced excommunication for his criticism of the church, said he has resigned from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“I left because I no longer support the LDS church,” said Twede, 47, in an email sent Tuesday. “Resigning is effectively the same result as being excommunicated. Both end my membership.”
Twede ran into problems with Mormon officials in September over critical comments on MormonThink.com, a Website he edits from Orlando. The disciplinary council of the LDS church in Orlando sent Twede a letter saying he faced disfellowshipment or excommunication for the act of “apostasy,” which involves a member trying to lead followers away from the church and its teachings.
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Mormon Blogger Quits Church To Avoid Discipline
October 24, 2012
Inquisitr
David Twede, an Orlando-based blogger, ran afoul of the Church of Latter Day Saints back in September with writings on his website MormonThink.com, that the Mormon church declared “apostasy.”
Twede, who faced excommunication as a possible result of a scheduled disciplinary hearing, made the decision to simply quit the church rather than participate in disciplinary proceedings. Reuters reported that Twede quit on Friday at a conference for former Mormons in Salt Lake City. He also sent a letter to the church, asking that his name be removed from the rolls.
http://www.inquisitr.com/374605/mormon-blogger-quits-church-to-avoid-discipline/
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Crawler: The Mormon church’s girl revolution
October 24, 2012
Salt Lake Magazine (Utah)
The leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is all twitchy about how many more converts this flood of missionaries will bring in. But they seem to have overlooked the impact a flood of young, zealous women could have on the Mormon Church’s doctrines that make the priesthood an ol’ boys club. In a church where every man is a priest, the spiritual authority and leadership role is denied to women.
http://saltlakemagazine.com/blog/2012/10/crawler-the-mormon-churchs-girl-revolution/
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Editor of Mormon-themed website quits church to avoid discipline
October 24, 2012
Reuters
The Florida-based editor of a Mormon-themed website has left the church rather than face disciplinary action and possible excommunication over writings that he said prompted accusations of apostasy.
David Twede’s posts on MormonThink.com offer his account of the history of the church’s political involvement, criticism of fellow Mormon and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and the author’s take on Mormon beliefs about the nature of God and temple ceremonies.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/24/us-usa-mormon-discipline-idUSBRE89N1N620121024
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Mormon Church Opens Up Before Election
October 24, 2012
Central PA (Pennsylvania)
Hollidaysburg, Blair County – the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints allows people from all faiths tour it’s building, including local media. WTAJ was there, and says while it’s rare that they opened up to the public, the fact that it’s happening now, isn’t a coincidence.
The church has opened its doors to those that are, and aren’t Mormon, to help dispel myths and misconceptions about the Mormon religion.
Jackie Michaels from Altoona is a practicing Methodist. She says that she’s not looking to convert, just learn about what’s fact, and what’s fiction.
“I think there are a lot of misconceptions about the Mormon religion, and I formally support freedom of religion…”
http://wearecentralpa.com/fulltext-news?nxd_id=407812
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Billy Graham faces backlash over Mormon’cult’ removal
October 24, 2012
Washington Post
The Rev. Samuel Wynn admired Billy Graham and his evangelistic association for decades, joining its spiritual crusades and urging fellow Christians to do the same. But no more.
”I will never again support anything by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association,” said Wynn, the superintendent of a United Methodist Church district in Fayetteville, N.C.
The source of Wynn’s ire: The BGEA’s recent removal of language on its website calling Mormonism a “cult.”
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8: The Mormon Proposition Follows the Money Trail to God
October 24, 2012
Blog Critics
8: The Mormon Proposition follows the lead up to and the immediate aftermath of the passage of Prop 8. As with most political campaigns, one of the most important facets in making your decision on where you stand is to follow the money trail back to the supporters. The financial green mile for Prop 8 led back to the very doorstep of the Mormon religion, the vaulted and ornate doors of the flagship cathedral in Salt Lake City, Utah.
http://blogcritics.org/video/article/8-the-mormon-proposition-follows-the/
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Should “real” Christians vote for a Mormon? What would Jesus say?
October 24, 2012
God Discussion
I have to admit, I’m addicted to watching our live traffic stream. And lately, I’ve noticed an uptick in search terms.
“Should Christians vote for a Mormon?” is the most popular term I’ve noted while watching it. And I think that this is a symptom of the cognitive dissonance about religion and politics that has been going on in this country over the last twenty years. What if your religious convictions are not black and white about who or what kind of person you should vote for? How do you fill in the blanks?
http://www.goddiscussion.com/102958/should-real-christians-vote-for-a-mormon-what-would-jesus-say/
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Mormon church holds open house
October 24, 2012
Altoona Mirror (Pennsylvania)
The Altoona Ward Meetinghouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 778 Brush Mountain Road held an open house for the public Tuesday evening.
Bishop Jere Cross estimated about 50 people showed up within the first half hour of the open house.
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Did You Know This About Mormonism?
October 24, 2012
Jewish Press
Did you know this about Mormonism?
…The Book of Mormon clearly states that Nephi built a temple modeled upon the temple of Solomon upon arriving in the Americas (2 Nephi 5:16). In addition, the Book of Mormon says that other temples were built in the Americas (see 3 Nephi 11:1 and Helaman 3:14)…the Israelites in the Americas were trying to faithfully follow the law of Moses…
http://www.jewishpress.com/blogs/my-right-word/did-you-know-this-about-mormonism/2012/10/24/
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This rich Republican Mormon spreads the wealth
October 24, 2012
High Country News
He’s a rich, conservative Republican businessman, and the scion of a powerful Mormon family. And four years into a devastating economic crisis, he has come to Washington, D.C., amid cries to balance the budget, to offer a solution.
Mitt Romney? Nope. It’s Marriner S. Eccles. The year was 1933, and the U.S. Senate Finance Committee had invited 46 citizens from various walks of life to testify about ways to slow the downward economic spiral. Eccles, a business owner and banker from Utah, was one of the witnesses, and he had some pretty provocative ideas. In the Oct. 29 edition of High Country News, I write about Eccles’ place in a long history of quasi-socialist collectivism in the Church of Latter-day Saints. But Eccles is more than just a historic figure. His theories resonate just as loudly today as they did eight decades ago.
http://www.hcn.org/hcn/blogs/goat/this-rich-republican-mormon-wants-to-redistribute-the-wealth
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Going on Mormon Mission Does Not Equal Military Service
October 24, 2012
Georgetown Dish (DC)
I thought I had heard it all from the Romney/Ryan team. Then Ann Romney went on The View. Whoopie Goldberg may not have been “nice” in her question regarding Mitt’s military service or lack of it but for Ms. Romney to suggest that going on mission for the Mormon Church is the same as going into the military is repugnant. Mitt Romney and I are the same age and, contrary to President Obama, when Romney and I were eligible for service there was a draft.
http://www.thegeorgetowndish.com/thedish/going-mormon-mission-does-not-equal-military-service
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Mitt Romney made desperate push to save an unborn baby as a Mormon bishop
October 24, 2012
Lifesite
As a young Mormon bishop, Mitt Romney made a passionate attempt to stop a woman from aborting her child.
The story, which the New York Times reported last October, has roared back to life in the pages of The National Enquirer this week.
In the summer of 1983, Romney served as bishop for a “ward” (congregation) outside Boston. One of his flock, Carrel Hilton Sheldon, was eight weeks pregnant with her fifth child when her doctor treated a blood clot with an overdose of the blood thinner Heparin.
After learning the doctor advised her to abort, Romney went, unbidden, to Sheldon’s hospital room to try to change her mind.
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Who’s Your Daddy? Genealogy Becomes $1.6B Hobby
October 24, 2012
ABC News
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) could be, if they wished to, a huge financial beneficiary of genealogy’s new-found popularity.
The Mormons have amassed one of the world’s greatest genealogical archives, and researchers from around the world make wide use of it, either online or in person in Salt Lake City. But they do so free of charge. The church, though a service called FamilySearch, provides access at no cost.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/genealogy-hot-hobby-worth-16b-mormons/story?id=17544242#.UIi0B7HA_jI
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Controversial political sign at Leakey church doesn’t bother locals
October 24, 2012
San Antonio Express News (Texas)
When Ray Miller posted a marquee that read “Vote for the Mormon, Not the Muslim/The Capitalist, Not the Communist,” the local pastor added more fuel to the firestorm of angry political rhetoric burning from sea to shining sea.
National media outlets ran with the story. Online pundits pounced. And the Internal Revenue Service was asked to investigate whether the sign violates federal and state nonprofit laws. Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent a formal complaint to the IRS, saying it had received more than two dozen emails criticizing the church for endorsing a candidate when federal and state nonprofit laws prohibit it.
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The unculted
October 24, 2012
Associated Baptist Press
Protestants, especially evangelical Protestants, have been at theological odds with Mormons for a long time, viewing them not as a sect or indigenous American denomination, but as a highly successful and heretical “cult” with doctrines, scriptures and rituals that put them beyond the pale of normative Christianity.
In 21st century America, however, politics and pluralism collided, dramatically impacting those historical dynamics, as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association opted to remove Mormons from their web-based list of cults.
The association’s cult catalogue remains, with links to web-warnings about Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientologists, Spiritualists and even Unitarians. Mormons, it seems, have been unculted, their conservative political and ethical commitments affirmed by evangelicals, some of whom still refuse to include the Latter-day Saints in the true church of Jesus Christ.
http://www.abpnews.com/opinion/item/7914-the-unculted#.UIi0uLHA_jI
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Thoughts on mailings, religion, Graham stance
October 23, 2012
Asheville Citizen-Times (North Carolina)
I just found out in today’s paper that the church I belong to, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville, is considered a cult by Franklin Graham. Who is this Franklin Graham, and what are his attributes besides riding his daddy’s coattails? Does he do anything other than insult non-Christian religions?
I wonder if my minister went to visit Billy Graham, as Romney did, if he might take our church off the ”cult list” as he did for the Mormons. But no, my minister has too much integrity and isn’t an opportunist.
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Vail Daily columnist Richard Carnes: Can a Mormon be president?
October 24, 2012
Vail Daily News (Colorado)
Think of it this way: Electing a Mormon to the world’s most powerful political office would dramatically raise awareness and, quite possibly, promote the positives of Mormonism, right?
But wouldn’t the exact same hold true for Muslimism (if there is such a word), or Scientologism, Catholicism, atheism or the Church of the Invisible Pink Unicornism?
Of course it would, and that is why (at least on paper, or 225-year-old parchment) we make it illegal to use such an absurd litmus test for public office.
http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20121024/EDITS/121029974/1021&ParentProfile=1065
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Eeny Meeny Miny Moe, Catch a…
October 24, 2012
God Discussion
Growing up in a small, tightly knit Mormon community in Utah during the 1950s and 60′s didn’t provide much cultural diversity. In fact, to my knowledge we didn’t have a single Mexican in town, and there wasn’t an African American around that I knew of for hundreds of miles, probably all the way to Salk Lake City, 200 miles to the north. I don’t remember any overt racism, it didn’t occur in my home or among my friends or even teachers. But there was this one thing I remember; the children’s rhyme, eeny meeny miny moe. which went on to say…catch a nigger by the toe, if he hollers, let him go, eeny meeny miny moe. (I promise that’s the last time I’ll use that word here.)
http://www.goddiscussion.com/102990/eeny-meeny-miny-moe-catch-a/
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Mr. Romney on the Ropes with Mormonism, Obama and the Media Pulling Punches
October 24, 2012
Technorati
Mormons inherit a long genealogy of evasive rhetoric, as they demonstrated in the CNN article of October 21, with their white lies and dodges. In opposition to the allegation that “No blacks [were] allowed (until 1978),” the Mormons responded that all races were “allowed” to join the church.
Only a lifelong member would recognize the dodge here, that technically Blacks were permitted to join, if they sought out the church and begged to be baptized. Mormon missionaries were forbidden to teach Black people, and members were not to attempt to convert them.
http://technorati.com/politics/article/mr-romney-on-the-ropes-with/
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Cougars snag juco corner
October 24, 2012
ESPN
San Francisco Community College cornerback Trent Trammell has pledged to continue his career at Brigham Young, according to the Deseret News.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound prospect selected the Cougars over scholarship offers from Utah and UTEP along with interest from Kansas State.
“For 13 years, my next-door neighbors were Mormon, so I got to know them well and we were very close to all of them,” Trammell said. “It was almost like a second home for me growing up, so yeah, I definitely feel comfortable around Mormons, and I have a lot of respect for their beliefs. I hold the same values, so it’s a plus that BYU is a Mormon school.”
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncfrecruiting/on-the-trail/post?id=21816
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American Atheists challenging Mitt Romney with mobile billboard (Video)
October 23, 2012
Examiner
In a move that may cause some professing Christians to have a hard time turning the other cheek, an organization called American Atheists used a billboard on wheels to criticize Gov. Mitt Romney’s Latter-Day Saint (LDS) beliefs during the third presidential debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. on Monday, October 22.
In an article published on Monday, October 22, Jaweed Kaleem of The Huffington Post said the billboard’s debut was part of a week-long campaign against Romney.
http://www.examiner.com/article/american-atheists-challenging-mitt-romney-with-mobile-billboard
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Officials gave millions of death registrations to Mormon church
October 24, 2012
Dutch News (Netherlands)
The Dutch bureau for genealogy has handed personal and privacy-sensitive information relating to millions of Dutch citizens to the Mormon church in Salt Lake City, Trouw reports on Wednesday.
The bureau has admitted handing over copies of the death registrations of everyone who died in the Netherlands between 1939 and 1970, the paper says.
The card system was used before the introduction of the centralised births, marriages and deaths registry. The cards include details of whether or not someone had been in prison, had had psychiatric help or lived off social security benefits as well as the names of partners and children.
The archivist responsible for the decision to hand over the information to the Mormons has since retired. The director of the bureau told Trouw the organisation considers the Salt Lake City archive as a reserve. ‘Imagine if our own collection was damaged by fire or water,’ Leo Voogt is quoted as saying. ‘Then those copies will be useful.’
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2012/10/officials_gave_millions_of_dea.php
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Religious studies professors discuss role of religion in the election
October 24, 2012
Daily Sundial (California)
Dr. Baugh started the discussion with Mormonism. She described the basic history of the religion, which is one of the fastest growing in the nation. Founded in the 1820s in upstate New York by Joseph Smith, Mormonism has been described as being an all-American religion. However, a survey of voters in 2011 revealed that 22 percent of Americans would be unwilling to vote for a Mormon.
Baugh talked about how while Americans “celebrate religious freedom in the abstract,” they often find it harder to follow through with. She described the scope of American religious tolerance as something that is always “in flux.”
She then cited a survey of 2,000 Mormons, in which 68 percent said they were not considered part of America’s mainstream culture and 50 percent said they often faced discrimination.
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Mormon Tabernacle Choir plans Midwest tour
October 23, 2012
New Ulm Journal (Minnesota)
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra is planning a tour through the Midwest this summer.
Officials for the 360-voice choir and 65-member orchestra say the tour will include stops in Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis; Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Wis; and Minneapolis. Tour dates run from June 12 through June 20.
It’s the first time the group has visited the upper Midwest since 2009.
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Thousands tour northwest temple
October 24, 2012
CTV News (Canada)
Over 100,000 people visited Alberta’s newest Mormon temple this fall during a three-week long public open house.
The temple at 9802 Rocky Ridge Road. N.W. offered tours to the public from September 29 to October 20 so everyone could get a look at the massive structure.
It is the 140th Mormon Temple in the world and the third in Alberta.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has over 75,000 members across the province
http://calgary.ctvnews.ca/thousands-tour-northwest-temple-1.1009301
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UW Religion Today Column for Week of Oct. 28-Nov. 3: Is Religion Irrelevant to the Presidential Election?
October 24, 2012
University of Wyoming
Even before primary voting began nearly a year ago, media coverage of the presidential campaign was emphasizing religion and the role it plays in the contest for the top job. The religious views of every Republican candidate were featured and parsed, looking for clues to voter preferences. For several months, Mitt Romney’s Mormon beliefs were a visible problem for the party’s Evangelical voters, and at some moments, the primaries seemed to be a search for a candidate with a different religious identity.
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