Mormon Life - Arts & Entertainment

Mormons in far-away places, on Mormon Times TV

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:16:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

If you’ve traveled at all, you know how easy it is now to find an LDS meetinghouse to attend church services. Just go online to mormon.org, click on “Visit Us” and “Worship with Us,” and you can see when and where members meet in any part of the world.

Some of my most memorable travels include attending church services in Scotland, Ireland and the former communist East Germany, when the Freiberg Germany Temple was dedicated.

'Why I'm a Mormon': Larry Echo Hawk

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:24:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Editor's note: This is an excerpt from "Why I'm a Mormon" edited by Joseph A. Cannon, which includes the testimonies of 53 influential members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I had not been a good student through junior high and high school. I struggled because my mind was not focused on school. I loved sports but not academics.

The Book of Mormon was the first large book that I ever read from cover to cover. I read 10 pages every night, never missing a nightly reading.

Tabernacle Choir returns to Arizona

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:17:00 -0700

source: ldschurchnews.com

For the first time in nearly 45 years, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is set to perform in Arizona Feb. 10-11. The special occasion is part of Arizona's centennial celebration.

"We are thrilled to have them come," said Karen Churchard, director of the Arizona Centennial Commission. "This concert was actually the first of our signature events that we identified and approved."

LDS Portland Ensign Choir sings national anthem at Trail Blazer game

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:33:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

More than 115 members of the Portland Ensign Choir performed the national anthem at the Rose Garden Arena for the Portland Trail Blazers game against the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 23.

The choir, many of whom are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was accompanied on trumpet by Brett Randolph and was one of the largest groups to have ever sung the anthem in Trail Blazer history.

'Why I'm a Mormon': Alex BoyÉ

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:22:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Editor's note: This is an excerpt from "Why I'm a Mormon" edited by Joseph A. Cannon, which includes the he testimonies of 53 influential members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I had a little experience with churches. I felt that my mom was spiritual, but her experience was with an African religion. Before I went to boarding school, I went to a church just across the street from where we lived. I really only went so I could learn English better, but it did give me joy. I didn't know why, but it just felt good to be at a church and worship.

I met my first Mormon where I worked during the summer when I was 16.

Mormon Media Studies Symposium call for papers, panels, presenters

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:54:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Organizers of the Mormon Media Studies Symposium 2012 have issued a call for conference papers, panels and presentations for the event Nov. 8-9 at Brigham Young University. The symposium will focus on the interdisciplinary academic study of all aspects of Mormons and the media — including print, electronic, books, film, etc. — in the present as well as the past.

Book is fresh introduction to Mormonism

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:35:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

On one hand, Mormons have long been respected for their work ethic, integrity and family values. They have also been persecuted as polygamists and passed off as crazy religious fanatics with a strange history.

So with two Latter-day Saints running for president and the church receiving unprecedented cultural attention in a variety of arenas, Random House Publishing saw an opportunity.

'Biblical Poetics' panel divides audience at LDS Film Fest

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:32:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

“Divisive” is probably not a word most people would use to describe the LDS Film Festival.

Independently established in 2001 as a way to showcase the work of LDS filmmakers for appreciative audiences, the Orem-based festival has for obvious reasons never courted controversy like its more prestigious counterparts Sundance or Slamdance — all three of which run concurrently during Utah’s thriving festival season each January.

However, a panel discussion held last Saturday elicited a surprisingly hostile response from several of the audience members in attendance.

LDS Film Festival 2012: Day 4

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:14:00 -0700

source: motleyvision.org/ldscinema/

Notes from Day 4 of the 2012 LDS Film Festival:

Unicorn City
Written / Directed by: Adrian & Brian Lefler
Described as “Monty Python & The Holy Grail” meets “Napoleon Dynamite”, Unicorn City is a film made by gamer geeks for gamer geeks. However, even if the terms LARP, D&D, WOW, or MMORPG don’t mean anything to you, don’t let that scare you away — Unicorn City is creative, funny, and accessible to all, and easily my favorite film of the LDS Film Festival.

PG-13 films dominate Oscar nominations

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:54:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Hooray for values. Rated-R movies usually dominate the awards. For people who put weight into the Academy Awards, 2011 could very well go down in history as the Year of PG-13.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday its nominees for the 2012 Oscars.

Isaiah for Airheads by John Bytheway

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:47:00 -0700

source: plentyofpicnics.blogspot.com

Ouch - I know, the title is a killer. I mean it kills any interest I would have, but...

I've been wanting to dive into Isaiah and I need help. My father-in-law gave the book a GREAT recommendation - and my husband just told me to throw away the book cover - so I decided to swallow my pride and read it.

LDS author's novel 'Ender's Game' hitting big screen with big names

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:53:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Finally! And the cast lineup is awesome. Sci-fi fans are finally feeling optimistic about a project they've waited more than 20 years to see.

When "Ender's Game" hit bookshelves back in 1985, fans of the eventual series started asking themselves, "When are they going to make this into a movie?" Rumors of a film adaptation have circulated since then, and multiple attempts to get the project off the ground have collapsed, many of which included the book's author, Orson Scott Card, as screenwriter.

LDS Film Festival returning to Orem for its 11th year

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:40:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Can't wait to see what new LDS films come from the festival this year! The 11th LDS Film Festival will run Jan. 25-28 at the SCERA Center for the Arts.

The LDS Film Festival has screened hundreds of films since Austrian filmmaker Christian Vuissa founded it in 2001.

"It's not exclusively LDS, but we do want to have an emphasis and focus on films made by LDS filmmakers," Vuissa said.

10 notable films from LDS Film Festival

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:34:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

The 11th LDS Film Festival will be held at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem on Jan. 25-28.

More than 75 feature-length films have screened since the festival's inception in 2001. Some went on to box office success, some swept up awards at other film festivals, some were picked up by distributors and released on DVD and some quietly faded from public notice. Here is a list of 10 notable films (ordered by the year of screening) that have met with success since appearing at the LDS Film Festival.

Podcast: The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:22:00 -0700

source: fairblog.org

Brant Gardner is interviewed on KTKK Radio and on KSL Radio regarding his new book, The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon (available for purchase at the FAIR Bookstore) He talks about seer stones, the Spaulding manuscript, stylometrics, various theories on Book of Mormon translation and the Book of Mormon in the context of Mesoamerican culture.

Brant Gardner’s academic background includes work towards a Ph.D. in Mesoamerican Ethnohistory at the State University of New York, Albany. His published works on Mesoamerica include an analysis of classical Nahuatl kinship terminology, an ethnohistoric investigation into the identification of the use of Coxoh to designate a people and language in Southern Mexico, and an examination of the Aztec Legend of the Suns.

Unique Temple Square Mission featured on Mormon Times TV

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:17:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

As a newlywed, I volunteered as a hostess on Temple Square doing the “nail drop” demonstration, highlighting the amazing acoustics of the Tabernacle. It was a fun thing to do once a week, and I enjoyed meeting hundreds of tourists who came to see what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had to offer.

Now — some 30-years later — I’m back on Temple Square meeting myriad amazing young sister missionaries who serve there every day, all day. But their schedule is much more intense and varied — and their mission is unlike any other in the church.

BYU grads' award-nominated film 'River of Victory' features family's triumph over living conditions

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:20:00 -0700

source: MormonTimes.com

Through filming "River of Victory" about a family who lives near a garbage dump in Cambodia, two returned Mormon missionaries found that happiness isn't limited to a location.

“You can find happiness wherever you are,” noted Trevor Wright, director and producer of “River of Victory,” an International Documentary Association award-nominated documentary. “There are people everywhere and they are not defined by their circumstances.”

BYU's Daily Universe to become weekly newspaper

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:40:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: What a sad day! The Daily Universe is where I got my start as a journalist. The BYU Department of Communications announced major changes Thursday to its 57-year-old campus newspaper, the Daily Universe.

By semester’s end, it will only be printed weekly instead of five days a week.

“The Universe will continue to be a daily news organization and will post news digitally as it occurs, but the print edition will be published only one time a week, with special sections also occasionally produced,” Brad Rawlins, chairman of the communications department, said in an email sent to students and alumni.

I Am a Child of God printable

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:26:00 -0700

source: mormonmommyblogs.blogspot.com

You would like more LDS printables, yes?

We thought so.

Nauvoo Pageant core cast auditions

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:16:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Auditions for 20 core cast roles in the 2012 Nauvoo Pageant will be Jan. 18-19 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Brigham Young University in Provo and Jan. 20 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. and Jan. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bountiful Regional Center. Callbacks will be Jan. 27-28 in North Salt Lake.

There are 10 roles for men, nine for women and one for a young man available and adult ages range from 20s to 60s.