News from Utah
Mormon Tabernacle Choir marks 100th anniversary
One hundred years ago Wednesday the Mormon Tabernacle Choir recorded its first album. Now 175 albums, five gold records, two platinum records and a Grammy later, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has been recording longer than any other recording artist in the United States. "Just think - we've been...
Family history center at Utah State Prison thrives
As part of his platform in running for president of the United States, Joseph Smith called for prisons to be "turned into seminaries of learning." He said, "Rigor and seclusion will never do as much to reform the propensities of man as reason and friendship." In that spirit, perhaps the Prophet...
Major changes at the Deseret News announced
The Deseret News announced today work force reductions and unveiled a plan to refocus the quality and reach of its product. "Changes in the industry have forced some newspapers to fade or even close," said Clark Gilbert, Deseret News CEO and president. "At the Deseret News, we choose to lead and...
President Samuelson: BYU remains strong amid economic challenge
BYU’s future among its peers and within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is secure because of strong support from the university’s Board of Trustees, President Cecil O. Samuelson told faculty, staff and administrators last week. “[M]y conviction about BYU and its vital place in the...
Gov. Gary Herbert implies Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon would end seminary
The governor's race continued to heat up Thursday with the suggestion that the Democratic candidate, Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, wants to do away with release time in public high schools for Mormon seminary classes. GOP Gov. Gary Herbert already sparked controversy earlier this week by...
Elder Oaks to keynote Constitution forum in SLC
LDS general authority Dallin H. Oaks will be the keynote speaker at a Constitution Day event next month sponsored by the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics. Oaks, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is a former Utah...
Deseret News introduces new Editorial Advisory Board
Today we are introducing a new Editorial Advisory Board. The advisory board provides a collection of thought leaders from here in Utah and around the country. They include faculty from great universities, a former senator, prominent political advisers, community activists, educators and...
Elder Ballard dedicates Mormon Battalion plaza
Brigham Young pledged that the Mormon Battalion would be held "in honorable remembrance to the latest generation." Now, those 500 Mormons who enlisted in 1846 as U.S. Army soldiers in the war with Mexico are honored at This Is the Place Heritage Park, the Emigration Canyon location where the LDS...
LDS apostle blogs — along with other Mormons — about faith’s future
As in the past, the LDS Church does not plan to join in ecumenical dialogue but will continue to work with like-minded faiths on humanitarian projects and in defense of religious liberty, Mormon apostle Quentin L. Cook wrote recently in a one-of-a-kind online essay. Cook did not get the final...
Judges rule in favor of atheist group; Utah highway crosses for fallen troopers unconstitutional
The white, roadside crosses that currently memorialize the deaths of 14 Utah Highway Patrol troopers are unconstitutional, government endorsements of religion on public lands, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday. "We hold that these memorials have the impermissible effect of...
Apostle's blog may be a first
A Mormon apostle recently used a unique avenue to share a gospel message. Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Michael Otterson, managing director of the church public affairs department, both contributed a blog post to Patheos.com last week. Editors from the website,...
Mormon President Monson to celebrate 83rd birthday this weekend
Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is celebrating his 83rd birthday Saturday, Aug. 21. "President Thomas S. Monson will celebrate his 83rd birthday eating cake with his fellow church leaders. A private family celebration will be held in the evening,"...
Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper denied request to be tried outside of Utah
Brian David Mitchell, accused of kidnapping Elizabeth Smart, will be tried in Salt Lake City. At least, that's the plan for now. U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball on Monday issued a 22-page decision regarding whether the trial for the former street preacher, scheduled to start Nov. 1, should...
Thousands flock to BYU for Campus Education Week
Though school is not in session, crowds flooded the sidewalks and filled classrooms at BYU on Monday as another year of the university's Campus Education Week got under way. With more than 200 presenters teaching more than 1,100 classes, students of all ages gathered on the campus to continue...
A look at BYU's animation center
As can be expected of any fan of film and animation, R. Brent Adams' office at BYU is covered with movie posters. The combination of films featured on the posters, including "Star Wars: Episode III," "Shrek," "The Prince of Egypt" and the recent remake of "King Kong," though somewhat eclectic, is...
