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Emily Jensen updates “Today in the Bloggernacle” every weekday, containing the best of what we've seen from the world of LDS-oriented blog sites.
The extended “Bloggernacle Back Bench” is published Tuesdays.
Wednesday, Nov. 18
Random thankfulness: "I'm thankful for my job." "I love the wonderful weather." "I'm thankful for my minivan." "Lunch, Breakfast, and Dinner, I'm thankful for that." These and other delightful sentiments of gratitude from random New Yorkers fill the new Mormon Messages video "In the Spirit of Thanksgiving." Includes some insightful counsel from Elder Oaks' on thanking the Lord for all things. So "what are YOU thankful for?"
WRI petition: "Support the Women's Research Institute" is the goal of this blog, and, if you are so inclined, you can sign a petition calling for the creation of a Women's Research Council. What's are they proposing? "The Women's Research Council will maintain the symbol of women's studies at BYU and as well as provide for strengthening and streamlining of women's studies across campus units." Click to learn more, and petition signing closes Wednesday night.
Old Testament: You could say this is a postscript to my column yesterday on the Old Testament. The Book of Abraham Project blog has pulled together it's "Old Testament Study Resources" into one convenient post. Find links to "Jerome's text of the OT ... historical info about how the (Pearl of Great Price) came about...an English version of the Holy Qur'an" and many more useful and fascinating links.
Christmas twitpic: Get excited for the coming holiday season with this festive photo heralded by the LDS Newsroom twitter feed. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas on Temple Square! #LDS #Mormon." Gorgeous!
Tuesday, November 17
About suicide: Using counsel from Elder Ballard and linking to helpful resources, the women at Ask a Mormon Woman discuss the question of "What do Mormons Believe About Suicide?" Elder Ballard explains "Obviously, we do not know the full circumstances surrounding every suicide. Only the Lord knows all the details, and he it is who will judge our actions here on earth."
Jan Shipps: If you're in Salt Lake City tomorrow night, make your way over to the Salt Lake City Library for lecture by "Jan Shipps on What Does Religious Studies Bring to the Study of Mormonism?"
Monday, November 16
Strictest parents: "Being on TV is not what I expected. It was better. In January of 2009 the BBC asked us to participate in an English documentary called 'The World's Strictest Parents.'" So explains Nicholeen Peck in "Guest post: the world's strictest parent speaks!" And one her favorite moments: "one thing I will never forget is when James and Hannah both expressed that they thought our family was perfect and that they wanted to have families like ours one day." Click to read more and find a link to watch the show!
Feedback wanted: The LDS newsroom wants you! Why? To "Help us Improve Newsroom.lds.org." The Newsroom has been around for almost a decade and "as the site adapts to the changing needs of journalists and the emergence of social media, we are updating it once again... As we improve the site for news media, bloggers and the other public audiences that it serves, we invite your feedback."
Missouri chronology: What happened June 7, 1831? How about April 16, 1839? Click in to learn the important details about the "LDS Chronology in Missouri 1831-1839." It's fascinating and I can almost guarantee you'll learn many things new.
Happy anniversary: Mormon Soprano just turned 2, making her "A blogging toddler." And I love how she uses "blogging parenting" advice from various outlets to track her milestones.
Friday, November 13
Questions, doubts: "Is it all right to have questions about the church or its doctrine?" So asked President Uchtdorf in last Sunday's CES fireside for Mormon young adults. And then he proceeded to wonderfully answer: "My dear young friends, we are a question-asking people. We have always been, because we know that inquiry leads to truth. That is how the church got its start, from a young man who had questions. In fact, I'm not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions. In the scriptures you will rarely discover a revelation that didn't come in response to a question." Wow! Click to read more and how commenters are discussing his candid response.
Her turn: What do you do when you are a mother suddenly realizing that you are past the newborn stage? Freak out? Rejoice? Or take it in stride: "The water's fine, really." She explains that "It's our turn." For what? To continue the exhilarating ride of motherhood through grade school and beyond, because "Someday, like leaves falling from the family tree, they will scatter." So enjoy the ride.
General conference: Hooray! The "LDS General Conference DVDs and Audio CDs" are now available. Click to find out where.
Thursday, Nov. 12
Phoenix Temple: "I was touched that the members of the opposition side made such a distinct effort to point out that they were in no way opposed to the LDS faith or the members of the LDS community. They simply were opposed to the construction and physical aspect, location, size and lighting of the building itself. I don't know if they realize it, but their willingness to separate the religious side from this debate was a very, very kind gesture." So explains this blogger in his "Phoenix Temple Zoning Meeting Notes." The council ended up approving the temple unanimously.
Honoring veterans: I loved the many posts I found honoring those veterans who courageously served their country. However, I was floored by these "Powerful Monuments to Service." Not only were these photos a stark reminder of those who died, but were beautiful in their depictions of "emblems of belief" on the headstones. Scrolling through, it vividly reminds you that service men and women of all faiths served their countries together. And find the Mormon emblem.
Nondiscrimination ordinances: To get a more inside look at the significance of why the church "declared its support of nondiscrimination regulations that would extend protection in matters of housing and employment in Salt Lake City to everyone," click in to "Church Discusses Support of Nondiscrimination Ordinances on KSL's The Doug Wright Show."
Sharing faiths: Two 7-year-old girls each preparing for a major religious event: one is Mormon, one is Catholic. And yet they share each other's joy and experiences in attending both churches. Read about "My First Communion" and why this Latter-day Saint is so grateful for "our parents being tolerant of the other's religion and teaching us the same. There is a picture of she and I at age 8 in our white dresses, standing in the church parking lot with our arms around each other, the temple is behind us. I love that picture, we look so happy. Today my friend is still Catholic and I am still a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
Wednesday, Nov. 11
Happiest state: If you live in Utah, then enjoy this "Good News: Utah -- The Happiest State." That's according to a recent survey called the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Utah even beat out Hawaii, but just barely. Click to find out more.
No. 1: Did you know a Mormon author currently tops the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestseller List? A few years ago, Brandon Sanderson was chosen to finish Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, following Jordan's untimely death. So Sanderson finished Jordan's most recent work, "The Gathering Storm," and now it sits at No. 1. Congratulations!
Walking instead: "Wherefore, the days will come that no flesh shall be safe upon the waters." I've always been confused about this Doctrine and Covenants scripture. Are the waters so dangerous? Well, in "Walking to Church," James Goldberg wonders that since the Lord "couldn't warn them about cars and have them understand, he tried to teach them that acceleration often includes isolation instead. That always speeding to somewhere else means forgetting where you are." Hat-tip Times & Seasons.
Juvenile Instructor: I loved the format of "The Little Girl and the Sunday School Superintendent: A Story in Four Short Acts." It involves The Juvenile Instructor magazine, spans 40 years and delights in its charming conclusion. Check it out!
Tuesday, Nov. 10
Mormon Messages: "The LDS Church's Mormon Messages channel was just named the 'Best Use of YouTube' at the 2009 Utah Social Media Awards," reports LDS Media Talk. Congrats, Mormon Messages, for this well-deserved honor!
Sesame Street: In honor of the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street, I found this post from a few months ago that wonders about a "Sesame Street Approach to Primary." BiV explains, "The reason I mention Sesame Street in connection with Primary is because I have heard a lot of complaining about how difficult it is for adults who have Primary callings to spend the majority of their church instructional time with the little children. Primary workers often feel a void in their spiritual and social needs, and a Sesame Street approach could help."
Mormon poet: In the same vein of choosing the Great Mormon Novel, this blogger wonders about "Lance Larsen: The Great Mormon Poet?" Here is an example of his work from his poem "Interview" depicting a Mormon missionary: "He wants / to build a church for her out of words, invite her to pass inside."
Stakes discontinued: How many stakes would you guess have been discontinued this year? As of last week, when there was a "Stake Discontinued in Dominican Republic," there have been three. While it's unfortunate when any stake is discontinued, "so far 2009 is shaping out to be the year with the fewest stakes discontinued since 1999 when only two stakes were discontinued. The last year in which no stakes were discontinued was 1997."
Monday, November 9
Miraculous newspaper: Likely you've heard the story of "Henry Ballard's Miraculous Newspaper Delivery." In 1884 in Logan, Utah, two men dropped off a newspaper listing genealogical information for more than 60 people, just three days after the newspaper was printed in England. Ardis E. Parshall intriguingly dissects this story, and finds nothing amiss with it, except one small detail: "The thing is, though, that Henry Ballard's copy of the paper is not housed in the Church History Library" as reported, at least not that anyone's found, it could still be in the collection, somewhere.
Swine flu: "Mormons are often reluctant, whether through zeal or sense of duty, to miss Sunday services." But what if you're sick with a cold, or worse, the flu? This can quickly turn into a health problem, when something like swine flu is going around. So "What is your ward doing about swine flu?"
Here are a few great ideas: "Bishops could explicitly tell people to not come if they are ill. We could podcast services to those who cannot make it to church for health reasons. We could encourage the use of Purell when passing sacrament trays and request that parents with clean hands take bread and water for their children. We could have a lesson on how to use Sundays in a reverent way when one is too sick for church."
Swine flu 2: How are the missionaries handling the swine flu at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah? It's "Still (a) Problem Months Later at the MTC." Why? One MTC missionary reports: "A lot of people are in quarantine, and we are TRYING to stay healthy. It's just hard when we are all in such tight quarters!" But what can you do? As this blogger says, "You can't necessarily put all the missionaries in isolation since not all show signs of the flu and some never get it." Note that missionaries who are sick are supposed to delay entering the MTC, to lessen the spread of sickness.
General conference handouts: Check out Emma's Place for some sweet handouts depicting "Conference Quotes."
Friday, Nov. 6
Worldwide leadership: Tweeted from asoftanswer -- "Materials from some Worldwide Leadership Training meetings are available in multiple languages." Cool, check it out!
New media: "Don't allow confusion to invade your home because the piano and TV are in the same room, causing the TV to be turned louder, the viewers to strain harder to hear and the pianist to hit the keys with extra force." Click to read more do's and don'ts regarding the newfangled television set that was, in the 1950s, the thrilling technology of the time. Similarly to today's Ensign articles that counsel on Internet and social networking sites, this article from the Instructor briefed "Mormon Families on the New Media: Television, 1959" using photos "Illustrating common television-viewing bad habits and the corresponding elements of an 'excellent family entertainment philosophy." Fascinating!
Apostle's diaries: Want an inside look at one of the early apostle's life and times? Then click in to read "Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith." Just from the introduction, it sounds like he was an intriguing and well-loved man: "In its report of the funeral on October 18 the Tribune noted the presence of many non-Mormons at the service. This proved, it stated, 'that John Henry Smith was held in highest esteem outside of his church as well as in it.'" Hat tip to the By Common Consent sidebar and Mormon Church History.
Thursday, November 5
Hugging Joseph: "There was a boy, in the JSB, off a corridor in a small little courtyard area that contained a statue of Joseph Smith. From a way off, I could see this boy looking intently at the statue and just as I passed, he stepped up and hugged it."
And this caused this blogger to wonder "what would compel a person to hug a statue of Joseph Smith?" So begins an unorthodox but sincere testimony of Joseph Smith, titled "Statue of Limitations." And delightfully, the commenters add their own testimonies of the Prophet. So what did she ultimately realize? "In short: love Joseph Smith. Still would not hug his statue."
At last: For anyone who has waited and prayed for a baby, join in the joy of this couple's wonderful feeling of "At Last." This beautiful video montage sweetly and artistically depicts the end of a long wait, and the welcoming of a gorgeous little newborn girl. Thanks c jane, for highlighting this lovely moment.
Mormon filmmakers: "Jared and Jerusha Hess, who wrote (both of them) and directed (Jared) the 2004 independent film 'Napoleon Dynamite' are Mormons. Can we move on now? We cannot. The Hess family's religious affiliation gets brought up in nearly every story about them--which -- are proliferating now that the couple are promoting their new movie, 'Gentleman Broncos.' I don't have any problem with asking people's religion, except that, having raised it, -- nobody seems to know what to make of the fact."
Mormons see this happen over and over again. Check out some interesting insights from beliefnet about "Jared and Jerusha Hess, Your Typical Mormon Filmmakers."
Spiritual promptings: In a beautiful example of communicating with the spirit, Wilford Woodruff was impressed that his little 2-year-old daughter would die before finding out via letter, that she indeed had. His life is truly "an excellent example of forward movement after tragedy." Click to read more of "Wilford Woodruff & The Spirit."
Wednesday, November 4
Baptisms up: "For First Time In Years Baptisms Up 18% in U.S.", at least that's what Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord is reporting that a senior missionary in the Dominion Republic said, quoting Elder Richard Hinckley of the Seventy. Wow! Why the growth? Click to find out.
BBC view: Get a glimpse at what the major British Broadcasting Company thinks of Mormons by clicking into "Religion & Ethics -- Mormonism." I appreciate that the second statement explains that the church is "centred on Christ, but has substantial differences in belief to the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian Churches." Click to read acticles on Mormon "Organisation," or "Rites" and "Beliefs." Hat-tip BCC blog for BBC link.
Conference Wordles: Tease your brain with these "October Conference Wordles", which depict, in word art, some of the talks from last conference. See if you can guess which Wordle fits which talk. Plus I love how Wordles manifest what themes were dominant. Enjoy!
Mormon image: Maybe it was the story, maybe it was the image, maybe it was the temple, whatever it was, this "Mormon (Feminist!) Image: Enter the Temple" touched me. And the conclusion is so spiritually sweet. Click to see for yourself.
Tuesday, November 3
Uganda stake: Although no firm date has been announced, it may be that the "First Stake to be Created in Uganda" will be organized sometime in January. Check out these statistics: "The Church established the first branch in Uganda in 1990 and at the time there were 32 members of the Church in the country. Membership increased to about 1,500 in 1997, 2,598 in 2000 and 4,701 in 2007. In 2008 unprecedented membership growth occurred, with membership increasing by about 2,200 to 6,919 or a rate of 47%."
Mormon studies: Coming this week! "UVU Mormon Studies Conference, November 5 & 6." Listen to presentations from Jan Shipps, Armand Mauss, Matthew Holland and more on the "Outmigration and the Mormon Quest for Education." And mark your calendars or submit a paper for the upcoming "BYU Studies 50th Anniversary Conference, March 12-13, 2010" on the theme "Of things both in heaven and in the earth."
Monday, November 2
Mormon ads: On the heels of the news that an international group recognized a Mormon Homefront ad, I decided to see if there was a place to view recent Mormon advertisements, and what do you know, there is! Enjoy more than 30 "Television and radio messages for families" such as "The Phone Call" or "Ballet" or "Family Harmony." Note: It only worked for me in Internet Explorer.
Temple studies: For the many of us who were unable to attend the "Temple Studies Group Symposium" on "The Holy Anointing Oil" held Saturday in England, David Larson has kindly provided his notes. Lecturers included Margaret Barker, who spoke on "the nature and use of the holy anointing oil in the Temple of Jerusalem"; Laurence Hemming, who spoke on "the anointing with oil in the Roman Catholic Tradition"; and BYU professor John F. Hall, who "talked about Egyptian temple rites and the role of anointing in them and how these traditions may have influenced Israelite practice." Wow, sounds absolutely fascinating!
Simple testimony: "That I love God, that I am grateful for the community of faith in the church, but I don't understand everything and that is ok." This part of "A Simple Testimony" borne yesterday in a fast and testimony meeting is both simple and profound. As she explained, "it is in being vulnerable that we allow ourselves the most growth and I truly feel grateful for multiple communities in which I can be myself. And I did it without passing out or tripping up and down the stairs." Nice.
Friday, October 30
Maine question: The LDS Law blog tackles the big differences of "How Maine Q. 1 is different from Prop. 8." First "same-sex marriage was legalized in Maine through legislative act rather than judicial opinion." Second, "Maine was also prudent enough to delay issuing marriage licenses to gay couples pending the outcome of Question 1." And third, "the LDS Church has not taken an active role in the Maine initiative like it did in California." Hat-tip to DMI Dave for pointing out this measured but fascinating summary.
Halloween history: "On November 1, some Christian faiths celebrate All Saints' Day. Although we don't officially recognize this holiday in the (church) there are some traditions of this day that we have inherited and can have meaning for us." So begins an interesting post that puts "All Saints Day (in) an LDS Context." Did you know that an All Saints' Day hymn is included in the LDS hymnbook? Click to find out more!
Halloween date: It's not often that Halloween falls so serendipitously on a weekend, so maybe you need some "Great Date Ideas: The Halloween Date." Carve pumpkins, dress up as a famous couple or even rent a Halloween movie from the provided list. Enjoy!
Halloween costume: "...to allow it to fall into obscurity would be a crime against the spirit of the holiday, I give you now The greatest Mormon Halloween costume of all time." I really don't think anyone will ever top it.
Wednesday, Nov. 18
Random thankfulness: "I'm thankful for my job." "I love the wonderful weather." "I'm thankful for my minivan." "Lunch, Breakfast, and Dinner, I'm thankful for that." These and other delightful sentiments of gratitude from random New Yorkers fill the new Mormon Messages video "In the Spirit of Thanksgiving." Includes some insightful counsel from Elder Oaks' on thanking the Lord for all things. So "what are YOU thankful for?"
WRI petition: "Support the Women's Research Institute" is the goal of this blog, and, if you are so inclined, you can sign a petition calling for the creation of a Women's Research Council. What's are they proposing? "The Women's Research Council will maintain the symbol of women's studies at BYU and as well as provide for strengthening and streamlining of women's studies across campus units." Click to learn more, and petition signing closes Wednesday night.
Old Testament: You could say this is a postscript to my column yesterday on the Old Testament. The Book of Abraham Project blog has pulled together it's "Old Testament Study Resources" into one convenient post. Find links to "Jerome's text of the OT ... historical info about how the (Pearl of Great Price) came about...an English version of the Holy Qur'an" and many more useful and fascinating links.
Christmas twitpic: Get excited for the coming holiday season with this festive photo heralded by the LDS Newsroom twitter feed. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas on Temple Square! #LDS #Mormon." Gorgeous!
Tuesday, November 17
About suicide: Using counsel from Elder Ballard and linking to helpful resources, the women at Ask a Mormon Woman discuss the question of "What do Mormons Believe About Suicide?" Elder Ballard explains "Obviously, we do not know the full circumstances surrounding every suicide. Only the Lord knows all the details, and he it is who will judge our actions here on earth."
Jan Shipps: If you're in Salt Lake City tomorrow night, make your way over to the Salt Lake City Library for lecture by "Jan Shipps on What Does Religious Studies Bring to the Study of Mormonism?"
Monday, November 16
Strictest parents: "Being on TV is not what I expected. It was better. In January of 2009 the BBC asked us to participate in an English documentary called 'The World's Strictest Parents.'" So explains Nicholeen Peck in "Guest post: the world's strictest parent speaks!" And one her favorite moments: "one thing I will never forget is when James and Hannah both expressed that they thought our family was perfect and that they wanted to have families like ours one day." Click to read more and find a link to watch the show!
Feedback wanted: The LDS newsroom wants you! Why? To "Help us Improve Newsroom.lds.org." The Newsroom has been around for almost a decade and "as the site adapts to the changing needs of journalists and the emergence of social media, we are updating it once again... As we improve the site for news media, bloggers and the other public audiences that it serves, we invite your feedback."
Missouri chronology: What happened June 7, 1831? How about April 16, 1839? Click in to learn the important details about the "LDS Chronology in Missouri 1831-1839." It's fascinating and I can almost guarantee you'll learn many things new.
Happy anniversary: Mormon Soprano just turned 2, making her "A blogging toddler." And I love how she uses "blogging parenting" advice from various outlets to track her milestones.
Friday, November 13
Questions, doubts: "Is it all right to have questions about the church or its doctrine?" So asked President Uchtdorf in last Sunday's CES fireside for Mormon young adults. And then he proceeded to wonderfully answer: "My dear young friends, we are a question-asking people. We have always been, because we know that inquiry leads to truth. That is how the church got its start, from a young man who had questions. In fact, I'm not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions. In the scriptures you will rarely discover a revelation that didn't come in response to a question." Wow! Click to read more and how commenters are discussing his candid response.
Her turn: What do you do when you are a mother suddenly realizing that you are past the newborn stage? Freak out? Rejoice? Or take it in stride: "The water's fine, really." She explains that "It's our turn." For what? To continue the exhilarating ride of motherhood through grade school and beyond, because "Someday, like leaves falling from the family tree, they will scatter." So enjoy the ride.
General conference: Hooray! The "LDS General Conference DVDs and Audio CDs" are now available. Click to find out where.
Thursday, Nov. 12
Phoenix Temple: "I was touched that the members of the opposition side made such a distinct effort to point out that they were in no way opposed to the LDS faith or the members of the LDS community. They simply were opposed to the construction and physical aspect, location, size and lighting of the building itself. I don't know if they realize it, but their willingness to separate the religious side from this debate was a very, very kind gesture." So explains this blogger in his "Phoenix Temple Zoning Meeting Notes." The council ended up approving the temple unanimously.
Honoring veterans: I loved the many posts I found honoring those veterans who courageously served their country. However, I was floored by these "Powerful Monuments to Service." Not only were these photos a stark reminder of those who died, but were beautiful in their depictions of "emblems of belief" on the headstones. Scrolling through, it vividly reminds you that service men and women of all faiths served their countries together. And find the Mormon emblem.
Nondiscrimination ordinances: To get a more inside look at the significance of why the church "declared its support of nondiscrimination regulations that would extend protection in matters of housing and employment in Salt Lake City to everyone," click in to "Church Discusses Support of Nondiscrimination Ordinances on KSL's The Doug Wright Show."
Sharing faiths: Two 7-year-old girls each preparing for a major religious event: one is Mormon, one is Catholic. And yet they share each other's joy and experiences in attending both churches. Read about "My First Communion" and why this Latter-day Saint is so grateful for "our parents being tolerant of the other's religion and teaching us the same. There is a picture of she and I at age 8 in our white dresses, standing in the church parking lot with our arms around each other, the temple is behind us. I love that picture, we look so happy. Today my friend is still Catholic and I am still a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
Wednesday, Nov. 11
Happiest state: If you live in Utah, then enjoy this "Good News: Utah -- The Happiest State." That's according to a recent survey called the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Utah even beat out Hawaii, but just barely. Click to find out more.
No. 1: Did you know a Mormon author currently tops the New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestseller List? A few years ago, Brandon Sanderson was chosen to finish Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, following Jordan's untimely death. So Sanderson finished Jordan's most recent work, "The Gathering Storm," and now it sits at No. 1. Congratulations!
Walking instead: "Wherefore, the days will come that no flesh shall be safe upon the waters." I've always been confused about this Doctrine and Covenants scripture. Are the waters so dangerous? Well, in "Walking to Church," James Goldberg wonders that since the Lord "couldn't warn them about cars and have them understand, he tried to teach them that acceleration often includes isolation instead. That always speeding to somewhere else means forgetting where you are." Hat-tip Times & Seasons.
Juvenile Instructor: I loved the format of "The Little Girl and the Sunday School Superintendent: A Story in Four Short Acts." It involves The Juvenile Instructor magazine, spans 40 years and delights in its charming conclusion. Check it out!
Tuesday, Nov. 10
Mormon Messages: "The LDS Church's Mormon Messages channel was just named the 'Best Use of YouTube' at the 2009 Utah Social Media Awards," reports LDS Media Talk. Congrats, Mormon Messages, for this well-deserved honor!
Sesame Street: In honor of the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street, I found this post from a few months ago that wonders about a "Sesame Street Approach to Primary." BiV explains, "The reason I mention Sesame Street in connection with Primary is because I have heard a lot of complaining about how difficult it is for adults who have Primary callings to spend the majority of their church instructional time with the little children. Primary workers often feel a void in their spiritual and social needs, and a Sesame Street approach could help."
Mormon poet: In the same vein of choosing the Great Mormon Novel, this blogger wonders about "Lance Larsen: The Great Mormon Poet?" Here is an example of his work from his poem "Interview" depicting a Mormon missionary: "He wants / to build a church for her out of words, invite her to pass inside."
Stakes discontinued: How many stakes would you guess have been discontinued this year? As of last week, when there was a "Stake Discontinued in Dominican Republic," there have been three. While it's unfortunate when any stake is discontinued, "so far 2009 is shaping out to be the year with the fewest stakes discontinued since 1999 when only two stakes were discontinued. The last year in which no stakes were discontinued was 1997."
Monday, November 9
Miraculous newspaper: Likely you've heard the story of "Henry Ballard's Miraculous Newspaper Delivery." In 1884 in Logan, Utah, two men dropped off a newspaper listing genealogical information for more than 60 people, just three days after the newspaper was printed in England. Ardis E. Parshall intriguingly dissects this story, and finds nothing amiss with it, except one small detail: "The thing is, though, that Henry Ballard's copy of the paper is not housed in the Church History Library" as reported, at least not that anyone's found, it could still be in the collection, somewhere.
Swine flu: "Mormons are often reluctant, whether through zeal or sense of duty, to miss Sunday services." But what if you're sick with a cold, or worse, the flu? This can quickly turn into a health problem, when something like swine flu is going around. So "What is your ward doing about swine flu?"
Here are a few great ideas: "Bishops could explicitly tell people to not come if they are ill. We could podcast services to those who cannot make it to church for health reasons. We could encourage the use of Purell when passing sacrament trays and request that parents with clean hands take bread and water for their children. We could have a lesson on how to use Sundays in a reverent way when one is too sick for church."
Swine flu 2: How are the missionaries handling the swine flu at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah? It's "Still (a) Problem Months Later at the MTC." Why? One MTC missionary reports: "A lot of people are in quarantine, and we are TRYING to stay healthy. It's just hard when we are all in such tight quarters!" But what can you do? As this blogger says, "You can't necessarily put all the missionaries in isolation since not all show signs of the flu and some never get it." Note that missionaries who are sick are supposed to delay entering the MTC, to lessen the spread of sickness.
General conference handouts: Check out Emma's Place for some sweet handouts depicting "Conference Quotes."
Friday, Nov. 6
Worldwide leadership: Tweeted from asoftanswer -- "Materials from some Worldwide Leadership Training meetings are available in multiple languages." Cool, check it out!
New media: "Don't allow confusion to invade your home because the piano and TV are in the same room, causing the TV to be turned louder, the viewers to strain harder to hear and the pianist to hit the keys with extra force." Click to read more do's and don'ts regarding the newfangled television set that was, in the 1950s, the thrilling technology of the time. Similarly to today's Ensign articles that counsel on Internet and social networking sites, this article from the Instructor briefed "Mormon Families on the New Media: Television, 1959" using photos "Illustrating common television-viewing bad habits and the corresponding elements of an 'excellent family entertainment philosophy." Fascinating!
Apostle's diaries: Want an inside look at one of the early apostle's life and times? Then click in to read "Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith." Just from the introduction, it sounds like he was an intriguing and well-loved man: "In its report of the funeral on October 18 the Tribune noted the presence of many non-Mormons at the service. This proved, it stated, 'that John Henry Smith was held in highest esteem outside of his church as well as in it.'" Hat tip to the By Common Consent sidebar and Mormon Church History.
Thursday, November 5
Hugging Joseph: "There was a boy, in the JSB, off a corridor in a small little courtyard area that contained a statue of Joseph Smith. From a way off, I could see this boy looking intently at the statue and just as I passed, he stepped up and hugged it."
And this caused this blogger to wonder "what would compel a person to hug a statue of Joseph Smith?" So begins an unorthodox but sincere testimony of Joseph Smith, titled "Statue of Limitations." And delightfully, the commenters add their own testimonies of the Prophet. So what did she ultimately realize? "In short: love Joseph Smith. Still would not hug his statue."
At last: For anyone who has waited and prayed for a baby, join in the joy of this couple's wonderful feeling of "At Last." This beautiful video montage sweetly and artistically depicts the end of a long wait, and the welcoming of a gorgeous little newborn girl. Thanks c jane, for highlighting this lovely moment.
Mormon filmmakers: "Jared and Jerusha Hess, who wrote (both of them) and directed (Jared) the 2004 independent film 'Napoleon Dynamite' are Mormons. Can we move on now? We cannot. The Hess family's religious affiliation gets brought up in nearly every story about them--which -- are proliferating now that the couple are promoting their new movie, 'Gentleman Broncos.' I don't have any problem with asking people's religion, except that, having raised it, -- nobody seems to know what to make of the fact."
Mormons see this happen over and over again. Check out some interesting insights from beliefnet about "Jared and Jerusha Hess, Your Typical Mormon Filmmakers."
Spiritual promptings: In a beautiful example of communicating with the spirit, Wilford Woodruff was impressed that his little 2-year-old daughter would die before finding out via letter, that she indeed had. His life is truly "an excellent example of forward movement after tragedy." Click to read more of "Wilford Woodruff & The Spirit."
Wednesday, November 4
Baptisms up: "For First Time In Years Baptisms Up 18% in U.S.", at least that's what Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord is reporting that a senior missionary in the Dominion Republic said, quoting Elder Richard Hinckley of the Seventy. Wow! Why the growth? Click to find out.
BBC view: Get a glimpse at what the major British Broadcasting Company thinks of Mormons by clicking into "Religion & Ethics -- Mormonism." I appreciate that the second statement explains that the church is "centred on Christ, but has substantial differences in belief to the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian Churches." Click to read acticles on Mormon "Organisation," or "Rites" and "Beliefs." Hat-tip BCC blog for BBC link.
Conference Wordles: Tease your brain with these "October Conference Wordles", which depict, in word art, some of the talks from last conference. See if you can guess which Wordle fits which talk. Plus I love how Wordles manifest what themes were dominant. Enjoy!
Mormon image: Maybe it was the story, maybe it was the image, maybe it was the temple, whatever it was, this "Mormon (Feminist!) Image: Enter the Temple" touched me. And the conclusion is so spiritually sweet. Click to see for yourself.
Tuesday, November 3
Uganda stake: Although no firm date has been announced, it may be that the "First Stake to be Created in Uganda" will be organized sometime in January. Check out these statistics: "The Church established the first branch in Uganda in 1990 and at the time there were 32 members of the Church in the country. Membership increased to about 1,500 in 1997, 2,598 in 2000 and 4,701 in 2007. In 2008 unprecedented membership growth occurred, with membership increasing by about 2,200 to 6,919 or a rate of 47%."
Mormon studies: Coming this week! "UVU Mormon Studies Conference, November 5 & 6." Listen to presentations from Jan Shipps, Armand Mauss, Matthew Holland and more on the "Outmigration and the Mormon Quest for Education." And mark your calendars or submit a paper for the upcoming "BYU Studies 50th Anniversary Conference, March 12-13, 2010" on the theme "Of things both in heaven and in the earth."
Monday, November 2
Mormon ads: On the heels of the news that an international group recognized a Mormon Homefront ad, I decided to see if there was a place to view recent Mormon advertisements, and what do you know, there is! Enjoy more than 30 "Television and radio messages for families" such as "The Phone Call" or "Ballet" or "Family Harmony." Note: It only worked for me in Internet Explorer.
Temple studies: For the many of us who were unable to attend the "Temple Studies Group Symposium" on "The Holy Anointing Oil" held Saturday in England, David Larson has kindly provided his notes. Lecturers included Margaret Barker, who spoke on "the nature and use of the holy anointing oil in the Temple of Jerusalem"; Laurence Hemming, who spoke on "the anointing with oil in the Roman Catholic Tradition"; and BYU professor John F. Hall, who "talked about Egyptian temple rites and the role of anointing in them and how these traditions may have influenced Israelite practice." Wow, sounds absolutely fascinating!
Simple testimony: "That I love God, that I am grateful for the community of faith in the church, but I don't understand everything and that is ok." This part of "A Simple Testimony" borne yesterday in a fast and testimony meeting is both simple and profound. As she explained, "it is in being vulnerable that we allow ourselves the most growth and I truly feel grateful for multiple communities in which I can be myself. And I did it without passing out or tripping up and down the stairs." Nice.
Friday, October 30
Maine question: The LDS Law blog tackles the big differences of "How Maine Q. 1 is different from Prop. 8." First "same-sex marriage was legalized in Maine through legislative act rather than judicial opinion." Second, "Maine was also prudent enough to delay issuing marriage licenses to gay couples pending the outcome of Question 1." And third, "the LDS Church has not taken an active role in the Maine initiative like it did in California." Hat-tip to DMI Dave for pointing out this measured but fascinating summary.
Halloween history: "On November 1, some Christian faiths celebrate All Saints' Day. Although we don't officially recognize this holiday in the (church) there are some traditions of this day that we have inherited and can have meaning for us." So begins an interesting post that puts "All Saints Day (in) an LDS Context." Did you know that an All Saints' Day hymn is included in the LDS hymnbook? Click to find out more!
Halloween date: It's not often that Halloween falls so serendipitously on a weekend, so maybe you need some "Great Date Ideas: The Halloween Date." Carve pumpkins, dress up as a famous couple or even rent a Halloween movie from the provided list. Enjoy!
Halloween costume: "...to allow it to fall into obscurity would be a crime against the spirit of the holiday, I give you now The greatest Mormon Halloween costume of all time." I really don't think anyone will ever top it.
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