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Celebrating 100 years of Scouting in the LDS Church with Norman Rockwell exhibit

The Church History Museum is celebrating 100 years of Scouting in the LDS Church with two new exhibitions: “American Originals: Norman Rockwell and Scouting” and “A Good Turn Daily: 100 Years of Scouting and the Aaronic Priesthood.” In February 1910, the Boy Scout program was brought to America from England, with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints being officially recognized as part of the BSA in 1913.

How Mormons have shaped modern management

In the final question of the second presidential debate, Romney chose to focus on his Mormon faith. He said, "My passion probably flows from the fact that I believe in God. And I believe we're all children of the same God. I believe we have a responsibility to care for one another. I — I served as a missionary for my church. I served as a pastor in my congregation for about 10 years. I've sat across the table from people who were out of work and worked with them to try and find new work or to help them through tough times." I'm also a Mormon, and the statement struck me because, when given a final opportunity to paint a clear picture of himself for the American people, Romney chose to focus on his faith above all else.

Hobby Lobby finds way around $1.3-million-a-day Obamacare hit

By Friday, Hobby Lobby would have racked up $14.3 million in fines from the Internal Revenue Service for bucking Obamacare. But in keeping with the great American tax tradition, they may have found a loophole. The company is facing $1.3 million a day in fines for each day it chooses not to comply with a piece of the Affordable Care Act that was set to trigger for them on January 1. The craft store chain announced in December that, because of religious objections, they would face the fines for not providing certain types of birth control through their company health insurance.

Latter-day Saint Life

Mormon History Stars in Legal Brief on Trump Travel Ban

Scholars of Mormon history and studies—both LDS scholars and those outside the Church—have come together to argue that Mormon history can shed some light on current politics.

From the Church

Church statement on its financial independence in response to Businessweek cover

The growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from a fledgling band of frontier Americans to a global faith that blesses the lives of millions is one of the great religious success stories of the 19th and 20th centuries. From the very beginning, members of the Church displayed a remarkable ability to set aside material things for spiritual goals. One of the earliest Church members, Martin Harris, mortgaged his farm to pay for the publication of the Book of Mormon. Other examples of self-sacrifice among the early Latter-day Saints abound.

The Mormon conversation America needs

There is a tension--mostly healthy--within contemporary Mormonism. Mormons both want to be distinctive and to find full acceptance within American society. Striking that balance has proven difficult. For the most part, Mormons have been distinguished by their distinctiveness. Mormons are distinct in some big ways. They have a unique theology, new scripture, and on at least some issues, hold opinions that are far from the norm. According to the new survey of Mormons by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 94 percent of Mormons believe that the president of the LDS Church is a prophet of God, and 91 percent believe that the Book of Mormon was written by ancient prophets and translated by Joseph Smith.

Commentary: Yale professor warns of Mormon theocracy in <i>NY Times</i>

Mormons are somewhat fond of quoting Yale professor Harold Bloom when he refers to the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an "authentic religious genius." He even repeated this in a recent interview with the Deseret News where he not only said Joseph Smith was a religious genius, but that "Had I been a nineteenth-century American and not Jewish I would probably have become a Mormon . . . "

Latter-day Saint Life

BYU Professor Gives Lady Liberty a Makeover, Designs 24-Karat Collectors Coin

MR says: A BYU illustration professor is changing the way the world sees lady liberty with a new coin he designed for the US Mint--an honor he's had three times already in the past!

America's freedom fighters

It’s been more than a month since my last column. During that hiatus, some of my time was spent speaking to groups in Utah and Idaho. On Oct. 29 I had the privilege of being the keynote speaker at the Pocatello Idaho Branch of the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet Honoring America’s Veterans. The theme of the event was “Fulfilling America’s Promise.” It was a very moving evening, especially the POW/MIA presentation, for all in attendance. I am a better person for having been there.

LDS church plans next steps for missionaries, members in Japan

Whether Mormon missionaries in the areas of Japan hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami will be relocated or stay and become a humanitarian aid force is still a question. Either scenario is a possibility as the needs are assessed for both the local church population as well as the missionaries, most of whom are expatriate Americans. Missionaries were part of relief efforts in Haiti following the earthquake there 14 months ago and took on humanitarian aid roles following Hurricane Katrina in 2008 and the tsunami originating in the Indian Ocean in 2007.