July 2009 @ 10:25 am

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Pew Forum Celebrates Pioneer Day Releasing “A Portrait of Mormons in the U.S.”

24 July 2009 @ 10:25 am | 4 comments

As they promised a few weeks ago, the Pew Forum has released a comprehensive look at Mormons in the U.S. by considering demographics, religious beliefs and practices, and social and political views. It will take a little while to digest all the info but it looks to be very interesting.

Just a cursory glance at some of the charts shows that Mormons are the among the most devout religious believers as well as the most politically conservative. Perhaps not a surprise but it’s interesting to see hard numbers and comparisons to other faiths.

I’m sure many others in the Bloggernacle will take a swing at the report and I hope to do more later after recovering some more from the DesNews 10K.

Happy Pioneer Day!

A Portrait of Mormons in the U.S.

A new analysis of the Landscape Survey data reveals that as a group Mormons are among the most devout and conservative religious people in the country. The Mormon community is also internally diverse, with differences according to levels of religious commitment and educational attainment, regions of the country where Mormons live, and between lifelong Mormons and those who have converted to the faith. This report explores Mormons’ unique place in the American religious landscape and is divided into three parts: demographic characteristics, religious beliefs and practices, and social and political views.

Where to Find the Mormon Church on Twitter

23 July 2009 @ 1:52 pm | No comments

Twitter has really exploded this year. While it remains to be decided if the Twitterverse will revolutionize the universe, it’s an interesting way to stay in touch and engage people and organizations with whom you may otherwise not.

Not to be left out, various parts of the LDS Church have started tweeting. Here are some of the official tweeters (twitterers? twit channels?) that I have come across, designated with the ‘@’ symbol. Have I missed some?

While not official, Nothing Wavering has rigged a Twitter feed for all official LDS RSS updates via its @LDSOfficial. It also has other twitter feeds for its blog aggregators.

Alas, the official @LDSChurchNews – shows no signs of coming back from suspension since it was hacked last month. Not too important, I bet, as they also recently deployed a very useful RSS feed.

Is @LDSNews legit? It claims to be news from the Church linking to LDS.org but was only tweeting during the last conference.

Some other LDS-related twitter channels that are may be considered semi-official or not.

Many members of the bloggernacle have their own Twitter feeds to tweet away or just announce new blog posts. There are too may to list here but the @Tweeternacle’s interesting commentary is worth highlighting as a blogless voice who nonetheless has become a valuable part of the Bloggernacle.

I can’t say I’m a big twit (at least in this regard) as I find it hard enough to keep up with email and trying to blog, but I do use @asoftanswer, @ldsmormonblogs (soon to be reactivated), and my personal @davidsundwall.

Congratulations to Rachel on her nuptials. Best wishes to a bloggernacle pioneer and her groom.

21 July 2009 @ 2:17 pm | No comments

Provo and Orem do not disappoint when it comes to drinking and smoking. Ogden and Idaho Falls do pretty well too.

20 July 2009 @ 8:00 am | 2 comments

President Monson to visit President Obama Tomorrow

19 July 2009 @ 8:39 pm | 6 comments

President Monson is to visit with President Obama tomorrow at the White House.

President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet with Thomas Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Oval Office on Monday, according to the White House.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is expected to be present at the 1:30 p.m. meeting.

UPDATE: The SL Trib article has been updated to include a Church spokeswoman describing tomorrow’s appointment as a “brief courtesy visit.” The article also revisits the posthumous temple baptism for Pres. Obama’s mother. I doubt that will be an issue but don’t Church leaders usually give dignitaries a copy of their genealogy?

Pew Forum’s Resources on Mormonism

16 July 2009 @ 2:19 pm | No comments

In honor of the upcoming Pioneer Day (just a little more than a week away) the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has posted a roundup of their articles on Mormonism, including a teaser for an upcoming report.

A Portrait of Mormons in the U.S.
Coming soon
An upcoming analysis of Mormons based on the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey reveals that Mormons are among the most devout religious people in the United States.

For those who care: Krauthammer anoints Romney as GOP frontrunner.

You are not going to wake up in the morning and discover he is crying in Argentina.

Not so significant that he did but with such style.

2 July 2009 @ 2:13 pm | 9 comments