April 23, 2008
Times and Seasons has an interesting post about Don Lind, a Mormon astronaut, who went up into space in 1985. The post quotes from a book where Don describes the challenge of kneeling in weightlessness, and also the challenge of getting NASA to allow him to wear his garments. Good stuff!
Posted in Mormon Church in Pop Culture, Mormon Sacrament Meeting 
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April 15, 2008
By Common Consent has a neat post about a new cemetery in Austria that will have a section exclusively for Mormons. Apparently there will be a statue in the centre that shows Christ bringing someone through the veil. Although this is obviously temple-related, there doesn’t seem to be anything temple-specific shown on the statue. I think it’s neat. It reminds of some of the pictures I’ve seen of old headstones in cemeteries in Utah where you see a lot of symbolism of the temple (I couldn’t find the pictures when I did a quick search… if you know of any sites that show these, please link to it). These days our headstones are pretty basic (maybe even dull). I wonder why that has changed over the years.
Posted in Mormon Church History, Mormon Church Tradition, Mormon Temples No Comments »
April 8, 2008
One of the most read posts so far was on the Church Information Division. Well, the church does more research other than the phone calls I described. They also do basic surveys, just like ones you might see from major companies (about product satisfaction). No, you probably won’t be asked to fill out a survey about how satisfied you are with how your tithing money is spent, but there are survey’s being done about a variety of topics. I recently received an email about “Improving Family History Consultant E-mail Messages” (the link takes you to the survey). The survey is just a single page with a question about how much the emails help you, what content you would like in the emails, and a comments field. In this case, the survey is run by Inquisite Inc.
In the past, I’ve also done a survey (by following a link at another site) about handheld content (files for your PDA).
If you ever get an email like this, I’d suggest that you complete the survey. Who knows how much they listen, but it is a chance to make your voice heard on these sorts of simple topics.
Posted in Mormon Church Bureaucracy, Mormon Church on the Web (Official) 2 Comments »
April 6, 2008
Well, General Conference is now over. Just like yesterday, we went to the chapel for the earlier session, and then watched the later session at home. Overall, I quite enjoyed the talks this year. Sometimes there will be a talk or two that I just can’t follow, or more like my heart just isn’t into it. This year, although there were some talks that I didn’t find too interesting, I stayed focus and enjoyed almost all of them.
- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland ** may use this as a lesson **
- God continues to speak his word
- the verse in Revelations means that Revelations is not to be added to
- continuing revelation does not discredit current revelation
- Elder David A. Bednar ** may use this as a lesson **
- ask in faith
- faith is a principle of action
- simply saying “They will be done” is not enough”
- Elder W. Craig Zwick
- are we lowering our standards to fit in?
- Elder Robert R. Steuer
- discovering spiritual light is awe inspiring
- learn true doctrine
- gain pure testimony
- live courageously
- Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander ** may use this as a lesson **
- beware of crowds
- the crowd came to see the Lord, she came to be healed
- pass safely through the crowds
- Elder Lance B. Wickman
- need to see today with the promise of tomorrow
- need to repent today
- Elder Craig C. Christensen
- purpose of the Book of Mormon
- Elder M. Russell Ballard ** will encourage RS to use this as a lesson **
- no role in life more essential than motherhood
- what can you do as a young mother to enjoy mother hood?
- don’t over-schedule yourselves or your children
- pray, study, teach the gospel
- what can I do as a husband?
- what can children to to help their mother?
- what can the church do?
- President Thomas S. Monson
- spoke of his wife being in a coma for 27 days
- treat your wife with dignity and respect
- honour your husband
- show love to your children
- “pray for me”
Read the recaps from the other sessions of General Conference:
Posted in Mormon Church Doctrine and Teachings, Mormon Church Meetings, Mormon General Conference 1 Comment »
April 6, 2008
I guess we could watch General Conference from home, but we’re so used to going to Church on Sunday morning, we still went to the chapel this morning to watch the Sunday morning session. There were a lot of others who had the same feeling, as the turnout was quite good.
- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf ** may use this as a lesson **
- stand in the office in which you are appointed
- strengthen the feeble knees
- faith of our fathers
- multiplicity of life experiences
- our “fathers” are not just our immediate family, but also the prophets and our Saviour
- Elder D. Todd Christofferson
- he committed himself to God and Jesus Christ, and loyalty to the First Presidency and brethren of the Quorum of the Twelve
- we all need to be born again
- Elder Sheldon F. Child
- tithing, the best investment you will ever make
- when we pay a tithe, the Lord’s blessings are sure
- shared a great President Grant quote that I’ll want to read again when the talks are published
- Sister Susan W. Tanner ** may use this as a lesson **
- remember our delights in the face of adversity
- miracles do come, but sometimes not until the end
- love and delight in the things that are right
- President Boyd K. Packer
- the calling of an apostle
- sealing keys
- overview of purpose of the apostles
- President Thomas S. Monson
- everyone can feel the Lord’s inspiration
- God directs His prophets
- come back and feast at the table of the Lord
- show kindness and respect to all people
- pledge his life in serving Him
Read the recaps from the other sessions of General Conference:
Posted in Mormon Church Doctrine and Teachings, Mormon Church Meetings, Mormon General Conference 3 Comments »
April 6, 2008
From MSNBC:
Faithful Mormons stood by the thousands with upraised hands Saturday, officially installing the newly appointed head of their first new leader in 13 years.
Thomas S. Monson took over The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February after the death of Gordon B. Hinckley, but the faith traditionally calls for a sustaining vote by members in a ceremony known as the solemn assembly.
Each church organization took its turn — from its top leaders down to youth groups — standing when called to cast votes in the packed conference center, which holds 21,000 people. The ceremony has been practiced since 1880, when John Taylor was named president of the church.
Posted in Mormon Church Hierarchy, Mormon Church in the News, Mormon General Conference No Comments »
April 6, 2008
As seems to be the tradition, there was a press conference held between sessions of conference yesterday where Elder Christofferson and his wife spoke. Sister Christofferson didn’t have much to say other than that she fully supported her husband. Elder Christofferson didn’t have any opening remarks and immediately took questions. He was asked questions about how he was called, his family history, his legal background, and more. He spoke well and seemed comfortable. I don’t remember anything of him from previous talks he has given, so I didn’t have any previous opinion of him. I’m sure we’ll hear him today, but based on the press conference alone, I’m sure he will be a very effective teacher and inspire many members.
To watch the press conference, go to BYU.tv, pull up yesterday’s date, and click on the LDS World Report at 12:00pm. At about the 35 minute mark, the press conference starts. You can also read about the press conference on the Salt Lake Tribune web site.
Posted in Mormon Church Hierarchy No Comments »
April 6, 2008
Whenever my father and I live in the same city, we have a tradition of going to the priesthood session of General Conference together. Afterwards we always go out for a snack of some kind. We’ve lived in the same city for the last 8 years or so, and we’ve attended almost every one together. Also for the last several years we’ve had a “sub-sational” for the YM where the YM and their fathers come to the Church and hour early and we have subs together. Since I’ve been the bishop I’ve brought my father. However this time he was in North Carolina for the baptism of one of his grand daughters, so I went alone to the “sub-sational” and the broadcast. Then afterwards, I stopped at McDonald’s on the way home for my snack.
The session was good. You could tell everyone was anxious to hear President Monson’s first address in conference as President of the church. He didn’t address any particular issues. It was more a “rally the troops” sort of talk, but it was still quite good.
- Elder Quentin L. Cook ** may use this as a lesson **
- periods of crisis and danger
- heed the words of the prophet
- prophetic priorities
- preventative inoculation
- Bishop H. David Burton
- highlighted humanitarian efforts
- The Church responded to 175 natural disaster events in 52 countries
- The Church’s efforts with wheelchairs, vision, training, etc helped 3.9 million people in 85 countries
- Brother Dean R. Burgess
- “Do you know who you are?”
- honour your family
- makes you strong, confident, have courage
- Do you know that you are a son of God?
- Do you know who you are in God’s plan?
- Do you know who you are as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
- Elder John M. Madsen
- Deacons bench
- need to see the divine potential in the YM
- President Dieter F. Uchtdorf ** may use this as a lesson **
- the difference between happiness and misery comes down to an error of only a few degrees
- become self-disciplined enough to make corrections
- don’t wait for the errors to correct themselves
- through repentance and the atonement we can be forgiven
- President Henry B. Eyring
- priesthood holders need to have confidence and rise to the blessings of the Oath and Covenant
- God know your power and capacity
- have confidence in your service
- God wants you to succeed
- President Bush called President Hinckley as he was flying over Utah in Air Force One to say thank you for our people helping after a hurricane
- President Thomas S. Monson
- we live in dangerous times
- if we are on the Lord’s errand we are entitled to the Lord’s help
- the face of sin wears the mask of tolerance
- no disguise can change the truth
- stand for right even if you stand alone
- no YM in the Church should be without the influence of good men in their lives
- honour the priesthood we bear through the service we render
Read the recaps from the other sessions of General Conference:
Posted in Mormon Church Doctrine and Teachings, Mormon Church Meetings, Mormon General Conference No Comments »
April 5, 2008
I’m sure there were a large number of people who watched/listened to the morning session because of the sustaining. I would guess that the afternoon session has significantly less people listening. We watched the morning session at the Church, but watched the afternoon session on BYU.tv.
- Audit report
- As always, everything is a-ok. I know back in the day they actually used to share numbers/values here. But for something like 30 years or more they have not shared any dollar values. I wonder what the purpose is now. If there were any problems, would they actually say so in the report?
- Statistical report
- 2,790 stakes
- 348 missions
- 618 districts
- 27,827 wards/branches
- 13,193,999 membership
- 93,698 child of record
- 279,218 converts
- 52,686 full time missionaries
- 124 operating temple
- Elder Dallin H. Oaks ** may use this as a lesson **
- testimony
- facts of eternal significance
- not a travel log, a sermon
- recognize child for their growing testimony, not just for schooling
- relationship between obedience and knowledge
- we can follow leaders, but for still know for ourselves
- Elder Robert D. Hales ** may use this as a lesson **
- solemn assembly was not a vote
- it was a commitment to uphold the commandments and a prophet of God
- knowing God and Jesus
- learned through Articles of Faith
- talk was all about Jesus
- Elder Gerald N. Lund
- opening our hearts to the Holy Spirit
- the Spirit will enter our heart only if we allow it
- Pride desensitizes our hearts
- Elder Carlos A. Amado ** may use this as a lesson **
- 3 purposes for the Saviour
- assignment to carry out infinite/eternal sacrifice
- teach the doctrine
- build the kingdom by serving others
- Elder William R. Walker
- organization of presidencies
- virtually all leaders serve in a presidency… a president with two counsellors
- you can’t be a one-man operation
- won’t use as lesson, but will probably discuss at Ward Council Meeting
- Elder Richard G. Scott
- speaking to those who suffer from or cause various causes of abuse
- tough topic; gave a lot of “disclaimers” at the start; I assume he was asked to give a talk on this topic
- healing can come through atonement
- won’t use as lesson, but will keep on hand as a reference if the need arises
- Elder L. Tom Perry
- gospel of Jesus is a recipe for eternal life
- enduring to the end is not a “do it yourself” project
Read the recaps from the other sessions of General Conference:
Posted in Mormon Church Doctrine and Teachings, Mormon Church Meetings, Mormon General Conference 2 Comments »
April 5, 2008
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, so I figured this was as good a topic as any to get going again. This morning we packed up the kids and got to the chapel just before noon so we could watch the first session of General Conference. I don’t take extensive notes, but since I need to come up with lessons for the 4th Sunday for the next 6 months, I do make a few notes. Here are my notes/observations from this session of conference:
- D. Todd Christofferson was called as the new apostle. I know nothing about him, but the Deseret News has a bit of information about him.
- There was no option for the General Authorities to oppose the sustaining. It wasn’t until they got to the Area Authorities and other Melchizedek priesthood holders that there was an option for opposition. Why is that? Do they sustain him in a different sort of solemn assembly beforehand (earlier on)?
- Two Area Seventies from the North America Northeast area were released, Elder Ross McEachran and Elder Anthony Temple. I only recognized one replacement… David Murray, president of the Brampton Stake was called as an Area Seventy.
- The YW General Presidency was changed
- Elder Russell M. Nelson
- developing faith
- the home is God’s laboratory of love & service
- give correction to children in private
- show forth increase of love quickly
- salvation is individual, exaltation is family
- Elder Ronald A. Rasband ** may use this as a lesson **
- experience for our good
- what experiences strengthen your testimony?
- building our house of faith
- Sister Cheryl C. Lant
- family traditions
- what patterns and traditions are we giving to our children?
- Elder Kenneth Johnson
- never accept less than your best in your family
- Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin ** may use this as a lesson **
- true disciples of Christ are concerned with the one
- need more compassion for those who are different than us
- we all make mistakes, but how do we respond?
- President Henry B. Eyring ** may use this as a lesson **
- the Church is both true and living
- the keys are held by mortals
- measure the depth of our gratitude for membership in the Church
- know by the Holy Ghost how we can do better in keeping the commandments
- the faith of the members have improved the Church
- we need to reach out and act
- God honours the priesthood keys he has given to the leaders
Read the recaps from the other sessions of General Conference:
Posted in Mormon Church Doctrine and Teachings, Mormon Church Meetings, Mormon General Conference 5 Comments »
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