What does a new TV series have to do with FamilySearch'sFreedmen's Bureau Project? A whole lot more than you may think.

When A Deaf person comes to Salt Lake City to watch a live session of General Conference, the LDS Church goes through great lengths to make sure that the Deaf person can enjoy General Conference in American Sign Language.

To many Americans, Mormon theology seems an impenetrable stew of biblical literalism, weird relics and a supernaturalism so aggressive as to border on science fiction, stirred together by a parade of shady self-declared prophets, from the frontier polygamist Joseph Smith to the complacent, dark-suited elders who run the church today. "Plutocratic oligarchs," Harold Bloom labeled them: men (all men; women are barred from participation in the Mormon priesthood) either cynically manipulating the religion for personal gain or themselves taken in. Does this confection make the religion a cult, as commentators as wide on the spectrum as the evangelical Baptist Robert Jeffress and the acerbic atheist Christopher Hitchens have speculated?

Freedom of religion has been, and still is, an essential moving force in the grand experiment of American democracy. Planting that principle of religious freedom in early America brought about two profound results—the rejection of a “divine right of kings” doctrine, and breaking the 1,500-year European tradition of upholding a state-established church.[1] And with that, a heritage of self government, not to mention distinctly different congregations, sprang up. Yet no one could take freedom of religion for granted. Baptists, Catholics, Jews, Mormons and others have all faced, at one time or another, overt prejudice and serious attempts to curtail their liberties (sometimes coming from fellow religionists). Yet looking back over the long narrative of American religious history and the experience gained, the principle of religious freedom is prevailing.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square visited Columbus for the first time in 21 years when they kicked off their summer tour at Nationwide Arena tonight. The visit was ardently received by thousands of listeners who flocked to the arena to hear their favorite sacred and traditional songs.

“What’s that?” I asked my friend Lehi, pointing at the large, silver ring on his index finger. Lehi is a talented artist and a Native American of Navajo descent.

More than one in four Americans say having a Mormon as president would cause concern for themselves or someone in their family, neighborhood or office, presenting a challenge for Mitt Romney, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds. In general, Americans are reluctant to admit they harbor biases against particular groups, so the portion of people who say Mormonism is a concern is notable, pollsters said. Mr. Romney is set to be the first Mormon to be nominated for president by one of the major political parties.

Winterfest is Brigham Young University’s performance series in Salt Lake City. From February 2 to March 16, 2024, performing groups from BYU will entertain audiences at the Conference Center Theater.