by Charlotte Wilson | Dec 20, 2013 | Mormon Reflections
I don’t know what you’ve heard about Mormon women. You may think that we’re oppressed or sub-quality citizens in our culture. You would be wrong. I’m a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the faith often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church), and being a Mormon woman means that I participate in a faith whose doctrine champions women and emphasizes their unique influence and power. My Mormon womanhood is integral to my overall identity and directs me in my purpose here on earth.
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by Charlotte Wilson | Dec 11, 2013 | About Mormons
If you have a shot at winning $50,000, you take it, right? For Nancy Judd, resident of Alpine, Utah, the possibility of a $50,000 prize wasn’t enough to get her to depart from her convictions to keep Sunday a special day. Nancy’s a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church) and takes the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy seriously.[1]
In the For Strength of Youth booklet published by The Church of Jesus Christ it says the following:
The Lord has given the Sabbath day for your benefit and has commanded you to keep it holy. Honoring the Sabbath day includes attending all your Church meetings. Go to sacrament meeting prepared to worship the Lord and partake worthily of the sacrament. . . . Refrain from activities that would distract you or others during this sacred meeting. . . . As you do these things, you invite the Spirit of the Lord to be with you.
When Nancy Judd won $10,000 in the World Food Championship contest, she had a chance to compete for the larger grand prize. The competition day took place on a Sunday, and she repeatedly declined to attend. The judges were taken off guard by her response and continued asking her to participate–Nancy held to her original stance and officially turned down the invitation. (more…)
by Charlotte Wilson | Dec 9, 2013 | About Mormons
When Nelson Mandela, prominent and visionary South African president, passed away in December 2013, the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church) expressed their condolences at his passing. As part of the published statement, The Church of Jesus Christ expressed that “[Mandela’s] courage, kindness and extraordinary moral leadership have been an example to all people.” [1]
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by Lisa M. | Dec 6, 2013 | About Mormons
The true measure of literary greatness depends on, well, how you measure it. Is great literature defined by critics, readers or awards? Longevity through generations? Literature that inspires change—political, cultural or religious? What yardstick is used, so to speak, in making a judgment? A recent New York Times column stated that in 1888, Orson Whitney—a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church—spoke of the possibility of Mormon literature, saying, “We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own.” The column stated that, 125 years later, this has not happened. [1] The columnist is both right and wrong. By the world’s standards, Latter-day Saints might not have their own literary giants. But Bishop Whitney never intended Latter-day Saints to be literary giants according to the world’s standards—he intended them to be literary giants according to the Lord’s standards. He said:
It is by means of literature that much of this great work will have to be accomplished: a literature of power and purity, worthy of such a work. And a pure and powerful literature can only proceed from a pure and powerful people…. Experience has taught me that it is the heart, not simply the head, we must appeal to, if we wish to stir the soul. The intellect may shine, but it is the bosom that burns, and warms into life every movement that is born to bless humanity. …
We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own. God’s ammunition is not exhausted. His brightest spirits are held in reserve for the latter times. In God’s name and by his help we will build up a literature whose top shall touch heaven, though its foundations may now be low in earth. [2] (more…)
by Charlotte Wilson | Dec 3, 2013 | Mormons in the News
YouTube is not an easy place to make it big online. It’s like the LA of the internet! Sure, YouTube houses countless one-hit-wonders, but if you do go viral on the video streaming site, it’s usually a one-time deal. The success of an entire YouTube channel is hard to come by. The Mormon Channel, however, ranks in the top 5,000 YouTube channels, outperforming brands like Apple, Microsoft, and Lego.[1] The Mormon Channel is owned and managed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a faith often inadvertently referred to as the “Mormon” Church, and is able to draw in not only viewers but also subscribers by producing content that shares messages to touch the soul.
Mormon Channel Draws Subscribers
The key to the success of a YouTube channel is the number of subscribers in addition to the number of total views. As of October 2013, the total number of Mormon Channel subscribers was over 200,000, with the site boasting almost 60 million views. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ are likely the primary subscribers to the channel, and share videos they find inspiring. When these videos are shared via social media, countless others–both members and non-members of the Mormon faith–are exposed to these soul-reaching messages. (more…)
