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Have you seen today’s Google Doodle of Zitkála-Šá? Here are some connections she has to Utah and BYU you might not know about

By Danielle Christensen

The Google Doodle for the day is in honor of Zitkála-Šá’s 145th birthday. Known for being an accomplished writer, violinist, and lecturer, Google wrote that Zitkála-Šá was a member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota who “devoted her life to the protection and celebration of her Indigenous heritage through the arts and activism.” But did you know that Zitkála-Šá also had connections to Utah and even to Brigham Young University?

Heidi S. Swinton

Heidi S. Swinton is an award-winning author and screenwriter whose works include the PBS documentaries American Prophet; Sacred Stone; Sweetwater Rescue; Trail of Hope; and America’s Choir. She is the author of President Thomas S. Monson’s official biography, To the Rescue. She has served on the Relief Society general board and as a member of Church writing committees. She served with her husband, Jeffrey C. Swinton, as he presided over the England London South Mission (2006–2009) and as he directed the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors Center (2016-2018); they are the parents of five sons, four living, and have 13 grandchildren.

Bonus: Would You Be Friends with Your Ancestors? (with Lisa Valentine Clark)

Here’s a joke: What did the pickle do when it won the championship? He just stood there to relish the moment. If you’re wondering what a pickle joke has to do with family history, just a wait a minute. Miya and Michelle invited Latter-day Saint comedian and actress Lisa Valentine

Famous Latter-day Saints

6 Famous Latter-day Saints in Pro Baseball & the Incredible Ways They Shared Their Faith

By Danielle B. Wagner

After pitching a revered and rare perfect game in the minor leagues, Latter-day Saint Roy Castleton got called up to play in the majors in 1907, becoming the first Latter-day Saint and first Utahn player in Major League Baseball.

Latter-day Saint Life

How 3 Mormon Climbers Found Christ, Built International Ties Summiting Iran's Mount Damavand

By Trent Toone

Even as the trio of Utahns stood atop Iran's Mount Damavand, the highest volcanic summit on the Asian continent, there were at least two prevailing factors almost more astonishing than the incredible view.

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Latter-day Saint Life

Watch: What was it like growing up as an Osmond? The second generation answers

By Fox 13

Performing is in the Osmond family DNA, and the Osmonds’ second generation has shown that.

History Channel to air miniseries 'The Bible'

Famed reality show producer Mark Burnett has brought Americans popular programs like “Survivor,” “The Apprentice,” “Shark Tank” and “The Voice.” But his next project, “The Bible,” a mini-series set to air on the History Channel in 2013, may come as a surprise to some. The program, which takes the holy book from Genesis to Revelation and re-enacts it, will air in two-hour intervals over a five-week period. Recently, TheBlaze attended a screening that was hosted by Burnett and his wife, actress Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”). After airing 90 minutes of the 10-hour series, the duo shared their passion for “The Bible” project, while also highlighting the intense process they went through to see the series come to fruition (Downey plays Jesus’ mother, Mary).

Latter-day Saint Life

President Nelson Shares What the Book of Mormon Is Not

“There are some things the Book of Mormon is not,” President Nelson told the new mission presidents and their wives gathered for the 2016 Seminar for New Mission Presidents.

Latter-day Saint Life

Elder Christofferson Speaks at Patriotic Service, Says Religious Freedom Is "Under Fire"

"We live in challenging times. Religious freedom is indeed under fire,” Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said on June 26 in Brigham Young University’s Marriott Center. Elder Christofferson was the keynote speaker at the Freedom Festival Patriotic Service, during which he spoke about America’s heritage of religious liberty and encouraged the audience to “defend that heritage before it is too late.”

'ABC World News' airs special two-part series 'Inside the Mormon Church'

On Wednesday, August 22 and Thursday, August 23 “World News with Diane Sawyer” aired a two-part report “Inside the Mormon Church” from ABC’s Dan Harris. In introducing the series Diane Sawyer said — “It’s a time of change in America. In the last 12 years alone we have seen the election of the first black President, the first Jewish candidate on a major ticket — Senator Joe Lieberman, and next week, another breakthrough – the first Mormon nominee for President, a profound and historic moment for the Mormon faith, which is a still a mystery to a lot of people. So tonight, Dan Harris begins a two-part series, answering questions about this uniquely American religion.”