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  1. Finding ‘ground’ in the marriage debate

    By Tyler Nebeker

    - Sun, 09/27/2009 - 21:14

    The one common tie among the hundreds who convened at the downtown Provo tabernacle on Thursday night was family.


    However, each person’s circumstance and reason for being there varied.


    A “Family and Faith Matter” conference, hosted by conservative public policy group The Sutherland Institute, focused on upholding traditional family values. The event attracted supporters and protesters alike.


    The conference was held on Thursday as part of the institute’s “Sacred Ground Initiative.”
    “The point really for [the conference] is family and faith; protecting those elements of society,” said Jeff Reynolds, the institute’s director of communications.


    While the debate over marriage rights continues to heat up in Utah and around the nation, the Sutherland Institute plans to hold these events every few months.

  2. Sisters gather to be edified

    Sun, 09/27/2009 - 21:07
    Photo by Chelise Van De Graaff. Sisters wait to enter the Conference Center in Salt Lake City.

    BY AMANDA VERZELLO

    Visiting teaching, the legacy of the Relief Society and enrichment meetings were among the topics presented by general authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday during the General Relief Society Meeting.

    They also announced that “enrichment meetings” will simply be called “Relief Society Meetings” from now on.

    Sister Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president, spoke of the Relief Society as a “faith-based work” in her message to the women of the church.

    The purpose of the Relief Society is to help women prepare for eternal life, Sister Beck said. The Relief Society helps women “increase faith and personal righteousness, strengthen families and homes and serve the Lord and his children.”

  3. Church historical papers released

    Tue, 09/22/2009 - 20:54
    Photo by Amanda Verzello Elder Marlin K. Jensen presents "Revelations and Translations" to Elder Russell M. Nelson.

    By Amanda Verzello

    For scholars and church members alike, getting a piece of church history just became a little easier.

    The second volume of the Joseph Smith Papers Project was released on Tuesday, coinciding with the anniversary of Joseph Smith receiving the golden plates. 

    Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve accepted one of the first copies presented by Elder Marlin K. Jensen, church historian and recorder, at a news conference at the Church History Library in Salt Lake City.

    “Serious students will appreciate the magnificence of this great book,” Elder Nelson said.
     

  4. BYU Students proofread new Spanish Bible

    Tue, 09/22/2009 - 14:40

    By Amanda Verzello

    One of the most significant projects ever undertaken by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took several years to complete and included the work of more than 200 people from 10 countries, including professional linguists, general authorities and even some BYU students.

    Mimi Guynn, a senior from New Canaan, Conn., majoring in vocal performance, heard about the opportunity in her 300-level Spanish class. She and her sister went to the Wilkinson Center to participate in editing the Bible for possible errors.

    “They broke us up into pairs of two and they gave us packets that contained different segments of the Bible in Spanish,” Guynn said. “They had two separate copies and one of us read aloud [while] the other followed along.”

  5. A visual testimony of the Divinity

    By Kristin Neil

    - Thu, 09/17/2009 - 15:38
    Photo by Andrew VanWagenen BYU spanish professor Joaquina Hoskisson browses the new exhibit in the BYU Museum of Art.

    He healed the sick, he raised the dead, he taught in parables and he loved unconditionally.

    The new exhibition at the BYU Museum of Art is trying to help guests become more familiar with sacred symbols artists use to convey the truth about the life and mission of Jesus Christ.

    “Types and Shadows: Intimations of Divinity,” is an exhibition with 44 works of art ranging from paintings and prints to sculptures. The exhibit opens today to the public in the Warren & Alice Jones and Paul & Betty Boshard galleries on the lower level of the museum and runs through March 13, 2010.

    The pieces have been selected to enhance the understanding and the underlying meaning of looking beyond the obvious portrayal of the artwork at hand.

  6. President Monson speaks at BYU devotional

    By Erin Hoffman

    - Tue, 09/15/2009 - 22:00
    Photo by Stephanie Rhodes. President Thomas S. Monson smiles while speaking at BYU’s Devotional on Tuesday.

    Click here to watch President Monson's devotional address.

     

    President Thomas S. Monson encouraged students to live principles exemplified by past prophets in the university devotional Tuesday.

    His remarks highlighted the prophets of his lifetime, including well-known stories and personal interactions.  President Monson also listed the presidents’ dates of service, favorite hymns, favorite foods, favorite statements or expressions and guiding principles.

    “What can we learn from the presidents whom I have known and about whom I have visited with you today?” President Monson asked. “We can learn that they never wavered, never faltered, never failed; that they are men of God.”

  7. Man without limbs testifies of Christ

    Mon, 09/14/2009 - 14:55
    Photo courtesy of Life Without Limbs. Nick Vujicic addresses audiences about the struggles and triumphs of living without limbs.

     By AMANDA VERZELLO

    What Nick Vujicic lacks in stature, he makes up for in faith.

    Vujicic, a 26-year-old man born without arms or legs, spoke about hope and faith in Jesus Christ to approximately 5,000 people at the Salt Palace Convention Center on Saturday night.

    Vujicic is using his unique situation to spread the message of being born again in Christ. An Australian native, Vujicic now resides in California where he runs his Christian ministry Life Without Limbs.

    “The world sees something special in a man without arms and legs,” Vujicic said. “I love being able to be used by God.”

    People’s reasons for attending Vujicic’s speech were varied, but all hoped to be touched by his message.

  8. NIV Bible undergoes revisions, updates

    Mon, 09/14/2009 - 14:52

     By AMANDA VERZELLO

    The Bible is getting yet another makeover.

    Biblica, the global ministry that owns the copyright to the New International Version Bible, plans to revise the world’s most popular Bible translation.

    "As time passes and English changes, the NIV we have at present is becoming increasingly dated,” said Keith Danby, global president and CEO of Biblica, in a news release. “If we want a Bible that English speakers around the world can understand, we have to listen to and respect the vocabulary they are using today."

  9. Accident doesn't cripple ambition

    Tue, 09/01/2009 - 20:24
    Photo by Andrew Van Wagenen. Ronnie Squires was told after an accident in April 2004 that he wouldn't walk again.

    By Brittany Worton

    It is often said that your life flashes before your eyes right before death. Ronnie Squires is a living testament to that statement.

    Squires grew up in Temecula, Calif., the oldest in a family of five children.

    He spent a lot of his free time engaged in athletics such as football, golf, wakeboarding, snowboarding and skateboarding.

    He said he remembers August 2003 as an exciting time in his life, entering the MTC on his way to the Puebla, Mexico mission.

    “By November I was absolutely falling in love with the culture and people of Mexico,” Squires said. “We had been experiencing a lot of success in my mission so we decided to celebrate with a BBQ on our preparation day.”

    April 5, 2004, was the day of the celebration that would change Squires’ life forever.

  10. Film student documents LDS church in India

    Tue, 09/01/2009 - 20:13
    Photo courtesy of Joey Daniel. BYU film student Joey Daniel works on a documentary in India.

    By ABBY RICH

    A BYU film student traveled halfway around the world this summer working on a film for an upcoming BYU documentary.

    Joey Daniel, 22, majoring in theater and media arts, from Carlsbad, N.M., traveled to India this summer with his family to visit relatives and continue a documentary for the BYU film department. Daniel has been involved with this film project for two years.

    While serving as a missionary for the LDS church in the India Bangalore Mission, Daniel met BYU professor Jeff Parkin, who was filming a documentary about BYU students on a study abroad.

  11. LDS scholar Robert J. Matthews dies at 82

    By Natalie Crofts

    - Mon, 08/31/2009 - 20:56
    Photo by Mark Philbrick. Robert J. Matthews, an expert in the Joseph Smith translation passed away on Monday.

    Robert J. Matthews, former dean of Religious Education, died on Sunday of complications from open-heart surgery at 82.

    Matthews was on the scripture committee for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was responsible for obtaining permission to publish approximately 600 verses from the Joseph Smith Translation in the 1979 edition of the LDS Bible.

    The original JST manuscripts belonged to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, now called the Community of Christ. Matthews was the first member of the church since 1845 to gain access to the manuscripts.

    Elder Bruce R. McConkie called Matthews the “world’s authority” on the JST.

    “He, as much as any other person in the church, brought attention to the JST,” said Larry Porter, emeritus professor of Church History and Doctrine.

  12. Job before mission can bring in dough

    By Ashley Jones

    - Mon, 08/31/2009 - 20:52
    Photo illustration by Jamison Metzger.

    A national financial company has launched a unique program to help prepare young men and women fund the cost of their missions.

    Financial Innovations Group, a direct agent for MasterCard and Visa, is a wholesale broker for merchant services or credit card processing.

    The company offers wholesale processing costs and can save any company money on their credit card processing.

    “Every guy or girl who is getting ready for a mission knows it is expensive,” said Greg Chazen, regional sales manager for Financial Innovations Group.

    If hired by the company, prospective missionaries contact friends, family or companies that use a credit card machine. The more contacts they recruit, the more money they get.

    “The cool thing is, for every account they bring in, they get a $50 bonus for the sign up and will receive a monthly residual for every account they sign,” Chazen said.

  13. Family history workshops aim to introduce new Web system

    By Justin Snyder

    - Sun, 08/30/2009 - 21:53

    BYU’s Family History Department is giving workshops on the church’s New FamilySearch, a Web application rolling out slowly that will eventually replace TempleReady, the church’s current system for tracking and submitting names to the temple. 

    The Family History Department has already begun using and training people on the new system.

    “This is a way for you to look for your ancestors,” said Kip Sperry, professor of family history. “[You can] see what the church has, and collaborate with other people … working on the same line.”

    Sperry is teaching several classes of Religion 261 that will take advantage of New FamilySearch.

  14. Pres. Monson urges pursuit of education

    Wed, 08/26/2009 - 19:13
    Photo by David Scott. President Thomas S. Monson sits on the stand before the beginning of a CES Fireside.

    By Burgundy Heiner

    President Thomas S. Monson values the importance of education. He encourages all individuals to gain knowledge in a respected field of study to become influential people in society. 

    Regardless of gender or age, it is important to receive an education, President Monson teaches.

    “I urge you to pursue your education that you might be prepared to provide if circumstances necessitate such,” Monson said, speaking to women. “Your talents will expand as you study and learn. You will be able to better assist your families in their learning and you will have peace of mind in knowing that you have prepared yourself for the eventualities that you may encounter in life.”

    President Monson also directs a similar challenge to the men of the church.

  15. Lund tells about lesser-known pioneers in new book

    By Sherry Fairbanks

    - Thu, 08/20/2009 - 22:11

    They were called on an expedition to establish themselves as a buffer between the Saints and the lawless region to the south. The journey was supposed to take about six weeks. It took six months.   

    Gerald N. Lund, author of “The Work and the Glory,” “Kingdom of the Crown” and “Fire and the Covenant” series, released his newest historical fiction novel, “The Undaunted,” on Aug. 5.

    “The Undaunted” follows a group of 250 people 40 years after coming to the Salt Lake Valley as pioneers, asked to again take up a wagon and journey to the Four Corners Area southward, an experience that later became known as the Hole-In-The-Rock expedition.