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Spirit of Mormon Pioneering Lives On

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 23 Jul 2008 | Out of curiosity, Andrew Zillale stopped an American couple on a street in Tanzania inquiring why they were in Africa. Little did he know then that this chance meeting with missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1993 would lead to him becoming a modern-day Mormon pioneer. When Zillale met senior missionary couple Keith and Claudia Davis from Victor, Idaho, he was intrigued by what they said about the Mormon belief concerning eternal families. Having lost his mother while he was a teenager, he wanted to know more.

Chatting With a Prophet 'Round the Spit 'n' Shine

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 22 Jul 2008 | CBS Television's Utah affiliate, KUTV 2, reported yesterday on an informal meeting between world leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Thomas S. Monson, and reporter Ron Bird. Their conversation took place as they had their shoes shined.

Free Access to Censuses Makes Family History Research Easier

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 21 Jul 2008 | FamilySearch announced today that it is joining forces with other major online historical records Web sites — including Ancestry.com and Findmypast.com — to make significant U.S., English and Welsh census record collections more freely available online.

Church Family History Records Lead to Groundbreaking Genetic Research

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 18 Jul 2008 | Utah is leading the world in genetic research because of the Utah Population Data Base (UPDB), a unique combination of state vital statistics, other medical profiles and genealogical records from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "More human disease genes have been discovered in Utah than in any other place in the world," explained Ray Gesteland, vice president for research and a genetics professor at the University of Utah. That's because the Church's family history records provide invaluable information to a host of University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute researchers involved in genetic data studies. The records tying one family to another and yet another provide a resource to medical personnel attempting to tie a genetic marker or cluster of markers to another generation.

Church Seeks to Address Public Confusion Over Texas Polygamy Group

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 17 Jul 2008 | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took steps today to better inform the public about differences between the Salt Lake City-based church and the polygamous group in Texas that calls itself the FLDS.

Why Is a Mormon Excommunicated?

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 16 Jul 2008 | Periodically the news media gives extensive coverage to a high-profile case of a Mormon being excommunicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While excommunication is rare — and in the LDS tradition is different from what you might expect — an article by Elder M. Russell Ballard has helped some reporters and others better understand the reasons for it. We encourage journalists, bloggers and others who write about excommunication, or other Church discipline, to read this article to better understand why the Church sometimes takes this action.

Taiwan's President Recognizes Mormons' Contributions to Society

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

TAIPEI, Taiwan | 16 Jul 2008 | Taiwan's president, Ma Ying-jeou,recently lauded the contributions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, saying that its missionaries have helped instill positive values in society. Ma said, "I was moved by church founder Joseph Smith striving to spread his faith despite opposition and persecution in the early days of the church development." Ma added that religious freedom should be upheld.

Mormons Mentor in Many Fields

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 15 Jul 2008 | The faces that sit across from Joseph Kelly are all too familiar. The heavy eyes, frustrated facial expressions and clenched jaws can only mean one thing — a new semester has started at Brigham Young University, and each student opposite of Kelly is taking Chemistry 105.

It's One of the Best Kept Secrets

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

VALENCIA, California | 15 Jul 2008 | As part of theBlack in America series airing on 23-24July, CNN has launched an online series titled I Am which seeks to break through stereotypes by highlighting individuals who have ignored racial barriers and injustices. Marvin Perkins, an AfricanAmerican member of the Church, participated in this series.

Missionaries Help Save Life

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

NOLLAMARRA, Australia | 13 Jul 2008 | Two missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints assisted in saving a pregnant woman's life when she was being attacked by a man in Nollamarra, Australia. After getting the attacker away, the missionaries were able to get the victim to safety as the police retrieved the man. One of the missionaries said they are not trained for such situations but are always looking for ways to render service.

Spanish Speakers Have Greater Access to Records on FamilySearch

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 11 Jul 2008 | FamilySearch's indexing system is now available in the Spanish language, giving Spanish speakers easier access to an enormous collection of family history resources. Familysearch, a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, contains the world's largest repository of genealogical records.

Proportion and Perspective on Polygamy Reporting

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 10 Jul 2008 | On 26 June, Newsroom published a package of information featuring profiles of ordinary Latter-day Saints in Texas. With no other intention but to define themselves, these members provided a tangible depiction of what their faith is all about. They serve as the best distinction between the lifestyles and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Texas-based polygamous group that has recently attracted media attention.

BYU Ballroom Dancers to Participate in Olympic Cultural Festival in China

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 10 Jul 2008 | The championship Brigham Young University Ballroom Dance Company recently returned from a three-week performing tour in China, including an invitation to participate in the Olympic Cultural Festival, an international celebration prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Grand Enterprise of Mormonism

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 8 Jul 2008 | Of all the institutions in the modern world that have learned the art of give and take with the news media, religion has perhaps had the most difficult time adjusting. Religious matters, with all their miraculous narratives and complicated histories, don't easily lend themselves to neat explanations. The demands and rigors of journalistic objectivity are not always aligned with the subjective nature of religious experience. So it is with Mormonism.

New Temples Open in Panama and Idaho

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

SALT LAKE CITY | 7 Jul 2008 | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will dedicate new temples in Panama City, Panama, and Twin Falls, Idaho, this summer bringing the number of operating temples worldwide to 128.