Mormon Life - LDS Living Blog tag

{LDSL Blog} My Interview with Sister Julie B. Beck

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

by Jamie Lawson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I recently had the privilege to sit down with Sister Julie B. Beck, general president of the Relief Society, for the spring issue of LDS Living (click here to read the article). I knew the interview would be great, but it was much more—it was one of the most powerful conversations of my life.

Sister Beck has a love and compassion for the Relief Society sisters that I can only describe as palpable. From the moment I met her, she was warm and welcoming, and it was immediately clear how dedicated she is to her incredibly demanding calling. Leading a worldwide organization of six million women is daunting, to say the least, and Sister Beck didn’t hesitate to acknowledge that fact.

“It’s never not been overwhelming,” she told me.

She was open and honest as we discussed the joys and challenges of her calling and addressed some of the major issues LDS women face on a regular basis—everything from trying to have it all to fitting in to coping with life’s disappointments. Her words were filled with wisdom and eternal perspective, and as I listened, I was surprised by how effortlessly she helped me to gain a deeper understanding of several things, including the divine purpose of Relief Society and how any woman in any circumstance can be strengthened and uplifted and significantly influence the world around her through the unity we share as sisters in the Church.

I will never look at Relief Society the same way again. Sister Beck’s testimony touched me deeply, and it is an experience I will never forget.

She also shared a moving testimony of the Restoration, of modern-day prophets, and of the infinite love Heavenly Father has for His daughters. “I wish [women in the Church] better understood who they are,” she said. “I wish they knew how loved they were by the Lord—each one of them is so important.”

When she spoke those words, I realized that, to a certain degree, I had forgotten who I was. I had allowed the world around me to make me doubt my worth and blur my vision just enough that I had gotten caught up in the short-sighted struggles of the moment—something I think we all do from time to time.

Thank you, Sister Beck, for reminding me who I am. And thank you for helping me to recognize how much influence I have because of it.

—
Jamie Lawson is managing editor of LDS Living magazine. She loves traveling internationally, meeting fascinating people, and listening to 80s music. She enjoys tasting new foods but does not like to cook. She has two adorable boys who help her stay up to date on the latest technology, fashion trends, and catch phrases.

{LDSL Blog} Best of: Stories of the Week, Feb. 4-10

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:04:00 -0700

by LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Check out which stories made up the best of LDS Living for the week of February 4 through February 10, 2012.

We all love a good story. And what better way to find out the best of the best than seeing what people found most interesting? For the week of February 4 through February 10, 2012, these are LDS Living's top online stories:

Top 5 LDS Living Stories:

1. {Food Dish} LDS Living Casserole Competition: Winner + Recipe {LDS Living}

2. He's Amazing and Still Single - WHY? {Alisa Snell}

3. {Food Dish} LDS Living Casserole Competition: 1st Runner-up + Recipe {LDS Living}

4. {Food Dish} LDS Living Casserole Competition: 2nd Runner-up + Recipe {LDS Living}

5. Top Teen Gospel Questions (And Their Answers) {John Hilton III and Anthony Sweat}

Top 5 Mormon Report Articles:

1. LDS football player going to the Super Bowl {Deseret News}

2. Keeping missionaries safe in the midst of violence {ABC 4 News}

3. NY community rejects plans for new LDS chapel {New York Daily News}

4. LDS Church responds to Prop 8 ruling {Deseret News}

5. The ultimate Mormon male {Salon}

Top Video:

Jenny Oaks Baker: A Whole New World {YouTube}

{LDSL Blog} Best of: Stories of the Week

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 00:04:00 -0700

by LDS Living Staff
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Check out which stories made up the best of LDS Living for the week of January 28 through February 4, 2012.

We all love a good story. And what better way to find out the best of the best than seeing what people found most interesting? For the week of January 28 through Feburary 4, 2012, these are LDS Living's top online stories:

Top 5 LDS Living Stories:

1. {Food Dish} LDS Living Casserole Competition: 1st Runner-up + Recipe {LDS Living}

2. {Food Dish} LDS Living Casserole Competition: 2nd Runner-up + Recipe {LDS Living}

3. FHE: Agency {Shauna Gibby}

4. Losing a Spouse {Ashley Evanson}

5. Book of Mormon Lesson 6: Free to Choose Liberty and Eternal Life {Ted L. Gibbons}

Top 5 Mormon Report Articles:

1. Oops! USA Today goofs in cover story about LDS beliefs {Deseret News}

2. USA Today gallery features 'Famous Mormons' {USA Today}

3. Hallmark Channel replaces Martha Stewart with Marie Osmond, report says {Fox News}

4. Mormonism besieged by modern age {Reuters}

5. LDS Church being sued by gallery owner over Teichert painting {Deseret News}

Top Video:

Grammy-nominated Artist Shares Testimony through Music {news.LDS.org}

{LDSL Blog} Our "Thankful" List

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:03:00 -0700

by LDS Living Staff
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Just a quick list we're sharing with you of the things for which we're grateful during this Thanksgiving season.

After an eventful year, LDS Living is feeling really grateful – and that's a contagious emotion. So we're sharing our thankful list with you:

Erin Hallstrom, Associate Publisher: After dealing with an unexpected medical diagnosis this year, I can unequivocally say I am grateful for good health and a strong body. Our bodies are resilient and can do really hard things. For that (among many other things) I am thankful.

SarahJo Ciotti, Intern: I’m thankful for social media that makes the distances between family and friends seem a little smaller.

Bradley Hayes, Marketing Graphic Artist: I am thankful for good music. Whether playing it on an instrument or listening to it, nothing can melt away my cares the way music can. It invigorates my mind and energizes my soul. 

Kate Ensign-Lewis, Online Editor: I could try to be clever and say that I'm most grateful for a big five-bum kitchen to cook in (which I am grateful for), but this year perhaps more than any other year I am most thankful for family. I look around me and see all the evidence of a blessing for which I waited – a child. And every time I look at my baby's sweet face, or kiss his cheeks, or simply stop to think about him, I can't help feeling overwhelmingly blessed to have been entrusted with him. How sweet it is.

Ruthann Cunningham, Circulation Manager: I’m thankful for the small miracles I see every day when I stop and look up.

Ashley Evanson, Online Editor: Of course I'm grateful for the big things: family, the gospel, my job; but I'm grateful for the not-so-big things, too. For example, my space heater. I would freeze without it. Or butter. Life is better with butter. Oh, and mail – real mail, that is. I love getting letters and magazines in my mailbox; they make me feel special. What would life be without the small stuff?

Jamie Lawson, Managing Editor: After making it through the most difficult year of my life, I can honestly say that I’m thankful for each of the trials I have faced. I am stronger, wiser, more compassionate, and more patient because of them, and I appreciate the personal growth that can come from life’s twists and turns if I am willing to learn.

What are YOU thankful for?

{LDSL Blog} My Interview with David Archuleta

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:04:00 -0700

by Jamie Lawson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Talented. Adorable. Sweet. These are just a few words often used to describe singing sensation David Archuleta. Before I met him, I couldn’t help but wonder how much of his image reflected who he really was. Here’s the story, folks: he’s the real deal. In fact, there’s a lot more to David than meets the eye.

I recently interviewed David Archuleta for a story in LDS Living's November/December issue (click here to read an excerpt). Just as I expected, he was gracious, humble, and delightful to talk to. But beyond his angelic and unassuming nature, David possesses a deep passion for music and a strong conviction to stay true to himself. I have to admit it—this is something I didn’t anticipate.

I knew David is very good at what he does (I was already a fan), but I admire him so much more now that I know he truly sees his talent as a gift from God and takes very seriously his responsibility to use it to uplift and inspire others. I saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes when he told me, “I want to sing about something that has a real message. That’s where my heart is. That’s what I love. I feel like that’s what I need to do.”

It was fascinating to listen to him talk about the pressures he has faced in the spotlight, particularly the pressure placed upon him by people in the music industry to portray a certain image or sing songs that he wasn’t comfortable with. In fact, my favorite moment with David was when he said, “No one can tell me who I am and am not. I’m just going to be true to myself.”

I have no doubt we will see great things from David in the future. One of the projects he hopes to complete soon, although there are no solid plans yet, is a Latin album in honor of his Hispanic roots (his mother, Lupe, is from Honduras). He also has a few surprises in store—whether in his personal life or professional life, he wouldn’t say, but it’s clear to me that David knows his own path, regardless of what anyone else has to say about it.

To view our David Archuleta photo gallery, click here.

To check out some behind-the-scenes video from our photoshoot with David and for his responses to some of our reader questions, click here.

—

 Jamie Lawson is managing editor of LDS Living magazine. She loves traveling internationally, meeting fascinating people, and listening to 80s music. She enjoys tasting new foods but does not like to cook. She has two adorable boys who help her stay up to date on the latest technology, fashion trends, and catch phrases.

{LDSL Blog} Hi, My Name Is Ashley, and I'm a Technology Addict

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:20:00 -0600

by Ashley Evanson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: While I was on vacation in paradise last week, I noticed that almost everyone was buried in technology. Why couldn't we tear away from virtual reality to enjoy the beautiful reality of where we were?

I was on vacation last week, lying at the pool with my sister and our husbands. My sister took a picture with her phone and posted it on Facebook. I, too, was on Facebook, saw the picture, and “liked” it not ten seconds after she had taken it. She looked at me and said, “Did you seriously just ‘like’ my picture instead of turning your head and telling me in person that you like it?” (After all, we were lying only a foot away from each other.)

After thinking about what had just happened, we busted up laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. We then looked around and noticed that about 99 percent of the people at the pool had their faces buried in some type of electronic –iPads, phones, Kindles, etc. Here we all were in paradise, and no one was willing to look up from virtual reality to enjoy the reality of the beautiful place we were in.

I was reminded of a Mormon Messages video I saw last week called Things as They Really Are by Elder Bednar. In it, he warns of the consuming power of digital technology. Technology can be a tool to accomplish great things if used properly, but for some, it can become life consuming. I’m afraid I might be falling into the latter category.

It’s so easy to grab my iPhone and check the news, an email, or play games. I just had a baby and my phone is a great tool for taking pictures of her, but I wonder if I’m more concerned about sharing her life on my blog and Facebook than doing so in real life. This video is like a slap in the face, telling me, “Get off the phone and computer! Enjoy things as they really are!”

I’m grateful for Church leaders and the warnings they give us. I was/am in real need of a wakeup call. I’m working on my technology dependency (haha, of course, I’m on the computer as I write this), and I’m setting a goal of only X hours a week of electronics. Wish me luck!

Do you struggle with technology dependency? 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

{LDSL Blog} When “Cult” and “Non-Christian” Cause an Uproar

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:08:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Religious scholars are intelligent people, but I sometimes wonder if they use words intending one thing and we misinterpret it to mean something slightly different.

The past few days, LDS news has been almost clogged with stories about the Rev. Jeffress comment about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There have been a lot of great stories, and many people have stood up for the Church with only good things to say.

Of the stories, one that interested me most was Jeffress's interview with Anderson Cooper, partly because I thought Cooper did an excellent job reporting the facts and standing up for the Church. The other reason I was interested was because Jeffress tried to clarify what he meant when he used the term cult:

“When I talk about a cult, Anderson, I’m talking about a theological cult, as opposed to a sociological cult. You know, theologically, a cult is a religion that has a human founder versus a divine founder. . . . Secondly, cults tend to look at other religious texts outside the Bible for their guidance.”

It was the first time I heard that description of the term.

First of all, Jeffress’s interview with Cooper is a spectacular example of backpedaling; he was trying to make it sound as if he didn’t really intend for people to take the word “cult” to mean the pejorative sense of the term, but I’m sure he knew the effect it would have. Since he is one who uses words to make a living and convince people of his beliefs, I find it hard to believe he didn’t intend to insult, and I doubt he would ever retract his comment for its effect.

Still, as I listened to him explaining cult academically, and later read an Evangelical's commentary on whether Mormons are "Christian" or not, it made me wonder if, when some academics use these descriptions, we misunderstand their meaning.

Jeffress is correct in implying that there is a “neutral” use of the term cult (in fact, academics are trying to neutralize the term for academic discourse), as well as a “negative” form of the word (which is what most people think of). This is also true for the classification “Christian” vs. “non-Christian”—when people say Mormons are not Christian, we typically think they don’t believe we follow Christ. But, as the evangelical I cited above (Richard Mouw) explains, academics use “non-Christian” to describe faiths with respect to historical Christianity (for example, belief in the Trinity). Mouw, in fact, does a great job of explaining from the get-go what he means when he says “Christian,” and even though he says he doesn’t know yet if he can call Mormons Christians, he acknowledges that we are genuine followers of Jesus Christ.

I’m not saying I agree with either of them in their classifications—obviously we believe that the Church was RESTORED by Joseph Smith, not founded by him, and if one looks purely at the way the Bible describes Christians, there should be no debate that Mormons are Christians, regardless of history or tradition. But understanding the terms from an outsider’s academic perspective, their use makes more sense than the common meanings of the terms.

I wonder if some people use these words in a more academic aspect ("cult" is simply something founded by a person, and "non-Christian" simply describes the religion's relationship to historical Christianity), and the general population misunderstands their meaning.

The take home message: I think some people use these terms and are not trying to be as insulting as they seem to be.

A few notes in closing:

(1) I’m sure some people use those terms because they COUNT on people misunderstanding them and either hope to cause a stir or hope to scare people into following their edicts.

(2) I think academics who don’t mean to cause problems either need to start using other non-pejorated terms to describe these circumstances to the general public, or they need to explain themselves fully whenever they DO use them in an academic sense (like the evangelical listed above who describes what he means when he debates whether Mormons are Christians in the traditional sense).

(3) I acknowledge that I might be giving people too much credit. Either way, though, I think we can take something from this: when this happens, we do what we can to inform others about the truth, and then we TAKE IT IN STRIDE. (Michael Otterson just wrote an excellent column for the Washington Post on how we respond to these claims.) This won’t be the last time someone says something like this—and rather than spend a lot of time getting upset and offended, we can work toward a time when most people really understand that we follow Jesus Christ as our Savior and the son of God.

{LDSL Blog} Exercising Judgment in Righteousness . . . and Love

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:04:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: We frequently quote the scripture that says "judge not"—but exercising righteous judgment is a commandment. So how do we follow this commandment and still communicate the love we are also commanded to show? A while back, when we ran our article about Jon Huntsman and the obsession with his level of faithfulness, one of our readers left a comment mentioning “intermediate judgment,” as discussed by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in his talk “'Judge Not’ and Judging.” “We must, of course, make judgments every day in the exercise of our moral agency, but we must be careful that our judgments of people are intermediate and not final,” Elder Oaks says of these kinds of judgments. “We all make judgments in choosing our friends, in choosing how we will spend our time and our money, and, of course, in choosing an eternal companion.”

I remember hearing about the concept as a teenager from a leader and friend. He reminded me that the scriptures actually tell us to make righteous judgments—they are critical to our spiritual strength and well being. But I remember wondering how to carry out these judgments. The way in which we exercise these judgments must be carefully handled—or else it can come across the wrong way.

The issue of how to carefully execute judgmentcame up again when we found this recent article about one young woman’s negative interactions with the Mormon community in which she grew up. In her experience, the people around her didn’t seem “Christian,” and it left her with a negative view of Mormons and Mormonism—at least for a while.

These two things—Elder Oaks’s talk and the young woman’s personal essay—get to the heart of something I have long struggled to understand. I've always wondered where the line is for making these judgments (especially for our children) and loving one another regardless of personal choice. It seems this is precisely the problem of the people this woman came into contact with—they were too harsh in their judgments. Jesus himself was noted for the time he spent with sinners, so his example shows we shouldn’t ostracize people because of their choices.

But some amount of judging is necessary—I get that. We need to teach our children to choose good friends, date people with good standards, and we want to encourage them to date someone who they can marry in the temple. How do we teach them to make righteous judgments—sometimes about avoiding certain people—and still exhibit the Christlike love for which we want to be known?

Elder Oaks’s talk itself offers some great advice on how to make these sort of judgments, but he also includes some important caveats in deciding intermediate judgment that make it more difficult (for me, at least) to understand how it works on a day-to-day level.

What are your thoughts on how best to strike the balance between making good, “intermediate” judgments and still communicating love and respect to those who don’t keep your standards?

And how do you teach the concept to your children?

{LDSL Blog} My Interview with Elizabeth Smart

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:03:00 -0600

by Jamie Lawson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I was curious about Elizabeth Smart's personality before meeting her. I came away from our meeting with answers to many of my questions, but one striking impression of her: she has incredible faith.

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Elizabeth Smart for the fall issue of LDS Living (click here to read the article). I admit that I was curious how she would be in real life—if she is as impressive and poised as she appears to be on television. I’m here to tell you that she absolutely is.

Elizabeth was surprisingly candid. She openly discussed both the joys and frustrations she experienced as a missionary in France. She shared her feelings about her captor, Brian David Mitchell, including how and why she chose to forgive him. She talked passionately about her work as a children’s advocate, and her determination permeated every word as she expressed her desire to make the world a safer place for children everywhere so no one would have to experience anything like what she was forced to endure. But the thing that struck me most during my time with her was her incredible faith in the gospel.

Despite all Elizabeth has been through, or perhaps because of it, she has learned to trust in God completely. I’ll never forget when she said the following: “For me, the word ‘gospel’ means hope. No matter how bad things get, that’s the one thing you can always hold on to.”
Elizabeth is a great example of resilience, and I thank her for showing us that it is possible to become stronger, better people if we are willing to push beyond our darkest moments and look with hope toward the future.

It was definitely a powerful experience to talk with her about such deeply personal experiences. But while I had Elizabeth to myself, I couldn’t resist trying to learn more about her personality. What makes her smile? What are some of her favorite things? It was fun to watch her light up as she talked about her love for the harp. And did you know she loves to go country dancing?

I am grateful to Elizabeth for her willingness to speak with us at LDS Living. And I hope our readers will enjoy and appreciate her insights as much as I did.

(To find out more of Elizabeth’s favorite things, pick up the September/October 2011 issue of LDS Living.)

--
Jamie Lawson is managing editor of LDS Living magazine. She loves traveling internationally, meeting fascinating people, and listening to 80s music. She enjoys tasting new foods but does not like to cook. She has two adorable boys who help her stay up to date on the latest technology, fashion trends, and catch phrases.

{LDSL Blog} 9/11: What's Your Story?

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:06:00 -0600

by Jamie Lawson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I recently got to listen to the stories of multiple LDS people who were directly impacted by 9/11. But all of us were affected by the events of that day.

“Where were you on 9/11?”

Not since John F. Kennedy was shot has the question “Where were you?” resonated with so many Americans. Most remember exactly where they were on September 11, 2001, when they learned of the terrorist attacks. And those who witnessed the events firsthand or lost loved ones that day have an indelible experience carved into their souls that few can comprehend.

While writing Remembering 9/11: An LDS Perspective, I was faced with the difficult and delicate task of asking family members of 9/11 victims, and others who were directly impacted by the events of that day, to share their stories with me so I could, in turn, share them with you. Their hearts were tender, and tears were close to the surface for many, but their spirits were strong as they recounted their experiences while expressing faith in the gospel. I am forever grateful to all of them for opening their lives to me for a small moment so that we could have the privilege of reflecting on 9/11 in a new, deeply personal light.

We could have easily devoted the entire September/October issue to 9/11. Unfortunately, due to space constraints, I was forced to leave out many powerful, insightful experiences and perspectives, like then–stake president Brent Belnap’s account of walking through the dust cloud in Manhattan after both towers had collapsed and coming upon the haunting image of a hospital with teams of doctors and nurses waiting to help the injured that, with a few exceptions, never arrived. Or Norm and Margaret Wahlstrom’s experience of having their home swarmed by newspaper and television reporters just moments after they learned that Norm’s mother and sister perished aboard American Airlines Flight 11—the first plane to strike the World Trade Center.

As for my 9/11 experience, I was living just an hour outside of New York City at the time. I was playing blocks with my 18-month-old son while watching the Today Show when I saw the events unfold on live television. I remember the feeling of panic, wondering how much more was going to happen, and how I would protect my child and myself with my husband away at work. Was this the start of a war? Were there more attacks on the way? How close would they get to our home? Would we need to evacuate? Would the terrorists’ next target be the nearby nuclear power plant? The uncertainty was overwhelming, and for the first time in my life, I felt unsafe on U.S. soil.

Forty-six people from our community in Connecticut were killed that day. In the weeks that followed, there was a deep sense of shock and grief. Perhaps the most poignant memory for me was seeing the streets lined with thousands of mourners as a fire truck carried the casket of a fallen firefighter from our beautiful downtown cathedral to a nearby cemetery.

September 11, 2001, is a day that changed the world forever, and I know that I, like millions of others, will never be the same.

So, where were you on 9/11? Share your story with us by commenting below.

{LDSL Blog} The Mormon Fascination with Disney

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:03:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I love Disney, and I know I'm not unique among Mormons for that trait. Is it the happiness of all things Disney that draws us to it?

I love Disney. It has been ingrained in my being.

Scattered among the pictures of my childhood are happy images of my exploits in Disneyland. There’s the picture of my brother pulling four-year-old me up as I pull on the Sword in the Stone; seven-year-old me in a family holiday photo next to Walt Disney’s statue; 11-year-old me with my best friend just before she moved; and 18-year-old me in front of the Sleeping Beauty castle on my birthday. Considering it was an eight-hour drive for our family of seven, I’m astounded that my parents made such an effort. My family has gone for birthdays, holidays, and as part of multi-family trips, where we meet up with friends or extended family at the park. I have souvenirs including pennies flattened by the main street penny machine, Mickey Mouse hats with “Katie” scrolled on the back, and a Beauty and the Beast snowglobe that plays “Beauty and the Beast.”

Growing up, Disney (channel or movies) was also the only thing we could watch on Sundays, and the annual Disney movie release was always a theater-going event. We had piano books and CD collections. I still enjoy watching Disney movies as an adult. And most recently, I have been playing YouTube Disney songs for my bouncing three-month-old during the day and singing him the slower songs at bedtime.

This Disney devotion might seem singular, but I know I’m not alone in Mormon culture.

When LDS Living ran its “Favorite Disney Song” poll, some of us were astounded at the response. To be honest, I wasn’t. There’s something about Disney that strikes at the heartstrings of Mormons everywhere. I’ve been thinking for the last week about why this may be. Perhaps it’s because Disney represents good memories of wholesome, family entertainment. It reminds us of years gone by sitting with the family on Sunday evening to watch “The Wonderful World of Disney.”

Or, perhaps it’s because there’s something inherently good in Walt Disney’s dream—appreciating the sweet magic of children and trying to reclaim that purity and hope in the world. We are a people who, after all, strive to become more child-like. Why wouldn’t such an appreciation of goodness speak to us?

But, as I realized just a few nights ago, perhaps more than anything it is because (as a combination of these things) Disney entertainment allows us to simply feel good. Here’s what happened: Just before bed, my husband and I had been watching a TV drama that had a fascinating storyline but was also very intense. He had drifted off, but I was still wide awake. I felt that uncomfortable, anxious feeling that comes from watching something that throws you off-kilter, and being one that dreams about what I watch, I needed to watch something that would get my mind settled again before falling asleep. My first thought was Tangled, which was recently added to Netflix’s instant play selections. I knew the happy story and beautiful songs would help put my mind at ease. And it did.

I know Disney is not infallible for its selections, but on the whole, I would say it matches up pretty closely with our culture’s gravitation toward hope, happiness, and family. And while I know Disney holds a special place in the hearts of adults everywhere, I can’t help thinking it’s something special for our culture—at least for the grown ups among us who are just as excited to see the new animated movies as our children are and who look forward to going to Disneyland just as much as our children.

I, for one, can’t wait to see my little boy at Disneyland, mouse hat in tow, for the first time—with me returning to childhood by his side.

Why do you love Disney? What’s your favorite Disney memory?

---

Kate Ensign-Lewis loves cooking in her tiny kitchen, eating great new foods with her husband, finding good entertainment and art, and smothering her son with kisses. She likes (virgin) pina coladas, but does not like getting caught in the rain.

{LDSL Blog} Stephen Colbert on Mormons: Funny or Offensive?

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:34:00 -0600

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

The other day, we found a clip from The Colbert Report about Mitt Romney and the Church's brilliant marketing campaign. We wanted to share it for a few reasons: (1) Colbert shows a sort of enjoyable and good-natured, but underhanded, praise to Mormons, (2) it's a great example of "what they're saying about us," which is something we Mormons are always interested in learning, and (3) it's funny. Since we saw it, the video has been getting some buzz; other bloggers have already lauded its virtues (with blog By Common Consent saying “the church could hardly ask for a more flattering treatment”). And did we mention that it’s funny?

But we had one huge hesitation in posting it: it's REALLY irreverent, mostly at the end. (It is, after all, from a segment called "Yahweh, or No Way?") Other people (and other Mormons) might have appreciated it, but what would LDS Living readers think? It's typical of Stephen Colbert's humor, but we worried that you, the gentle reader, would balk at the sometimes flippant way he deals with religion. How could we know if its virtues or vices would win out?  

So that's where we came to a decision: we want to know what you think about acts like this. Humor can expose difficult truths that we might otherwise avoid, but when does it pass from the realm of thought-provoking to offensive?

  Do you think it's funny, even productive, when a comedian jokes about religion this way? Or do you think it's best to avoid acts like this, erring on the side of caution against offending the Spirit?

(Video embedding doesn't seem to be working. Click here to see the video.)

{LDSL Blog} My Vaccination Decision

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 09:45:00 -0600

by Katie Barlow - LDS Living
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: I hadn't been vaccinated as a child, but now I wanted to serve a mission. My doubts about vaccines stood in direct conflict with my desire to serve. There I was, sitting in the doctor’s office for a pre-mission physical exam and excited to serve. But among the many loose ends and questions looming in my mind, one thing was fairly certain: My mission paperwork was at a standstill because my doctor would not endorse me until he knew I received the essential shots to serve. Even though the Church would still allow me to serve within the United States without vaccinations, my doctor would not.

As an infant, I was never vaccinated. Because my older brother had a very adverse reaction to his immunizations, my mom questioned her doctor about the pros and cons. Brian was a very happy, chatty baby. But after the shots, Brian had a really bad reaction with a fever and high-pitched screams. The next morning he lay in his crib a listless zombie—hardly moving and no longer the babbling baby he was just a day before. The doctor understood her concern and my vaccinations were deferred.

My mom said another thing she took into consideration was the fact that polio wasn’t a risk at the time, and that if there was ever a polio outbreak anywhere near where we lived, she’d make sure I was first in line to be immunized. Some studies at the time suggested immunizations may contribute to a weakened immune system (in hindsight, my mom said my siblings and I all had really good immune systems and didn’t catch half of what went around the neighborhood growing up). She had heard that that some viruses cause cancer, and she wondered how doctors could absolutely know that vaccine viruses didn’t do the same. She believed that the less you infuse into your body, the more healthy you’ll be.

All these ideas loomed in my mind the summer I worked on mission papers. I had to make a decision about whether I’d submit to the needle to go knock on doors or if I’d remain an immunization outlaw. At that moment, what I believed was in direct conflict with what the Church was asking of its prospective missionaries.

My whole life I had many reasons to believe I didn’t need or want to be vaccinated. Obviously most people around me had been immunized and were fine, but what if I got really sick from it like my brother had? I didn’t like the idea of having inactive viruses floating around in my body when they otherwise wouldn’t be there.

I didn’t think I would have any immediate adverse effects from vaccinations, but I had to wonder, “What if down the road, I develop a disease or cancer that I may not have otherwise gotten had I not been immunized?” Would I regret it? I tend to be a worst-case-scenario thinker, and I stick to the belief that despite what doctors and researchers assert, no one can say with absolute certainty you will not suffer any negative effects from vaccinations, now or later. And how do they know with complete confidence that this “inactive strain” will really protect me from the full-blown virus? What if I am an outlier and I contract it anyway?

Ultimately my desire to serve outweighed those fears and I received the essential shots as an adult. Luckily, I didn’t have any bad reactions and was able to serve a full-time mission in beautiful, upstate New York. But the debate I had still lives vividly in my mind.

{LDSL Blog} LDS Living Cooks Zucchini

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:06:00 -0600

by LDS Living staff
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Doubtful that zucchini can make a good addition to old favorites? Our experience says it can be done deliciously. Amid the many berries and other foods bursting forth abundantly during the summer, zucchini can sometimes get neglected. And seeing as how this vegetable tends to burst forth in copious amounts, we began to search for delicious ways to use it. Once we found Brenda Stanley, author of The Zucchini Houdini, we knew our search was over. She agreed to give us some recipes for our July/August 2011 issue. (Click here to see all the recipes.) Encouraged by the recipe titles, we decided to put a few of her recipes to the test – and we got great results.

Zucchini Boats
Kaela Worthen, Associate Editor
It's not often that food with great eyeball and taste bud appeal also happens to be ridiculously easy to make, but this recipe fits the dish. It's an extremely forgiving recipe for those who don't consider themselves competitors for the next season of Top Chef Masters, because you can vary the ingredient amounts infinitely and they'll still come out tasting good. I made a half recipe of everything but used extra zucchini because I love veggies and the full amount of egg (it's hard to use half an egg). You can use minced jarred garlic if you don't have fresh on hand, and regular bread crumbs with Italian seasoning sprinkled in is easier than running out to buy seasoned breadcrumbs you may not use again. (Unless you decide to make this recipe again. Which wouldn't be a bad idea.) Be warned, though--the recipe says it serves eight, but I ate two servings and my male friend ate three, so plan accordingly for your family's needs.

Easy Cream Cheese Zucchini Soup
Erin Hallstrom, Associate Publisher
Confession: I didn't think this soup would taste very good. It only has 3 ingredients (well, 4 if you count water) and it is so easy to make that I thought: "How good could it really be?" Well, I am pleased to say I was very wrong. This is a perfect starter soup for an early fall dinner party or just a light dinner with some bread on the side. It has great flavor and a nice creamy texture. I used the 1/3 less fat cream cheese and didn't think it suffered at all from a lack of flavor. One warning for those of you new to mixing hot things like soup in a blender . . . start your blender on low and then work up to the higher speeds. If you start at a higher speed you may deal with splattered soup all over your kitchen and self. I only share to spare you all from the demoralizing activity of picking out bits of zucchini from your hair.

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies
Jamie Lawson, Managing Editor
If you're a regular reader of LDS Living, you know that I don't really know how to cook or bake. So as a neophyte to using zucchini as an ingredient, I made the mistake of not grating the zucchini more finely. My boys eyed me suspiciously as I began mixing zucchini into what otherwise appeared to be perfectly good chocolate chip cookie dough. (Though the fact that I was baking cookies was suspicious enough since I do it so rarely.) The verdict? It was a mixed bag at my house. My older son wasn't crazy about the combination of cinnamon and chocolate, but my younger son, who is not a fan of veggies in general, loved the cookies, and so did I. They have a light, cake-like texture, and I thought the cinnamon was a nice touch. Aside from a few zucchini pieces conspicuously protruding from the cookies, they were a success.

Artichoke Zucchini Quiche

Kate Ensign-Lewis, Contributing Editor
This recipe calls for 3 cups of grated zucchini. Bleh! Grating rates up there with cutting raw chicken on my list of least favorite cooking chores. So let me take a moment to laud the qualities of the grating attachment of the food processor. In the six years I've owned and loved my Cuisinart, I have never once used that attachment – until I made this. Oh, the hours I've wasted! I had three zucchinis grated in literally 45 seconds. It's a revelation. Because of the processor, I had the quiche ready to go into the oven in about 10 minutes.

As for the recipe, it, too, is a revelation. I was fully expecting it to be lackluster (I haven't had a lot of success with zucchini in the past), but my first bite was amazing, as were the fourth and fourteenth. Even my husband, a self-proclaimed meatophile (he told me to say that) who rarely eats vegetables thought it was delicious. (Although, in the interest of full disclosure, he did say it would be even more phenomenal with bacon – of course). The only change I made was to mince the garlic instead of crush it; I was lazy. I believe I'll be making this again, perhaps with a little bacon to satisfy my meat man.

{LDSL Blog} Common Ground

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:26:00 -0600

by Jamie Lawson
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Politics can be a polarizing topic — even, or perhaps especially, among Latter-day Saints.

With Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman Jr. garnering national attention for their anticipated 2012 presidential runs, it’s almost impossible not to stumble across a news story discussing the impact of the LDS faith in the political arena. And then there are the articles that compare and contrast Romney and Huntsman to determine which “type” of Mormon they are.

At LDS Living, we decided to explore the challenges Mormon politicians face as they serve in public office. While working on this story, entitled “Faith in Politics,” for the July/August issue (click here to read), I had the privilege of interviewing several politicians—Republican, Democrat, and everything in between. Each had his or her own ideas for how to best solve certain issues. And each had his or her own thoughts on how those ideas aligned with gospel principles. It was fascinating to speak with them, and I found that while they all had different approaches, they were all passionate about serving their countries and making the world a better place.

I consider the differing political views of Church members (whether serving in office or not) as being on opposite sides of the same coin. We may be Republican or Democrat, conservative, or liberal, but we all share common ground—love of the gospel. There is so much more that unites us than divides us, and it was refreshing to focus on that for a while.
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{LDSL Blog} These Are a Few of Our Least Fav’rite Words

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 10:30:00 -0700

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: An exercise in confronting word aversion. Being in publishing and writing, many of us are self-proclaimed word nerds. We take great pleasure in finding just the right turn of phrase, discussing poetic word definitions, and sharing our very favorite words.

This passion doesn’t stop at our least favorite words.

In a recent brainstorming meeting, I had the misfortune of using the word “pianist” to describe my planned post on Josh Wright (who is a wonderful piano player). Having never been a fan of that word (in its correct pronunciation, that is), I sympathized with Ashley Evanson, our online editor, when she proceeded to cringe and stick her tongue out. Naturally the meeting digressed into us listing our least favorite words. Here are some of them:

Pianist

Moist (one of the most commonly hated words—there are even several Facebook pages devoted to showing disgust for the word here, here, and here)
Anywho
Corpse
Webinar
Stool
Cuddle
Pubescence
Nestle
Booyah

Oh, so much fodder for teasing one another.

What’s your least favorite word?

Announcing . . . More Blogs!

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:46:00 -0700

by Kate Ensign-Lewis
source: MormonLife.com

As I was finalizing our March/April cover story—which has a good deal to do with food and cooking, two of my greatest loves—I got even more excited about an upcoming development for LDS Living.

See, we’ve been looking to expand our blog options for quite some time, and (after much brainstorming—some productive and some not-so-productive), we’re finally ready to make the plunge. In addition to our LDS Living blog, which will continue to bring you an inside look at experiences we have with our content, TOMORROW you can expect to see new spots for:

1) The Food Dish. This blog will give you the “dish” on food: recipes from readers, recipes from us, musings on food, and other thoughts on this delightful staple of life.

2) Arts & Entertainment. We’ll be giving you the skinny on the best upcoming LDS books and music, our take on current trends in arts and entertainment, and general discussion of the arts (particularly LDS artists).

3) Lifestyle. In addition to our lists and ideas for modest clothing, we’ll include ideas for entertaining, crafting, and design (all trying to keep in mind a decent budget).

4) LDS How-to. Our how-to’s for common Mormon situations, such as how to throw a reception in a cultural hall, how to win the Pinewood Derby, how to help Primary children learn songs, and more.

And, of course, all of these will involve plenty of questions and polls for readers to interact and discuss current issues.

This really is something we have been looking forward to for quite some time.

We’re excited to offer unique content we haven’t really ever had a chance to offer. We’re excited to discover new things about LDS people and culture. Most of all, we’re excited that these blogs will give us the opportunity interact more with YOU.

We only hope you’ll be as excited as we are.

If you have any ideas for these blogs (including well-loved recipes, suggestions for issues we might discuss, or unique how-to’s) please send them to blogs[at]ldsliving.com.

Poll: How Do You Approach Extracurricular Activities on Sunday?

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:05:00 -0700

by LDS Living Staff
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Opinions on what is and is not appropriate on Sunday vary greatly. What do you think about the issue of sports (and other activities) on Sunday? We have been thinking a lot about this question recently. Last week, we brought up a similar debate (watching the Super Bowl and/or having a family party on Sunday), and we also ran a story about two LDS cheerleaders who, like many other LDS youth, chose not to compete on Sunday. Both stories generated passionate response, which made us realize how varied the opinions are on the topic of appropriate Sunday activities. So we wondered: how do you and your family handle extracurricular activities on Sunday?

Most families have to face the question of Sunday competition and/or recitals at some point. Sports, music, dance, debate, and speech competitions all have the possibility to be held on Sunday. Some families have hard and fast rules for the children that no Sunday competition is allowed. Others leave the choice up to the children, sometimes while encouraging them one way or the other.

Sometimes when youth refrain from competition for religious reasons, they are applauded for integrity to their beliefs and encounter few negative consequences. Sometimes the choice results in competition privileges being taken away—and sometimes it can result in criticism or derision. It is a decision that involves many different factors, and it varies as much as the people making the decision do.

So, how do you or your family (or both) handle the question of extracurricular activities on Sunday? Check out our poll below.

Another Idea to Reinvent Your Sunday

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:15:00 -0700

by Dena Kennedy
source: MormonLife.com

Mormon Life says: Last Saturday we ran an article called "10 Ways to Reinvent Your Sunday" (a shortened version of our print article "15 Ways to Reinvent Your Sunday" from the Jan/Feb 2011 issue). But we're still adding to the list. I have an 11th (or 16th, depending on how you look at it) idea of how to reinvent your Sunday!

My friend Suzanne told me of a great Sunday idea the other day--her family loves takeout Chinese food. She calls in a big to-go order from their favorite Chinese place each Saturday night and puts it in the fridge at home. After church, they warm it all up and have their favorite meal together--and no cooking for mom!

Do you have any other revolutionary ideas for simplifying Sunday so you can enjoy the Sabbath?

Why I Will Commit to Seeing a Doctor this Year

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:58:00 -0700

by Erin Hallstrom
source: MormonLife.com

Last November my sister was on a trip-of-a-lifetime to the Middle East. She was 31-years-old and looked and felt perfectly healthy and normal. While visiting one site, a fellow traveler (who happened to be a medical doctor) walked up to my sister and started to feel her neck. After getting over the initial shock of, you know, a new acquaintance touching her neck, my sister sobered when she realized the doctor had good reason for her boldness.

“Have you always had this lump?” the doctor asked.

“Um, no, I don’t think so…”

Long story short, the doctor advised her to get it looked at when she got home. The first week she was home, my sister saw a doctor which led to a biopsy which lead to the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. A few weeks later my sister had surgery to remove her thyroid and soon will be undergoing radiation in an attempt to kill off any lingering cancer cells.

The purpose of me sharing this story is not so you will all feel sad for my sister (although you are perfectly welcome to) but because her experience forced me to think about the very grown-up realities of health and taking care of ourselves.

I am relatively young and to be honest, have never been that concerned with my health. I don’t see a doctor regularly and when someone mentions cancer screening I tune out (which in effect is the same thing as putting fingers in my ears and humming the Battle Hymn of the Republic to myself—turns out my imaginary self is very patriotic.)

I think:

“I am too young for cancer!” (My sister is 4 years younger.)

“I feel great!” (So did my sister.)

“I will know when something is seriously wrong!” (But will it be too late?)

I love the article written for LDS Living’s January/February 2011 issue by our new health expert. Dr. Boud shares practical tips on cancer screening: what to look for, what to get checked, when to start screenings, and how often to get them. I highly encourage everyone to read this article (which is why we published it in full on the website.) As we all know, the earlier cancer is caught the better.

Our family gives thanks every day for a bold doctor’s observant eye and assertive action. Thanks to her, my sister’s cancer was discovered before it became life-threatening.

But here’s the thing folks, my sister had noticed it too. Over the past couple years she had seen a lump in her neck AND thought it had gotten bigger but she excused it away and assumed it was nothing. It wasn’t anything I or any other lay person noticed when you look at her, but she knew and chose to ignore it.

Now I am not trying to scare anybody or promote mass cancer hysteria. All I am saying is this: Stay educated. Go see a doctor now and again. Pay attention to your body. If something looks wrong, check it out. I will if you will. Let’s all stay healthy together okay? Okay.