Mormon spotlight
Will the Mormon Church’s racial history be a problem for Mitt Romney?
By Daniel Burke — January 31, 2012
(RNS) Until 1978, African-Americans were denied full membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has refused to say whether he thinks his church's racial policies before then were misguided. Daniel Burke explores Mormons' troubled history with race.
Why Mitt Romney can’t be the Mormon JFK
By David Gibson — January 25, 2012
By talking about his Mormonism, Mitt Romney would call attention to his Mormonism. Politically speaking, that's a huge risk. Many Americans, and Republicans in particular, tend to consider Mormonism a "cult" -- or "super spooky-wooky!" as Broadway's hit musical, The Book of Mormon, puts it.
Are Mormons Christian? It’s complicated
By Tracy Gordon — January 19, 2012
(RNS) Ask Mormons if they are Christian, and their answer often starts with a sigh. Look at our name, they'll say, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Read The Book of Mormon's subtitle, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” Examine our Articles of Faith, “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind […]
Mitt Romney’s evangelical problem starts with theology
By Tracy Gordon — January 4, 2012
(RNS) The good news for Mitt Romney: he won the Iowa caucuses. The bad news for Romney: evangelicals remain reluctant to support him. Romney bested former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum by a mere eight votes in Tuesday's (Jan. 3) first-in-the-nation voting. But just 14 percent of evangelicals supported the former Massachusetts governor, according to entrance […]
Anti-Mormon bias persistent in presidential politics
By Tiffany McCallen — November 29, 2011
(RNS) On June 27, 1844, vigilantes cornered a man who claimed to receive messages from God and gunned him down in an Illinois jail after his arrest. At the time of his death, Joseph Smith Jr., founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was an announced candidate for president of the United […]
Mormons launch group to defend against media attacks
By Tracy Gordon — August 6, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) With two Mormons in the presidential campaign and a hit Broadway show about LDS missionaries, a group of church loyalists felt the time was ripe to begin scrutinizing media reports for inaccuracies about the Utah-based faith. On Thursday (Aug.4) the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR) announced that it was […]
Mormon leaders told to stay out of politics
By Tracy Gordon — June 30, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Mormon officials are telling their top, full-time leaders that they and their spouses should not participate in political campaigns, including making donations or endorsing candidates. However, part-time leaders — including local and regional congregational leaders — are still allowed to do that, but are cautioned to make clear they are acting […]
`The Book of Mormon’ wins nine Tonys
By Tracy Gordon — June 13, 2011
(RNS) The irreverent and hilarious “The Book of Mormon” musical dominated the 65th annual Tony Awards on Sunday (June 12), winning the award for Best Musical and becoming one of the most honored productions in Broadway history. Broadway neophytes Trey Parker and Matt Stone thanked their “South Park” fans and the audiences who are packing […]
Temple weddings leave some on outside, hurting inside
By Tracy Gordon — June 13, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) You see them on Temple Square nearly every day, pacing nervously or strolling aimlessly, staring down at the tulips or up at the spires. They are parents, siblings, cousins and friends of Mormon couples being wed inside the LDS sanctuary. But, for one reason or another, they are not allowed inside. […]
For Mormons, what does `follow the Prophet’ really mean?
By Tracy Gordon — March 30, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Mormon President Thomas S. Monson, his two right-hand men and 12 apostles will take to the podium at this weekend's (April 2-3) General Conference and offer sermons that many Mormons will treat like faxes from God. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consider these 15 men “prophets, […]
‘Book of Mormon’ musical called surprisingly sweet
By Tracy Gordon — March 16, 2011
NEW YORK (RNS) A Ugandan villager in the new Broadway musical from the creators of “South Park” offers a plaintive love song about paradise — and the object of her yearning is none other than Utah's capital. “Salvation has a name – Salt Lake-y City,” croons Nabalungi (played by Nikki M. James) in “The Book […]
When marriages are eternal, single and divorced Mormons struggle
By Tracy Gordon — February 15, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) To many Americans, religious or not, chastity before marriage is a quaint tradition at best and emotionally damaging at worst. After all, more than 90 percent of men and women, according to Guttmacher Institute surveys during the past 50 years, have reported engaging in premarital sex. And the older a single […]
Will Romney, Huntsman help or hurt Mormons?
By Tracy Gordon — February 11, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Amid the prospect of presidential runs by Jon Huntsman Jr. and Mitt Romney, reporters are bombarding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with calls about the potential candidates and their Mormon faith. So much so, in fact, that the Utah-based LDS Church decided it needed to reiterate its longstanding […]
Mormons lift the veil on official `handbook’ of teachings
By Tracy Gordon — November 29, 2010
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) For Mormons — or anyone else — who might be wondering, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes no stand on drinking Coca-Cola. The church opposes gambling, guns in churches, euthanasia, Satan worship and hypnotism for entertainment. It also “strongly discourages” surrogacy, sperm donation and vasectomies. These and other […]
Mormons catch a glimpse of life in the big leagues
By Tracy Gordon — September 14, 2010
SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Mormons have been making headlines across the nation — from HBO's “Big Love” to California's Proposition 8, from American Idol wannabe David Archuleta to “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer, from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to conservative icon Glenn Beck. Church spokesman Michael Otterson writes essays for The Washington Post and Mormonism […]
Page 1 of 2
