Mormon Life - LDS Culture tag

{Poll} Family Size

Thu, 24 May 2012 00:03:00 -0600

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Apparently family size is going back up in America (after dipping down). How do Mormon families reflect these trends?

I recently ran across a study about family size in the United States that says the average household size has gone from 3.67 in 1930 down to 2.62 in 2000, but is now going back up. Interesting. I suspect some of that has to do with young adults moving back in with their parents due to economic circumstances, but not entirely.

Mormon families don't really fit into these statistics, though. Having only two children is on the lower end of the spectrum, and six is not really a novelty, especially if you live in Utah. I'm curious, though, has the Mormon household size followed the national trend, just on our own Mormon scale? Take the quiz below and let's find out.

Two thousand 'stripling warriors' to march in Utah parade

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:34:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: The costumes are pretty awesome. Danny Brock remembers when his friend Cory Hanks dressed in a tunic and breastplate, took up his sword and shield, and marched into the middle of a camp of young men, where he told the group of goggling boys about a battle waging on the other side of the hill.

"I need help," he said, "but your fathers took an oath never to fight again."

{LDSL Blog} What Is a Utah Mormon?

Thu, 17 May 2012 01:04:00 -0600

by Erin Hallstrom
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We've all heard the term "Utah Mormon" (and many of us have even used it). But what does it really say about our cultural group?

I am not a “Utah Mormon.”

Or am I? Honestly, I don’t really know since I don’t know how to clearly define it.

I was born and raised in Hawaii and left to attend BYU Provo. After graduating from college, I lived in Northern Virginia for four years, Salt Lake City for six, Denver for two, and I am back in Salt Lake again, going on three years. I only share this to show that my time spent living outside of Utah is greater then my time spent living in Utah. I admit that I take some pride in this. (I am not proud of that.)

When you don’t live in Utah, the phrase “Utah Mormon” is commonly used to describe a type of member of the ward. (Most of you know who I am talking about.) This person does not have to be from Utah, but they have certain characteristics and personality traits that people associate with Utah Mormon-dom. It could be how they talk, dress, and do their hair, but most especially it is associated with a particular worship style and worldview.

While I have heard someone described as a Utah Mormon many times, I rarely hear someone refer themselves by this term. Why? I can only assume it is because the use of this label is not meant to be complimentary. It is generally spoken with the condescending assurance that you are not one of them.

So then, how do we define a “Utah Mormon”? I've asked around and everyone has an opinion. While key indicators may differ, some common and fundamental themes emerge in people's definition:

* A Utah Mormon has an ignorance or naiveté about the world around them.

* Utah Mormons are nice and well-meaning but not able to comfortably hack it outside of heavily LDS-populated areas.

* They tend to stick to their own and are critical of people or situations that are different; they tend to cling tightly to Mormon culture (as they understand it).

* Utah Mormons feel more educated on Church procedure and culture and can’t help but share such knowledge with those in other areas.

* Utah Mormons take the Church for granted and are not able to develop as tested or strong a testimony as those who are laboring in the “mission field.”

(Side note: Using the term “mission field” to describe anywhere outside of Utah is a huge pet peeve of mine. It is time we all realized – everyone lives in the mission field.)

So why bring this up? Through my observations, and by shining a light on my own prejudices and judgments, I find the use of this phrase (or label) troubling.

I do understand where the label/stereotype comes from. Utah is filled with a whole lot of Mormons. There are bound to be some cultural traditions and experiences that uniquely define Mormon life in Utah. But like all stereotypes, the problem comes when we believe the extreme examples and use them to dictate how we think and interact with those we come in contact with.

What labels do best is identify things. While this works really well on, say, file folders, when dealing with people a label will over-generalize and leave out vital details. When we define using a label it allows us to think we know someone and easily dismiss them. In other words, labeling puts up a wall between ourselves and others and takes us off the hook of getting to really know a person (because in your mind you already do).

Labels and stereotypes are rarely helpful, but I find it particularly problematic when it occurs among our own religious and cultural group. If we can’t be united among ourselves, how are we supposed to love our neighbor? We have to find a way to bridge the labels, our differences, and judgments we have about each other so we are free to learn and connect with each other as brothers and sisters. Utah Mormon, Molly Mormon, Jack Mormon . . . whatever the label is, let’s be more aware of why we use them and try a little harder to get to know each other better – no matter where we grew up or how we choose to wear our hair.

Mormon Firsts

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:05:00 -0600

by LDS Living Staff
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Who doesn't love fun trivia? Find out who created the first electronic television (a Mormon) and which movie star created the first support organization for little people (also a Mormon), along with other great firsts by Latter-day Saints.

Mitt Romney is positioned to become the first Mormon to appear at the top of a major party ticket in a presidential election, but he’s not actually the first Mormon to run for president (that was Joseph Smith). With such a historic event likely on the horizon, LDS Living decided to look back at some other great Mormon firsts.

FIRST PUBLISHED LDS FICTION: Parley P. Pratt’s “A Dialogue between Joseph Smith and the Devil” (1844)

When asked about LDS fiction, most people immediately think of authors like Dean Hughes, Jack Weyland, or Josi Kilpack (you can read her culinary mystery Lemon Tart on our site by clicking here). But the history of LDS fiction began over 150 years ago, starting with fledgling LDS members who were attempting to get the word out about Mormon doctrine and beliefs. Parley P. Pratt actively participated in this literary movement in the Church and became the first Mormon to publish a fiction-based work.

“A Dialogue between Joseph Smith and the Devil,” also referred to as “Joe Smith and the Devil,” was first published in the New York Herald in January 1844 after Pratt wrote it one afternoon in Northbridge, Massachusetts. The story gained some popularity and eventually spread to other American and European papers. Pratt’s short story follows a conversation Joseph Smith has with the devil, a conversation that sets out why the devil will fail now that the true Church has been restored to the earth.

The conversation concludes with a stirring toast to the devil: “Here to his Satanic Majesty; may he be driven from the earth and be forced to put to sea in a stone canoe with an iron paddle, and may the canoe sink, and a shark swallow the canoe and its royal freight and an alligator swallow the shark and may the alligator be bound in the northwest corner of hell, the door be locked, key lost, and a blind man hunting for it.”

FIRST ELECTRONIC TELEVISION: Philo T. Farnsworth (1927)

The concept of television had been inspiring scientists for years before Philo T. Farnsworth, at the age of 21, introduced his electronic television while working in San Francisco. As a teen, Farnsworth had shown interest in producing images electronically, even producing a sketch of his future work for a chemistry teacher in 1922. Farnsworth applied for a patent on the device in 1927, and years of improvements to his “image dissector” have given us the television of today.

Farnsworth was born in 1906 in Beaver, Utah, to a family that had settled in Utah after following Brigham Young and the Church. Young Farnsworth spent much of his youth engrossed in science magazines and novels. Following a stint at BYU, Farnsworth began to focus entirely on invention, and his career took off with relative rapidity. By the time of his death in 1971, he was credited with more than 300 U.S. and foreign patents.

Despite being the man responsible for the invention, Farnsworth later told his son concerning television: “There’s nothing on it worthwhile, and we’re not going to watch it in this household, and I don’t want it in your intellectual diet.”

FIRST FEMALE STATE SENATOR: Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon (1896)

Photo of Martha Hughes Cannon retrieved from Utah State History Website.

The first female state senator, Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon, was actually born in Wales on July 1, 1857. Her parents, recent converts to the Church, moved the family to the Salt Lake Valley in 1860.

She met her future husband, Angus Cannon, also a physician, while working for Deseret Hospital. Following the birth of a daughter and some time spent abroad to avoid federal marshals looking for polygamists, she returned to Utah and became an advocate for public health and women’s suffrage.

Her fight for women’s rights culminated in a momentous Utah State Senate election in 1896—in which she ran as a Democrat at the same time her husband ran as a Republican. She won the seat in the state Senate—her husband didn’t. Cannon served two terms in the Senate, and though the election caused a temporary rift with her husband, they eventually reconciled. After her political career, she served on the Utah Board of Health and died in California in 1932. An eight-foot bronze statue of her was erected in the Utah Capitol Rotunda in 1996, 100 years after her groundbreaking election.

Paula Hawkins, the first woman elected to a full term in the United States Senate, was also LDS. When Hawkins, a Florida Republican, was elected in 1980, she became the first woman ever to be elected to a seat instead of appointed.

FIRST LDS OLYMPIC GOLD WINNER: Alma Richards (1912 Summer Olympics)

Photo of Alma Richards courtesy of BYU Library.

Alma Richards dropped out of school when he was 14, but four years later, a nighttime conversation with Professor Thomas Trueblood motivated him to give the academic world a second try. He chose Murdock Academy, a private school for grades 9 through 12, located in Beaver, Utah.

One of his teachers asked Richards, the biggest kid in school, if he would join the track team. Richards knew little about athletics, but he joined the team, entering everything from the shot put to the discus to sprints. Soon, this “amateur” scored enough points to win the Utah state team championship for his school. Not long after this, coach Eugene Roberts discovered Richards’ ability to jump extraordinary heights and began working in depth with the natural athlete. Unsurprisingly, Richards made his way to Stockholm with the U.S. Olympic team in 1912 to compete in the men’s high jump.

Richards was a joke to the athletes on his team—none of them imagined he would have any success. They changed their minds when he easily cleared a bar raised to six feet, four inches high, and became one of two men still in the running for the gold medal. Before jumping for the gold, Richards knelt down and prayed for strength and success, if it was the Lord’s will. After he ended his prayer, he stood and went for the gold-winning jump, wowing the world. Richards never competed in the Olympics again, but his victory gave him the confidence he needed for a lifetime of success as a student, soldier, and teacher.

There have been a number of other LDS gold medalists, including Peter Vidmar, an animated gymnast who won two gold medals in the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, and Rulon Gardner in 2000, a wrestler who won gold after defeating Alexander Karelin, a Russian wrestler who had been undefeated for 13 years. Australian snowboarder Torah Bright also won gold in the women’s half-pipe in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics after impressing the judges with her high-speed tricks.

FOUNDER OF LITTLE PEOPLE OF AMERICA: Billy Barty

Photo of Billy Barty retrieved from Wikipedia/Braden Barty.

If you ever feel intimidated because of physical or mental limitations, just look to the inspiring life of Billy Barty, the three-foot-nine-inch actor you probably saw in Willow (or dozens of other movies in which he appeared). Barty, who died in 2000, grew up believing in himself and others, perhaps due to his parents’ belief in him. He is famously quoted as saying: “My parents never told me I was small, so I never knew any better. They had to sign for me to play football and basketball, but they never said, ‘No, you can’t. You’re too small.’”

Barty began acting at the young age of three and made his mark in the film business, appearing in films and television shows from 1927 to 2001, the year after his death.

In 1957, Barty gathered with a group of 20 other people “of short stature” in Reno, Nevada, and spent the week sharing ideas and hopes. During this historic meeting, Little People of America was founded. Barty established the organization in hopes of providing support and information for people of short stature and their families, as well as to dispel misunderstandings about little people. Over 50 years after its establishment, Little People of America continues to flourish with more than 6,000 members, 14 districts, and 70 chapters.

FIRST SUCCESSFUL ARTIFICIAL HEART TRANSPLANT: Dr. William DeVries and Barney Clark

Dr. William DeVries in 2000.

On December 2, 1982, Dr. William DeVries and Barney Clark made medical history. Dr. DeVries, an LDS heart surgeon who had been granted permission from the United States Food and Drug Administration to implant the polyurethane Jarvik-7 artificial heart in humans, performed the first transplant on Barney Clark, who was also a Mormon. The operation was risky, but Clark, who suffered from congestive heart failure, decided to take the risk to help advance science. Clark didn’t expect to live more than a few days after the operation, but since doctors had determined he was too sick for a normal heart transplant, the artificial heart was his only hope for recovery. Clark’s health was poor after the operation, but he lived a longer-than-expected 112 days.

Clark had drifted away from the Church during his military service years before his heart transplant, but his family continued to attend. He encouraged his family to go to church but felt unworthy to join them because he smoked. When Clark began having heart problems, he had a spiritual awakening, leading him to return to the Church and become worthy to be sealed to his wife in the temple. After his death, that temple experience comforted his wife, Una Loy. “When I am lonely,” she said, “I think of that moment when I joined him in that sacred room, and I think that’s the way it will be when I join him in the next life.”

This article is an excerpt of "Mormon Firsts," published in the May/June 2012 issue of LDS Living. To learn more or purchase a copy, click here.

Columnist misrepresents LDS Church doctrine and policy

Fri, 11 May 2012 10:31:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: Come on media, try a little harder, please. New York Post columnist Maureen Callahan recently tried to explain to her readers the ecclesiastical implications for Mitt and Ann Romney and their activity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints if the family ends up living in the White House.

Callahan cited several sources in her column, although there is nothing officially from the LDS Church. Too bad. Even if she had just gone to the church's Newsroom website, specifically prepared as a media resource, she might have avoided some glaring misrepresentations of LDS Church doctrine, policy, practice and procedure.

For example:

DailyLDS.com launches the first Groupon-type website for LDS people

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:03:00 -0600

source: universe.byu.edu

DailyLDS.com launched last week the first website in the world that offers exclusive deals to LDS members.

DailyLDS.com is comparable to Groupon, but it is truly unique to LDS people. Every day, for a 24-hour period, one LDS product or service is featured for purchase at a discounted price – up to 90 percent. Members receive DailyLDS deals notifications via Facebook, email and Twitter.

{Poll} Plastic Surgery

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:06:00 -0600

by Jamie Lawson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: How do you feel about plastic surgery? Is it ever appropriate?

I remember the first time someone I knew chose to get plastic surgery.

My good friend often complained that giving birth to five children had left her body in less than ideal condition—and there were certain things that could not be improved with diet and exercise alone. After saving for a few years, she elected to have a tummy tuck and breast lift. “It’s not plastic surgery, it’s reconstructive surgery,” she told me.

The results were amazing. Not only did her figure look great, but she also enjoyed a new level of confidence that I had never seen in her before.

Another woman I know just finished her third round of liposuction. After getting breast implants, she decided the rest of her body could look better. So she had liposuction on her thighs, back, and upper arms. But now she believes her 42-year-old face doesn’t match her youthful body. She regularly receives Botox injections to help soften the wrinkles in her face, and she is now considering an eyelift.

To me, it seems there can be legitimate reasons for plastic surgery, but it can also be a slippery slope where someone can never be quite satisfied with his or her appearance when there is always another body part to improve upon.

So here’s my question: How do you feel about plastic surgery? Is it ever appropriate? How much is too much?

Take our poll and leave a comment below.

LDS Events Calendar

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:04:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: These are LDS events and celebrations beginning with May 2, 2012, and running for the next few weeks.

To request an LDS event be added to the calendar, e-mail details to events@ldsliving.com.

Lunch and Learn Series with Deseret Book Artists and Authors

Every Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Downtown Deseret Book Store, SLC, Utah

May 4
Sarah Richards Samuelson
AKA: The Tulip Lady! "I believe that flowers exist to beautify our world and bring us joy," says Sarah. "The beauty of a flower is so amazing, yet so fleeting. My paintings are the way that I share the joy I feel from the beauty around me."

INSIGHT INTO MY LOVE OF RED TULIPS: After the tulips bloom, the other flowers, plants and trees begin to don their colors. They take their cue from the awakening tulips. Tulips are a sign of spring; they are a sign of rebirth. Their splendor begins the new season and encourages the rest of nature to join the celebration. Tulips are the beginning, the hope of things to come, and the reassurance there is indeed a God who loves us and provides for all our needs, leaving us uplifted and edified.

May 11
Two Talented Artists: Scott Sumner & Sandra Rast
Scott has a background in art and illustration. He has been a professional photographer, for the past nine years with clients all over the United States. Scott currently has a piece exhibited at the Museum of Church History and Art as a participant in the Ninth International Art Competition. He has received several awards for his work depicting the Savior, Jesus Christ, from the Intermountain Professional Photographers Association of Utah (IPPA). He is a founding board member of the Inspirational Art Association and currently serves as President of their Board of Directors. Scott has several stunning photos in the Jeffry R. Holland quote book: “Created for Greater Things.”

For Sandra, the love of art and the passion for painting and drawing have been a great influence and factor in her personality and life. Her upbringing, a grandfather nicknamed Johnny Appleseed, teachings of pioneer descendants a homemade green house, pet chickens, lambs, the love of family, the love of being a mother, and the appreciation of the earth's beauty are all embedded in emotions of the subject matter she chooses to paint. She majored in fine art at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University. Each of her paintings show a deep feeling of intimacy of her beliefs and emotions which she portrays through color & composition.

May 18
Linda Curley Christensen
Linda born in Idaho, reared in Salt Lake City, Utah, started painting when her family was young. She has received substantial attention in recent years being privileged to paint for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center, South Visitor’s Center of Temple Square, and temples throughout the world, as well as heading a mural team. Linda, a very prolific artist herself has found a new love in mentoring other artists. Recognition’s include the National Gertrude Folgeson Art Award, signature status in Oil Painters of America, and she was named one of Utah’s top 100 Artists. She recently won the championship round of the worlds first "Western Art Rodeo".

Washington DC Temple Visitors Center Events

Sunday, May 6, 7:00 p.m.
Utah Valley University Chamber Choir
The 32-member Utah Valley University Chamber Choir, conducted by Dr. Reed Criddle, performs music from the Renaissance to the modern day, with a focus on unaccompanied repertoire. The Choir's recently released CD, The Sound of Light, includes the world premier of Mountain Spirit by 2011 Pulitzer Prize winner, Zhou Long. UVU President Matthew S. Holland will speak at 7:00 PM, prior to the Choir’s performance.

Tuesday, May 8, 7:30 PM
Night of Music and Inspiration
"Light Giver,” under the direction of the missionaries of the Washington DC North Mission.

Men and Women of Faith lecture—“Joseph Smith, Man of Faith”

Thursday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m.

Salt Lake City, Utah (Church Office Building Auditorium)

Lecture presenter Ronald O. Barney recounts how Joseph Smith’s life called for physical and emotional courage, native resourcefulness, and an ability to continually adapt. He remained down to earth while having access to the heavens. Through a lifetime of constant verbal and physical harassment, the Prophet’s immense love and compassion for others allowed him to stay constant in his efforts to preach and reestablish the Lord’s gospel. For more information, visit history.lds.org/event/man-of-faith or call 801-240-2745.

First Annual Church International Art Competition for Youth
Now-June 1

For several years The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has held a general International Art Competition. This year, the Church invites youth in particular to submit their work to the first-ever competition for youth. The winning pieces will be on display between November 16, 2012, until June 17, 2013. The first round of entries should be submitted electronically and adhere to the rules and requirements. Click here for more info.

9th Church International Art Competition
Church History Museum; 45 West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150
Now-October 14, 2012
weekdays 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Church History Museum sponsors a worldwide art competition for Latter-day Saint artists every three years. This year’s exhibition features over 200 works selected from 1,155 entries, representing a worldwide range of media, styles, and cultural traditions. Admission is free. For more information, visit history.lds.org/event/9th-art-comp or call 1-801-240-3310.

Free Garden Tours of Temple Square and Church Headquarters

Monday – Friday at 10 a.m.: Door 15 of the Conference Center, SLC, UT
Monday – Friday at noon: Church Office Building Plaza, SLC, UT
Wednesdays at 7 p.m.: Church Office Building Plaza, SLC, UT
Sundays at 10:30 a.m.: East gate of Temple Square, SLC, UT

*To request an LDS event be added to the calendar, email details to events@ldsliving.com.

Slate on how Mormons went from beard-wearing radicals to clean-cut conformists

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:10:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: ldsliving.com

Slate published a story today called Saturday’s Warriors: How Mormons went from beard-wearing radicals to clean-cut conformists that caught our attention. While it's an interesting rundown of how LDS culture has evolved from essentially bearded polygamists to clean-shaven business men, the tone of the article is somewhat negative towards the Church.

We like this blog post from By Common Consent, A Response to Bowman on Beards and Correlation, where the author "nit-pick's" the Slate aritcle and goes a little bit deeper into the topic.

Both are interesting reads.

Utah tops nation in traditional family categories

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:53:00 -0600

source: sltrib.com

An analysis released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that as Americans move more to a "Modern Family" model, Utah is sticking closer to the traditional "Ozzie and Harriet" lifestyle.

Utah has the nation’s highest percentage of households headed by married couples and the highest percentage of homes with children.

The census report also shows Utah has the most people per household; the lowest percentage of singles living alone; the lowest percentage of households headed by unmarried opposite-sex couples living together; and one of the country’s lowest percentages of same-sex couples living together.

{Poll} Public Displays of Affection at Church

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:04:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Some of my friends' religion professors have said church is absolutely not the place for PDA, but I've also seen plenty of leaders show affection for their wives in public settings. Where is the line?

I like to show affection for my husband. Whenever I can, I try to hold his hand. When we say goodbye, we give a quick kiss to let the other person know he/she is in our thoughts while we're apart. Sometimes, I'll rest my head on his shoulder and move in close next to him for some mild cuddling. We even do these things at church.

Now, I really don't think any of these are inappropriate. But some might. And I know some people definitely think back rubs or scratches are completely inappropriate in a church setting.

While I think it's pretty safe to say that making out is not acceptable at church (or in any public setting, really), what about more innocent forms of affection? We'd like to get a general survey of church membership, so let us know what you think . . .

LDS Events Calendar

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:04:00 -0600

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: These are LDS events and celebrations beginning with April 25, 2012, and running for the next few weeks.

To request an LDS event be added to the calendar, e-mail details to events@ldsliving.com.

Lunch and Learn Series with Deseret Book Artists and Authors

Every Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Downtown Deseret Book Store, SLC, Utah

April 27
Howard Lyon
Howard was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona, to supportive parents, who even when he was very young, made sure he had the materials and education to hone his talent. Howard and his wife, Shari, are raising their three children in Mesa.

Howard's work can be found in products from Dungeons and Dragons books, World of Warcraft cards, Magic the Gathering, Orson Scott Card’s Inter Galactic Medicine Show and Star Wars. He has studied art in Italy, France, and most recently at the Grand Central Academy in New York. Howard combined these experiences to expand his subject matter to create inspirational pieces in the style of some of his favorite old masters: William Bouguereau, Lawrence Alma-Tadema, and John William Waterhouse.

Washington DC Temple Visitors Center Events

Now through April 30 (Daily--10:00 AM to 9:00 PM)
Textiles Exhibit: "Family Ties"
A juried exhibit of handmade quilts, embroidery, weaving, needlepoint, and counted cross stitch.

Saturday, April 28 7:00 PM
"Artist, Interrupted"
Their name describes them perfectly. These are extremely creative women who temporarily suspended their lives as entertainers and artists to become business people, wives and mothers. They have come together to once again share their talents.

Sunday, April 29, 7:00 PM
Northern VA Institute Choir
The talented NOVA Institute Choir returns by popular demand. Their 2012 Spring Concert, entitled Saints Bound for Heaven: an Experience of Faith, will feature traditional and popular Gospel and Spiritual music.

Sugar Hill LDS Choir
7th Annual "America, Home Sweet Home" Concert
April 28-29, 7 p.m.
Suwanee, Georgia

The 50-voice Sugar Hill LDS Choir of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be joined by the 55-member Gwinnett Community Band for their seventh annual FREE, two-day community concert themed “America, Home Sweet Home.” In addition to paying tribute to the armed forces, the evening will include a variety of musical favorites from Broadway to patriotic to folk songs. No tickets needed. For additional information, call 404.375.7882, or visit sugarhillldschoir.org or gwinnettband.org.

Men and Women of Faith lecture—“Joseph Smith, Man of Faith”

Thursday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m.

Salt Lake City, Utah (Church Office Building Auditorium)

Free Garden Tours of Temple Square and Church Headquarters

First Annual Church International Art Competition for Youth
Now-June 1

*To request an LDS event be added to the calendar, email details to events@ldsliving.com.

Do Mormons get married too young?

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:00:00 -0600

source: bycommonconsent.com

Mormon Life says: This is a touchy topic and LDS Living has no opinion on it, but we think the discussion is interesting and thought we'd post it for our readers. Once a group of us ladies were playing the game “Two Truths and a Lie,” and one woman told the following truth: “I got maternity clothes for my nineteenth birthday.” Someone asked, “Why on earth would someone give you maternity clothes for your nineteenth birthday?” Her matter-of-fact response: “Because I was pregnant!” (But she was married at 18, so it was okay.)

'Treasures of the Collection' focuses on Church cultural celebrations

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:14:00 -0600

source: ldschurchnews.com

Accordingly, we have had observances, festivals and customs over the years. Some, like the annual Old Folks Day, road shows and Gold and Green Balls have slipped into antiquity. Some are carried forward to this day, such as the annual Days of '47 celebration in Salt Lake City. Some are one-time but memorable events such as Church involvement in the New York World's Fair in 1964 and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Thus, the focus of this year's "Treasures of the Collection" display at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City is the Church's cultural celebrations.

Mormon missionaries remember that dreaded ‘Dear John’ letter

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 08:37:00 -0600

source: sltrib.com

Taped to the wall of his kitchen in Botswana, where Jackson served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was a typewritten letter that had belonged to a missionary who lived there before him. It was an apologetic breakup note from his girlfriend.

Jackson doesn’t recall exactly what the correspondence said. But he does remember what that missionary had scrawled at the bottom of it, as if in response: "Get amoebic dysentery and die."

Unforgivable Pins: Mormon Women, Pinterest, and the Defining of Virtual Self

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 10:41:00 -0600

source: juvenileinstructor.org

Mormon Life says: This author makes a great point about the design site. She's on to something. Mormon women are in trouble again. Not for selling out to the patriarchy or for working outside the home. Not for having too many or not enough kids. Not for wearing skinny jeans or peep-toe shoes. No, this time it’s for being overwhelming subscribers to an online bulletin board site called Pinterest.[i]

So, just in case you’ve recently awakened from a coma or returned from a lengthy research stint in the upper Amazon, here’s how it works. Once you create your Pinterest account, you can browse ideas for home design, children’s crafts, food recipes, home organization, party themes, cake decorating, holiday ideas, fashion, and even your favorite artwork, photography, travel destinations, cute animals, and life-affirming quotes.

Does giving your children Mormon names affect their future?

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:32:00 -0600

by Mandy Slack - LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Names are a way every culture identifies itself, and Mormon culture is no different. Jennifer Mansfield, a graduate student of folklore, has even identified six different "types" of Mormon names - as well as the reasons for (and effects of) such names.

Picture this: you’re in a Wal-Mart parking lot on a Monday evening (a little before 6 o' clock) and you see a yellow van park across from you. The door opens and kids, all dressed in knee length shorts and capris, spill out onto the pavement. A mom and a dad join the crew (also dressed in knee length shorts), and together, the family treks into the store to shop for ice cream toppings. If you’re anything like me, your first thought is, “Mormon.”

It’s not always easy to tell if someone is Mormon, but some things (like knee-length shorts and big families) are pretty good hints. Sometimes just a name is a dead giveaway: if a guy introduces himself as Moroni Young, you can be 98% sure he’s Mormon.

What Is a Mormon name?

We may not always recognize it, but as Mormons, we definitely have a unique culture, and names are a big part of that. While not every Mormon has a “Mormon” name, there are some trends that spread wide in our culture. (Caveat: not all the trends mentioned below are solely LDS, but they do seem to resonate more strongly and commonly in the Mormon culture.)

Jennifer Mansfield, a current graduate student in the Folklore Program at Utah State University, identified six different types of Mormon names: religious (Moroni, Nephi, Brigham), combination (Taylee, Mandylyn), invented (Kaislen), creatively spelled (Kady, Taeler), ancestral (Freestone, Jenkin), and themed (Monson, Hinckley, Kimball).

But parents who give their kids “Mormon” names don’t seem to recognize that they’re doing it. Mansfield noticed that the mother who had given her kids theme names (like Kyler, Kailen, and Kory) thought that Moroni and Nephi were Mormon names, while Moroni and Nephi’s mom seemed to think that Kyler, Kailen, and Kory were Mormon names. “Nobody thinks they’re doing it,” Mansfield explained. “But a lot of people are.”

Why do parents choose these names?

Do parents give their kids these names so that everyone knows they are Mormon? That’s what Mansfield expected to find, but instead, she found that parents often just wanted to be unique. According to an article in The Week, “Many parents view commonplace names like Thomas or Jane as boring and uncreative,” so they search for something out of the ordinary. Although Book of Mormon names like Ammon and Teancum are becoming more widespread, children with these names most likely won’t share a name with someone in their kindergarten class.

Some parents also give their children unique Mormon names to point them in a positive direction. Perhaps if a couple names their child Moroni, he will grow to be strong and courageous like Captain Moroni, or Ammon will become spiritually powerful and an enormously successful missionary.

A lot of Mormon children are also named after relatives, but it’s often not as simple as naming a kid after dad or grandpa. “Rather than picking a direct line, people pick these convoluted routes up the family tree to find a name,” Mansfield said. “They pick maiden names, middle names, or first names, and change them.” Parents do this so their kids can have unique names, but some also do it to help their children remember their forefathers. Parents want their children to look to their ancestors and remember them, but they also hope to motivate them to do genealogy work.

How do names influence people?

Names have an influence on the way people are viewed by others, but mostly when a name is all that is known about a person. In a controversial 2007 study, researchers concluded that students’ grades often matched their names: those who had names starting with a C or D had lower grade point averages than those whose names started with A or B. Other researchers say there are a disproportionate number of Dennis the dentists and Lauren the lawyers. An Australian study also found political candidates with easily-pronounced-names fared better than those whose names were not so easily pronounced. And then there’s the Roman expression nomen est omen, or “name is destiny.”

But how does a Mormon name influence the person who lives with it day by day? Mansfield related a story of a woman named Celestial who felt that her name directed her in her life choices. She served a mission and was married in the temple, which she credits to her name. Every time she heard “Celestial,” it reminded her of what she was seeking. She wanted the same for her own daughter, so she named her Himaya, which is Cebuano for “glory.”

Gidianny Gutierrez has another story. Her parents named her Gidianny (pronounced Ji-di-aw-nee) after the name Giddianhi found in 3 Nephi 3:9, which reads, “And behold, I am Giddianhi; and I am the governor of this the secret society of Gadianton.” Gidianny explained that her parents named her after the name Giddianhi, not the person. “They just thought it sounded pretty,” said Gutierrez.

Her name hasn’t led her to secret combinations and guerilla warfare—just a lot of patience as people try to pronounce it correctly. “I understand that my name is difficult,” said Gutierrez. “When I come across a name that I can't pronounce on the first time, I’m reminded that I shouldn’t act rude, offended, or prideful to others about mine.”

Gutierrez even uses her name to make people laugh. When she tells people she’s named after one of the leaders of the Gadianton robbers, she adds, “Don’t worry, I’ve repented,” or “Yeah, I think I’ve represented him well in this life.” And while she doesn’t look to the original Giddianhi as a source of enlightenment, her name influences her in other ways. “It has helped me learn to laugh at myself sometimes,” said Gutierrez. “It has also influenced me by helping me develop patience.”

Discussion Wednesday - Judging

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:02:00 -0600

source: mormonmommyblogs.blogspot.com

Mormon Life says: This is a great discussion topic. I wonder how I would handle the awkward situation this mom found herself in? My nine year old daughter came home from school and told me that a girl in her class told her that she wasn't allowed to play with her any more. I found that to be sort of mean, and before I went all Mommy Bear on the little girl, I wanted to get the details of what really happened.

After digging a little further, I found something that was even more frustrating. My daughter said: “Well, this girl said she couldn’t play with me anymore because I’m not Mormon and she isn’t allowed to play with kids who aren’t Mormon.”

{LDS How-to} Keep Your Kids Reverent in Church

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:04:00 -0600

by Mandy Slack
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We know hoping for reverent children in church is like dreaming the impossible dream. But there are a few surprisingly simple ways to achieve it.

If I were to walk into a sacrament meeting and see children sitting quietly, engaged by the sacrament speakers instead of their Cheerios or coloring books, I would probably die of shock. Children just aren’t equipped with the ability to sit still and listen to religious vernacular (or anything) for extended periods of time. (For that matter, most adults even struggle.)

Just because kids have a hard time sitting still doesn’t mean they lack faith, but it does mean your task of keeping peace in the chapel is harder. Here are some ideas that might prevent icy stares from fellow ward members:

Prepare

Life gets busy with kids in the picture, but even minimal preparation will lead to a saner sacrament meeting. Set out clothes on Saturday night (including your own), and make other church preparations—if you’re not running around on Sunday morning, it’s likely both you and your kids will be calmer.

Three hours is a long time for some kids to go without any snacks, so pack something to give them in between. But for the love of every primary teacher, avoid sugar. “That is just not nice,” says Merilee Slack, mother of four boys between the ages of 1 and 7. “Kids get way out of control.” Melissa Morgan, mother of three children between the ages of 2 and 5, suggests feeding the kids before sacrament meeting. “We have sacrament meeting last, so they’re usually pretty hungry by the time it comes around. I try to feed them right before; otherwise all they’re thinking about is the food.”

Make the Time in the Hallway or Foyer Unpleasant

If you have to take your child out of sacrament meeting, make sure wherever you’re taking them is not a fun alternative. Lots of people suggest making the child sit on a parent’s lap and practice being reverent. You can do this anywhere—in the foyer, in an empty classroom, or even the mother’s lounge. Kerri McLennan, mother of three little boys, says, “After they have practiced for a while, we’ll give them the choice to either keep practicing or go back in with everyone else. This works really well.”

Surround Them with Good Examples

Of course you should be a good example if you want your kids to learn reverence, but it also helps to sit near someone else who also displays good Sunday behavior. Jessie Walker and her family started sitting near two young women who her four-year-old daughter, Brett, admires. “I have Brett watch them while the sacrament is being passed and I tell her that what they are doing is thinking about Jesus,” explains Jessie. “She is starting to catch on. I'll catch her looking at them and mimicking what they are doing.”

Provide Reverent Entertainment

Keeping kids reverent must be a universal problem, because there are options everywhere for quiet and spiritual entertainment. Deseret Book even has a Heroes of the Book of Mormon app you can download onto your smartphone, which offers puzzles, a coloring book, and a matching game. It also includes scripture references for study. Here are some other things that you can use to keep your little ones entertained:

• Activity Books—Whether you have babies, toddlers, or little kids, there are activity books to keep your little ones entertained and reverent. Who is This Jesus?, the brand new hidden picture book, showcases touching pictures of Christ but also has subtle pictures hidden in the pages for your kids to find.

• Quiet Books—You can make these books on your own with help from websites like How to Make a Quiet Book or MormonChic. If you’re not so crafty or don’t have the time to take this kind of project on, you can buy quiet books online and in Deseret Book stores.

• Popsicle Puzzles—This easy craft is the answer if you’re a busy mom, but want to make something to help your kids make it through sacrament meeting. You and your child or children could make these puzzles together and have plenty of options for quiet entertainment when Sunday rolls around. Learn how to make popsicle puzzles here.

• Picture Books—Laminate pictures from The Friend or other church books and magazines, then punch a hole in the corner and slide a metal ring in the hole to make a flipbook. You can also laminate pictures of temples or prophets.

• Pipe Cleaners—Jennifer Hsu, writer for mormonchic.com, suggests bringing pipe cleaners in a Ziploc bag. This may seem simple, but I bet it could hold a toddler or baby’s attention for more than an hour.

Make Sure Your Kids Know What You Expect

Kids are bad at reading minds. Let them know why they are in sacrament meeting and what you expect from them while they are there. Make sure they know who is boss. You don’t have to act like a prison guard, but if you give your kids the choice of being reverent or rowdy, they will likely choose to be rowdy. If you let them know that’s not an option, they’ll learn to be reverent.

Your turn: What strategies have worked for your family? Answer by leaving a comment below.

Commentary: To Mormons - Is shunning something we still do in 2012?

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:37:00 -0600

by Chrisy Ross - LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Chrisy Ross, author of LDS Living's popular "To Mormons, with Love" article, shares more insights on living as a non-Mormon among Mormons. This time she talks about a sensitive subject in relations between Mormons and non-Mormons: avoidance of "different."

"Shun" is a four-letter word that continues to rear its head.

I was recently at a Barnes & Noble book-signing event with several other authors. After hearing my book pitch, one woman said, “We’ve lived in Draper for almost two years. We had a babysitter we liked but as soon as her parents found out we weren’t members, they wouldn’t let her sit for us anymore.”

Her attitude was along the lines of, “I hope your book tells those mean Mormons a thing or two,” while shaking a fist.

Another woman lingered in front of my table with her preteen and teenage daughters, sharing in detail how she had moved to Utah from the East Coast, and while her Sandy neighborhood was “very nice,” she claimed the Mormon kids were not allowed to play with her kids. She said her daughters weren’t treated well at school by LDS kids and struggled with loneliness.

I questioned both women. Were they certain that their nonmember status alone deemed them socially unworthy? Each woman felt strongly that her situation was clear. Members only want to associate with members. Period.

The authors who I was grouped with at the book signing happened to be LDS. When there was a lull in customer traffic by our tables, I asked the other authors about what we’d all just heard.

“Do you know any LDS person who wouldn’t allow their kids to play with nonmember kids? Or who would forbid their teenage daughter to babysit for a nonmember family? Do you think people still shun?”

The short answer to all of my questions was no…and maybe. My fellow authors didn’t personally know someone who was religiously bigoted. They confirmed that the Church encourages strengthening relationships, and we agreed that all human beings, regardless of belief system, are susceptible to biases and environmental baggage.

As a nonmember, I don’t believe an LDS person has ever made a conscious decision to disassociate with me simply because I’m not a member of the Church.

When we arrived in Utah in 2002, the nonmember grapevine was alive with examples of member/nonmember segregation. After considering the source, I came to the conclusion that the disunion was likely a two-way street, a personality conflict, or the result of an individual’s personal character failings or biases—both the member’s and the nonmember’s. Not a result of pure religious discrimination.

Admittedly, my husband and I felt like a few families had a “there goes the neighborhood” look on their faces when they discovered we weren’t members. And I’ll also cop to the fact that I was worried a visible coffee maker and a countertop wine rack would be a friendship deal breaker for some people. But in my experience, relationships that have taken root have done so because of an authentic connection and those that haven’t have nothing to do with religion.

But I continue to hear stories that make me think we all need to do a better job of . . . something.

Last fall, a nonmember friend of mine in another state was assisted and befriended by Relief Society in her area. A long-distance, long-time LDS friend of hers recognized a need and knew whom to contact. My friend was thrilled to receive help when she was sick, meet new friends, and looked forward to participating in Book Club and other activities for mothers of small children. I recently asked her how things were going with her new friends.

She said she’d been embarrassed to tell me, but she and her husband were convinced invitations ceased because they had made it clear they weren’t interested in converting. I challenged her.

“Have you called the woman who reached out to you? Maybe they were trying to be considerate and not smother you? Did someone actually say that?”

I find it difficult to believe that in this day and age, relationships dissolve due to religious shunning. Hard to buy.

However, since mulling this topic over, I’ve discussed it with several LDS friends and acquaintances. When I share the examples (now third hand) and ask someone, “Do you know anyone that would shun?” I’ve heard replies ranging from the matter of fact, “Yes,” to an uncomfortable, almost panicked, passionate defense of the Church as a whole “Of course not!” with lots of discussion surrounding the answers.

Again, I haven’t experienced or witnessed firsthand a person not associating with someone purely because they’re not Mormon. I haven’t witnessed the opposite either, but I recognize that there are members who call the same foul—a nonmember disqualifying a friendship simply because someone is LDS. As ridiculous as all of this sounds in 2012…doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Notwithstanding, discernment is real when choosing the relationships we want to nourish.

I have to believe the majority of nonmembers who feel they or their kids are being shunned or excluded from social groups because they’re not members of the LDS Church aren’t taking into account schedules, interests, established friendships, and perhaps a sensitivity to overbearance. People underestimate one another and direct communication is often non-existent. Everyone I spoke with had relied on his or her feelings and perceptions. Not once was a question asked politely or directly, “Is there a problem we need to talk about?” The worst was assumed.

Nuanced, but present. Is that what modern-day shunning looks like? I’m just asking the question. If so, we can all—nonmembers and members—do a better job of identifying the root of the problem. We know S-H-U-N is a four-letter word — turns out so is L-O-V-E.

Check out this article for more on this topic from an LDS perspective.

Chrisy Ross is the author of To Mormons, With Love (A Little Something from the New Girl in Utah), available at deseretbook.com. To learn more about her, visit chrisyross.com. You can also meet her this Saturday at her book signing in Sugar House, Salt Lake City on March 24th.