by ashley | Nov 8, 2012 | About Mormons
Does a culture determine what kind of food you eat? Of course it does! For many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes mistakenly called the “Mormon Church”) there is a certain way of cooking, a certain culture.
When Mormons gather together for parties, celebrations, funerals, etc. there is usually food. At these functions, people sign up to bring various dishes, sometimes with prescribed recipes, and other times “pot luck.” Typically the way it is organized is that when somebody signs up for an assignment they bring a lot of what ever they signed up for, be it a salad, main dish, dessert, or whatever (this idea makes my family dinners a lot less stressful on my parents when they host for their kids and grandkids)! Because Mormons tend to have large families, many recipes are family-oriented, things the kids will like, and easy on the budget. Many Mormons use whole grains and other healthy ingredients, and food they have stored for emergencies. (more…)
by Keith L. Brown | Nov 7, 2012 | About Mormons, Meet Some Mormons
It’s not unusual for President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS) to talk lovingly of his homeland, Germany. But when he was presented the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on October 30, 2012, he was surprised and humbled to “receive this unexpected distinction.”
The award is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is given as a tribute to those who have achieved exceptional accomplishments of service, charitable work and distinctive social, political and scientific contributions.
German Consul General Dr. Bernd Fischer presented the award and praised President Uchtdorf for his lifetime of service and leadership, according to an article in the Deseret News. (more…)
by miranda | Nov 6, 2012 | About Mormons
Last week my eight-year-old son, Mason, was baptized by my husband, Greg. Mason is now a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or as most people call us—Mormons or Latter-day Saints (LDS).
It was one of those special, emotional, spiritual moments that we wish would pour down on our lives, but normally are more like the desert rains—less frequent but bringing great beauty and refreshment.
We Mormons wait to baptize our children until they can begin to be accountable for their actions. The youngest a child may be baptized is eight, and this is pretty standard for most LDS families, although I knew other children growing up who were baptized later, as their family felt comfortable. (more…)
by ashley | Nov 1, 2012 | About Mormons
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes mistakenly called the “Mormon Church” by friends of other faiths) is politically neutral; members can choose which political stance they feel is best. While political liberal Harry Reid is prominent in Washington, conservative Mormon Mitt Romney is in the presidential race. During each Presidential election there is a Republican National Convention—but this year it was cut short because of Tropical Storm Isaac knocking at their doors. So what did the Utah delegation do during this time? They did what is typical of their state’s Mormon majority—they served! During this political gathering, they focused on the needs at hand and assembled 1,000 hygiene kits to be distributed by LDS Church (see Deseret News). Was this something done to get attention by the media? No way. Just your typical Mormon way of doing things.
Mormons believe that as human beings, we should be our “brothers’ keepers” (Genesis 4:9). Which is why there are so many Mormons gathering in efforts to serve others. How do we do it? Here is an example of an e-mail sent to a local Relief Society (the women’s organization in the LDS Church): (more…)
by ashley | Oct 26, 2012 | About Mormons
Are Mormons a Cult? No.
For decades people have bashed on the Mormons, or more properly labeled members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, by calling this Christian religion a cult. Fortunately the truth is coming out, and many are coming to learn the truth of the LDS religion—simply put, that they are normal people living normal lives, aka not a cult. Yet still there are many under the delusion that Mormonism is a cult.
James T. Summerhays wrote an article in Meridian Magazine titled, “Seven Reasons Why the Mormon Faith is Not a Cult” published on 12 Oct. 2012. Summerhays explains the stigma behind the term cult, and teaches the reader why Mormons do not deserve the title. Below are excerpts from his seven reasons: (more…)
by Terrie Lynn Bittner | Oct 23, 2012 | About Mormons
Twice a year, Mormons hold a General Conference, giving them an opportunity to hear from their leaders. The conference is broadcast worldwide and over the Internet. The transcripts and video recordings are made available on the Mormon website after the conference, as well. Mormon is a nickname sometimes used to describe members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Conference is held in Salt Lake City, Utah each April and October. Salt Lake City became the Church headquarters after the Mormons settled there following intense persecution that included murders in the 1800s. Since that time, the Church has become world-wide.
Members who have tickets come to the conference dressed as they would dress for church—suits for the men and dresses for the women. The conference is held on Saturday and Sunday both, with some special sessions, such as one for women, held at other times close to the conference date. Ticket holders generally attend just one session in order to give as many people as possible an opportunity to attend. (more…)
