A Textual History of the Book of Abraham: Manuscripts and Editions

Just released:
Brian Hauglid, A Textual History of the Book of Abraham: Manuscripts and Editions, the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Abstract:
A Textual History of the Book of Abraham: Manuscripts and Editions serves as a source book for interested researchers and scholars.

Marriott bans pornography in hotel chain

From Marriott Bans Porn In Hotels, Huffington Post
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Marriott Hotels is taking a stand against porn. The hotel chain is aiming to ban all porn entertainment in their new properties that will be opening in the next few years,

Wilford Woodruff 1880 reflections

Excerpts of Wilford Woodruff's 1880 reflections, examiner.com
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In 1889, Wilford Woodruff became the fourth prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church).  Throughout his life he kept an extensive journal, and at the end of some years, summarized his religious views.

Below are events leading up to Wilford Woodruff's summation at the end of 1880, followed by a revelation and a prayer of damnation

A Revelation given to Wilford Woodruff in the Wilderness of San Francisco Mountain

A Revelation given to Wilford Woodruff in the Wilderness of San Francisco Mountain in Arizona On the 26 day of Jan 1880 (more info here):

Thus saith the Lord unto my servant Wilford Woodruff

Wilford Woodruff's prayer of damnation

"A Prayer written By Wilford Woodruff By request of President John Taylor
to be Presented at the Altar"

Review: "Begat: The King James Bible & the English Language"

Review

Title: Begat: The King James Bible & the English Language
Author: David Crystal

Anti-gay bias ‘pervasive’ in Utah

Excerpts of Anti-gay bias 'pervasive' in Utah, report says by Rosemary Winters,  Salt Lake Tribune
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Equality Utah ... with the help of a University of California Los Angeles think tank, has prepared Utah's first statewide report on discrimination against gay and transgender Utahns. The report features a nonrandom survey of 939 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) Utahns and new analysis of census data that helps paint a portrait of the LGBT community in Utah.

Equality Utah is pushing for a statewide law, sponsored this year by Salt Lake City Democrat Sen. Ben McAdams, that would ban housing and employment discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Republican-led Utah Legislature has blocked efforts at a statewide anti-discrimination law the past two sessions.

2011 LDS Film Festival

LDS FILM FESTIVAL
JANUARY 26-29, 2011
http://www.ldsfilmfestival.org
feedback@ldsfilmfestival.org

2011 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE NOW ONLINE
The schedule for the 10th LDS Film Festival 2011 is now available online. This is the most exciting line-up of films and filmmakers in the history of the festival.

Common Ground: Science and Religion

From The Mormon Times: Emily W. Jensen : Bloggernacle Back Bench
Scientific faith: "Science is NOT an anti-God endeavor. It is not
'anti' anything but the absence of knowledge. Conversely, religion is
NOT an anti-science endeavor. Its protest is limited to being
anti-sin." So says S. Faux in outlining "Where Science and Religion
Converge."

Church purchases land in Susquehanna county

The sale this week of 10 acres of land in Oakland Twp., Susquehanna
County, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for $2.1
million has rekindled discussion about plans to develop a site that
has sacred importance.

Church spokeswoman Kim Farah said the purchase was important because
the parcel is "near a site of historical significance to the founding
of the faith."

The area was home to the religion's founder, Joseph Smith, and his
wife, the former Emma Hale, from 1827 to 1830. The church believes it
was there that most of the Book of Mormon was translated in 1829. . .

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/latter-day-saints-make-2-1m-land-purchase-1.1087489#axzz1ASBjvJvR

Prop. 8 Ruling Delayed

Excerpts of Prop. 8 Ruling Delayed By Standing Questions by Candace Chellew-Hodge, Religious Dispatches
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The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is asking for help from the state's Supreme Court in the constitutional challenge to Proposition 8. At issue, ...

The issue of whether Protectmarriage.com, the backers of Prop. 8, have standing in the federal lawsuit has been a key issue in the case since both former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Governor Jerry Brown, serving as the state's attorney general, refused to defend Prop. 8 before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals when the three-judge panel heard oral arguments last month.

The court did rule that a deputy court clerk from Imperial County, California, did not have standing to intervene in the case to defend Proposition 8, affirming the lower court's ruling on that issue.

Glenn Beck: Lamanites, Brass Plates and a cover-up of Book of Mormon evidence

I just learned about this August 18th episode of Glenn Beck's show talking about American Indians being descended from Jews, their "proto-Hebrew Bible," and the conspiracy / cover-up of evidence by mainstream scientists, etc...

He promotes a DVD that defends the "Heartland" theory (Great Lakes geography with no non-Book of Mormon populations, opposed by FAIR which embraces a limited geography theory with a large unmentioned population in the America.  FAIR's promoted theory seems to have support by the LDS church).

New Testament filming project

Excerpts of LDS Church builds movie set for ambitious film project by Laura Seitz, Deseret News
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Two miles south of Goshen [Utah] proper, the LDS Motion Picture Studio is developing some 830 acres — a square-mile area – into a parcel of the ancient Holy Land that includes replicas of parts of old Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other New Testament-period places.
It's all for a movie studio set as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embarks on an ambitious multi-purpose film venture it calls "The New Testament" project, re-creating New Testament sights, sounds and stories.
The result will be some 30-plus video vignettes, providing new material for myriad church uses — seminary and institute films, missionary videos, visitor center exhibits and stock footage for general conference and online clips for its Mormon Messages features on Facebook and YouTube.
"This is being done to create a scriptural video library for the church" said Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the LDS Church's First Quorum of Seventy and executive director of the Audiovisual Department.

Scrupulosity

Excerpts of Religious obsession studied; USU team develops treatment. By Kevin Opsahl, Herald Journal

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Eric seemed like a normal guy, but then when he hit 17 he started having "issues."

What happened if he kissed his girlfriend for more than one second? Would he still be worthy in God's eye? And perhaps, most importantly, would the Lord forgive him?

Eric was diagnosed with scrupulosity, a form of OCD involving religious or moral obsessions.

Excerpt: LDS and gay: Believer reconciles faith, love

Excerpt: LDS and gay: Believer reconciles faith, love
Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/50729998-80/fehr-isaiah-lds-says.html.csp
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Steven Fehr prefers cocoa to coffee.
The 39-year-old actor enjoys cast parties but never imbibes a beer or cocktail.
He still frequents the LDS ward where he was blessed with his name as
a baby. There, he recently sang his testimony of Jesus Christ with a
solo performance of the hymn "Guide Me to Thee."
Fehr is intrinsically Mormon. But to many of his friends, that makes
Fehr, in his words, "a conundrum."
Fehr also is gay.