The publication of Joseph Smith’s papers two centuries after his birth opens a window on a life filled with what he called “marvilous experience.” General editors Richard Bushman and Dean Jessee trace Joseph Smith’s rise from obscurity to prominence as the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and introduce the corpus of revelations, translations, letters, histories, journals, and other papers he created.

Joseph Smith Papers: Home.

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LDS family services estimates there a 4-5 members in each ward that are dealing with same-gender issues. They say most of those are married, with children.

via Faith-Promoting Rumor » LDS Family Services on Same-Sex Attraction in the Church

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Every Friday around lunch time, a line of cars drives into the empty parking lot of an empty building. Around to the back lot, the men park and enter. Over speckled blue carpet, they walk into the gym, lay out their rugs and begin their prayers.

Mir Asif is among the men who come to this St. Charles chapel each Friday, like they have for the past three years.

This illustrated a mostly quiet, largely unknown relationship between the Muslim Community Center of St. Charles and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Old Highway 94.

via St. Louis Beacon – The Muslims in your neighborhood

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The conflict between science and religion is generally overstated. But it is certainly true that science is the matrix that most people of our day — believers or not — use as the basis for understanding the natural world we live in. Atheists and agnostics stop there; believers add a supplemental layer of faith to their view of the universe that includes a doctrine or idea of God and that reflects a view or theory of how God acts (or doesn’t act) in the natural world. So does science strengthen our faith or threaten it? Is it easier or tougher to be a believer in the age of modern science than, say, the time of Hellenistic philosophy and paganism or the early modern era of demonology and witch-hunts?

via Dave’s Mormon Inquiry: God and Science

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“[S]cholars today recognize that older descriptions of “conflict” or open “warfare” between science and Christianity are often mistaken. Nor could LDS thinking about science be described in this way. The Church is distinguished by its acceptance of ongoing revelation and the view that divine revelation underlies its scriptures and teachings. Consequently, Latter-day Saints assume that ultimate truths about religious matters and about God’s creations can never be in conflict, as God is the author of both. They look forward to a time when more complete knowledge in both areas will transcend all present perceptions of conflict.” I think it is correct that LDS commentators largely avoid a conflict approach and stress the ultimate reconciliation of religious and scientific truth.

via Dave’s Mormon Inquiry: An LDS View on Science and Religion

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I find the Proclamation on the Family both heartening in its acknowledgment of heavenly parents, but also discouraging in its comment that we worshiped God as our Eternal Father—leaving Heavenly Mother, once again, invisible. It reminds me of Orson Pratt’s view that we should not worship Heavenly Mother, because the Father is the head of his divine household, and the concerns people inevitably raise about “goddess worship,” as if it were inherently problematic in a way that “god worship” is not. Why would it be dangerous to worship a female divine figure, but praiseworthy to worship a male one?

via Zelophehad’s Daughters | Why I Do Want to Believe in Heavenly Mother

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Incarcerated teens — LDS Church members and nonmembers alike — have a chance to progress thanks to the dedication of Mike Mabe.

Mabe, director of Chesterfield County Public Library in Virginia since 2002, began his career as a librarian in Salt Lake City Public Library in 1982 and has been serving for 30 years in various locations across the nation.

Mabe believes books can help troubled youths make better decisions.

via Librarian believes books can help youths in trouble | Mormon Times

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Construction has begun in the “eternal” city for a new Latter-day Saint temple. Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with Church and local community leaders, participated in the traditional groundbreaking ceremony for the Rome Italy Temple 23 October 2010.

via President Monson Breaks Ground for Rome Italy Temple – LDS Newsroom

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In shopping around for a Cub Scout program for their two sons, ages 6 and 8, Jeremy and Jodi Stokes decided on the one at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, N.C.

The Stokes’, also of Matthews, weren’t members of the evangelical megachurch, but they had many friends who were. And unlike the Cub Scout pack at their own church, which doesn’t have a program for 6-year-old Tiger Scouts, Christ Covenant’s was big enough to accommodate both of their boys.

The couple even signed up to be Scout leaders — he would lead the Bears, she’d help with the Tigers — when they discovered the church needed more adult help. And when the Scouting officials at Christ Covenant found out Jeremy Stokes was an Eagle Scout, they were thrilled.

So why, in the end, did Christ Covenant reject the Stokes’ application to be Scout leaders?

Because they’re Mormons. And, therefore, not real Christians, church officials told the couple last month.

via Scout controversy hinges on Mormon status as Christians

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