Archive for the ‘History’ Category
Sunday, April 22nd, 2007
If you go up to the LDS Family Services site, you see that the church has special programs for:
What I fail to find are any programs for members who have become troubled by LDS History or Doctrine — and experience severe trauma as a result. Certainly given the heavy activity in ex- and post-LDS web sites, there is a market/need for such outreach. Yet I can’t find anything.
Anyone know of official church outreach programs to help these folks? If there aren’t any — any guesses as to why not? Finally, any predictions on if/when such programs might finally arrive?
Posted in History, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, church | 36 Comments »
Monday, February 26th, 2007
(Again from my buddy Eric).
Interesting historical piece on Mormonism and politics in the early 20th century:
Let me take you back to 1919. It had been one year since the armistice ended World War I. The delegates at Versailles had spent several months deciding on the boundaries of the postwar world. The United States failed to ratify the Versailles peace treaty and would spend several months debating whether or not to participate as a member of the League of Nations. Supporters never mustered enough votes, and the U.S. failed to become a member of the League.
(more…)
Posted in History, LDS, Mitt Romney, Mormon, Mormons, Politics | 4 Comments »
Wednesday, February 21st, 2007
As a novice follower of history, this sounds so eerily familiar.
“Fifth Fleet commander warns of ‘unprecedented tension’ in Gulf”
They’re making it sound like the wrong Iranian mine strays and hits a boat in the Gulf, then it’s World War III (with Iran and whoever supports them).
Haven’t justifications for war been manufactured/trumped up before through naval exercises off the coast of another country? Spanish / American War? Gulf of Tonkin? Someone help me out here.
Anyway, when I pray, I pray that this won’t happen.
Posted in History, Iran, Iraq, Islam, War | 9 Comments »
Tuesday, February 6th, 2007
Last Thursday I posted about a new BYU-based polygamy web site that was somewhat interesting. On Saturday, BCC provided a link as well.
Today, the Salt Lake Tribune announced, “BYU Polygamy Web Page Dumped.”
I wish I could have been privy to the conversations and events leading up to the site being taken down. I also wonder what sparked the decision.
This LDS History on the Internet thing continues to be a pickle. It must be really tough for the church to figure out what to do.
Posted in BYU, History, Internet, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Polygamy, Public Relations | 12 Comments »
Wednesday, January 17th, 2007
(Props to my buddy David for the referral)
By Scott D. Pierce
Deseret Morning News
PASADENA, Calif. — Award-winning filmmaker Helen Whitney has one over-arching goal for her four-hour production “The Mormons,” which airs this spring on PBS.
Helen Whitney
“I hope that most of the stereotypes — ideally, all of them — will be blown away,” she told the Deseret Morning News on Saturday. “Because so many of them are just based on ignorance. Ignorance about Mormon history, ignorance about Mormon theology. Ignorance.”
The two-part, four-hour documentary, a presentation of both “American Experience” and “Frontline” — their first co-production — is to air nationally on April 30 and May 1.
After spending three years on the project, Whitney is well aware of the stereotypes and ignorance that’s out there.
“Most of the time when I bring up what I’m doing and I talk about it with people, the first word that comes up is polygamy,” she said.
(more…)
Posted in Check this out, Christianity, Culture, Faith, History, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Polygamy, Public Relations, Religion, Theology | 3 Comments »
Monday, January 1st, 2007
Some slight revisions here. Fixed some errors regarding the Law of Adoption. Included a question about the Council of 50, and 2 questions about women in LDS history (thanks to those who helped to collaborate).
I should also clarify that I’m not offering these as questions I would ask President Hinckley for the primary purpose of confirming the facts. That would be nice, but I’m pretty confident in most of these facts. I would ask these questions with the following intent:
- To find out if President Hinckley knows about all this stuff (we might assume that he does, but it would be interesting to find out if so, and how much).
- To find out how President Hinckley would explain/justify each of these issues, in detail.
- To put the church on record as to these facts, which (in my mind) would do 2 things…. 1) Take the pressure off of those who discover these issues for themselves, to prevent them from being labeled as anti-Mormon or as “speaking ill of the Lord’s anointed” just for discussing them, and 2) Bring the general church membership up to speed, to help prevent (or minimize) inaccuracies from being passed along from generation to generation in the future.
(more…)
Posted in Blacks, Check this out, History, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Polygamy, Religion, Technology | 8 Comments »
Saturday, December 23rd, 2006
This entry is 10th in a series that begins here. For the full effect, click on “Continue Reading” below, find the music player, and play the song while reading the lyrics.
Story Background: In this scene, Glinda is elevated by Madame Morrible to celebrity status among the citizens of Oz. Ironically, it is also the scene where she loses the love of her life, Fiyero, to Elphaba (those of you really following will note that this song is out of order from theprevious song. Sorry about that.).
But the powerful parts of the song for me are threefold:
- The part where Madame Morrible re-writes history about Elphaba, making her seem evil to the citizens of Oz (think William Law). “Good” must always have an enemy, even if it has to create one.
- The subsequent sequence, where the citizens take the re-writing of the history, and add their own exaggerations to it, making Elphaba more and more evil (think of us “adulterers” in the DAMU), and
- Perhaps the most important part of all — the stark contrast between the “Celebration” that Glinda wants to provide to her people (think General Conference and MoTab Choir concerts), vs. the candor that she reveals towards the end about living this somewhat sheltered, less than totally authentic life (think of depression among some TBMs):
The most powerful lines (for me) being (again–describing the cost of being an uninformed TBM):
(sung) ‘Cause getting your dreams
It’s strange, but it seems
A little – well – complicated
There’s a kind of a sort of : cost
There’s a couple of things get: lost
There are bridges you cross
You didn’t know you crossed
Until you’ve crossed…
And if that joy, that thrill
Doesn’t thrill you like you think it will
Still -
With this perfect finale
The cheers and ballyhoo
Who
Wouldn’t be happier?
So I couldn’t be happier
Because happy is what happens
When all your dreams come true
Well, isn’t it?
(more…)
Posted in Audio, Check this out, Culture, Family, Friendships, History, LDS, Mormon, Mormons, Music, Religion, Wicked | Comments Off
Wednesday, December 20th, 2006
This entry is 8th in a series that begins here. For the full effect, click on “Continue Reading” below, find the music player, and play the song while reading the lyrics.
Story Background: Here we see the Wizard’s softer side, and learn that he got swept up (like Glinda) in the glamor of attention. We learn that in his own way, he had (at least in part) noble intentions to help the citizens of Oz. Along w/ the allure of power and security, it’s clear he felt that the ends somewhat justified the means. Thus the deception of the veil.
The program notes also claim, “He holds out the promise to Elphaba that, with him, she can fulfill her subconscious longing to be accepted by a fatherly figure.” I can’t necessarily relate to that part of it, but maybe some of you can.
(more…)
Posted in Audio, Check this out, Christianity, Culture, DAMU, Entertainment, Friendships, History, Internet, LDS, Leadership, Life, Media, Mormon, Mormons, Music, Politics, Religion, Wicked | 3 Comments »