Mormon Life - Other Faiths tag

Mormon softball team banned from Christian league

Thu, 24 May 2012 07:58:00 -0600

source: wpxi.com

Mormon Life says: Sad news. Members of one church were told they weren't allowed to participate in a Mercer County softball league because of their beliefs.

Players from Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints church in Slippery Rock said they were told they couldn't participate in the Grove City Area Church softball league because they're Mormon.

Church leaders join in Pacific freedom of religion conference

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:36:00 -0600

source: Newsroom.lds.org

Mormon Life says: Though the Church is a minority in the Pacific Islands, leaders were invited to discuss managing religious diversity. Elder James J. Hamula joined Samoa’s head of state and leaders of other faiths last week in the first “Managing Religious and Cultural Diversity in the Pacific” conference at the National University of Samoa in Apia.

In remarks directed to fellow conference delegates, Elder Hamula, who is the Pacific Area President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, “It is contrary to the interests of all religious faiths to have any one religious faith restrict or limit another religious faith. Further, it is contrary to the doctrines and beliefs of the Christian faiths that prevail in the Pacific to restrict or limit others from believing what they wish.”

The New Yorker weighs in on 'Latter-day' politics

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:52:00 -0600

source: newyorker.com

Mormon Life says: The author says Romney presents the opportunity to discuss the "utterly American" story of Mormonism and how it contributes to America's ongoing story. What is wrong with talking about Mormonism when talking about Mitt Romney and his run for the Presidency? On CNN last Sunday, David Axelrod, President Obama’s strategist, promised that his campaign did not consider Romney’s faith “fair game.” The implication, there, is that Mormonism is a weak point to be exploited—a card that one would only expect the Obama team to play from the bottom of the deck. And given that suspicions about Mormonism are widely thought to have cost Romney votes in the South, there may be good reasons for thinking so. Romney has also said, rightly, that some matters of faith are properly private. It might be that, in the interest of civility and electoral prudence, neither Obama nor Romney can initiate a conversation about what it means to be Mormon in this country. But perhaps the rest of us should, because the story is complicated, fascinating, and utterly American.

Famed atheist supports placing Bibles in public schools

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:39:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: He says he wants to do it because reading it is the best way to disprove it, but it's still an interesting development. Atheist Richard Dawkins says he supports the Department for Education's drive to make sure every public school in the nation has a copy of the King James Bible.

"A native speaker of English who has never read a word of the King James Bible is verging on the barbarian," said Dawkins in a column for The Guardian.

Do Mormons really want recognition as a 'mainstream' religion?

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:20:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: Review of an article that says, in part, "great days have unexpected consequences." To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who view Mitt Romney's successful campaign for the Republican presidential nomination as a significant step toward acceptance of the church as a mainstream American religion, respected Harvard professor Noah Feldman has these words of caution: "Be careful what you wish for."

In early 2008, Feldman, a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard, wrote a long essay in the New York Times titled "What Is it About Mormonism?" in which he speculated that "the soft bigotry of cultural discomfort may stand in the way of a candidate whose faith examplifies values of charity, self-discipline and community that we as Americans claim to hold dear."

Defending the Faith: 'Parallels' of prophets not parallel

Fri, 18 May 2012 07:30:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

From time to time, some triumphant atheist or other challenges me with a list of supposed parallels between the biblical depiction of Jesus and the stories of other important religious figures (mythical or historical), such as Krishna, Tammuz, the Buddha, Muhammad, Mithra, Cadmus, Osiris and Baal.

The biographies of these characters are said to resemble each other right down to minute details: They commonly if not always came into the world via a virgin's immaculate conception; were born on Dec. 25; were adored as infants by angels, shepherds and visiting sages; performed miracles; taught New Testament doctrines; were regarded as divine; were crucified; atoned for human sin; descended into hell; rose again from the dead; and ascended into heaven.

The point of the list, of course, is to suggest that the story of Jesus is merely fictional, probably derived from myths about the death of vegetation in the winter and its miraculous rebirth in the spring.

New guide advises Evangelicals on how to talk to Mormons

Fri, 11 May 2012 08:25:00 -0600

source: sltrib.com

Mormon Life says: An Evangelical preacher says understanding the LDS faith isn’t just about being nice, it’s a Christian mandate. He's even written a new book on it. Richard Mouw never intended to start a riot within the Evangelical community by saying his fellow believers had "sinned against Mormonism." But that’s exactly what happened.

Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., had been meeting regularly with LDS scholars before he gave a seven-minute introduction of Ravi Zacharias, an Evangelical speaker who addressed a packed audience in the Mormon Tabernacle in November 2004.

Mormonism and Its History—Past, Present, and Future

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:33:00 -0600

source: mormonmatters.org

Every religion has many dilemmas when it comes to its history. How does a group incorporate the idea of a God or Universal force or will that acts in the development of that group and/or the unfolding of world events when such things are not acceptable claims in academic disciplines? How does a tradition balance the doing of history for the purposes of community and faith building through the creation and maintenance of a shared story with other ideals, such as telling the truth about missteps and all the humanness and frailties that are also present in each event? Should a religion’s history be told primarily in terms of what its founders and leaders do, or should the focus be on how it is received and lived among adherents in different social situations? What is a group’s responsibility toward making records and documents public that were originally intended only for private purposes?

Modesty, faith often cut from the same cloth

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:32:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Modesty — so often interchangeable for "frumpy" in an ultra-modern age — is still a widely held conviction for many faiths. Parents of any faith who try to instill an appreciation for modesty must fight against the cultural tide preaching an opposing message.

Many cultures work to preserve modesty. The GMA Network recently reported on "The Beauty of Modesty" at an Islamic fashion show, saying, "The festival was able to establish Islamic fashion’s presence in the global arena, and it enticed Muslims and non-Muslims alike to take interest in the often overlooked ensemble. …

LDS student says Catholic school helped her grow

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:18:00 -0600

source: catholicsentinel.org

Rachel Wozniak, an eighth grader at Christ the King School here, will speak to fellow graduates about how the school changed her life. This is a theme that was echoed by Elizabeth Condie, another eighth grader, earlier this year at the Endowment Luncheon. They are friends who came from different paths but both say the Milwaukie school prepared them to excel and grow in compassion.

Public displays of faith: Do they affirm faith or trivialize it?

Wed, 09 May 2012 10:23:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

For many of the 100,000-plus in attendance at Penn State's spacious Beaver Stadium that crisp November day, it was one of the most enduring images of the 2011 college football season: a pre-game gathering of uniformed players and coaches from both the Penn State and Nebraska teams in the center of the football field, kneeling and holding hands in prayer.

The storied Penn State football program was awash in a firestorm of scandalous news reports involving long-time assistant coach Jerry Sandusky and allegations of child abuse. Legendary coach Joe Paterno had been fired just a few days before the game, and it seemed that the place known as Happy Valley was reeling with an emotional mix of anguish, angst and righteous indignation.

Would America elect a Mormon?

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:50:00 -0600

source: chicagotribune.com

Mormon Life says: Over the years, political prejudice for every religion has almost disappeared with the exception of Mormonism, which has actually risen. Why? For most of American history, voters wanted their president to be white, Protestant and male. But such prejudices have eroded — dramatically, in some cases. The last Democratic presidential primary contest was between an African-American and a woman — two groups that many voters once ruled out for the presidency.

While a sizable share of voters still would refuse to support any gay or atheist candidate for president, those numbers also have dropped significantly, according to the most recent Gallup poll on the subject. But in a trend that may prove troubling to Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, nearly one-fifth of voters surveyed nationwide told Gallup last year that they would not support a Mormon for president — about the same as when Romney's father, George, ran for president more than four decades ago.

I Choose to Be Pure

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:54:00 -0600

source: youtube.com

Mormon Life says: Young adults from six different faiths share why they choose to be sexually pure.

Change lowers LDS Church growth rate

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:40:00 -0600

source: sltrib.com

Mormon Life says: This might technically be true, but according to the researchers from the Religion Census, "It's no big deal." If you suspected the newly released U.S. Religion Census overstated the LDS Church’s growth rate, you were right. That’s because, this time around, the Utah-based faith changed the way it reported its membership to the researchers.

The once-a-decade study was assembled by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, which included self-reported data on adherents for 153 participating bodies.

Religion census reveals substantial LDS growth

Wed, 02 May 2012 08:02:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: The maps and graphs are the best part. At a time when major religious groups around the United States are experiencing significant declines in membership, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to grow substantially, according to the 2010 decennial U.S. Religion Census released today by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies.

The findings, released today in Chicago during the annual meetings of the Associated Church Press, show that while Catholic churches reported a 5 percent decline in membership during the decade that ended in 2010 and mainline Christian denominations reported a 12.8 percent decline during the same time period, the LDS Church reported growth of 45.5 percent.

The number of adherents to the Muslim faith in the United States grew by 66.7 percent.

U.S. religions, by the numbers

Wed, 02 May 2012 08:00:00 -0600

source: sltrib.com

Mormon Life says: Numbers according to the U.S. Religion Census. Total number of religious adherents nationwide » 150,686,156

Percentage of total U.S. population »48.8

Religions by percent of U.S. population, 2010:

To Mormons: Take care - you just might be someone's 'Mormon friend'

Wed, 02 May 2012 00:05:00 -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. In this Mormon moment, she says, it's important to realize that non-Mormons might look to you to answer questions - and take what you say as gospel.

There’s no shortage of pronouncements on what Mormons believe, ironically from people who aren’t members of the LDS Church; many who have skewed information. It has become evident that Mormonism is a trending topic and there is amplified interest in all things Mormon. This provides a great opportunity for members of the Church to set things straight.

There’s one thing I’ve noticed that contributes to the problem . . .

Some nonmembers feel like they have a solid grasp of the material—LDS Doctrine—if they’ve had a question answered by a member, an insider, a real Mormon. Someone they refer to as their “Mormon friend.”

One innocuous question + One acquaintance who happens to be LDS + One heavily weighted answer = One nonmember’s perception of the entire faith. The answer to ONE question can define Mormonism for a person; paint a vivid picture in someone’s mind—sometimes in the right palette, but often not.

For example, last year while I was in a casual conversation with acquaintances in another state, the topic shifted to the fact that I live in Utah. Predictably, things segued to Mormonism. Comments were benign until one woman said, “Mormons don’t celebrate Easter.” The implication was that Mormons don’t acknowledge the resurrection story. Naughty! How did she know this titillating factoid? Her reply was, “I asked my Mormon friend.”

I’ve had a handful of similar conversations. From my limited vantage point, I bet that the “Mormon friend” has no idea they’re referred to as such, nor are they likely aware that a simple comment like, “Our family doesn’t color eggs for Easter,” is heard as a doctrinal statement. When I’ve prodded someone about his or her “Mormon friend,” the relationship sounds more fringe or token than actual. (This isn’t to say that interfaith friendships aren’t genuine. Not the point of this piece.)

Nonmember confusion continues to surround LDS weddings (sealing ceremonies versus receptions), a nonmember’s ability to attend a sacrament meeting versus visit the temple, and the length of Sunday services. I’ve heard, “Only Mormons can attend their weddings,” “You have to convert before you can visit an LDS Church,” or “They go to church ALL day on Sunday—like eight hours.” A simple comment made by someone’s “Mormon friend” taken out of context has fueled these misconceptions.

People talk. Politics and religion are the topics right now. I’ve heard amusing as well as insulting comments from nonmembers as they attempt to share their knowledge of the LDS Church beliefs and practices. And, yes, I do my part to correct a misunderstanding or encourage someone to dig a little deeper for bona fide information.

I’m not a Mormon scholar, nor are most of my LDS friends. Although I’ve received a lot of great—and accurate—explanations from my LDS friends, occasionally I’ve experienced slightly different or conflicting answers to the same question from different people. That’s how I found and researched LDS.org and Mormon.org. I know I’m preaching to the choir when I compliment the approachability, ease of use, and tremendous information source these sites provide. For all—members and nonmembers.

The way I see things:

1. Mitt Romney, John Huntsman, and numerous mainstream celebrities who are members of the LDS Church are all contributing to heightened interest in Mormonism. The spotlight is growing.

2. Now more than ever, nonmembers are curious and comfortable asking questions. This is THE TIME to dissolve myths and misunderstandings.

3. If a nonmember—even a person you know very casually at the office, or who lives three blocks away in your Midwest, Protestant neighborhood— asks you a question, recognize that they are listening. (No pressure!)

4. Tell someone about the safe (free, anonymous access), informational websites, that even members visit (not everyone is a religious scholar).

5. An authentic interfaith friendship, where conversation flows, is not what I’m referring to. Someone whose name you may not remember, might reference a forgettable (for you) conversation you had with them, and proudly proclaim that they know the “real deal” about Mormonism because . . . they asked their Mormon friend.

It’s time to bone up on your facts, or graciously admit you’re not sure and will look something up when asked a question about the Church. Or refer people to the terrific websites. You just might be someone’s Mormon friend.

For more of Chrisy's articles about experiencing life as a non-Mormon among Mormons, click here.

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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.

Churches use apps, websites and social networking to extend their reach

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:48:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Churches in America are stepping up their efforts to reach out to people by using ultra-modern tools that reflect the direction most Americans are already going. USA Today reports that believers have historically been early adopters of the latest technology to reach beyond the four walls of church buildings.

From the printing press to the radio and television to iPhone apps, religion is working to keep up with how people communicate. Some churches have even rejected a traditional brick-and-mortar type of centralized location, opting instead for Internet-only gatherings.

Mormon organist shares talents with Catholic church

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:52:00 -0600

source: chron.com

Ben Crandall gently lifted the hand-carved top off the cherry-wood organ and laid it to the side. He reached in and pulled two flutelike tubes from the 165 wood and metal pipes inside.

He took out another smaller pipe and used a knife to gently scrape antimonial lead off the bottom. He was tuning his creation. "You have to be gentle. Too much, and you change the sound," he said.

Crandall, 36, of Sugar Land, built the portable pipe organ from his mind's eye - converting his vision to reality for the St. Helen Catholic Church in Pearland.

A female Episcopal priest visits a Mormon temple

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:47:00 -0600

source: huffingtonpost.com

Mormon Life says: This is a beautiful, honest experience of a priest who visited the Kansas City Temple open house. Her message is one to share with others. As I stood in front of the new Mormon Temple in Liberty, Mo., it struck me as ironic that close to 175 years ago, Mormons were forced out of this same state.

Whereas the Missouri public once urged their governor to force Joseph Smith and his followers out of the area surrounding Kansas City, Mormons began to return to the region in the 1900s, eventually gathering in such large numbers that the Church organization decided the region needed a temple.

Which is why I came to visit.