by Terrie Lynn Bittner | Nov 24, 2012 | Mormons in the News
A group of Mesa, Arizona boys have started a new trend among Mormon boys. A leader for the Mormon teen girls, Jayme Bawden, was looking for something special to show the Mormon girls at their annual conference. She remembered another group of Mormons in her previous church organization who asked the boys to make a video for the girls to watch at this conference. She asked the boys in her new home to do the same and they did. They used a popular song called “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction and created a music video which was shown to the girls at their conference.
The video was very popular with the girls, who were touched that the boys had delivered this message to them. The video ended up on YouTube and other groups of Mormon boys began doing the same for the girls in their own congregations to watch at their conferences and camps. Some added additional features. For instance, in one, the boys were asked what they felt made a girl beautiful. The girls fell silent as they listened to these hard-to-access insights. In many camps, the girls requested the video time and again. (more…)
by Terrie Lynn Bittner | Nov 19, 2012 | Mormons in the News
For Mormons, the Romney campaign offered a complex set of emotions. On one hand, it opened up many opportunities to share their beliefs with others and to help people realize there was more to Mormonism that Brigham Young and the pioneers. The media gradually became better informed about the faith and that helped them write more accurate stories. On the other hand, some people worried that people would assume everything in Romney’s platform was official Mormon doctrine or that people would base their feelings about the church on their feelings about the candidate.
In general, however, most Mormons feel the “Mormon moment” has been beneficial to the Church. It has opened up conversations about the doctrine and made people curious. Curiosity often leads to noticing when Mormons are mentioned as doing something in the modern world, such as serving those in need. The many articles that have appeared in the media have made people aware of beliefs that are not always as different as they might have heard and they have helped people understand the thoughts behind the more unusual beliefs. (more…)
by Terrie Lynn Bittner | Nov 13, 2012 | Mormons in the News
Mormon Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf and his wife Harriet were named Humanitarians of the Year by Catholic Community Services. The organization made the award during their annual dinner in November, 2012. They accepted the award on behalf of their church, which they said was the source of their desire to do humanitarian work. The Uchtdorfs are converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are often called Mormons. Prior to their conversion, they were Lutherans, and President Uchtdorf noted the unusualness of two former Lutherans, now Mormons, who were receiving an award from the Catholics, and also that they are Germans receiving an American award.
The Uchtdorfs are Germans who immigrated to the United States when President Uchtdorf became a full-time church leader. Mormon headquarters are in Salt Lake City, Utah. While most leaders are volunteers who work part-time in their own home areas, apostles are full-time volunteers and must relocate to Utah. (more…)
by Terrie Lynn Bittner | Nov 10, 2012 | Mormon Single Adults
When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are often called Mormons, announced a lowering of missionary eligibility ages for both men and women, many lives were instantly changed. Colleges, which had not known of the change before it was announced, also had to change many of their plans.
Previously Mormon men began their service at age 19. For most, this meant a year of college would be completed before they left. Women, who are welcome to serve missions but are not under the same sense of responsibility to do so, left at age 21, usually after graduating from college. Now, men may leave at 18 if they have completed high school and women may leave at 19. Young adults are not required to leave at the younger age, but may choose to do so if they desire.
Immediately following the announcement, young Mormon adults began sending text messages to schedule meetings with their clergy to begin the paperwork. In the first few weeks, applications increased dramatically. While a typical week netted about 700 applications, the Church began receiving about 4,000 per week, with just over half being women. (more…)
by Terrie Lynn Bittner | Nov 8, 2012 | Mormons in the News
In October, 2012, the University of Virginia announced the first chair of Mormon studies ever to be created in the eastern United States. It is to be named for Richard Lyman Bushman, a Mormon scholar and author who is widely respected both within and outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon is merely a nickname for the people of that faith.
Bushman is noted for his scholarly work in Mormon studies and has written books widely acclaimed outside the Mormon world. He is best known for Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, a book that explored Joseph Smith in-depth and met the high academic standards required of scholars.
The chair was first proposed three years ago as the university noted that the faith was garnering increased attention and should be studied in an academic way along with other major religions. It is establishing the chair as part of its Department of Religious Studies, a department that is not associated with any religion. (more…)
