Latter-day Saints in the public square
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Dave offers some helpful suggestions to anti-Mormons on how they can better reach Mormons. Excellent points with some great scriptural examples. While pointed to anti-s it’s good advice for Mormons and anyone else hoping to share the gospel with others.
Apparently, Wal-Mart’s reputation is so bad, that it feels the need to have a website explaining that lower prices are good. Despite massive criticism, I think its profits show that most people have that figured out. (Thanks, voluntaryXchange)
Mommy Snark
There isn’t much fun to life if you aren’t willing to laugh at yourself.
Rebecca Talley
Children’s Author, Blogger, Freelance Writer
My Writer’s Lair
One Writer’s Journey
Writing on the Wall
Writing & Publishing Advice from 5 Editors
More can be found at LDS & Mormon Blogs. To submit your blog please fill out this form. Thanks
Christianity Today interviews Mitt Romney as a Mormon running for president and appealing to evangelicals.
While the doctrines of my church are quite different from evangelical Christian doctrines, the values of our faiths are very much the same. I don’t know of a doctrinal difference that would suggest a different policy outcome or that would suggest that a President of my faith would lead in a different direction than President Bush, an evangelical Christian.
And this note on the late Rev. Falwell’s recent visit with President Hinckley was interesting:
[S]everal months ago, not long before he died, I had the occasion of having the Rev. Jerry Falwell at our home. He said that when he was getting ready to oppose same-sex marriage in California, he met with the president of my church in Salt Lake City, and they agreed to work together in a campaign in California. He said, “Far be it from me to suggest that we don’t have the same values and the same objectives.”
Calling Mormon Metaphysics and the rest of the Bloggernacle, MetaFilter asks “Is there such a thing as Mormon philosophy?” Looks like they could use some help.
Elder Holland’s same-sex attraction article “Helping Those Who Struggle with Same-Gender Attraction” is posted(Thanks, Northern Lights).
“You serve yourself poorly when you identify yourself primarily by your sexual feelings. That isn’t your only characteristic, so don’t give it disproportionate attention. You are first and foremost a son of God, and He loves you.
“What’s more, I love you. My Brethren among the General Authorities love you. I’m reminded of a comment President Boyd K. Packer made in speaking to those with same-gender attraction. ‘We do not reject you,’ he said. ‘… We cannot reject you, for you are the sons and daughters of God. We will not reject you, because we love you.’ ”
Mine is not a new story, but a sad one that still must be told from time to time. You hear of another’s brush with disaster and the resulting clarion call to learn from their mistakes and backup your data. But there’s always someone who does not heed such calls and must experience the bitter loss for himself.
I just installed Wordpress 2.3 and somehow nuked my database. I had backed up my files but failed to backup my database. Not smart.
I’m still looking into recovering the database but in the likelihood that it is beyond hope, are they any suggestions to recover posts other than Google cache and Archive.org’s wayback machine?
UPDATE: 28 Sept - All systems go! With some help from my server host and some major googling and trial and error I was able to rescue the lost posts. Whew! Hopefully a lesson was learned.
NorthTemple.com has a nice pic of BMXing motor bike jumping over Temple Square.
On Faith asks the sticky question of what constitutes a “real” religion as opposed to a cult, especially when considering Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Unlike Article VI Blog, I believe it’s a useful discussion because most posts come to similar conclusions that the word “cult” doesn’t have a very useful meaning and is more of a perjorative to forward an agenda.
Unsurprisingly, On Faith’s LDS posters, Kathleen Flake and Michael Otterson have both posted. I think Flake sums up the use of “cult” rather well:
Rather, the word has become a means of asserting separation, even if it doesn’t exist. Cult asserts religious difference in value-laden terms at the expense of one religion and for the benefit of another. Cult is a way of saying you are not like us, the good guys, and don’t you forget it.
And as other posters note, the definition of cult is so amorphous, most if not all religions can be categorized as such (I would also add political ideologies as well).
This an age old question that is unlikely to go away. But, I hope it’s beneficial to the perception that while Mormons are different and have unique beliefs, so does everyone else. We may not be “creedal” Christians but we are not so different that using the label of “cult” is unproductive.
But then again, maybe Mormonism is a cult after all.
Thoughts of a Seeker
Personal quest for understanding
Hollywood Flakes
I’m an L.A. mom, food critic and apartment manager with a lethal sense of humor. It’s a blog about laughing at the little things, the big things, well actually, I laugh at everything. Come by for a dose of my sense of humor and I promise you’ll find something that makes you snort on your herbal tea.
LDS Izzy
This blog was created for the purpose of publishing and learning things that are both temporal and spiritual. It is also a place for both family and friends to share their input.
LDS Publisher
Dedicated to helping LDS authors successfully navigate the LDS publishing world
Crane-ium
Poetry, lyrics & writings of LDS author, Cheri J. Crane
More can be found at LDS & Mormon Blogs. To submit your blog please fill out this form. Thanks.
The Church now has a link to the BYU site for the Encyclopedia of Mormonism but doesn’t endorse it as “official.” It’s still in PDF format unfortunately.
“When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses.”  Mitt Romney’s newest TV spot addresses GOP corruption and loss of principles. This needs to be addressed directly and hopefully it will be a campaign winner. The party has much to atone for and to pretend otherwise is just to prolong the disconnect with its base and its traditionally winning message. Â
Some like it but some see it as GOP bashing. If the party wants to regain credibility it needs to demonstrate that it can police itself.  Otherwise, the party’s unwillingness will lead to more elections like last year. And deservedly so.
“When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses.” Mitt Romney’s newest TV spot addresses GOP corruption and loss of principles. This needs to be addressed directly and hopefully it will be a campaign winner. The party has much to atone for and to pretend otherwise is just to prolong the disconnect with its base and its traditionally winning message.
Some like it but some see it as GOP bashing. If the party wants to regain credibility it needs to demonstrate that it can police itself. Otherwise, the party’s unwillingness will lead to more elections like last year. And deservedly so.
The Church now has a link to the BYU site for the Encyclopedia of Mormonism but doesn’t endorse it as “official.” It’s still in PDF format unfortunately.
Blowing 7 Different Kinds of Smoke…
The Inner Workings and Thought Processes of My Life
The Ancestry Insider
The unofficial, unauthorized view of FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com. They aren’t the best communicators, leaving a need for the Ancestry Insider. The Insider reports on, defends, and constructively criticizes these organizations.
Disruptive Intellectual Assets
Blending IP strategy with disruptive innovation theory, this blog aims to help inventors, managers, and IP professionals improve their strategic edge.
InkSplasher
Plagiarizing life one post at a time
More can be found at LDS & Mormon Blogs. To submit your blog please fill out this form. Thanks.
Appeals court reduces damages owed by the Church to only be liable for the Bishop who stopped one of the victims from reporting the abuse. Which makes more sense. The article doesn’t have a lot of detail but I seem to recall that the trial court had held the Church liable for the actions of the abuser because he was a High Priest, and therefore clergy.
For you fortunate Latter-day iSaints, online scriptures configured for the iPhone. A Flickr shot as they appear in all their iPhone goodness. Perhaps this will win over the wife?
Same sex marriage is the gift that keeps on giving to Mitt Romney. First, it helped establish Gov. Romney as a cultural conservative when Massachusetts courts forced the issue. Now, Iowa of all places follows suit just in time for Romney to distinguish himself from the better known GOP competition in a radio ad.
A look at inspired graphic design of the The Improvement Era in the 1960’s. (Thanks North Temple)
How popular is your last name? Mine isn’t even in the database of top 55,000 names. “Smith” is where you’d expect it, but “Jones” is only #4. What’s #2 and #3?
Somewhat surprisingly, here in ASA’s home state, a Maryland appellate court overturned a lower court and held that marriage is only between a man and a woman.
The Dance
I used to dance to music. On a dance floor. Now I do the dance of life, with kids, pets, a mortgage and a job. But, I still dance.
Mormon Mentality
Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People
Joel Dehlin
Chief Information Officer for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
LDSTech
With the global reach of the Church, members from around the world are curious about the type of technical work we do. This web site is designed to give you a glimpse into that work and how you can get involved.
More can be found at LDS & Mormon Blogs. To submit your blog please fill out this form. Thanks.
On the heels of the recently published God Loveth His Children, Elder Holland has a new article in the upcoming October Ensign on same sex attraction: “In the article, Holland reiterates the church’s position that same-sex attraction is not a sin; only acting on it is immoral. He does not try to explain the causes of these attractions, but acknowledges they are real.” The Salt Lake Tribune takes a look at the Church’s recent history on same sex attraction issues with this week’s Evergreen conference.
On the decline of being handy. Sounds like something that could be emphasized as part of Provident Living. Plus, “25 Skills Every Man Should Know,” although I’m not sure of the need to know how to hook up a HDTV. But I wouldn’t mind needing to learn.
LDS and Mormon Blogs
