by megan | Jul 31, 2013 | About Mormons
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir represents The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes referred to as the Mormon Church. The Choir is based in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, and was established almost as soon as the wagons stopped rolling in the Salt Lake Valley. When the Choir was first started in 1847, it consisted of only a few voices; now, the Choir numbers 360 Latter-day Saint voices.
History of the Choir
Brigham Young, second president of The Church of Jesus Christ, directed a small choir to be formed soon after the Latter-day Saints arrived in the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1847. This choir performed for the Church’s first general conference, or church-wide worship meeting, in the Salt Lake Valley. Since then, the Choir has continued to grow and perform for the Church and the world. (more…)
by megan | Jul 30, 2013 | About Mormons
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church, has been officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America since 1913, just three years after the BSA program was introduced in the United States in 1910. This year, The Church of Jesus Christ celebrates its 100-year long partnership with the BSA by launching two new exhibits in the Church History Museum, located in downtown Salt Lake City. The two exhibits, “American Originals: Norman Rockwell and Scouting” and “A Good Turn Daily: 100 Years of Scouting and the Aaronic Priesthood,” are intended to highlight both the history of the Boy Scout program and the Church’s long-standing relationship with the BSA.
Norman Rockwell Portrayed the Best of Scouting
Norman Rockwell is an iconic American artist and illustrator whose work most famously appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post for over four decades. His work also appeared in the Boy Scouts of America’s official magazine, Boys’ Life. Rockwell began his career with the BSA as a staff artist in 1913, and his first cover was published that same year. Over his long and prolific career, Rockwell created numerous pieces for the BSA, most of which were featured in their annual calendar between 1925 and 1976. Many of Rockwell’s pieces created for the BSA will be featured in the Church History Museum’s exhibit, including 23 original works. (more…)
by ashley | Jul 30, 2013 | About Mormons
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church—believe in following their prophet. President Thomas S. Monson, the prophet on the earth today, is the mouthpiece of the Lord. And when the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—the governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ—make a solemn declaration to the world, this is a powerful directive from God. The Family: A Proclamation to the World is one of those messages. It leaves no room for interpretation or question on the position of the Church and its leaders regarding the family and marriage. While the philosophies of the world are fickle and subject to change at a moment’s notice, the Lord and His prophets have remained steadfast and immovable throughout the ages. Elder Kevin R. Duncan, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy (Seventies, as in biblical times, are called to proclaim the gospel and build up the Church), said:
Surely one of the crowning blessings of membership in this Church is the blessing of being led by living prophets of God. The Lord declared, “There is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred” (Doctrine and Covenants 132:7). The prophet and President of the Church today, Thomas S. Monson, receives God’s word for the entire membership of the Church and for the world. In addition, we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators the counselors in the First Presidency and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. … (more…)
by ashley | Jul 30, 2013 | About Mormons
Why do Mormon missionaries go and give 1 ½-2 years of their young adult life in service, and at their own expense? These young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes inadvertently called the “Mormon Church”) have testimonies of Jesus Christ, and they want to follow His admonition to “feed [His] sheep” (John 21:16). They also have the witness that the great commission, given by the Savior Himself, is still in effect and is more pertinent today than ever before.
What is the Great Commission?
The great commission was the invitation or commandment given by the resurrected Lord to his disciples, instructing them to spread the gospel to all nations:
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (more…)
by Charlotte Wilson | Jun 27, 2013 | About Mormons
Since the qualifying age for Mormon missionary service has been lowered, more Mormon youth are postponing college attendance in order to serve missions.
Areas of the world where there are a lot of Mormons have noticed a change in some of the graduating high school seniors of the class of 2013. Many youth have been postponing their college education to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a faith often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church). This phenomenon was preceded by an official announcement by the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ in October 2012, where the age requirement for serving full-time missions was lowered for both men and women. As a result, many Mormon youth graduating high school this year have opted to serve missions before diving into their college careers.
The Church of Jesus Christ Lowered the Missionary Age
In October 2012 during the semiannual worldwide conference held by The Church of Jesus Christ, the prophet and president of the church, Thomas S. Monson, announced that the age requirements for missionaries would be lowered to 18 for men (previously 19) and 19 for women (previously 21). Soon after, local church leaders around the world fielded calls from excited prospective missionaries ready to begin the application process. (more…)
