Memorial Day: Mormons Remember and Honor Ancestors
Memorial Day is a sacred day. It is a day set apart from the others. What is Memorial Day? It is a day to honor and remember those men and women who have died in the armed forces. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently called the “Mormon Church”) have a great desire to remember and honor ancestors—it is one our fundamental beliefs. And so Memorial Day is indeed a day which members of The Church of Jesus Christ (nicknamed “Mormons”) respect, honor, and celebrate. What do Mormons Do to Remember and Honor Ancestors? Individually- Our leaders teach us to not only find out the names and dates of our ancestors, but to find out their stories. Which is why Memorial Day is such a...
Mormons Respond to Oklahoma Tornadoes
On Monday, May 20, a cluster of tornadoes hit several states, the most severe storms hitting Oklahoma. Reports say that at least twenty-four people have died, including several children. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church) sends its deepest condolences to the victims and has already started assisting in the relief effort.[1] These efforts are not unique to the Church of Jesus Christ and are characteristic of the faith’s emphasis on administering to those in need and serving those within the community. The Church of Jesus Christ Is Already Involved in Helping the Tornado Victims Within hours of the disaster, local leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ were in...
Utah Has the Lowest Rate of Unwed Moms
Utah’s percentage of babies who are born to unwed mothers ranks lowest in the nation—just 14.7 percent, according to recent census estimates. In 2011, 35.7 percent of U.S. babies were born to unwed moms—continuing a trend that began in the 1940s. But as for Utah, “situation normal,” said Pam Perlich, a University of Utah research economist. “The biggest driver here is Mormon culture, for sure.” [1] President Gordon B. Hinckley, the late president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church, said: We believe in chastity before marriage and total fidelity after marriage. That sums it up. That is the way to happiness in living. That is the way to satisfaction....
Why Language Immersion Programs in Utah?
Utah is emerging as a leader in school-language initiatives, building “one of the largest and most ambitious programs in the nation.” Given that the state passed an English-only law in 2000 and routinely ranks at the bottom nationally on education spending, Utah may seem an unlikely champion for the cause. But the state’s drive has its beginnings in a tradition of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. “From the beginnings of Utah, it’s been part of our culture, the missionary effort of going out and living in foreign lands,” said Gov. Gary R. Herbert. [1] For generations, members of The Church of Jesus Christ have...
LDS Church Leader Honored for Contributions to Religious Liberty
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “Freedom of religion or Freedom of belief is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any religion.” On the outset, Wikipedia’s definition appears to be an all-encompassing one that should be viewed as equitable by all concerned, as at its core, it basically states that all people are free to believe what they will, and worship, or not worship, as they so desire. If one were to review the First Amendment of the United States Constitution in hopes of...
About Mormons: Why are They a Happier People?
There’s a lot of junk in this world. Pornography, abuse, kidnappings, not to mention each person’s individual trials, including depression and other challenges. And that’s just close to home. Further away, there are wars, government upheavals, famines, outbreaks of various diseases, civil unrest, discrimination; the list could go on. For the most part, though, I am relatively happy. But why? How can I be happy when I turn on the nightly news and hear about kidnapping victims in Ohio or a tragic building collapse in Bangledesh? Or when I call my family and hear about the cousin whose marriage has failed, just the latest in a long line of family tragedies? The answer is twofold: knowledge and action. Knowledge of the...
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