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Church Statement on Violations of Proxy Baptism Policy

2012-02-21

Salt Lake City | Tuesday, 21 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

In response to questions about violations of the Church's proxy baptism policy, the Church issued a statement.

Religious Freedom Series, Part 4: Why Religious Freedom Matters to Mormons

2012-02-20

Salt Lake City | Monday, 20 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Religious freedom is both a lesson of Mormons’ history and a principle of their faith. From early American Baptists and Quakers to Catholics, Muslims and Jews, minority religious groups in the U.S. have suffered persecution. Mormons too have at times experienced intolerance. In light of Latter-day Saint history and teachings, Mormons remember that religious freedom is not to be taken for granted.

Wall Street Journal Praises Mormon Welfare Efforts

2012-02-20

Salt Lake City | Monday, 20 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

While marveling at the size of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ new 570,391 square foot Bishops’ Central Storehouse (dedicated at the end of January), Naomi Schaefer Riley, writing in the Wall Street Journal, calls the new edifice “a symbol of strength and self-sufficiency.”

Affinity Fraud a Pernicious Crime, Church Representative Says

2012-02-15

Salt Lake City | Wednesday, 15 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Affinity fraud is a despicable crime plaguing communities by preying "on the weak and unsuspecting," a representative of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) told an anti-fraud conference sponsored by the Utah-based Fraud College.

Church Statement on Jewish Names Entered in Genealogical Database

2012-02-14

Salt Lake City | Tuesday, 14 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

The Church issued a statement today in response to news media requests regarding prominent Jewish names that were entered into the Church's genealogical database.

First Presidency Issues Letter on Utah Precinct Caucus Meetings

2012-02-13

Salt Lake City | Monday, 13 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) has issued a letter to be read in all Utah congregations, which encourages Latter-day Saints to attend their local precinct caucus meetings.

Arizona Invites Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Perform in State’s Centennial Celebration

2012-02-12

Salt Lake City | Sunday, 12 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square joined the state of Arizona in celebrating 100 years of statehood.

Upgrades to the Newsroom Site

2012-02-10

Salt Lake City | Friday, 10 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Today MormonNewsroom.org (previously Newsroom.lds.org), the Church's official website for news media, opinion leaders and the public, has an updated front page.

Elder Maynes Called to Serve in the Presidency of the Seventy

2012-02-10

Salt Lake City | Friday, 10 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) announced that Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Quorum of the Seventy has been called to serve in the Presidency of the Seventy.

10th Anniversary of 2002 Winter Olympics Remembered

2012-02-08

Salt Lake City | Wednesday, 8 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Like many other Utahns, we recall fondly the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Clearly the games were a community effort made possible in large part by the thousands of volunteers that lent their time and talents to welcome the many visitors and athletes to our state. It was a thrill to help support these efforts and those of the organizing committee to make the games a success.

Church Representative to Address Affinity Fraud

2012-02-07

Salt Lake City | Tuesday, 7 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

A Church representative will speak on 15 February at the Fraud College, a Utah-based organization that promotes fraud awareness and education. Michael Otterson, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' (Mormon) Public Affairs managing director, will address the importance of making all people, including members of religious organizations, aware of the dangers of affinity fraud. While senior Church leaders have repeatedly warned against fraud, this is the first time a Church representative has spoken at the Fraud College.

Church Issues Statement on Appeals Court Prop 8 Ruling

2012-02-07

Salt Lake City | Tuesday, 7 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement regarding the decision on Proposition 8 by a federal appeals court in California.

Traditional Christianity and the Latter-day Saints

2012-02-03

Salt Lake City | Friday, 3 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

The issue of whether Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are Christian is not a new one, but the current media climate has caused the question to be revisited in both private and public conversations. No matter the circumstances, the underlying question is an important one and a matter whose implications reach well beyond the momentary news cycle.

Religious Freedom Series, Part 3: Why We Need Religious Freedom

2012-02-03

Salt Lake City | Friday, 3 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Religious freedom, or freedom of conscience, is critical to the health of a diverse society. From its very beginning, the United States has been home to a wide range of religious beliefs.

Mormon Missionary Experience Recounted by Journalist

2012-02-01

Salt Lake City | Wednesday, 1 February 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Being a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) is a positive and challenging experience for the women and men who volunteer. In an interview with the Research on Religion podcast (supported by the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion), Deseret News associate editor Allison Pond discusses her mission to Russia in the late 1990s.

Ancestry Easier to Discover Thanks to Worldwide Genealogy Volunteers

2012-01-31

Salt Lake City | Tuesday, 31 January 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Indexing is something that can be done by anyone, anywhere, at anytime. Volunteers come from all walks of life; the only requirements are a computer with Internet access (though indexing can be done while disconnected as well) and the ability to read cursive handwriting and type what they see.

New Bishops' Central Storehouse Ready to Serve the Needy

2012-01-27

Salt Lake City | Friday, 27 January 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

A new state-of-the-art storage facility is helping The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) more efficiently serve the needs of people who are struggling to feed their families.

Church Representative Speaks at Poynter Institute

2012-01-27

Salt Lake City | Friday, 27 January 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Michael R. Otterson, managing director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addressed journalists at the Poynter Institute’s conference, “Politics and Religion: Getting It Right in 2012," on 8 December 2011.

'On Faith' Blog: Mormons and the Practice of Tithing

2012-01-25

Salt Lake City | Wednesday, 25 January 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Michael R. Otterson, managing director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), dedicated his On Faith blog post this week to addressing the Latter-day Saint practice of tithing.

Dr. Robert L. Millet: A View on Interfaith Respect

2012-01-24

Salt Lake City | Tuesday, 24 January 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

On 12 January 2012 Robert L. Millet, professor of religion and emeritus dean of religious education at Brigham Young University, gave a devotional message about the importance of interfaith outreach.

Religious Freedom Series, Part 2: What Religious Freedom Means

2012-01-23

Salt Lake City | Monday, 23 January 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Religious freedom is a fundamental freedom that runs deeper and reaches farther than many realize. Most Americans know that religious freedom is one of the most basic freedoms guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.

Kansas City Missouri Temple Open House and Dedication Dates Announced

2012-01-19

Salt Lake City | Thursday, 19 January 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) has announced open house and dedication dates for the Kansas City Missouri Temple.

Seminary 100th Anniversary Commemorated in Worldwide Broadcast

2012-01-19

Salt Lake City | Thursday, 19 January 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, will speak at a broadcast on the 100-year anniversary of the Church’s seminary program, where high school age students learn about the Holy Scriptures.

Bishop Burton Joins Leaders to Promote Religious Freedom and Marriage

2012-01-17

Salt Lake City | Tuesday, 17 January 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

Last Thursday, Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, H. David Burton, joined 38 prominent leaders of different faiths in signing a letter advocating traditional marriage and religious freedom.

The letter, titled “Marriage and Religious Freedom: Fundamental Goods That Stand or Fall Together,” stated that “the promotion and protection of marriage — the union of one man and one woman as husband and wife — is a matter of the common good and serves the wellbeing of the couple, of children, of civil society and all people.”

Read the letter’s full contents here.

"On Faith" Blog: Mormons in the Mainstream

2012-01-12

Salt Lake City | Thursday, 12 January 2012 00:00:00 -0700 |

On the “On Faith” blog today, Michael Otterson comments on the study on Mormons released today by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life:

Over the years we’ve learned quite a bit from opinion polls about how Americans view Mormons. Clearly, there is a big knowledge gap about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, complicated by a lot of erroneous assumptions.

But this morning we saw something different with the release of an important study from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which put questions to Mormons themselves about how they see their place in the religious and secular world, and what they think is important about their own faith. It delivers some fascinating data.

Read the full blog post at the Washington Post here

Read the Church's official news release regarding the Pew study