by Charlotte Wilson | Jun 3, 2013 | About Mormons
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church) is well known for its worldwide missionary work. Many people recognize the young missionaries by their nametags and Sunday-best dress. For decades the age for men to enter full-time missionary service was 19, with the women able to serve at 21. Last year, the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ changed the policy so that now young men can leave at 18 and young women at 19. This age change has had a 
swift and significant impact on Mormon missionary service throughout the world. One of those changes is that more Mormon women are opting to serve missions, and that change has had an impact on the Church’s entire missionary program.
Women Now Account for Half of Full-time Mormon Missionary Applications
In October 2012, the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ, President Thomas S. Monson, announced the missionary age change, a change that sent ripples of excitement throughout church membership. Now that women are permitted to serve missions two full years before they otherwise would have been, applications from Mormon women have been flooding the Church’s missionary department. Where a year ago, applications from women constituted only about 15 percent of all incoming applications, today 50 percent of missionary papers are submitted by women. (more…)
by megan | May 29, 2013 | About Mormons
For centuries people have been striving to follow Christ, ever since His mortal ministry on earth. Even before He came to earth, prophets testified of Him, and people believed in Him. Since His death and the death of His apostles, people all across the world identify themselves as Christian: someone who believes in Jesus Christ and follows His teachings.
Mormons Are Christians
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes mistakenly called the Mormon Church, I am also a Christian, the same as members of other Christian faiths such as Baptists or Methodists or Lutherans. I believe in Jesus Christ and strive to follow His teachings. Elder Robert D. Hales, an apostle and leader of The Church of Jesus Christ, explains what it means to be a Christian:
A Christian has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the literal Son of God, sent by His Father to suffer for our sins in the supreme act of love we know as the Atonement. A Christian believes that through the grace of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, we can repent, forgive others, keep the commandments, and inherit eternal life. The word Christian denotes taking upon us the name of Christ (“Being a More Christian Christian,” Ensign November 2012). (more…)
by Lisa M. | May 23, 2013 | Mormons in the News
Delegates from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church—encouraged participants to find common ground with those of different cultures and religions during a recent worldwide conference on religious and cultural dialogue in Skopje, Macedonia. “We are all the children of God. We are all brothers and sisters,” said Manfred Schütze, the head of the 4-member delegation from The Church of Jesus Christ. [1]
The gathering—sponsored by the government of the Republic of Macedonia and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)—brought together government officials, religious representatives and scholars. The world conference, which takes place every three years, focused on three topics: pluralistic societies and religious tolerance, living together by respecting diversity, and the contribution of media to the interreligious and intercultural dialogue. [1]
In addition, delegates from The Church of Jesus Christ emphasized the importance of freedom of worship and fair and accurate news reporting on religion at the World Conference on Dialogue Among Religions and Civilizations. Representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ were active participants at the 2010 and 2007 gatherings as well. [1] (more…)
by Delisa Hargrove | May 23, 2013 | Mormons in the News
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently called the Mormon Church) love recording and retelling stories of the history of the Church.
Scriptural injunctions reinforce the story telling and recording tradition. In latter-day scriptures, the Doctrine & Covenants (a collection of modern revelations), the Lord commands the Church’s history to be written:
I say unto you that it shall be appointed unto him to keep the church record and history continually; Wherefore, it shall be given him, inasmuch as he is faithful, by the Comforter, to write these things. Even so. Amen. (Doctrine & Covenants 47:3-4)
A Legacy of Story Telling
While crossing the desolate plains from Illinois to Utah in the 1840s, my Latter-day Saint (LDS or Mormon) pioneer ancestors’ journals record days of journeying hardships and evenings of singing, dancing, and story telling. Brigham Young, president of the Church during the Mormon migration westward, encouraged Latter-day Saints to gather around the evening campfire and rejoice together. As they constantly recounted the blessings of the Lord in their lives, the difficult journey became increasingly bearable–one day at a time. (more…)
by Lisa M. | May 20, 2013 | About Mormons
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. It brings peace to the heart and peace to the home. [2] (more…)
