Reminding the Bloggernacle that conservative Republicans can be good Mormons too
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In defense of non-spectacular weddings.
The great point about completely impersonal ceremonies, whose form is the same for everyone, whether these are religious or entirely civil, is that they remind us that the problems and difficulties of marriage are universal. They come from being human. They can’t be dodged just by being our wonderful selves, even all dusted with unicorn sparkle.
[via Junior Ganymede]
Not dead yet.
Temple Study: Temple Construction Costs Vs. Humanitarian Aid?
Sen. Hatch’s eulogy gets Sen. Kennedy in trouble over the Angel Moroni.
Former litigants and critics of the Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple on Belmont Hill are wondering whether the late Sen. Edward Kennedy used the power of his office to ensure the placement of a controversial spire on top of the Temple, especially after hearing two former Kennedy colleagues’ claims that he did.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah, spoke at Kennedy’s memorial service in Boston Friday, conveying to attendees the ability and power Kennedy had to cross political party lines to get things done for friends.
In describing the “graciousness of my dear friend,†Hatch claimed that Kennedy helped secure the placement of the spire on top of the Temple.
“There was another time, when the Mormon Church was nearing completion of its temple here in Boston, Belmont, I think,†Hatch said. “I was approached by several people working in the temple and informed that the city would not allow a spire to be placed on the top of the temple with an angel on top, as is customary on Mormon temples.
“I immediately called Ted and asked for help. Not long after that conversation, he called me back and said, quote, ‘All of Western Massachusetts will see the angel Gabriel on the top of the Mormon Temple’,†Hatch claimed, laughing. “I had to inform Teddy that it was actually the Angel Moroni, a prominent figure in the LDS faith.â€
Opponents are not happy with Hatch’s remarks but the a spokesman for the court said that that they had no interaction with Sen. Kennedy. [via Religion Clause]
Nigeria temple closed due to violence.
The LDS ttemple in Aba, Nigeria, has been closed indefinitely and workers have been evacuated from the country, following the latest round of violence in the country.
Scott Trotter, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, released a statement on Tuesday confirming that the temple had been closed and workers evacuated as a precautionary measure. The church statement is not specific about the latest incident of violence, but says the facility will remain closed until the situation is addressed.
An e-mail from a temple worker in the country, dated in mid-June, outlines an attack by four gunmen carrying AK-47s in the area of the temple and talks of eight bullet holes being left in the front door of the temple, which it claims led to an evacuation of church workers. The e-mail was forwarded to a church spokesman and precipitated the statement.
via @riyel27
LDS Church announces open house and dedication for Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple.
The public will be invited to visit the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple during an open house that will run from Monday, 1 June, through Saturday, 1 August 2009 (except for Sundays; Saturday, 4 July; and Friday, 24 July).
Following the open house, the temple will be formally dedicated on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 21–23 August 2009. A total of nine dedicatory sessions will be held.
Open house tickets for Oquirrh Mountain LDS temple are now available at lds.org/reservations.
Open House Dates: Monday, 01 June, 2009 – Saturday, 01 August, 2009 (except Sundays; Saturday, July 4, and Friday, July 24, 2009)
1. As most everyone in the bloggernacle has already posted, here is a video produced by the LDS Church explaining why Mormons value the temple so much. A nice touch is the inclusion of some non-LDS scholars explaining the historical importance of temples.
2. Variety.com published an LDS publicist’s explaination of what is required to go to the temple and how improbable Big Love’s temple scenarios is, no matter how much research they claim to have done.
By doing so, the HBO and all affiliated with “Big Love” will do all Latter-Day Saints and the public at large a huge disservice by blatantly depicting not only something that is held as being supremely sacred by Mormons around the world, but also by depicting and promulgating a lie that a practicing polygamist (like the character “Barb”) would ever be allowed into an LDS Temple. Then again, I have a hard time believing that any practicing polygamist would even want to go through a Mormon Temple ceremony; but hey, who am I to judge?
At the end of the day, I agree with the premise that HBO has the constitutional right to produce and air “Big Love” as well as this forthcoming segment.
Despite apologies, Tom Hanks and his show, Big Love, continue to show a deliberate insensitivity to Mormons. As outrageous and offensive as I find the description of Big Love’s upcoming episode, I suppose the best thing to do is what I’ve always done and not watch it. Vocal protests or boycotts seem counter-productive and probably just what the show’s producers would like.
The Church’s Newsroom’s response encapsulates the best way to approach this controversy and the many more that will follow in “The Publicity Dilemma.” Essentially: don’t take the bait.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an institution does not call for boycotts. Such a step would simply generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end would increase audiences for the series. As Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Robert D. Hales of the Council of the Twelve Apostles have both said recently, Latter-day Saints in the public arena should conduct themselves with dignity and thoughtfulness.
Not only is this the model that Jesus Christ taught and demonstrated in his own life, but it also reflects the reality of the strength and maturity of Church members today. As someone recently said, “This isn’t 1830, and there aren’t just six of us anymore.†In other words, with a global membership of thirteen and a half million there is no need to feel defensive when the Church is moving forward so rapidly. The Church’s strength is in its faithful members in 170-plus countries, and there is no evidence that extreme misrepresentations in the media that appeal only to a narrow audience have any long-term negative effect on the Church . . .
If the Church allowed critics and opponents to choose the ground on which its battles are fought, it would risk being distracted from the focus and mission it has pursued successfully for nearly 180 years. Instead, the Church itself will determine its own course as it continues to preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
The commentary also lists recent controversies aimed at the Church (Lawrence O’Donnell, South Park, September Dawn) and its interesting to note how many of them have long been forgotten.
UPDATE: I had forgotten that HBO’s publicists had laid out boycott bait for Mormons when it announced Big Love back in 2005.
EVEN MORE: DKL make a good point that the Church’s statement seems as much for the benefit of members as it does for the media (“don’t go overboard”). In fact, the Church’s homepage now links to it.
Tags: Add new tag, anti-mormons, civility, polygamy, temples
Informed speculation on the next temple . . . Layton, Utah? And more likely areas.
Reservations for the Draper temple open house can now be made for Thursday, 15 January, 2009 – Saturday, 14 March, 2009 (except Sundays).
Happy Halloween.
To make amends for my last post on the new Rome LDS temple, here’s a link to the More Good Foundation’s site devoted to just that, the Rome Mormon Temple: “Following the Development of the Rome, Italy Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”
Not really but the Pope will be getting a new neighbor with an LDS temple in Rome. That will be an interesting rollout. Now the Catholic Church can continue to hinder the work for the dead in its own backyard.
In addition, President Monson announced four more temples in:
Just as President Monson announced these temples, the Newsroom wasted no time in shooting out a press package with detailed releases on each temple as you can read at the above links.
The internet is the place to be for General Conference.
Tags: mormon news, newsroom.lds.org, temples
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