Mormon Life - Arts and Entertainment tag

Mormonism 101? Hatch plans book to explain his LDS religion

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:41:00 -0600

source: sltrib.com

Mormon Life says: Could be great publicity for the Church to have a veteran politician write such a book. Orrin Hatch apparently is poised to pen a “tell-all” book — all, that is, about the Mormonism he knows and loves.

Hatch — Utah's senior U.S. senator who faces a Republican primary rival next month and, if he prevails then, a Democratic foe in the fall in his bid for a seventh term — plans to take up the challenge of explaining his faith to outsiders in the new volume, An Insider's Guide to Mormon Beliefs.

Most popular teen book characters use most profanity, BYU study says

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:39:00 -0600

source: sltrib.com

Mormon Life says: Too bad. "Fair is foul and foul is fair" takes on a new meaning in books written for adolescents as the fairest characters take on the foulest language, according to a new study.

The study published in the May 18 edition of Mass Communication and Society revealed that most of the profanity in adolescent novels comes from the most-popular, wealthy and attractive characters.

Brigham Young University professor Sarah Coyne analyzed the top 40 novels on The New York Times best-seller list for teenagers from 2008.

Jerusalem in Utah: Inside look at Jerusalem movie set from Church's Bible videos

Wed, 23 May 2012 08:53:00 -0600

source: ldsmediatalk.com

Mormon Life says: LDS Media Talk took a tour (and some cool pictures) of the Church's Jerusalem reconstructed in Utah. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Jerusalem Movie Set, the newest addition to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ film production sets. The set is located about 70 miles south of Salt Lake City, literally in the middle of nowhere. It was built to be the new filming spot for The Life of Jesus Christ: Bible Videos, a gift from the First Presidency of the Church to the world.

The Church-owned farm was carefully chosen by Media Services Department producers and approved by the First Presidency to be the home of the remarkable movie set. Initially, the production team had considered filming locations as far as Morocco, but after extensive search, Goshen turned out to be the ideal spot for the production.

Tyler Castleton: The man behind the music

Wed, 23 May 2012 00:04:00 -0600

by Jillian Stafford - LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Songwriter, arranger, and producer Tyler Castleton has been creating the songs you love for years with big-name LDS musicians like Gladys Knight and Kurt Bestor. He’s stayed mostly hidden behind the curtain – until now.

You may not recognize the name Tyler Castleton, but odds are you’re familiar with Kenneth Cope, Gladys Knight, Kurt Bestor, and Jericho Road. Tyler Castleton has written songs and produced albums for the biggest names in LDS music—and now, he’s stepping into the spotlight himself.

Growing up in a musical family of seven boys, Castleton learned to play the piano classically at the young age of five. He learned both by reading music and playing by ear. Castleton wrote his first song for his high school graduation, calling it “a poem put to music.” He continued to write a little more on his mission, but it wasn’t until he enrolled in a songwriting class at Brigham Young University that he started to write seriously and consider a career in the music business.

He eventually studied media music at Brigham Young University. Through his education and passion for music, Castleton has been able to share his talents and fulfill his songwriting dream, as well as the dreams of artists who perform his songs, traveling to places like Los Angeles and Nashville to write music and learn from many different mentors.

In addition to writing and arranging music, Castleton is involved with many other projects that include acting as the Tour Director for the Forgotten Carols, and producing the BYU Women’s Conference Concert. He previously worked as the Director of Music at Deseret Book Company.

Hilary Weeks, whose album Every Step was the first LDS artist’s album to reach the top 10 on Billboard’s Christian Albums list, has worked closely with Castleton for years. Her recent hit “Beautiful Heartbreak” (see video below) was co-written with him. “He knows how to make a project the best it can possibly be--and he does it with dedication, commitment, and a lot of humor,” she said.

Castleton has a way of getting the very best from everyone he works with, Weeks said, and always gives his heart and soul to every project. “After years of working with Tyler, I trust and depend on his professionalism, but I am even more grateful for his kindness, sincerity, depth of character, and most of all, his friendship.”

Through songwriting, Castleton hopes to bring the spirit into his own life as well as the lives of others. He explains that the process of creating a song has two parts: “There’s a preparation side and there’s an inspiration side. . . . Once the two of those meet, then I think magical things can really happen.” Like his lyrics from Kenneth Cope's popular song "I Will Not Be Still" say, “How can I keep this gift to myself, when I can lift somebody else?” (click here to listen to the song).

Castleton sees his music gives as an opportunity to share messages about the things that mean the most to him. Now, he’s doing that in a new album titled When I Can’t Speak: The Music of Tyler Castleton.

This album contains 17 tracks that were written and produced by Castleton and pulls him out from behind the scenes and into the spotlight. The songs on the album, which released May 14th, were hand selected by Castleton and are some of his most personal and most requested. Each of them has a special place in his heart and illustrates his reason for writing. He describes the album as a “celebration of songs,” because it represents the work of so many people.

“This album is as much everyone else’s as it is mine,” Castleton said. “I feel so grateful and so blessed to have been able to work with so many talented people.”

For more information about Castleton’s new album, click here.

LDS comedians keep it cool while keeping it clean

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by Briana Stewart - LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: In 2012, comedy is filled with four-letter words and smutty jokes more often than not. But plenty of comedians are finding success away from the dirt.

Stand-up comedy that’s a stand-up act? In this 2012 comedic world of shock and smut, there are, indeed, living, breathing comedians cleaning house on the laugh track to success. You know the big-timers: Brian Regan, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Bill Cosby. But what if we told you that dozens of LDS folks are bringing the funny to the fold and to the masses?

And we’re not talking “a guy walks into a (juice) bar” funny. We’re talking comedians inspired by their faith to be cleaner and cleverer than they have to be. All of these comics are in different stages of their careers, have different styles, and have different comedy dreams. But they all share one passion: Make ‘em laugh.

LDS Living caught up with a handful of these LDS comedians who are making their mark in the comedy world. Read on to find out what it’s like to balance comedy and religion, what comics are really like when they’re off stage, and what advice they have for aspiring comedians who want to be both funny and faithful.

A Peculiar People

LDS comedians—like all comedians—are hardly cut from the same cloth.

Jason Hewlett grew up making his lips dance. Lisa Valentine Clark worked overtime to make her siblings laugh. Stephen Jones was the charming class clown who never got in trouble. And Steve Soelberg was the non-comedian.

“I’m not the loud guy from high school, I’m not the awkward Woody Allen guy, I’m neither too tall, short, fat, or thin. Oh, and I’m white and nice,” Soelberg says. “It really is a horrible combination for a person trying to get known in this industry.”

But that’s exactly it: When it comes to comedy, there is no “type.” There’s talent, originality, desire, and a ridiculous amount of determination.

“The fun and infuriating thing about stand-up is that it is very up and down,” says Jenna Kim Jones, a script production assistant for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and a part-time stand-up comedian. “Some days, I’m on top of the world—my career can’t be stopped! And some days I feel like I am going absolutely nowhere. It’s the occasional highlights (like opening for Jim Gaffigan in 2010) that keep me in the business.”

Even if there isn’t a mold, there is a common code among these LDS entertainers: keep it clean.

But it’s a punch line easier said than delivered.

Funny vs. Faith

Hewlett knows big. He’s got a big mouth (his observation, not ours) with which he crafts funny faces and belts impressions.

He’s had a big career, performing for more than one million people around the globe. And he’s got a big testimony of staying grounded to his faith, even when presented with morally questionable offers that would have made him even bigger.

“[When I turned down offers,] many said I missed a great opportunity to influence millions in the name of the Church,” Hewlett says. “But I’d rather keep my standards I know to be true and leave a legacy of faithfulness for my children than possibly lose my chance at spending eternity with them because I was willing to dip my toe in the waters of compromise.”

For Bryson Kearl, a performer with The Left Field Comedy Stand Up in Utah, faith has kept him on his comedy toes.

“Being LDS has kept me focused on writing legitimately funny things—not just taboo topics that get a rise out of people,” he says. “Also, it’s easier to tell jokes you know your mom won’t be ashamed of.”

And Heath Harmison, a comedian from Boise, Idaho, says writing clean material has made him a better comic—and a happier dad.

“There’s something so satisfying about being able to perform in front of my kids and not worry,” he says. “I actually pray about my material and ask for guidance in creating content that is both enjoyable and appropriate.”

Which is not to say it’s always been a barrel of laughs.

“I don’t pretend like I’m this perfect person,” Harmison says. “It hasn’t always been easy to reconcile these two worlds. I’ve struggled and I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve learned from them and tried to change.”

This crossroads is a common one for LDS comedians. Not only is there a temptation for low-brow comedy, there’s an enormous amount of travel and alone time (which doesn’t always lend itself to raising a family), and compensation is decidedly meager when you’re starting out. Plus, there’s the potential for ego inflation.

“You feel like a rock star up on stage,” Harmison says. “And that mentality can go straight to your head.”

But all these LDS comedians concur: A foundation of values is imperative to keeping yourself in check when the laughs get loud and the lines get blurry.

Joke’s on Us

So what’s it really like to be a comedian? Let us count the stereotypes . . .

1. Are all comedians weird and quirky?

Nope. In fact, Clark cringes when she hears the word comedienne.

“It brings images of a loud woman with a frizzy perm wearing a bolo tie in front of a fake brick wall complaining about men and childbirth,” she says.

The mother of five and co-founder of the improv group The Thrillionaires would rather be known as an actress who doesn’t take herself too seriously.

“I just observe what I see and I love to people watch,” she says. “Real life is funny.”

2. Are comics always hilarious?

Not so much.

“People always come up to my wife and say, ‘I bet it’s crazy living with this guy!’” says Stephen Jones, star of the viral BYU Old Spice-inspired commercial as well as a member of The Left Field. “They think I’m always at my house tap dancing on the table.”

“I am on when I need to be,” Hewlett adds, “but I can’t keep that up. I am always happy, always smiling, always friendly, but not always on. I used to feel everyone expected me to do the show off stage, too. I tried to accommodate. Then I got burned out. Now I wiggle my nose when they ‘tell’ me to do it (they don’t always ask politely), and then I refer them to YouTube.”

3. Is performing comedy really as fun as it seems?

That’s a yes.

“Besides my wife, kids, and the gospel, nothing feels better than getting on stage and making someone laugh so hard they snort or pee their pants,” says Harmison, whose career highlight was performing at a comedy festival in Scotland. “Both have happened at my shows. I’m still waiting to make a woman laugh so hard she goes into labor. That’s a goal.”

“It’s incredible to think people will pay me to do the things that landed me in the principal’s office as a boy,” Hewlett adds.

As for Soelberg? He’s partial to the undeniable connection humor instantly creates.

“Humor connects people so quickly, almost as fast as music,” says Soelberg, who has been doing stand-up part time for four years. “Think of how loved President Hinckley was and how one of the first traits people will always remember was his sense of humor. It is a quick human connection that is so important to every relationship in our life.”

Come One, Come All

Clean comedy isn’t just for Mormons. When you’re funny enough, a good clean time can be had by all.

“Funny is funny,” Stephen Jones says. True comedy success comes down to originality—and deciding what type of comic you’re going to be. Do you want your comedy to be a part-time or full-time gig? Is LDS-centric comedy your thing? Or do you want to appeal to all audiences while maintaining your morals?

The laughter’s the limit.

“Yes, it’s difficult, and yes, it’s challenging, but even more than that, yes, it’s possible to be a huge success by keeping it clean,” Hewlett says. “People all over the world love clean comedy, want it, appreciate it, and pay a lot for it. I have made my hallmark that of being clean, and I receive incredible compensation for it. In other words, I call it my chance to pay a bigger tithe.”

Top LDS writers honored at 5th annual Whitney Awards

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:07:00 -0600

by Brooke Ward - LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Last weekend, the Whitney Awards honored the top authors in LDS fiction. Take a look to see who won (and find out what books to add to your reading list).

Veterans and rookies of the world of LDS fiction gathered together in Provo, Utah, on May 5, as the best works of 2011 were honored at the 5th Annual Whitney Awards. The awards—named for writer, poet and apostle Orson F. Whitney—recognized novels in seven categories, as well as the lifetime achievements of genre pioneers Jack Weyland and Douglas Thayer.

Deseret Book’s Rachel Ann Nunes was presented the first award of the evening in the category of General Fiction for her tender novel Before I Say Goodbye. A seasoned author with more than 30 books to her credit, Nunes has had her work recognized in others spheres, but said the Whitneys have a special significance, because it is a brainchild of LDStorymakers, the nonprofit writers guild she founded in 2002.

“This is great . . . I’m stunned,” Nunes said after making the trip to the podium to collect her first Whitney. “I’ve been writing for a very long time, and this is my fourth time being a finalist so I’ve come to expect to go home empty-handed.”

Fellow Deseret Book author Gale Sears also left with more than she came with, picking up the Whitney for Historical Fiction for her novel Letters in the Jade Dragon Box.

“I love what I do,” Sears told the audience, offering a heartfelt “well done” to the other winners, nominees, and all others who write in any form. “It’s truly a blessing to be able to do what we do as authors. I love to be able to do research, and I know that sounds kind of dorky, but it is so rewarding to dig into the past and unearth those gems.”

Newcomer Tess Hilmo uncovered treasures of her own with her first published novel, With a Name Like Love: a pair of Whitneys for General Youth Fiction and Best Novel by a New Author.

“This is such a blessing, shock and joy,” Hilmo said, adding that her nine-year journey to publication sometimes left her wondering if the ball would ever really start rolling for her.

“Sometimes when I write, I think about E.B. White and how he said writing is an act of faith,” Hilmo said. “We write initially with the hope that we’ll finish, then we need to have faith that the words on the page will reflect the story in our hearts; and finally that someone somewhere will connect with it somehow.”

Veteran author Stephanie Black, who won her fourth consecutive Mystery/Suspense Whitney for Rearview Mirror, has been blessed to have readers connect with her writing over and over again.

“I was really not expecting this,” Black said, after having predicted an end to her winning streak over dinner. “The competition was incredibly fierce this year, and it’s humbling to be numbered among them.”

Like Black, other familiar names accounted for the balance of the winners: Carla Kelly, taking the Romance category with Borrowed Light; Brandon Sanderson, coming out on top in Speculative Fiction with his latest Mistborn novel, The Alloy of Law; and Whitney Awards creator Robison Wells, who edged out the other nominees in the highly competitive Speculative Youth Fiction category with Variant. His brother Dan Wells also had reason to celebrate, picking up his third Whitney for Novel of the Year for his book I Don’t Want to Kill You.

Jack Weyland, despite his own successes, including Charly and 24 other best-selling books, said he was humbled to be among the evening’s honorees. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in the company of so many talented, wonderful people,” he said, adding that he felt particularly moved by the sense of joint effort and the potential that writers with faith in Jesus Christ have to affect change.

Weyland and Douglas Thayer, both greeted with a standing ovation, were awarded the Outstanding Achievement and Lifetime Achievement Awards, respectively.

“These men are not just pioneers, but also visionaries who have made a lifetime commitment to literature,” said Whitney Awards committee president Josi Kilpack, who later added that it was the first time that all award recipients were in attendance at the ceremony.

“This is the pinnacle of our year, and we are blessed to be able to honor the time and dedication that has gone into the creations of these authors,” Kilpack said.

To learn more about the Whitney Awards, visit whitneyawards.com.

Just Asking: Interview with Artist Liz Lemon Swindle

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:03:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Liz Lemon Swindle has become famous for her paintings of religious subjects – particularly those of Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith. LDS Living recently caught up with her for the inside scoop on an artistic life.

What was it like trying to raise a family while creating your art at the same time?

It was difficult. Every day was a juggling act to balance two things I loved dearly. In the end I couldn’t give up either one so I gave up sleep instead.

How does your husband fit into the popularity and fame your art has garnered?

He is the quintessential Hyrum Smith. He is an amazing man and accomplished in his own right, but he is comfortable being my support with no thought for himself. He isn’t threatened by any of it and that makes it wonderful to be together and experience this life as friends.

In 2007, you were able to work with Mothers Without Borders to create paintings of Christ. What was your most memorable experience?

My most memorable experience came from a little boy named Kennedy who, at 3 years old, had lost both of his parents to AIDS. Mothers Without Borders found him living alone with his 6-year-old brother and 10-year-old sister. When I thought of those three children struggling to survive and the millions of others across Africa in similar circumstances, I felt an overwhelming hopelessness and said to myself, “No amount of money can fix this.”

Later that day while we were filming, Kennedy climbed into the arms of the man portraying the Savior. As I stood watching them, Kennedy turned toward me and our eyes met. At that moment, I knew it wasn’t hopeless. I realized that the Savior could fix not only the problems of Africa but of the whole world . . . and we can be His hands to do it.

What was the hardest part of learning how to paint Christ?

Accepting that not everyone likes what I paint. In the beginning, I thought that because I felt moved while creating the images that everyone would receive it with that spirit. I now see that is why there are so many artists in the Lord’s work—so there is something for everyone.

How does the fact that you’re a Mormon affect the public’s perception of your art?

It is no different for me than for anyone else who’s Mormon. There will always be people whose prejudice convinces them that Mormons are not Christians, but I think more and more people are seeing that idea for what it is: nonsense.

Where and how do you get inspiration for your art?

I draw tremendous inspiration from reading the scriptures and finding stories that touch me. Looking at other artists’ works is another source of inspiration, and hearing from others who like the work gives me a “shot in the arm.” I get calls or emails where someone says something like, “I just read this and I had to share it with you.”

From conception of an idea to the last brush stroke on canvas, about how long does it typically take you to finish a painting?

I suppose that depends on the size of the painting and where I am in my personal life. Some paintings come together in matter of weeks while others have taken me years. The one I am working on now of the Woman at the Well will be three months from start to finish.

Some of your latest artwork modernizes parables from the New Testament. What is the message you most want your viewers to get from these paintings?

I realized a couple years ago that after the Savior’s atonement, the most important gift He gave us was His teachings. By showing each parable in a modern setting, I am reminding myself that His teachings are not ancient stories for another time but rather a roadmap to happiness for me today.

What other hobbies do you enjoy outside of your art?

As I get older I find that being with my family and especially my grandchildren is my favorite thing to do. I also like to garden. (That makes me sound like an old woman, doesn’t it?)

What’s something few people know about you?

I have a weakness for Hostess Snowballs.

If you could meet any artist who has ever lived, who would it be and why?

Eugene Bernand. His art speaks to me. Can I choose a second? Norman Rockwell because he painted life in a way that still inspires me to enjoy every moment.

To see what Liz is working on right now or view any of her images, go to lizlemonswindle.com or like her on Facebook.

The Piano Guys - Bourne Vivaldi

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:34:00 -0600

source: youtube.com

Mormon Life says: This is AWESOME.

LDS author nominated for prestigious science fiction award

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:48:00 -0600

by Alexa Justesen - LDS Living
source: ldsliving.com

Mormon Life says: Nancy Fulda has been nominated for a Nebula Award for her story about one autistic girl's experiences in the future. Inspired by her own autistic son's point of view, Fulda crafted a unique perspective on time in "Movement: A Short Story about Autism in the Future."

You may not have ever heard of the Nebula Awards, but you probably have heard of the Oscars.

The Nebula Awards are pretty much the same thing, but for science fiction writers instead of movie stars. And BYU alumna Nancy Fulda has been nominated for one. Her piece, “Movement: A Short Story about Autism in the Future,” tells the story of Hannah, a highly gifted teenager who is unable to communicate verbally. When her parents look in to a life-changing treatment, Hannah’s life is turned upside down.

Fulda, whose son is autistic, says that “Movement” was inspired by working with his unique abilities.

"‘Movement’ grew out of my efforts to comprehend a mental architecture that was utterly foreign to me, and from my son’s tender and diligent attempts to do the same,” she says. “The experience of trying to think differently, and of learning to respect my son's interpretation of the world as valid, enabled me to find a literary voice for Hannah and for her unique perception of time.”

However, using autism as a character trait wasn’t a conscious decision, it was just something she can relate to. “I was playing around with ideas about time and needed a focal point. Somewhere during the third or fourth revision, I realized that I needed a very unusual protagonist to discuss these ideas. I needed someone who doesn't see the world the same way most people do. Autism was on my mind at the time, so it was perhaps inevitable that the fictional condition I created for Hannah looks and feels very much like autism.”

As a member of the Church, Fulda says it’s easy for her faith to reflect in her writing. “It's my personal belief that authors can't help injecting their world view into their work," she said. "It's a subconscious process. We write what we see, we write what we experience; how can we not also write what we believe?”

She even includes gospel themes such as agency and eternal progression in her story, although the reader will have to pay attention. “More than anything else, Hannah desires to fill the measure of her potential, and find joy.”

Because being nominated for a Nebula Award is such an honor, Fulda was thrilled when she found out. It was totally unexpected, though, since the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America traditionally notifies Nebula finalists personally, and though the announcement of this year's nominees was approaching, she hadn't received a phone call.

“Imagine my joy when I got home from my son's karate class and found an answering machine message from my dear friend, telling me that ‘Movement’ had been nominated for the category of Best Short Story," she said. "I tend to bounce through the house, quite literally, whenever something good happens with my writing. In this case, I believe I bounced for a solid hour!”

Fulda has won various science fiction awards in the past, including the Phobos Award, the Vera Hinckley Mayhew Award and the Jim Baen Memorial Award. However, she isn’t stopping there. “Well, a Hugo nomination would be a nice addition to the collection. The Nebula and Hugo Awards are the two major milestones for science fiction and fantasy, roughly equivalent to the Oscars for film. Someday I'd also love to be nominated for a Whitney Award, but since they don't have a short fiction category, I guess I'll have to write a few novels first!”

The 47th Annual Nebula Awards will take place in Arlington, VA, May 17-20, and is put on by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. To read “Movement,” check out nancyfulda.com.

{A&E} Poll: What's Your Favorite Musical?

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:03:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Vote in our poll for your favorite musicals, or tell us if we're missing any!

LDS Broadway star Sandra Turley released her debut album, Sandra Turley: On Broadway, this week. Featuring songs like "Popular," "The Sound of Music," and "Les Miserables Medley" and a sound straight from the stage, the album is sure to please any listener who is a fan of musicals.

“The melodies in this album tell tales of their own," Turley says, "but coupled with masterful lyrics and poetic imagery, these songs become stories that can capture our hearts."

So, what songs and stories have captured your heart? The release of Turley's album got us thinking about some of our favorites, but what are yours? Take our poll below to find out.

You can also visit our Facebook page to enter to win one of five copies of the new album or click here to get more product details.

Just Asking: Interview with Movie Star Jon Heder

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Known for his breakout role in Napolean Dynomite, Jon Heder continues to find roles in comedic films, but manages to stay true to his Mormon values. LDS Living recently caught up with him.

You’ve played characters with a wide variety of talents including dancing, ice skating, and street magic. What skill was the most fun to learn for a role?

I’d say ice-skating was definitely the most fun I had preparing for a role. I actually broke my ankle a few weeks into training, but after some rescheduling I was still given enough time to heal and train for a month or so before filming the skating routines. I had skated only a few times growing up, so it was pretty new to me, but I took to it pretty quickly and truly enjoyed it. The only problem is, it’s not the easiest pastime sport to keep up and practice at. You need an ice rink, and once you find one you have to share it with all these other strangers who are way better than you and you get a little self-conscious around when you try to get your freestyle-groove on.

What steps do you take while deciding how to portray a character?

Well, I read the script a few times to try and really understand the character first. I talk with the director and/or writer and discuss their vision of the character in terms of the character’s life experience, past relationships, attributes, goals, etc. I then take those aspects and mix them with my own attributes and point-of-view, and try to come up with a character whose shoes I understand and can fit into. Its also very physical to me. How the character walks and talks and moves and runs…all that stuff is very important to me in creating a character.

How does being a father influence the roles you choose to take?

Being a father is a just a small part of everything that influences my decisions regarding my roles. Being a son, a husband, a father, a brother, a church member, a Scoutmaster, etc…everything I am influences my choices. Every job I take, I think about how it will affect my abilities to fulfill the duties required by each of these roles in my life.

What has been your favorite role thus far?

I think its expected, but Napoleon Dynamite has still been my favorite role and movie to be in. It was my first film, an absolute labor of love made with a lot of my college buddies who weren’t making it by Hollywood standards, and the world we created was and still is just so funny and endearing to me. I love those characters so much, and they are so similar to the environment I was raised in. Way before it ever broke out in popularity, we (everybody involved in the making of the film) KNEW this was a funny world with funny people. But I had no idea if it would ever see the light of day. I just cared about having a copy of it on DVD for myself so that I could show it to friends and family.

Napoleon Dynamite struggled to fit in in high school. What were you like in high school?

Almost the same. I certainly wasn’t smooth with the ladies, and I only hung out with my brother and a few other friends on weekends making videos and exploring forests instead of going to the football games and parties. But at least I was aware of how awkward I was, unlike Napoleon.

You have an identical twin. Have you ever tried to switch lives?

Maybe not lives. But classrooms, yes. In 6th grade we switched class for an entire day. His teacher was in on it, but my teacher was an older lady who was a little “off.” But we paid the price because my teacher gave the kids a quiz which my brother obviously wasn’t prepared for. But what did it matter to him? It was my records the poor scores were put onto.

What projects do you have in the works right now? Are you planning on doing another movie soon?

Well, I keep getting asked if I’m doing a Napoleon Dynamite 2…unfortunately no, but we ARE doing a Napoleon Dynamite animated series for Fox that premieres Jan. 8th, 2012. And we have the entire original cast doing the voices. I’m extremely proud of it and can’t wait to see how it turns out.

What are your favorite movies? What's funny to you?

Hmmm . . . I think I’m more like Napoleon here. I love fantasy and sci-fi, tragic humor, poignant comedies, Pixar, zombies, creepy alien abduction films, Japanese anime and samurai films, and lots and lots of stuff.

You studied animation in college, and you’ve provided the voice for several animated characters. Did you intend to end up in front of the camera or do you miss working in animation?

I do miss working in animation. I really loved the creative process and bringing characters to life. But acting is also bringing characters to life. I acted more as a hobby, but when that took off I really fell in love with it. However, I plan on getting behind the camera more in my career and hope to produce and direct more projects in the future, both animated and live-action. While still acting as long as I can.

Do you ever find your values as a member in conflict with aspects of your career? How do you reconcile them?

I definitely try to direct my career down a path that won’t conflict with my values, and it can be very hard sometimes, especially when it limits your options and field of comfort, but the values and standards that I try to live by have been a part of my life since I was born, and I believe I will always receive blessings as long as I stick to my guns.

What is it like as a celebrity trying to raise your family? Are there difficult aspects of being famous? How do you deal with them?

It doesn’t really affect how I raise my family. My kids really have no idea what’s going on yet, so they’re not bothered by it. In fact, they like jumping in the middle of a fan picture. I guess when I’m at Disneyland, I get approached a lot and that keeps my kids from getting on the Dumbo ride all the sooner, so I suppose that affects my family experience, right?

Who do you consider your hero?

My father, my wife, my church leaders, and my mission president.

How often do people ask you to do the Napoleon dance? Can you still do it?

All the time. And “can I still do it,” really isn’t the right question. I never learned it. It was all spur of the moment, made-up right there on the stage…lightning doesn’t strike twice!

Kid History Episode 8: Road Trippin'

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:42:00 -0600

source: youtube.com

Mormon Life says: Ha! Love how perfectly they match lip syncing and facial expressions with what the kids say. The end is awesome.

Another humorous skit from the LDS family who makes kid history.

Mercy River - "Beautiful Life" Music Video

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:00:00 -0600

source: youtube.com

{A&E} Divine Digitization: LDS E-books

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by Emily McClure
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Did you know that e-books aren't just for people who can't fit real books into their luggage? They're also a way for rare and out-of-print books to be made more available - and thanks to tireless work by some LDS scholars, some significant out-of-print books are now available to the general public.

I remember when I first learned about the joy of e-books. Up until the year 2009, I’d been only slightly interested in any form of digitized book; I loved being able to drive or work out while listening to a book on CD or iPod, but I was staunchly against e-books or Kindle versions of my favorites. To me, the feel of a book, its smell, the way I could watch my reading progress as I read page by page, was more important than keeping up technologically.

Then, in that fateful year, I started working at a library (perfect for me because I was surrounded by print books). As a library aide, when I was waiting at the desk for a confused patron to notice me, I wasn’t allowed to do anything that would distract my attention from patrons—no Facebook, no homework, no reading. All we were allowed to do was read an eBook or peruse the library databases. And that’s when I discovered the power of the e-book. I suddenly had hours of reading available to me whenever work was slow. And then I realized that, if I didn’t have room for a favorite book in my bookbag, I could also just connect to an e-book online without overstuffing my bag. Needless to say, I have continued my exploration of the digital literary world.

I recently discovered that the e-book isn’t just a poster child for the future of literature, nor is it just for those who can’t fit a print version of a book in their luggage. The e-book is also an invaluable method of preserving old books and making them available to more than just trained specialists. It’s almost like a form of family history, preserving the works of those revered authors whose books can’t hold up under non-digital strain.

BYU Studies recently came out with an e-books section on their website (click here to see it). Thanks to Deseret Book’s new e-reader app, Bookshelf, BYU is able to make certain titles accessible to thousands more people. So far, the section includes 21 books, many of which are out of print but are still popular. An example is Revelations on the Priesthood, a book which contains information on the priesthood from authors such as Edward L. Kimball, Ronald K. Esplin, and Marcus H. Martins (if you don’t know who these men are, it’s because this book is out of print). Despite its unavailability in the print world, Revelations on the Priesthood is still a very popular lesson supplement for a Relief Society or Sunday school class. A few of the books are compilations of useful articles on popular topics. One of the best-sellers in the section is Doctrines in the Book of Mormon: Articles from BYU Studies. The book includes over fifty years of doctrine published by BYU Studies and is not available in print form.

And if you’re not in the BYU Studies program, all these titles and more can be found at the source: Deseret Bookshelf. The Bookshelf app is free to download, and even better, first-time users automatically receive eight free e-book downloads (including Jesus the Christ and The Miracle of Forgiveness--click here to see the rest). Hundreds of other Church-related e-books are available for download.

Equally exciting is that you can download the scriptures to your phone. Don’t have room for your quad amongst the bag of cheerios and lesson manuals? Just use your downloaded scriptures! Forgot to bring your scriptures to church? Easy, they’ve already been downloaded! Aside from the fact that you can access your e-books via your smart phone (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android) at any place or time, you can also adjust font size, highlight or bookmark certain sections or pages, and conduct searches for key terms. It’s even difficult for me, a recent tourist of the digital continent, to see a downside to this kind of technology.

So, is the digital age worth looking into? Definitely . . . maybe. I think what I’ve discovered is that digital literature cuts out a lot of limitations that society has had up until about twenty years ago. If I want to find an article about priesthood responsibilities that was written in 1937, I don’t have to hunt down the original print version; I can just find it online. If I want to read six of my favorite books at the beach, I don’t have to load up a duffle bag, I can just download them on a Kindle.

Wait. No, I really haven’t been sold on Kindles yet. By the time I get around to liking Kindles, there’ll probably be something better to buy anyway.

{A&E} Listen to This: The New Flow of Mercy River

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:52:00 -0700

by Emily McClure
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: The female trio Mercy River is taking things in a different direction with their most recent album, and we think it's a direction you'll enjoy.

Remember when Gladys Knight, the lead singer of rhythm and blues band The Pips, added LDS inspirational hymns to her already large repertoire of music genres? I think I am not alone in saying that, at the time, I wondered how Knight fans would feel when their favorite R&B singer began to work with contemporary Christian material. Was it possible the same singer that won a Grammy for “Midnight Train to Georgia” in 1974 could be the same singer that crooned “I Am a Child of God” in 2005? Obviously, my doubts were not only proven groundless, they were also completely obliterated—Knight has gone on to have great success with her latest musical genre, and she is a favorite performer with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

My point is that some bands/singers can change their established material or tone, and they can do so with great results. Such is the case with up-and-comer band Mercy River, the group comprised of all-mom singers Brooke Stone, Whitney Permann, and Soni Muller. The band’s first two albums, Mercy River and Beautiful Dawn, offered inspirational music with a Celtic tone, and they were wildly popular with the Mormon community and at events such as Time Out for Women. Nevertheless, the band has decided to take its music in a different direction with its newest album, Higher. Instead of evolving to inspirational jazz, however, Mercy River is trying out a sort of pop-country sound (think Hilary Weeks), and it’s really working well.

One of my favorite songs on the new album is “With Him I Can.” The song is greatly reminiscent of Vanessa Carlton’s style but with a message about finding hope and trust in God. The whole album is uplifting in a sometimes fun, upbeat way, and sometimes in a soothing, “Be Still My Soul” sort of way. There’s definitely something for everyone in this album, whether you’re a pop music devotee or an avid fan of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Higher, which hits stores February 29, features three original songs as well as eight new takes on old favorites. Fans of Mercy River will find this latest venture to be as uplifting, upbeat, and endearing as the band’s first two albums.

Mormon musician finds faith on path to fame

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:05:00 -0700

by Mandy Slack - LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Amy Gerhartz was baptized in high school, but it wasn't until she became a full-time musician that she really realized she wanted God to have control of her life.

Amy Gerhartz isn’t really a new artist—you just haven’t heard of her yet. Back in 2006, a blogger claimed that Amy Gerthartz was a gem who was “making everyone in NYC feel stupid for not having heard of her earlier.” Gerhartz’s music has been described as everything from country to rock to soul, but to herself, she’s just a singer/songwriter without the limits imposed by a specific genre. “I really like the term singer/songwriter because of the fact that it allows me to be able to touch on a bunch of different categories. I love writing all different types of music,” Gerhartz says. “If I wrote the same thing every day, I’d drive myself crazy.”

In high school, Gerhartz started writing her own music and was also baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In time, she became more serious about music, making the daring decision to pursue a career as a solo artist. As the years passed, she became less active in the Church, but her music career grew to the point that she could quit her day job to become a full-time musician. More and more musical doors started opening, and that led to some personal reevaluation.

“I ended up sitting down and thinking about all these great things that were happening with my career,”says Gerhartz. “I’d signed on with a new manager and I had all these opportunities coming up. Life was really starting to look up and I kind of sat back and looked at myself and I thought, ‘Okay, what do I want for me in my personal life? Where do I want to be down the road?’”

At this point, Gerhartz made the decision to start letting God have more control. “I do believe it’s good to try to get direction from God and from someone other than yourself, but you can only take that so far,” she says. “It’s not just, ‘Hey, I’m going to let God do everything for me.’”

As she continues to become more well-known in the music industry, Gerhartz recognizes that she’s been blessed with opportunities that will give her career a boost, but she’s willing to do the work it takes to become even more successful. “Ever since I’ve put a conscious effort into thinking about what I believe in,” Gerhartz says, “life has been great. So many opportunities have been coming forward.”

Gerhartz knows from firsthand experience that change can be hard, but some sound advice from her bishop has kept her on track. “He said, ‘Nobody’s perfect. We’re not expected to be perfect. The idea is not to be great at everything. It’s about making the daily changes; it’s about making the effort every day to try to be a little bit better.’ I don’t have to be perfect all the time. Even if I do just one thing every day to try to be a little better, that’s good.”

While Gerhartz acknowledges she isn’t perfect, she was good enough to be chosen to be in the top ten of an online music contest taking place on playpromedia.com, a website teaming up with Sony music to find new talent. “It’s a great opportunity because it opens up a lot of doors for me as a songwriter,” Gerhartz says. “It’s so strange how you start getting your life back on track and everything starts coming in.”

As the opportunities flow in and her career grows in ways she’d only hoped for previously, Gerhartz keeps herself stable on a foundation of faith—in God, but also in herself.

“It’s not an easy road to chase after something you believe in,” Gerhartz says, “but if you have faith in yourself, you’ll be able to do it.”

You can check out Gerhartz’s music at amygerhartz.com or vote for her at playpromedia.com.

Church announces video contest for members as part of new initiative

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:04:00 -0700

by Alexa Justesen - LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We all know how talented some Church members are in photography, video, original music, and the written word (just check out the other story we're running today for an example). Now the Church is asking for them to share their talents as part of the initiative Create - and they're hoping it can help share the gospel message.

Ever watched a Mormon Messages video and thought, “Hey, I can create something like that,” or seen a photo of the Hong Kong temple and said to yourself, “I live near that temple and I can take a great photo of it, too”? Well, you’re in luck, because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wants to see, and utilize, your talent.

Create, launched in May 2011, is one of the Church’s newest ventures to find talented members around the globe and incorporate their work to help further the gospel. Photos, videos, music and radio content are just a few of the mediums the Church is looking for, with writing and design coming soon.

“There is a great need for photos, music and videos to fulfill the many media projects the Church is undertaking,” said Anthony Park, associate producer for the Church’s Media Services Department. “Involving members from around the world gives them a chance to participate as well as fill that need for media content. Our members have great talent, and they can contribute photos and video content from their parts of the world. This shows that we are a global, worldwide Church.”

Currently the site is hosting a video contest from January 30 through February 20. Members are encouraged to make a short, 20-60 second video introducing the purpose of Create. Contest submissions have creative leeway. Entrants can use people, music, text, or anything else they would like in their video, as long as it successfully explains the theme of Create.

The winning video will be posted on Create’s homepage, and the maker of the video will receive the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square’s CD Heavensong. Up to five finalists will also be posted on a page on Create.

So why did the Church decide to open this contest up to members, rather than creating a video themselves? Said Park, “Utilizing the members and their creativity is a resource the Church has never tried before. By opening this contest to members, it allows them to feel a part of this growing media society, and also a part of the Church . . . we’re hoping to launch more contests using all the mediums to give members an opportunity to participate.”

And when he said all mediums, he meant it. The site already has calls for several types of media, and it is continuing to expand.

Photography. As far as photos go, Park said they are looking for professional-quality photos that can be posted on Church websites, in magazines, and in manuals for the purpose of spreading the gospel. This means that photos of families participating in Family Home Evening, temples, or regular, daily occurrences are encouraged. “Our designers have been surprised at the quality of photos our members have contributed, and they have started to use these photos more and more,” he said. A list of specific needs can be found on the Create page.

Video. Video submissions can allow for a bit more creativity, as long as they remain high-quality. “If members have the talent to create their own Mormon Message we welcome that. We would also like to receive very short videos of people bearing their testimonies or teaching a gospel principle,” said Park. These videos can be a wonderful visual way to share the teachings of the gospel with others, and like the photos, will appear on Church websites.

Compositions. Professional-grade original music and arrangements of public domain hymns and children’s songs will be used wherever the Church has a need for beautiful music. Create is accepting instrumental compositions, original songs, and even music performed by choirs or singing groups. A list of public domain hymns can be found on the Create page.

Written word. While not yet ready, the Church will soon call for original essays, scripts and even news stories from members around the world. “In some areas of the world it’s hard for us to get news,” said Park. “If we have members who want to write about something that happened and take a few photos, it helps the Church spread the word about something going on in a different continent.”

The Church hopes that Create will remind its members that everyone, from California to Siberia, is a part of this Church. Its influence spreads everywhere, and by helping to produce good, clean, positive media, the gospel will reach even farther.

“This is a consecration effort,” Park said. “It’s a way for members to contribute the talents that they have and help further the gospel efforts around the world. Everything is going online, whether it be books, photos, or videos, even sharing the gospel. Members getting online to share their talents is the main purpose of Create.”

For more information about the contest and how you can submit your work, visit create.lds.org or visit Create’s Facebook page, titled Create LDS Media.

{A&E} Secrets, Marriage, & Technology

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:32:00 -0700

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: My stake has recently seen a slew of disciplinary counsels that all started with technology. It's alarming, and it's got me thinking: what's the best way to avoid these things with an unavoidable reality like technology?

My stake was recently given a very serious and reprimanding Sunday School lesson by our stake presidency, and rightfully so. In the past two months, there have been eight disciplinary counsels in my stake. Eight! Yikes. Of course details weren't given, but we were warned that most of the problems began with the same thing: technology.

What started as innocent socializing became the downfall of these members. Men and women became friends with old flames on social media, they began texting neighbors of the opposite sex, and they casually e-mailed other ward members. But these innocent acts quickly escalated, and everything went downhill.

Obviously, technology and media are not bad things (after all, we have a great piece also running today on sharing the gospel through technology, not to mention I'm an online editor and practically live on the computer and my cell phone), but I think the solution to this problem is transparency. I personally believe married couples should have a shared knowledge of all computer, cell phone, and social media accounts and passwords. Of course I don't think I need to notify my husband every time I message someone of the opposite sex; that would be ridiculous. But I do think that if he wanted to read what I was writing, he should have full access to that, no questions asked. Basically, no secret interactions should ever be taking place.

Is this thinking too extreme? I just think it’s really sad that these are good people in my stake who thought something like this could never happen to them. But it did. And it’s scary to think it could happen to you or me, too.

(On a lighter note, I have to give my husband my passwords because I can never remember which ones are for which accounts! If it weren’t for him, I honestly would never be able to login to my iTunes account. Why does that one always escape me?)

Another thing to think about: men and women can’t be “just friends.” Okay, let me clarify. You can probably be “just friends” on places like Facebook (carefully), but any type of real friendship that involves constant communication and even face-to-face time is risky business. A lot of women think it’s totally possible for this type of innocent friendship, but let me tell you, it’s more common for men to disagree with this. My then-boyfriend-now-husband laughed at me back in college when I told him about my guy friends who I swore just wanted to be my friends.

A few students from Utah State University made this funny man-on-the-street film on whether or not single men and women can be friends, and although it’s not professional or scientific, I think it says a lot:

So is it true? It would seem single men and women can’t be “just friends” because someone always wants more than a friendship, but what about married people? I feel like it would be difficult to be friends with a man other than my husband, unless he was a mutual “couple friend.”

Your turn: Is this type of thinking too extreme? Do you think it’s smart to share your passwords with your spouse? How do you handle friendships/relationships with members of the opposite sex? Leave a comment below.

Ashley Evanson is the online editor at LDS Living. She loves eating Costco hot dogs, Pinterest (addicted!), and watching America’s Funniest Home Videos.

'Singles Ward' actor Will Swenson engaged to actress, singer Audra McDonald

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:20:00 -0700

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: He's the main character, Jonathan, in "Singles Ward."

Audra McDonald, of ABC’s “Private Practice,” is engaged to Broadway star and "Singles Ward" actor Will Swenson. According to PlayBill.com, the couple became engaged on New Year’s Day.

{A&E} 5 Insights Gained from New Joseph Smith Papers Volume

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 00:04:00 -0700

by Patrick Dunshee
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Read the top five insights that one of the insiders on the Joseph Smith Papers Project gained from the newest volume.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Journals, Vol. 2 (1841-1843) is the second in the best-selling Journals series of The Joseph Smith Papers Project. The volume covers daily entries in Joseph Smith’s journals during much of the Nauvoo period, from December 1841 to April 1843, an exciting yet tumultuous time in the prophet’s life. And although this is not your normal bedtime reading (most journals would not qualify as a page-turner, particularly journals from this time period), elements of this volume are both fascinating and inspiring. Following are five insights gleaned from this important volume:

1. Joseph as a Dynamic Civic Leader

In addition to his role as prophet of the growing group of Church members, Joseph served as general of the Nauvoo Legion, as well as mayor and chief justice for the city of Nauvoo. Journal entries reference items handled in city council and other civic meetings, which provide a unique look into Joseph’s leadership and management style. One such entry describes an event that took place during a court proceeding, with Joseph presiding as chief justice. During the proceeding, Joseph noticed through the window two boys fighting across the street. He immediately excused himself and walked out of the courthouse and across the street to the two boys. After rebuking the bystanders for not intervening earlier, Joseph separates the two fighting boys, and says, according to the journal entry “Nobody is allowed to fight in this city but me.”

2. A Historic Moment: The Establishment of the Relief Society

Joseph Smith not only established the Relief Society in his own red brick store on March 17, 1842, but he was also actively involved in many of their meetings. The journal recounts him giving talks and teaching the sisters on a variety of gospel principles, including the priesthood, spiritual gifts, and how to live a virtuous life. I don’t know if he could see that this little group of twenty Relief Society sisters would someday number over six million, but the journal accounts show that he invested substantial time and effort in nurturing this new organization.

3. Joseph’s Hope for a New Year

The entry of 6 January 1842, shortly after the start of Joseph's Nauvoo journal, contains the heading "The New Year." The entry, possibly one of the few journal entries in the last years of the prophet's life to be dictated by him, is a particularly moving and hope-filled reflection at the start of a new year. One emphasis of the entry regards the importance of building the Nauvoo temple:   "The New Year has been ushered in and continued thus far under the most favorable auspices, and the Saints seem to be influenced by a kind and indulgent Providence in their disposition & means; to rear the Temple of the most High God, anxiously looking forth to the completion thereof, as an event of the greatest importance to the Church & the world, Making the Saints in Zion to rejoice . . ." 

4. Emma Hale Smith–Truly an Elect Lady

Included in this journal are three letters from Joseph’s wife Emma Hale Smith, which show great insight into her intelligence, character, and loyalty to the prophet. One letter, written in defense of Joseph as he is being sought for extradition on false charges of murder, shows how Emma utilizes elements of constitutional law to reason with authorities against unlawful extradition.

5. A Scribe Can Help When Keeping a Journal

Although Joseph took seriously the command to “keep a record,” history shows that it was a challenge for Joseph to keep it up on a regular basis. (Who can’t relate to this?) Over the years, Joseph employed several different scribes to keep his personal journals, each with varying results. One of his most consistent scribes was Willard Richards, who served as the single scribe for this volume, citing almost daily entries during the time from December 1841 through April 1843.

This new volume has several features that make its reading all the more valuable. In addition to a wonderful introduction to the Nauvoo period, this volume is chock full of reference materials that allow the reader to dig in to the details of life in Nauvoo. Biographical directories, geographical directories, maps, pedigree charts, a glossary . . . there’s even a set of ecclesiastical organizational charts to see who held what position.

Click here to learn more about the volume and see several videos with background informtion.

Patrick Dunshee is the manager of marketing and communications at Church Historian’s Press. Through his involvement with the Joseph Smith Papers Project, he has learned a lot about the prophet.