Commentary

Why Is a Mormon Excommunicated?

SALT LAKE CITY 16 July 2008
Periodically the news media gives extensive coverage to a high-profile case of a Mormon being excommunicated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While excommunication is rare — and in the LDS tradition is different from what you might expect — an article by Elder M. Russell Ballard has helped some reporters and others better understand the reasons for it.  We encourage journalists, bloggers and others who write about excommunication, or other Church discipline, to read this article to better understand why the Church sometimes takes this action. Full Story

Proportion and Perspective on Polygamy Reporting

SALT LAKE CITY 10 July 2008
On 26 June, Newsroom published a package of information featuring profiles of ordinary Latter-day Saints in Texas. With no other intention but to define themselves, these members provided a tangible depiction of what their faith is all about. They serve as the best distinction between the lifestyles and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Texas-based polygamous group that has recently attracted media attention. Full Story

The Grand Enterprise of Mormonism

SALT LAKE CITY 8 July 2008
Of all the institutions in the modern world that have learned the art of give and take with the news media, religion has perhaps had the most difficult time adjusting. Religious matters, with all their miraculous narratives and complicated histories, don’t easily lend themselves to neat explanations. The demands and rigors of journalistic objectivity are not always aligned with the subjective nature of religious experience. So it is with Mormonism.  Full Story

Clear, Contextual Conversation Begets More of the Same

SALT LAKE CITY 3 July 2008
Last week this Web site posted a package of videos and stories titled “Church Seeks to Address Public Confusion Over Texas Polygamy Group.” Several news articles and blog posts have reacted to these resources, the majority of which have acknowledged that there is still considerable misunderstanding about the two churches. Full Story

Who Are the Mormons?

SALT LAKE CITY 19 June 2008
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can be found at every level of society — in business and agriculture, education and the sciences, political parties and government, the entertainment industry and news media. Full Story

Protecting the Church’s Identity

SALT LAKE CITY 26 June 2008
In an effort to reduce misunderstanding among the public and occasional misreporting among the media over the question of polygamy and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Newsroom” today is doing something a little different. Full Story

California and Same-Sex Marriage

SALT LAKE CITY 30 June 2008
The following letter was sent from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Church leaders in California to be read to all congregations on 29 June 2008. Full Story

Clarifying Polygamy Confusion

SALT LAKE CITY 24 April 2008
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reiterates that it has no affiliation whatsoever with any polygamous groups, including the polygamous sect in Eldorado, Texas. The Church discontinued polygamy officially in 1890, but more than a century later some news and Internet reports fail to draw clear distinctions between the Church and practicing polygamous sects. Full Story

Did You Know?

Physician Sees Benefits of Mormon Health Code in Reducing Cancer Risk

Health guidelines taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 175 years help in the fight against many forms of cancer, according to a Kansas City Cancer Center physician. In this month’s edition of the Church magazine the Ensign, Dr. William T. Stephenson outlines ways that he believes adherence to the Church’s “Word of Wisdom” health code aligns with many recent research findings in the fields of cancer prevention and treatment. Full Story