Utah Beer Ads Poke Fun at Mormon Culture, Offend Some

The Wasatch front is being bombarded with irreverent radio ads and billboards lampooning what Wasatch Beer refers to as "Utah's prevailing culture". The latest in Park City's Kirwin Communications ad agency brainstorm have outraged some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and brought smiles to some in the community.

Southern Virginia College, 'BYU East' Has Success in Sight

Less than five years after converting a failing college into a private Mormon school, the team that runs Southern Virginia College is on the brink of success. The college's student body has quintupled during that time to 375 students, its endowment has increased to $600,000, and the school is on track to accreditation. School officials also say that their success has led to interest in starting other Mormon schools worldwide.

Ricks College Change to Impact Utah State University

Turning two-year junior college Ricks into the new 4-year BYU-Idaho will have consequences for Utah State University in Logan. USU administrators are evaluating just what impact to expect regarding the numbers of transfer students each year, competition for 4 year students in similar fields of study, competition for faculty, and general student enrollment. The sports program at USU will likely also be affected.

Re-evaluation of BYU's Animal Science Means Equitation Dropped

Responding to a challenge from LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, Dean Kent Crookston of the Animal Science department led a review of the department, the most expensive per student on campus, and decided to drop the University's equitation classes, starting in the Fall. President Hinckley had told the department, "We shouldn't have agriculture at BYU unless it is unique in a way that blesses the church."

Pioneer Mormon Stonemason's Home Now Landmark

The Byron Teancume Mitchell home is a landmark in the Kamas Valley. Although its cornerstones are crumbling and its windows are now boarded, the house is a perfect example of late 19th Century architecture in rural Utah. The home contains elements of the Gothic, Second Empire and Victorian styles that were popular at the time, and is similar to many homes that existed in Nauvoo, Illinois.

BYU Announces Creation of Brigham Young University Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts

President Merrill J. Bateman recently announced the creation of the Brigham Young University Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts, which will include BYU's Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative and the Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (CPART).

Devotional: Elder Alexander B. Morrison

People need to see the whole picture of a changing world, said Elder Alexander B. Morrison, an emeritus member of the Quorum of the Seventy, during the March 6 weekly devotional at Ricks College.

Temple president named Ricks Man of Excellence

A Rexburg man who is currently serving as president the Logan Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was honored as this year's Ricks College Man of Excellence Feb. 25.

U.S. Supreme Court upholds laws based on BYU research

In a unanimous ruling that is being hailed as one of the most important environmental and business decisions in decades, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tuesday stringent air quality standards that are based on two landmark environmental health studies by a Brigham Young University professor.

Twelve BYU employees get President's Appreciation Awards

Twelve Brigham Young University administrators and staff members were honored Wednesday (March 7) with President's Appreciation Awards by President Merrill J. Bateman.

Carving a classroom

On March 3, imported logs were dedicated during a traditional gathering, or 'aha'aina, for the construction a double-hulled canoe to be used as a floating classroom in BYU-Hawaii's Hawaiian Studies Program.

Women's Week at Ricks College expected to draw visitors to campus

An estimated 2,000 visitors are expected to attend the annual Women's Week at Ricks College from Thursday to Sunday, March 15-18.

Other Local News

LDS Stake in Africa Hosts Crime Awareness Forum

ACCRA, GHANA -- The LDS Church's Lartebiokorshie Stake is hosting a Crime Awareness Forum each Thursday, helping its neighbors to understand techniques for detecting and dealing with armed robbers, petty thieves, murderers and criminals. Stake president Sonoo-Koree told the Accra Mail that the Church is interested in helping people with temporal matters as well as spiritual matters, and reiterated the Church's pledge to provide taxi and commercial vehicles with police emergency numbers so that they can notify police when they see a crime in progress. The Stake puts on the program every two weeks.

Lartebiokorshie Stake Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints Moves Accra Ghana Mail (Northern Light) 5Mar01 D1 By Staff Writers

Sister Dew urges women to be righteous leaders

PROVO, UTAH -- Sister Sheri L. Dew, second counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ, told women assembled for the BYU Women's Leadership Conference Saturday that they needed to assume a position of righteous leadership in whatever roles they currently occupy. "True leadership is standing up when no one else will. As women who have made and who keep sacred covenants, we have an extra weighty responsibility to remember who we are and what it is we stand for," Sister Dew said.

Sister Dew urges women to be righteous leaders BYU NewsNet 3Mar01 D3 By Ashley Davis: NewsNet Staff Writer

President Hinckley Has Surgery

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley underwent a minor surgery last week, and returned to work on Thursday. LDS Church spokesman Dale Bills told news reporters Friday that Hinckley "was in and out on the same day and back to work the next day [Thursday]," but refused to say what the surgery was for. Hinckley is still scheduled to travel to Montevideo, Uruguay later this month to dedicate the new temple there. President Hinckley will be 91 this coming June.

LDS Leader Is Back at Work Following Surgery Salt Lake Tribune 3Mar01 N1

LDS leader has minor surgery Deseret News 2Mar01 N1

Christ-centered art focus of Devotional

PROVO, UTAH -- K. Newell Dayley. Dean of College of Fine Arts and Communications encouraged the audience to center arts, and their lives, in Christ during his devotional address Mar. 16 in the BYU Marriott Center. "Art itself appears because there is a spark of divine nature in God's children," Dayley said.

Christ-centered art focus of Devotional BYU NewsNet 6Mar01 D3

Retreat Focuses on Jesus Christ, 'The World's Greatest Example'

DRIGGS, IDAHO -- Nearly 150 Ricks College students weathered the wintery snow Saturday morning to hear Elder John M. Madsen of the First Quorum of the Seventy speak on "the world's greatest example of leadership, Jesus Christ." Elder Madsen spoke to the students at the Teton Lodge near Driggs, Idaho.

Retreat Focuses on Jesus Christ, 'The World's Greatest Example' Ricks Scroll 5Mar01 D3 By John Walker: Scroll staff

BYU serves up excellent dining service

PROVO, UTAH -- BYU dining services was awarded one of the most prestigious awards for excellent dining services. The Ivy Award is presented to about six companies each year by Restaurant and Institution Magazine. The magazine is one of the most read magazines by those in the hospitality business.

BYU serves up excellent dining service BYU NewsNet 5Mar01 D3 By Erin Smith: NewsNet Staff Writer

Seventy Uses Harry Potter to Teach Mission Preparation

PROVO, UTAH -- Elder Uchtdorf, of the First Quorum of the Seventy quoted a character in the popular young adult fantasy novel, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," in a fireside Wednesday night, as he instructed more than 2,000 future LDS missionaries on how to prepare for a mission. "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities," Elder Uchtdorf read from the book. He explained that good choices, like effective preparation, will help future missionaries succeed.

Fireside aims to prepare future missionaries for service ahead BYU NewsNet 7Mar01 D3 By Kathryn Dougall: NewsNet Staff Writer

Mormon Holiday Parade to be More Diverse

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Salt Lake City's Day's of '47 parade will be more diverse this coming year. Traditionally tied closely to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the parade has sometimes left part of the community feeling excluded. So this year chairman Alan Layton and his board want to recognize the pioneering efforts of all faith and ethnic groups in the state.

Days of '47 to get diverse Deseret News 8Mar01 D1

While Conference Center is Good Change, Columnist Still Misses Older Buildings

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Deseret News columnist Lee Benson likes the roof of the LDS Church's new conference center, opened this past week for the first time after the winter. Benson says that the roof gives a great view of Salt Lake City, and a little view of what the ground may have been like when the pioneers arrived. But Benson says he still misses the Deseret Gym and the old Hotel Utah.

Spring highlights certainty of change Deseret News 9Mar01 D6 By Lee Benson: Deseret News columnist

Utah Arts Council Program Looks at Mormon Dance Traditions

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The Utah Arts Council has put together a 'Dance Preservation Package' to give a sense of the dance traditions of the Mormon West. The package includes the book "Social Dance in the Mormon West," by Craig Miller, "An Old-Time Utah Dance Party: Sheet Music and Dance Steps" and "An Old-Time Utah Dance Party: Field Recordings of Social Dance Music From The Mormon West."

High-steppin' into the past Deseret News 9Mar01 D6 By Carma Wadley: Deseret News senior writer Utah Arts Council project aims to preserve tradition of old-time dance parties

Kick up heels like old-timers in Mormon West Deseret News 9Mar01 D6

LDS Volunteers Let Madera County Repair Youth Camp

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA -- Thanks in part to the promise of local LDS leaders to provide the manpower, the Madera County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to renovate and put back into operation the Putney Ranch Camp, an 87-acre camp donated to the county by Judge Marcia Putney in her 1967 will. Volunteers from the LDS Church will work on April 14th, providing an estimated $25,000 worth of labor to put the camp back in operation. The county is providing $10,000 worth of materials for the job. The camp fell into disrepair after state funding, which paid for camp maintenance, dried up in the 1990s.

Madera County OKs plan for youth camp Fresno CA Bee 7Mar01 D1 By Charles McCarthy:The Fresno Bee Board votes to buy $10,000 of repair materials for the North Fork site.

Madera County may revive Putney Ranch site Fresno CA Bee 3Mar01 D1 By Charles McCarthy:The Fresno Bee

Pleasanton CA Ward's Newborn Kits Recognized

PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA -- The Pleasanton 2nd Ward has prepared 116 newborn kits to donate to Highland Hospital for those in poverty. The kits were made as a project headed by ward member Cathy Lund, who said she got lots of freebies when she went home from the hospital, "I remember that with each of my children, I went home with a huge new diaper bag just stuffed with things," Lund said. "But women at the county hospital don't get all these freebies." The kits include flannel blankets, layette gowns, T-shirts, hats, booties, diapers, and diaper wipes.

Layette project helps moms in poverty Pleasanton CA Weekly 9Mar01 D1 By Stephanie Ericson Church group effort help newborns at Highlands Hospital

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