With the LDS church’s recent endorsement of a gay rights ordinance in Salt Lake City, many have begun speculating that the church is on its way to changing its policy on same-sex marriage. Not so, say BYU professors of religion and political science. 

Last week, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publicly endorsed a city ordinance that bans housing and employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The BYU professors interviewed said that although the church supports tolerance and equality, it does not approve of homosexuality.

Kent Jackson, associate dean of Religious Education, said the church is not contradicting its previously-stated positions and that it has always been in favor of equality. 

The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship issued a call for paper proposals to be considered for presentation at the 2010 Biennial Restoration Scripture Conference, to be held at BYU during fall semester 2010.

Proposals must be received or postmarked on or before Dec. 31 to be eligible for consideration.

Papers presented at this conference, titled “Symbolism in Scriptures,” will contribute to a better understanding of the scriptures by focusing on different types and forms of symbolism.

Paper proposals should be no longer than one page and should include a brief description of the thesis of the paper.

Proposals can be mailed to the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religion Scholarship or e-mailed to paul_hoskisson@byu.edu.

By AMANDA VERZELLO

Jayne Simonds’ first thought after waking up from surgery with a new heart was, “I can breathe.”

“I could feel the heart beating,” Simonds said. “It was so strange to hear the heart go ‘thump, thump, thump.’”

In 2002, Jayne Simonds would still bike 16 miles a day, despite suffering a heart attack six years earlier. Gradually, her energy level diminished and she had to give up biking all together, but she never gave up walking.

“I’m a real active, energetic-type person, so I kept exercising,” Simonds said. “My cardiologist told me, ‘It doesn’t matter how slow you go, don’t give up walking.’”

By ERIKA POTTER

SALT LAKE CITY — A spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints read a statement supporting the anti-discrimination employment and housing laws in Tuesday’s Salt Lake City Council meeting.

The laws prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing and employment matters.

“The church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage,” said Michael Otterson, church director of public affairs. “The issue before you tonight is the right of people to have a roof over their heads and the right to work without being discriminated against.”

Students can get a first-hand look at the past through an honors church history class.
Honors 341 gives students the unique opportunity to visit sites from the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of the class curriculum. From Oct. 23 through 28, this year’s class visited key places in the history of the church. 

“This is the third time we’ve done this trip,” said Richard E. Bennett, professor of church history and doctrine who guided the students. “The purpose is to provide an onsite learning experience in the principles of the gospel through visiting church history sites.”

This year the class visited Palmyra, the Sacred Grove, the Hill Cumorah, the Grandin printing shop, Fayette, Kirtland, the John Johnson home, Nauvoo and Carthage jail.

Students were encouraged to be brave in defending truth and righteousness in a devotional given by Elder Walter F. Gonzalez on Tuesday.

Gonzalez is a member of the Presidency of the Seventy and presides over Church affairs in the southern states.

He said students will face important decisions in their lives that require courage.

“You are at a point where you are making decisions that require you to be brave and bold,” he said. “Your decisions are being recorded in your book of beginnings, in your stories without end.”

He said gaining a good education can help in making such decisions.